A Quantitative Analysis of Subjective Measures of Well-being Among Uninsured and Insured Cancer Patients and Cancer Survivors
Open Access
- Author:
- Granahan, Brendan
- Area of Honors:
- Health Policy and Administration
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Mark Sciegaj, Thesis Supervisor
Selena E Ortiz, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- insurance
cancer
affordable care act
well-being - Abstract:
- Purpose: Recent years have seen considerable progress in efforts to identify and treat cancer. Yet, cancer rates remain extremely high compared to other diseases and greatly impact the lives of patients. In an effort to capture more fully how cancer impacts individuals, this study seeks to quantify and examine subjective measures of well-being in cancer patients and survivors. The study compares uninsured and insured cancer patients and cancer survivors over six years to identify significant differences in subjective measures of well-being. Methods: Data were examined from the 2009 and 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Subjective measures of well-being were measured using Ryff’s psychological scale of well-being to better assess the complete picture of health for participants. Findings: Compared to their insured counterparts, uninsured cancer patients and survivors, on average, reported worse feelings of perceived health, perceived mental health, interference with social activities, and predisposition towards a mental disability in 2009 and 2015. Uninsured cancer patients and survivors reported, on average, higher feelings of ability to overcome illness without the help of a medical professional and fewer limitations in moderate daily activities. Conclusion: Uninsured cancer patients and cancer survivors reported worse feelings for some of the selected subjective measures of well-being both before and after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. This can perhaps explain a relationship with insurance status and psychological health. While worse scores were seen for subjective measures related to outlook on life for the uninsured, heightened scores were seen for subjective measures related to autonomy. This can perhaps be of importance for future policy aimed at a growing cancer survivor demographic.