Mental Health Risk Among Members of the Millennial Population Cohort: A Concern for Public Health.

PURPOSE: Within the millennial population cohort, identify groups reporting increased risk of nonspecific psychological distress. As the largest living population cohort, taking stock of health and well-being early is necessary as substantial national resources may be needed as this cohort ages.

DESIGN

The 2017 National Health Interview Survey data, an annual multipurpose survey of the US population, was used.

SAMPLE: A sample of 7303 respondents were created by limiting data set to birth years 1980 to 1998.

MEASURES: Outcomes were feeling like everything is an effort, worthlessness, hopelessness, restlessness, nervousness, and sadness. Combined these statements of feeling make up a measure of nonspecific psychological distress, past 30 days.

ANALYSIS: A logistic regression was performed on each outcome. All models controlled for demographic variables known to be associated with psychological distress.

RESULTS

Females are 1.4 times more likely than males to report nonspecific psychological distress (P < .001), whereas Hispanics and Blacks are less likely to report nonspecific psychological distress (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49, OR = 0.57, P < .001). American Indians were less likely to report worthlessness (OR = 0.30, P < .05). However, multiple race individuals increasingly reported hopelessness (OR = 1.55, P < .05). Young adults are less likely than emerging adults to report sadness (OR = 0.85, P < .05).

CONCLUSION

In this sample, racial/ethnic groups fared better than referent groups. Health programs need to integrate intersectional identities into promotion of mental health.