THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND SELF-REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH STATUS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

1 online resource (53 pages) : PDF

2020

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Mental illness is a critical public health issue, as it is not only one of the most common causes of disability, but also carries a high disease burden with regards to physical health and premature mortality. Despite the high prevalence and its accompanying costs, many individuals who indicate psychological distress encounter barriers to accessing healthcare. This study draws on the Healthcare Access Barriers (HCAB) model to examine the relationship between barriers to mental healthcare and self-reported mental health status. Specifically, it examined whether higher levels of financial, structural, and cognitive barriers to healthcare access were associated with self-reported mental health and the strength of these barriers’ associations. Data was collected from 118 participants residing in a place-based initiative participating in a community transformation project by community health workers. Analyses indicated that the relationship between healthcare access barriers and self-reported mental health were not significant. Twenty-four percent of individuals reported "Fair" or "Poor" mental health, and 49% rated their mental health as "Very Good" or "Excellent". These results indicate poorer self-reported mental health than national samples. The demographic composition of this sample (100% Black, 98.7% female, residing in a place-based initiative) has implications for the study’s findings. Further research should seek to better understand the relationship between healthcare access barriers and mental health status, such as incorporating cultural factors as well as help-seeking preferences.

masters theses

Psychology
Mental health

M.A.

Psychology

Scott, Victoria

Case, Andrew
Dulin, Michael

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2020.

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Gigler_uncc_0694N_12455

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1974