Health Status

The Health Status dataset is based on self-assessment and includes both mental and physical health. Although this measure is subjective due to differences in how people perceive their own health compared to one another, it’s a useful snapshot of the public’s self-assessment of their current and overall well-being. 

Health status is deeply connected to the social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. They include factors like socioeconomic status, education, immigration status, language, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to health care.

Poor Mental Health

Poor Mental Health measures the percentage of adults who report 14 or more days during the past 30 days during which their mental health was not good. Mental health is a public health concern.( Frequent mental distress has been associated with mental health conditions, chronic illnesses, limitations in functioning, adverse health behaviors, and increased utilization of health services.  Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders indicate that approximately 9.5% of American adults suffer from depressive illnesses each year, with women being nearly twice as likely to experience major depression compared to men. Moreover, although major depression can manifest at any age, the average age of onset is in the mid-20s.

According to KFF analysis of 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, among adults with any mental illness, Black (39%), Hispanic (36%), and Asian (25%) adults were less likely than White (52%) adults to receive mental health services as of 2021. Learn more about mental healthcare access in one of LA’s many communities of color in this data story. These data signal the need to  find solutions to help destigmatizing mental health issues, direct people towards resources that can help them, and invest in  an infrastructure able to respond to patients’ needs.  

Poor Physical Health

Poor Physical Health measures the percentage of adults who report 14 or more days during the past 30 days during which their physical health was not good. Physical health is an important component of Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), a comprehensive concept spotlighting the impact of health status on quality of life. According to KFF Analysis of 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, American Indian and Alaska Native adults had the highest rates of 14 or more physically unhealthy days in the past 30 days (17%), compared Asian American adults with the lowest rates of 14 or more physically unhealthy days (5%).

Physical inactivity significantly contributes to poor physical health (Sallis & Glanz, 2009). This is evidenced by studies indicating that automobile-centered communities, characterized by segregated land uses, low density, disconnected street networks, and inadequate pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure, are associated with reduced physical activity, such as walking or outdoor exercise (Dannenberg, Frumkin, & Jackson, 2011). Furthermore, research by Wang, Narcisse, and McElfish (2023) found that adults living in walkable neighborhoods were 1.5 times more likely to engage in sufficient physical activity and 0.76 times less likely to be obese compared to those residing in neighborhoods with low walkability.

These data point to a need for policy efforts focused on promoting health equity, investing in preventive health strategies, and creating healthy built environments to improve overall community well-being.

Written by Nicole Ouyang