Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111575

Shannon K. Boyer, MPH, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Medical Center, 50 Irving Street, NW, Washington, DC 20422, 202-745-8000, sboyer@gwu.edu, Cynthia R. Ronzio, PhD, Center for Health Services and Community Research, Children's National Medical Center/George Washington University Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave, NW, Room 6103, Washington, DC 20010, and Sean D. Cleary, PhD, MPH, School of Public Health & Health Services, George Washington University, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037.

Background: Studies have shown that the prevalence of mental disorders is greater among women than men, and race and socioeconomic disparities exist for treatment and diagnosis of mental disorders. There are limited data on mental disorders among women for the entire U.S. population. Objectives: To establish the prevalence of “serious mental illness” (SMI), as defined by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among a nationally representative sample of women and to determine the prevalence odds ratios for SMI among women of different ages, race/ethnicity, marital status, and socioeconomic status. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis uses the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The independent variables are age, race, marital status, education, and income and the dependent variable is the K6 score, a measure of SMI. Results: The prevalence of serious mental illness among women in the U.S. was 5.04% in 2002. Women who were separated (POR=1.75, 95% CI=1.21, 2.53), divorced (POR=2.16, 95% CI=1.72, 2.72), or not married but living with a partner (POR=1.77, 95% CI=1.19, 2.64) had increased prevalence odds for SMI compared to women who were married. Those with less education than a high school degree (POR=3.47, 95% CI=2.38, 5.03), high school graduates (POR=2.27, 95%CI=1.58, 3.52), and those with some college education (POR=1.87, 95% CI=1.33, 2.64) show increased odds for SMI compared to college graduates. Conclusion: Results of this study can inform treatment efforts aimed at the Healthy People 2010 goal of reducing mental health disparities among women.

Learning Objectives:

• To identify the prevalence of “serious mental illness” (SMI), as defined by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among a nationally representative sample of women
• To recognize the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that are associated with increased likelihood for SMI among women.

Keywords: Women, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation