Mental Health and Low Activity Trends

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services believes Healthy Days measures will quantify aspects of individuals and communities’ levels of health. One can assume that sedentary and emotionally unhealthy people will experience more health problems. Because environments affect communities’ health and well-being, epidemiologists attempt to measure various trends by location. Health-related quality of life (HRQCL) is a foundation for health surveillance. Subsequently, this data provides empirical evidence that some communities, cultures, genders, and refugees are more at risk for physical and mental ailments. Based on HRQCL data, New York females experience more mentally unhealthy days and low activity days than New York males; however, when compared to the nation, it seems that New York has one of the highest rates of emotional distress.

In general, HRQCL respondents determine their overall physical and mental health, and they estimate their activity levels. Between 2006 through 2010, males and females had significant differences in their results. For example, based on the nationwide results, 8.6% of males and 12.1% of females reported they suffered from 14 or more days of “mentally unhealthy days” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "BRFSS Trend Data"). In comparison, New York males and females reported similar percentages. Specifically, 8.4% of males and 11.0% of females suffered from “mentally unhealthy days” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "BRFSS Trend Data"). Thus, males and females have a significant difference in their mental health. In addition, when the CDC compares New York against the nation, the results are similar. 

In another assessment, when reporting activity levels, nationwide results indicated that 6.3% of men and 7.7% of women thought they had 14 days or more of limited activity. Likewise, New York results specified that 5.9% of men and 7.3% of women reported that they had 14 or more days of limited activity. Again, nationwide trends and New York trends are similar in that more females believed they were inactive due to physical or emotional health. In the study, "Worsening Trends in Adult Health-related Quality of Life and Self-rated Health?" the researchers found that “Women reported worse health—i.e., they more frequently reported poor health…than men within the same age groups” (Zack et al. 495). However, perhaps the results do not conclusively prove that women suffer from more health issues than men. Instead, females may be more willing to disclose personal information whereas men would rather not admit to any alleged weaknesses. 

As an illustration, gender stereotypes suggest females are more perceptive. In the article “Interpersonal Perception Skills and the Effects of Gender and Gender Roles,” Dan Stănescu suggests that “females are more interpersonally oriented than males and should therefore be more attuned to the interpersonal characteristics of others” (92). In other words, perhaps women feel more comfortable sharing with others. In addition, because women are able to perceive others’ emotions, they are able to identify their own feelings. Essentially, self-reported data depends on total disclosure. Because New York’s results are similar to the nationwide trend, it implies women are more open to report physical and emotional problems.  

Nevertheless, physical activity and mental health often correspond with one another. In their study, McKnight-Eily et al. explain, “Comorbid serious psychological distress was significantly associated with reported frequent activity limitation among persons who also reported a lifetime diagnosis of selected chronic diseases” such as bipolar disorder (111). Consequently, CDC’s data reflects that low activity results in mental distress. In 2000, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that “Nearly one third of Americans say they suffer from some form of mental or emotional health problem every month [and] 11 percent…said their mental health was not good more than seven days a month” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 12). While New York residents report a greater propensity for depression, their activity levels do not necessarily correspond. Thus, perhaps New Yorkers still suffer from long term effects of September 11. 

New York citizens may have had a decline in their overall health and activity levels since September 11. In the study, "Mental and Physical Health Consequences of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) Attacks in Primary Care: A Longitudinal Study," researchers found that the events of 9/11 continue to influence New York City. Neria et al. assessed New York City residents’ mental and physical states one to four years after the attacks. While many of the physical health problems were a result of “exposure to irritant dust, smoke, and gaseous combustion materials” (45), many citizens continued to suffer with poor mental health. While symptoms of PTSD subsided, Neria et al. found “rates of suicidal ideation and missed days of work significantly increased” (54) over the years. Therefore, while New Yorkers lack of physical activity may correlate with their overall mental health, many of the respondents who reported having mentally unhealthy days may be suffering from aftereffects of PTSD. With that in mind, further research should consider the effects of natural or manmade disasters and find the degree in which they correlate to physical and mental health. 

Overall, in the case of manmade disasters, researchers can compare the levels of non-activity and mental distress with other states that have experienced terrorist attacks. Similarly, further research can consider how natural disasters affect state populations. Ultimately, while quality of life often depends on lifestyle and personal attitudes, individuals cannot predict their emotional health after disasters. 

Works Cited

CDC. "Methods and Measures." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., 15 Mar. 2011. Web. 7 Sept. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/methods.htm>.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "BRFSS Trend Data." Health-Related Quality of Life . CDC.gov, 24 Jan. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2013. <http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/HRQOL>.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Measuring Healthy Days." Population Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life (2000): 1-40. CDC. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Nov. 2000. Web. 7 Sept. 2013.

McKnight-Eily, Lela R., Laurie D. Elam-Evans, Tara W. Strine, Matthew M. Zack, Geraldine S. Perry, Letitia Presley-Cantrell, Valerie J. Edwards, and Janet B. Croft. "Activity Limitation, Chronic Disease, and Comorbid Serious Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults." International Journal of Public Health 54.S1 (2009): 111-19. PubMed. Web. 7 Sept. 2013.

Neria, Yuval, Priya Wickramaratne, Mark Olfson, Marc Gameroff, Daniel Pilowsky, Rafael Lantigua, Steven Shea, and Myrna Weissman. "Mental and Physical Health Consequences of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) Attacks in Primary Care: A Longitudinal Study." Journal of Traumatic Stress 26 (2013): 45-55. EBSCO. Web. 7 Sept. 2013.

Stănescu, Dan F. "Interpersonal Perception Skills and the Effects of Gender and Gender Roles." Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations 14.1 (2012): 91-99. EBSCO. Web. 7 Sept. 2013.

Zack, M., D. Moriarty, D. Stroup, E. Ford, and A. Mokdad. "Worsening Trends in Adult Health-related Quality of Life and Self-rated Health?United States, 1993?2001."Public Health Reports 119.5 (2004): 493-505. The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web. 7 Sept. 2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497661/pdf/15313113.pdf>.