1. A Neighborhood-level analysis of mental health distress and income inequality as quasi-longitudinal risk of reported COVID-19 infection and mortality outcomes in Chicago
- Author
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Ramos, Stephen D, Kannout, Lynn, Khan, Humza, Klasko-Foster, Lynne, Chronister, Briana NC, and Du Bois, Steff
- Subjects
Human Geography ,Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Human Society ,Coronaviruses ,Clinical Research ,Basic Behavioral and Social Science ,Women's Health ,Infectious Diseases ,Emerging Infectious Diseases ,Brain Disorders ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Mental Health ,Coronaviruses Disparities and At-Risk Populations ,Mental health ,Good Health and Well Being ,Reduced Inequalities ,COVID-19 infection ,COVID-19 mortality ,Income inequality ,Mental health distress ,Neighborhood-level analysis - Abstract
Extant literature investigates the impact of COVID-19 on mental health outcomes, however there is a paucity of work examining mental health distress as a risk factor for COVID-19 outcomes. While systemic variables like income inequality relate to both mental health and COVID-19, more work is needed to test theoretically informed models including such variables. Using a social-ecological framework, we aimed to address these gaps in the literature by conducting a neighborhood-level analysis of potential mental health distress and systemic- (income inequality) level predictors of reported COVID-19 infection and mortality over time in Chicago. Neighborhood-level comparisons revealed differences in mental health distress, income inequality, and reported COVID-19 mortality, but not reported COVID-19 infection. Specifically, Westside and Southside neighborhoods generally reported higher levels of mental health distress and greater concentration of poverty. The Central neighborhood showed a decline in reported mortality rates over time. Multi-level negative binomial models established that Zip-codes with greater mental health distress were at increased reported COVID-19 infection risk, yet lower mortality risk; Zip-codes with more poverty were at increased reported COVID-19 infection risk, yet lower mortality risk; and Zip-codes with the highest percentage of People of Color were at decreased risk of reported COVID-19 mortality. Taken together, these findings substantiate Chicago neighborhood-level disparities in mental health distress, income inequality, and reported COVID-19 mortality; identify unique differential associations of mental health distress and income inequality to reported COVID-19 infection and reported mortality risk; and, offer an alternative lens towards understanding COVID-19 outcomes in terms of race/ethnicity.
- Published
- 2023