Natalie Bonfine, Ph.D. and Stacey Barrenger, Ph.D.

Social Factors Associated with Health Service Utilization, Health, and Well-being among People with Serious Mental Illness

Social status characteristics, including age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status, have been shown to affect health outcomes. In addition to examining the direct connections between social status and health outcomes, it is also important to assess intervening effects of stress, social support, and psychosocial coping resources on the association between social status characteristics and health outcomes. Much of the research done in these areas has focused on community samples of adults representing the general population and are not specific to people living with severe and persistent mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. This study will examine survey data collected from a community-based sample of people with serious and persistent mental illness to better understand how social factors are associated with mental health service utilization and health outcomes. Specifically, this project will examine the associations among social characteristics and social factors, such as exposure to stress, housing instability, criminal justice system involvement, with mental health service utilization, overall health status, and psychological well-being.

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