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Subpopulation Group Definitions
This report highlights disparities by five key subpopulation groups; race/ethnicity, age, gender, disability status and sexual orientation. Not all subpopulations are available for all data sources and measures. In addition, where they are reported, definitions of measures and subpopulations may vary based on data sources.
Gender. This report includes data for females and males as readily available through public data sources.
Disability. It is important to note that the criteria for disability in the measures highlighted in this brief includes people who indicate that they have a physical, mental or emotional condition that impacts their day-to-day ability to function. This aligns with standardized definitions and data collection across federal data sources. While our analysis shows wide mental and behavioral health disparities between individuals with disabilities and individuals without disabilities, it is important to note that the inclusion of emotional condition in the criteria for disability may be a confounding factor. However, people with disabilities or poor mental health are at greater risk for social disconnection associated with increased risk for anxiety and depression.9 Further research is needed to fully understand the complexity of mental and behavioral health disparities among this population. In this report, person-first language is utilized in consideration of the unique needs and interests of people with disabilities.
Adults (or youth) with disabilities. Subpopulation of individuals who are classified as having disabilities based on standardized definition across all data sources using items that were added to all federally administered surveys in accordance with 2010 PPACA legislation. Individuals are classified as having disabilities if they (or their proxy) respond Yes to one or more of the following:
(1) Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
(2) Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?
(3) Because of physical, mental or emotional conditions, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions? (ages 5+)
(4) Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? (ages 5+)
(5) Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing? (ages 5+)
(6) Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping? (ages 15+)
Sexual Orientation. Subpopulation of adults who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). This definition follows the NSDUH data source definition.