Long Term Consequences of Adolescent Avoidance of Medically Necessary Care

• In Event: 343 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 12. Health in Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Abstract

Healthcare is a resource that is generally recognized as important for preventative health and maintenance of chronic diseases that plague our society; however, little research has been done on the relationship between fully functional adolescents, health care utilization and health outcomes. This study seeks to understand the role that healthcare utilization in adolescence plays in later life health outcomes. Using two waves of the Add Health data set, this study employs multiple logistic regressions to estimate the effects of foregone health care in adolescence on general, mental, and physical health indicators. Results show that forgone care in adolescence has significant effects on adulthood self-rated health (p<.05), foregone care in adulthood (p<.001), and depression (p<.001); high cholesterol was non-significant. The results of this study support the notion that health care utilization in adolescence can have long-term protective effects on one’s health. Policy-makers should consider a more holistic view of health care access for adolescents that are concerned about confident, sensitive health issues, and convey the importance of seeking care when necessary

Author

• Emily Harris, Purdue University