Mills stated that the researchers also looked at the effects of the combination socioeconomic factors because the individual factors can often be correlated. Patients who were not white, had no college degree, were unemployed, and had income below the 25th percentile showed 26% less improvement than patients who were white, had a college degree, and had income above the 75th percentile.
Mills stated that while the findings do not negate that access can have an impact on treatment outcomes but that it does highlight the importance to include a patient’s home environment when analyzing treatment effectiveness.
Mills, professor of economics at UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, stated that if you go home to a wealthy area with educated parents or spouses, it is more likely that the treatment will be effective.
Strawn stated that other research has shown that patients living in resource-poor areas may be more affected by chronic variable stress. This is high levels of stress that are unpredictable and hard to predict. He said that chronic sustained stress is more stable than chronic variable stress, which he believes has a worse impact on patients.
So, I was able pay my rent this month. But, Im not sure if I will be able next month. Strawn stated that although I do have a job, I don’t know if I will be able to get one next month. It’s just the impact of all that, plus having children or relatives with less education resources or other job-related stress or potential other health problems. You still face those same barriers in terms access, cost and support.
