1
|
Mainzer RM, Moreno-Betancur M, Nguyen CD, Simpson JA, Carlin JB, Lee KJ. Gaps in the usage and reporting of multiple imputation for incomplete data: findings from a scoping review of observational studies addressing causal questions. BMC Med Res Methodol 2024; 24:193. [PMID: 39232661 PMCID: PMC11373423 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-024-02302-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Missing data are common in observational studies and often occur in several of the variables required when estimating a causal effect, i.e. the exposure, outcome and/or variables used to control for confounding. Analyses involving multiple incomplete variables are not as straightforward as analyses with a single incomplete variable. For example, in the context of multivariable missingness, the standard missing data assumptions ("missing completely at random", "missing at random" [MAR], "missing not at random") are difficult to interpret and assess. It is not clear how the complexities that arise due to multivariable missingness are being addressed in practice. The aim of this study was to review how missing data are managed and reported in observational studies that use multiple imputation (MI) for causal effect estimation, with a particular focus on missing data summaries, missing data assumptions, primary and sensitivity analyses, and MI implementation. METHODS We searched five top general epidemiology journals for observational studies that aimed to answer a causal research question and used MI, published between January 2019 and December 2021. Article screening and data extraction were performed systematically. RESULTS Of the 130 studies included in this review, 108 (83%) derived an analysis sample by excluding individuals with missing data in specific variables (e.g., outcome) and 114 (88%) had multivariable missingness within the analysis sample. Forty-four (34%) studies provided a statement about missing data assumptions, 35 of which stated the MAR assumption, but only 11/44 (25%) studies provided a justification for these assumptions. The number of imputations, MI method and MI software were generally well-reported (71%, 75% and 88% of studies, respectively), while aspects of the imputation model specification were not clear for more than half of the studies. A secondary analysis that used a different approach to handle the missing data was conducted in 69/130 (53%) studies. Of these 69 studies, 68 (99%) lacked a clear justification for the secondary analysis. CONCLUSION Effort is needed to clarify the rationale for and improve the reporting of MI for estimation of causal effects from observational data. We encourage greater transparency in making and reporting analytical decisions related to missing data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rheanna M Mainzer
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Margarita Moreno-Betancur
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Cattram D Nguyen
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Julie A Simpson
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - John B Carlin
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Katherine J Lee
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Assari S, Azad MA, Zare H. Race by Sex Intersectional Differences in the Association between Allostatic Load and Depression in US Adults: 2005-2018. GLOBAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 2024; 4:20-33. [PMID: 39119133 PMCID: PMC11308993 DOI: 10.31586/gjeid.2024.1014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Objective Previous research has underscored the link between allostatic load-a comprehensive indicator of the cumulative physiological burden of chronic stress-and depression. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding how this relationship may differ across race and sex intersectional groups. This study aimed to investigate variations in the association between elevated allostatic load (AL>4) and depression among different race-sex intersectional groups within the general population. Methods This cross-sectional secondary analysis utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2005-2018. The analysis included variables such as race, sex, age, socioeconomic status, depression (measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ), and allostatic load. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the interactions between race and sex with allostatic load, focusing on the likelihood of high depression as the outcome. Results Across the pooled sample, an allostatic load greater than 4 was significantly associated with increased depression. Notably, an interaction effect was observed between race and AL>4 on depression among women, indicating that non-Hispanic Black women with a high allostatic load exhibited more pronounced depressive symptoms (Beta: 1.09, CI: 0.02-2.61). Conversely, among men, allostatic load greater than 4 neither correlated with nor interacted with race to influence depression levels. Conclusion The study highlights the critical need to consider allostatic load as a key intervention point for preventing or reducing depression, particularly among Black women. These findings underscore the necessity for customized intervention strategies that address the nuanced race-sex disparities in the impact of allostatic load on mental health across populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- 1 Department of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA. 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA. 3 Department of Urban Public Health, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA. 4 Marginalization-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mahbube Askari Azad
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hossein Zare
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.; University of Maryland Global Campus, Health Services Management, Adelphi, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Assari S. Racial Differences in Biopsychosocial Pathways to Tobacco and Marijuana Use Among Youth. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-02035-8. [PMID: 38807026 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02035-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influence of socioeconomic disparities and multidimensional stressors on youth tobacco and marijuana use is recognized; however, the extent of these effects varies among different racial groups. Understanding the racial differences in the factors influencing substance use is crucial for developing tailored interventions aimed at reducing disparities in tobacco and marijuana use among adolescents. AIMS This study aims to explore the differential effects of socioeconomic disparities and multidimensional stressors on tobacco and marijuana use between Black and White adolescents. METHODS Utilizing longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, this research includes a cohort of pre-youth, monitored from the age of 9-10 years for a period of up to 36 months. We examined the impact of various socioeconomic status (SES) indicators and multidimensional stressors, including trauma, financial stress, racial discrimination, and family stress, alongside baseline average cortical thickness and the subsequent initiation of tobacco and marijuana use over the 36-month follow-up. RESULTS Overall, 10,777 participants entered our analysis. This included 8263 White and 2514 Black youth. Our findings indicate significant differences in the pathways from SES indicators through stress types to cortical thickness between Black and White youths. Notably, cortical thickness's impact on the future initiation of tobacco and marijuana use was present in both groups. CONCLUSION The study suggests that compared to White adolescents, Black adolescents' substance use and associated cortical thickness are less influenced by stress and SES indicators. This discrepancy may be attributed to the compounded effects of racism, where psychosocial mechanisms might be more diminished for Black youth than White youth. These findings support the theory of Minorities' Diminished Returns rather than the cumulative disadvantage or double jeopardy hypothesis, highlighting the need for interventions that address the unique challenges faced by Black adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA.
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Urban Public Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Marginalization-Related Diminished Returns, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Satcher LA, Erving CL, Pitt RN. Are There Regional Differences in Mental Health among Black Americans? An Exploration of Explanatory Mechanisms. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-01969-3. [PMID: 38468118 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-01969-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Using data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) (2001-2003), we examine regional differences in past-year anxiety disorder and past-year major depressive episodes among a geographically diverse sample of Black Americans (N = 3,672). We find that Black Americans residing in the South experience a mental health advantage over Black Americans living in other parts of the country, experiencing lower rates of both anxiety disorder and past-year major depression. We also examine the extent to which stress exposure, religious involvement, and neighborhood contexts help explain any regional differences. We find that stress exposure helps to explain much of the differences observed across regions, while religious involvement and neighborhood contexts help explain observed regional differences to a lesser extent. These findings highlight the importance of considering regional contexts in understanding intra-racial differences in mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lacee A Satcher
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, McGuinn Hall 420, 02467, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Swilley-Martinez ME, Coles SA, Miller VE, Alam IZ, Fitch KV, Cruz TH, Hohl B, Murray R, Ranapurwala SI. "We adjusted for race": now what? A systematic review of utilization and reporting of race in American Journal of Epidemiology and Epidemiology, 2020-2021. Epidemiol Rev 2023; 45:15-31. [PMID: 37789703 DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Race is a social construct, commonly used in epidemiologic research to adjust for confounding. However, adjustment of race may mask racial disparities, thereby perpetuating structural racism. We conducted a systematic review of articles published in Epidemiology and American Journal of Epidemiology between 2020 and 2021 to (1) understand how race, ethnicity, and similar social constructs were operationalized, used, and reported; and (2) characterize good and poor practices of utilization and reporting of race data on the basis of the extent to which they reveal or mask systemic racism. Original research articles were considered for full review and data extraction if race data were used in the study analysis. We extracted how race was categorized, used-as a descriptor, confounder, or for effect measure modification (EMM)-and reported if the authors discussed racial disparities and systemic bias-related mechanisms responsible for perpetuating the disparities. Of the 561 articles, 299 had race data available and 192 (34.2%) used race data in analyses. Among the 160 US-based studies, 81 different racial categorizations were used. Race was most often used as a confounder (52%), followed by effect measure modifier (33%), and descriptive variable (12%). Fewer than 1 in 4 articles (22.9%) exhibited good practices (EMM along with discussing disparities and mechanisms), 63.5% of the articles exhibited poor practices (confounding only or not discussing mechanisms), and 13.5% were considered neither poor nor good practices. We discuss implications and provide 13 recommendations for operationalization, utilization, and reporting of race in epidemiologic and public health research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica E Swilley-Martinez
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Serita A Coles
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, United States
| | - Vanessa E Miller
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Ishrat Z Alam
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Kate Vinita Fitch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Theresa H Cruz
- Prevention Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Bernadette Hohl
- Penn Injury Science Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, United States
| | - Regan Murray
- Center for Public Health and Technology, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, United States
| | - Shabbar I Ranapurwala
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Qian Y, Fan W. The Early 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak in China and Subsequent Flourishing: Medium-Term Effects and Intervening Mechanisms. SOCIETY AND MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 13:208-226. [PMID: 37927358 PMCID: PMC10620064 DOI: 10.1177/21568693221131819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
In early 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak occurred in Hubei Province of China. Exploiting the geographic concentration of China's COVID-19 cases in Hubei (the initial epicenter), we compare Hubei and non-Hubei residents to examine the medium-term effect of exposure to the COVID-19 outbreak on mental well-being. We examine flourishing-a comprehensive assessment of well-being that is not merely the absence of mental illness-and investigate a broad set of psychosocial and economic mediators that may link initial outbreak exposure to subsequent flourishing. We use ordinary least squares regression models to analyze national panel data collected in early 2020 and late 2021 (N = 3,169). Results show that flourishing scores remain lower for Hubei than non-Hubei residents almost two years following the early 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. Mediation analysis reveals that Hubei residents' lower incidences of job promotion and lower sense of control are the two most important mediators accounting for their lower flourishing relative to non-Hubei residents. Combined, this study provides the first evidence of the medium-term psychological vulnerability borne by individuals who lived in the initial epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings on the intervening mechanisms shed light on the policy initiatives needed for post-pandemic mental well-being recovery in China and other countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qian
- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wen Fan
- Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Friedman EM, Teas E. Self-Rated Health and Mortality: Moderation by Purpose in Life. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6171. [PMID: 37372758 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Poor self-rated health consistently predicts reduced longevity, even when objective disease conditions and risk factors are considered. Purpose in life is also a reliable predictor of diverse health outcomes, including greater longevity. Given prior work in which we showed that purpose in life moderated the association between chronic conditions and health-related biological factors, the aim of the current study was to examine the role of purpose in life in moderating the relationship between subjective health and mortality. We also examined potential differences in these associations by race/ethnicity. Data were from two large national longitudinal studies-the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study-with a 12- to 14-year follow-up period for mortality estimates. Results of logistic regression analyses showed that purpose in life and self-rated health were both significantly positively associated with longevity, and that purpose in life significantly moderated the relationship between self-rated health and mortality. Stratified analyses showed similar results across all racial/ethnic groups, with the exception of Black MIDUS participants. These results suggest that greater purpose in life may provide a buffer against the greater probability of mortality associated with poor subjective health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elliot M Friedman
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Elizabeth Teas
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sheehan C, Louie P, Li L, Kulis SS. Exposure to neighborhood poverty from adolescence through emerging adulthood and sleep duration in US adults. Health Place 2023; 81:103004. [PMID: 36940492 PMCID: PMC10164711 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
Does exposure to neighborhood poverty from adolescence to early adulthood have differential influence on sleep duration across racial/ethnic groups? We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health that consisted of 6756 Non-Hispanic (NH) White respondents, 2471 NH Black respondents, and 2000 Hispanic respondents and multinomial logistic models to predict respondent reported sleep duration based on exposure to neighborhood poverty during adolescence and adulthood. Results indicated that neighborhood poverty exposure was related to short sleep duration among NH White respondents only. We discuss these results in relation to coping, resilience, and White psychology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Connor Sheehan
- School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, USA; T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 873701, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-3701, USA.
| | - Patricia Louie
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, 211 Savery Hall, Seattle, WA, 98195-3340, USA.
| | - Longfeng Li
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, 140 Moore Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Stephen S Kulis
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 873701, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-3701, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Logan AC, Berman BM, Prescott SL. Vitality Revisited: The Evolving Concept of Flourishing and Its Relevance to Personal and Public Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5065. [PMID: 36981974 PMCID: PMC10049456 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Human flourishing, the state of optimal functioning and well-being across all aspects of an individual's life, has been a topic of philosophical and theological discussion for centuries. In the mid-20th century, social psychologists and health scientists began exploring the concept of flourishing in the context of health and high-level wellness. However, it is only in recent years, in part due to the USD 43 million Global Flourishing Study including 22 countries, that flourishing has entered the mainstream discourse. Here, we explore this history and the rapid acceleration of research into human flourishing, defined as "the relative attainment of a state in which all aspects of a person's life are good" by the Harvard University's Flourishing Program. We also explore the construct of "vitality", which refers to a sense of aliveness, energy, and motivation; we contend that this has been neglected in the flourishing movement. We explore why incorporating measures of vitality, together with a broader biopsychosocial approach, considers all dimensions of the environment across time (the total exposome), which will greatly advance research, policies, and actions to achieve human flourishing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian M. Berman
- Nova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Susan L. Prescott
- Nova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ridgeway SO, Denney JT. A comprehensive examination of discrimination and the impact on health in young adults. Soc Sci Med 2023; 320:115728. [PMID: 36746078 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Research has begun to clarify links between discrimination and health, but important gaps remain. A more complete understanding may arise from data on both frequency of discrimination as well as the various forms of discrimination. Using unique Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) Transition to Adulthood Supplement (TAS) data on a representative sample of young adults from the 2017 and 2019 waves, we consider frequency and forms of discrimination separately and in tandem. Using generalized estimating equations panel models, we find that the association between discrimination and health is more pronounced when the frequency of, and the number of reasons for, discriminatory experiences are considered together. For example, relative to experiencing no discrimination, perceiving frequent discrimination and for three or more reasons results in nearly three times higher odds of poor/fair self-rated health and 1.25 points lower on the languishing/flourishing scale. The impact of perceived discrimination on health is likely underestimated if frequency and rationale are not considered as a holistic experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sadie O Ridgeway
- Washington State University, PO Box 644020, Wilson-Short Hall, Pullman, WA, 99164-4020, USA.
| | - Justin T Denney
- Washington State University, PO Box 644020, Wilson-Short Hall, Pullman, WA, 99164-4020, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Anderson NW, Markowitz AJ, Eisenberg D, Halfon N, Moore KA, Zimmerman FJ. The Child and Adolescent Thriving Index 1.0: Developing a Measure of the Outcome Indicators of Well-Being for Population Health Assessment. CHILD INDICATORS RESEARCH 2022; 15:2015-2042. [PMID: 35966033 PMCID: PMC9362709 DOI: 10.1007/s12187-022-09962-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The well-being of children and adolescents is emerging as an area of interest for population health measurement. Previous approaches assessing national and state trends in well-being have relied on composite indices. However, these methodologies suffer from several weaknesses. This paper develops an improved index for the United States that is measurable with existing population-data resources. It derives the appropriate weights for items in this index using a longitudinal panel of 2,942 children in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Candidate component measures are selected for the index based on their demonstrated association with several subjective scales assessed during young adulthood. The final index demonstrates that a broad range of measures indicate higher levels of population-level well-being. The predictive validity of the index for outcomes during young adulthood is also assessed: a one-standard-deviation increase in the index score is associated with a 7.9-percentage-point decrease [95% CI: 5.9 - 9.8] in ever reporting fair or poor health, a 6.3-percentage-point decrease [95% CI: 4.6 - 8.0] in ever reporting depression, and a 17.2% [95% CI: 13.7% - 20.5%] increase in peak earnings. These values for predictive validity are slightly higher than those of existing methodologies. We also find that incorporating contextual indicators from childhood and adolescence does not substantively improve predictive validity. Policy-makers and government agencies interested in population-level well-being of children and adolescents can continue to use existing indices as reasonable proxies, but should also commit to upgrading data systems to make them more child-centric in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12187-022-09962-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Eisenberg
- Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Neal Halfon
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Grassroots efforts to end structural racism throughout the US National Institutes of Health. Nat Med 2022; 28:223-224. [DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01646-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|