Critical Thinking Exercise: Poverty and Health Disparities
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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.
Chapter 1: Introducing Health Psychology
Critical Thinking Exercise: Poverty and Health Disparities
When systemic issues of health access and reform are investigated, many questions arise. Health disparities are based on a number of factors and contexts. Poverty, for example, has been directly related to both health and mental health outcomes. For instance, in the Healthy People 2020 report (https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/data-search/Search-the-Data#objid=5249), one specific study that addressed social determinants of identified poverty status in the United States utilized data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2016, almost 13% of the United States population met the necessary criteria for living in poverty. The United States Census Bureau recognizes “poverty status” based on money income, excluding any federal or state benefit (e.g., food stamps), and overall family size. In 2010, for a two-child family, with two parents living in the home, the poverty threshold was set at $22,113.
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Name two goals of and provide examples of each with respect to the Department of Health and Human Services initiative noted in the Healthy People 2020 report.
Two goals associated with the Department of Health and Human Services initiative include developing social and physical environments that advocate for general well-being, and reducing chances of premature death. An example of creating a social and physical environment advocating health would be including multiple medical facilities and recreational facilities in contemporary urban planning that would be affordable to all patrons within a given community. Funding could be from private donations or through a taxation program. An example of limiting premature death may focus on a certain number of free well-care visits for all residents in an effort to identify and treat sickness.
2 of 4
The Healthy People 2020 report found that a higher percentage of residents in nonmetropolitan areas, when compared to metropolitan area residents, met the poverty threshold. (a) Name two possible reasons for this finding. (b) How does this finding relate to potential health outcomes for those residents?
Nonmetropolitan areas tend to have more limited and more competitive job markets and as such many people vie for the same position. Additionally, because the cost of living is lower in nonmetropolitan areas, compensation may be limited and not able to satisfy the needs of a family. Because nonmetropolitan areas also tend to have fewer health facilities and resources, residents in these communities may experience more sickness and poorer prognoses. If they cannot afford to see the doctor, they are likely to have less desirable health outcomes.
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In the Healthy People 2020 report (noted in the exercise), what is the difference in poverty status for those with a disability and those without a disability? Explain the trend.
The Healthy People 2020 report noted that individuals with a disability that affects activities of daily living (e.g., dressing themselves, housekeeping, preparing meals, driving) are more likely to meet poverty status than those with a disability that does not affect those activities. This trend appears stable over the 2010–2014 term, and thus suggests that specific initiatives targeting the health and well-being of disabled individuals whose independence is limited are needed. Higher percentages of poverty may occur with individuals with a disability that affects their daily living tasks because they have limited job opportunities or they may be less likely to be hired.
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In 2018, the poverty threshold was raised to $24,858 from the 2010 threshold of $22,113 for a two-parent, two-child household. What could be some reasons for this change?
The standard of living and the cost of living has increased over the last eight years, so the cost of running a household has also increased.