Mental Health Problems and Cancer Risk Factors Among Young Adults

• Published in: American journal of preventive medicine 2017-09, Vol.53 (3), p.S30-S39
• Main Authors: Massetti, Greta M., Thomas, Cheryll C., King, Jessica, Ragan, Kathleen, Buchanan Lunsford, Natasha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Asthma; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Cancer; Cervical cancer; Chronic Disease; Chronic illnesses; Continental Population Groups - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Depressive personality disorders; Diabetes; Drinking behavior; Early Detection of Cancer - psychology; Educational Status; Exercise; Female; Health Behavior; Health disparities; Health problems; Health Promotion; Health Risk Behaviors; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Health Status; Help seeking behavior; Humans; Leisure; Low income groups; Male; Mass Screening - psychology; Medical diagnosis; Medical screening; Men; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental Health - statistics & numerical data; Mental health services; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Obesity; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Physical activity; Preventive medicine; Psychological distress; Recreation; Risk Factors; Sleep; Smoking; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Surveillance; Tests; United States; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0749-3797; 1873-2607
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.04.023

Chronic mental health problems often emerge in young adulthood, when adults begin to develop lifelong health behaviors and access preventive health services. The associations between mental health problems and modifiable cancer risk factors in young adulthood are not well understood. In 2016, the authors analyzed 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data on demographic characteristics, health service access and use, health status, and cancer risk factors (tobacco use, alcohol use, overweight or obesity, physical activity, and sleep) for 90,821 young adults aged 18–39 years with mental health problems (depressive disorder or frequent mental distress) compared to other young adults. Mental health problems were associated with white race; less than a high school education; lower income; being out of work or unable to work; being uninsured (for men only); poor health; previous diagnosis of asthma, skin cancer, or diabetes; and not having a recent checkup. After controlling for demographic characteristics, health service use, and health status, mental health problems among young adults were associated with smoking, binge drinking, inadequate sleep, having no leisure time physical activity, and being overweight or obese (among women only). Cervical cancer screening was not associated with mental health problems after controlling for demographic characteristics, health service use, and health status. Mental health problems in young adulthood were associated with potentially modifiable factors and behaviors that increase risk for cancer. Efforts to prevent cancer and promote health must attend to mental health disparities to meet the needs of young adults.