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Description
The purpose of this secondary analysis is to identify any associations between insurance types (private, public, employer based and etc.) and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in adolescents. Studies have shown that there is a significant association between health and insurance status (insured versus not insured). Health related quality of life is proxy for measuring mental and physical health and overall health of individuals and in communities. Data was obtained from California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011-2012 survey of adolescents. Descriptive statistics was performed on all variables, those found to be significant at a p=0.10 were added to a logistic regression model. Logistic Regression was performed on the data set using HRQOL as the outcome variable and insurance type as the variable of interest. Other variables included are: age, gender, race, overweight status, asthma status, smoking status, insurance coverage within the past 12 months, usual sources of care, number of doctor visits within the past year and Emergency Room usage in the past year. These selected variables have been found to be significantly associated in the literature and were controlled for in the analysis. This secondary analysis examined health behaviors such as health service usage and its association to insurance type and how that affects HRQOL. The usage of health care services was significantly associated with the well- being of adolescents, especially those with chronic conditions. This is important in helping the community understand whether there is a need for health care access or a need for health service utility promotion. Examining the association between insurance type and health related quality of life can provide significant understanding of how people value health.
