Background: There is a growing body of research examining the role of multiple risk factors on health status (i.e., “double/multiple jeopardy”). Psychological distress has been shown to be a significant predictor of health outcomes, yet the double jeopardy literature has not focused on such outcomes. Objective: This study examined the effects of race, income, and gender on psychological distress and the role of confounding variables on these relationships in order to test the “multiple jeopardy hypothesis”. Methods: The data for this study come from the 1994 Commonwealth Fund Minority Health Survey, a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized adults (n=3789). Psychological distress was assessed for all combinations of black, white, and Hispanic respondents of high and low income and male and female gender. Psychological distress was measured using a summary score including the five-item mental health sub-scale of the SF-36 (Cronbach’s alpha=.76) and a single-item indicator of general well-being (i.e., “life-satisfaction”). Results: Findings are in support of the “multiple jeopardy hypothesis”. The data show that the addition of multiple risk categories statistically significantly increases the risk of psychological distress (p-value<.01), using rich white males as a comparison group. Conclusions: Multiple social risk factors increase the risk of psychological distress.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant is this session will be able to: 1. Define the “double/multiple jeopardy” hypothesis 2. Identify and discuss the relevant social risk factors that contribute to psychological distress 3. Prioritize the relevant risk factors by level of importance in predicting psychological well being 4. Apply the research findings to future studies that seek to uncover the effect of multiple risk factors on health outcomes 5. Develop conceptual models that link relevant risk factors to psychosocial health outcomes
Keywords: Mental Health, Minority Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Oral presentation preferred.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.