Demography professor Ying Huang collaborated on a study examining the connections between material hardship and health outcomes in early adulthood.
APRIL 12, 2021 — Aiming to promote health equity in young adults, demography professor Ying Huang in the UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy, in collaboration with professor Colleen Heflin from Syracuse University and UTSA graduate researcher Asiya Validova, examined the associations between material hardship and health outcomes in early adulthood and the extent to which these associations are mediated by perceived stress.
Huang’s motivation for this study was driven by a picture she saw of a large number of people lined up in their cars waiting to received food at the local food bank during the peak of the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 crisis has caused significant disruptions to many people’s lives; young adults are particularly vulnerable to financial instability and material hardships during the pandemic,” said Huang, whose research interests include urban sociology, social stratification, and population health.
Using a National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative survey of young adults aged 18–34 years old, the researchers evaluated the associations between types and depth of material hardship and health outcomes in young adults.
By definition, material hardship occurs when people sacrifice necessities, such as food, medical care, housing and basic utilities because of insufficient financial resources; health outcomes include self-rated health, depression, sleep problems and suicidal thoughts.
Findings of the study show that the adjusted odds of fair or poor health status, depression, sleep problems and suicidal thoughts were higher among individuals with material hardship compared to their counterparts. A considerable proportion of the association between material hardship and health outcomes is attributable to perceived stress.
Huang offers a solution based on her research.
“Efforts to promote health equity should consider providing short-term, emergency assistance and other public services to young adults who are facing material hardships,” she explained.
Huang intends to expand her research to other specific groups that may be experiencing more adverse consequences from the pandemic.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers and strengthen their research skills.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society and apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene.
UTSA Main CampusThe Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center invites you to join us for the Summer Bridging Institute. This institute will focus on being lifelong growers and continually seeking to increase our skills as educators.
UTSA Downtown CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusCraft a comic to create your own narrative and find your voice through storytelling. Participants will learn to create characters that are self-reflective and through a community lens.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusCome enjoy a discussion on art as a self expression in the age of moving technology and telling your story with a community.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.