Justin B Hunt1, Daniel Eisenberg2, Liya Lu3, Molly Gathright3. 1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA. huntjustinb@uams.edu. 2. University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 3. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Psychiatric Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors apply the Institute of Medicine's definition of health care disparities to college students. METHODS: The analysis pools data from the first two waves of the Healthy Minds Study, a multicampus survey of students' mental health (N = 13,028). A probit model was used for any past-year service utilization, and group differences in health status were adjusted by transforming the entire distribution for each minority population to approximate the white distribution. RESULTS: Disparities existed between whites and all minority groups. Compared to other approaches, the predicted service disparities were greater because this method included the effects of mediating SES variables. CONCLUSIONS: Health care disparities persist in the college setting despite improved access and nearly universal insurance coverage. Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating potential sources of disparities beyond geography and coverage.
OBJECTIVE: The authors apply the Institute of Medicine's definition of health care disparities to college students. METHODS: The analysis pools data from the first two waves of the Healthy Minds Study, a multicampus survey of students' mental health (N = 13,028). A probit model was used for any past-year service utilization, and group differences in health status were adjusted by transforming the entire distribution for each minority population to approximate the white distribution. RESULTS: Disparities existed between whites and all minority groups. Compared to other approaches, the predicted service disparities were greater because this method included the effects of mediating SES variables. CONCLUSIONS: Health care disparities persist in the college setting despite improved access and nearly universal insurance coverage. Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating potential sources of disparities beyond geography and coverage.
Entities:
Keywords:
College mental health; Disparities; Statistical adjustment for mental health
Authors: Amanda NeMoyer; Mario Cruz-Gonzalez; Kiara Alvarez; Ronald C Kessler; Nancy A Sampson; Jennifer Greif Green; Margarita Alegría Journal: Ethn Health Date: 2020-09-02 Impact factor: 2.732