Saturday, 14 January 2006: 2:00 PM-3:45 PM
Cultural and Health Disparities among Multi-Ethnic Populations: Findings from the California Health Interview Survey
Organizer:Julia F. Hastings, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Obesity, Body Weight, and Self-Reported Mental Health: The Double Jeopardy Problem among California Racial Minoriies
Julia F. Hastings, PhD, Julian Chow, PhD, George J. Unick, MSW
Heavier Alcohol Use and Obesity among Ethnic Groups
Lorraine T. Midanik, PhD, Julia F. Hastings, PhD
Smoking and Mental Health Disparities among California's Diverse Population: The California Health Interview Survey
Elaine Zahnd
Differential Item Functioning of Mental Health and Physical Health Items among Chinese Speaking and Non Chinese Speaking Californians: California Health Interview Study
George J. Unick, MSW, Julian Chow, PhD, Julia F. Hastings, PhD
Generational Disparities in Prenatal Health: Findings from the California Health Interview Survey
Michelle A. Johnson, MSW
Abstract Text:
Addressing health disparities among the many diverse communities in California requires a multi-faceted strategy that clinicians, providers, policymakers and researchers are only beginning to develop. Research has shown that a broad range of social, economic, and community conditions interplay with individual factors to exacerbate susceptibility to poorer health status among multi-ethnic populations. Though recent research points to many individual factors associated with an increase in health disparities, rarely do researchers study the impacts of multiple factors impinging on health; this is especially true for communities of color whom continue to show vast differences in health outcomes. Health disparities are not the result of specific populations experiencing a different set of illnesses compared to the general population. Rather, although these illnesses affect the population as a whole, low-income, minority populations are significantly more likely to experience exposure, usually with multiple negative health conditions. Social workers play an instrumental role in reducing the effects of poor health and mental health care for California's growing multi-ethnic communities. The literature suggests that these communities face a range of cultural and psychological realities that challenge, facilitate, and undermine full participation in society. Because ethnic minority populations are increasing, yet remain underrepresented in access to specialty mental health care and health care services, the public health system must develop new ways to provide culturally appropriate prevention, outreach and treatment to encourage healthy behaviors for these diverse populations. In this symposium, five presenters analyzed the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) datasets in an effort to explore a wide range of approaches to understanding how physical and social environments affect many comorbid conditions, access to care, and mental health treatment for ethnic minority populations residing in the state. CHIS is the most appropriate dataset available to facilitate in-depth study of California's health disparity issues. CHIS is a Random Digit Dial (RDD), population-based, telephone survey of over 55,000 households conducted in 2001 and 2003. Based on a stratified sample design, the original planning used a combination of 1998 CPS data and 1990 Census data to estimate the numbers and proportions of California's ethnic and racial subgroups, non-English language demands, and expected numbers of adolescents and young children across 41 geographic strata in designing their sample. CHIS is administered in five languages. CHIS can aid researchers, providers and policymakers in understanding the health concerns of the multi-ethnic population and serve as a catalysis for generating appropriate health policy in California as well as nationally.

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See more of Meeting the Challenge: Research In and With Diverse Communities (January 12 - 15, 2006)