A recent study of more than 8,000 adults in the Journal of Community Psychology found individuals with a chronic health condition were more likely to report psychological distress and functional impairment if they were residents of poor or middle-income households than high-income households.
Data examined in the study was collected from the 2011 New York City Community Health Survey, and the researchers focused on common chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma, and the probability of serious mental illness.
Associations between chronic conditions and probable serious mental illness varied across household income levels, but there was a significant interaction between asthma and mental health in poor households and between diabetes and mental health in middle-class households.
"The findings suggest that a person's physical and mental well-being are tied closely to one another. They also highlight the importance of getting healthcare providers the support and resources needed to screen and address the physical and mental health concerns of their patients," said co-author Jeffrey Duong, PhD.
According to Dr. Duong, recent efforts from HHS to promote the implementation of integrated models of care in community health settings may allow providers to better identify and intervene in their patients' medical and behavioral health problems sooner, resulting in improved health outcomes.
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