Race/Ethnicity, Income, Chronic Asthma, and Mental Health A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

To examine the relationships among race/ethnicity, income, and asthma on mental health outcomes in individuals surveyed as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Racial and ethnic disparities in asthma prevalence exist, which may be explained in part by socioeconomic status. Individuals with asthma often have comorbid mental health conditions, the rates of which are also marked by significant racial and ethnic disparities.