Author

Shivangi Kumari

EducationFeatured

Bullying’s Impairment on Health

by Shivangi Kumari
3 mins read

One of the biggest messages spread around almost every school is an anti-bullying campaign. A lot of students don’t pay attention to these because it seems normal to be picked on by your peers, or made fun of because of how you dress or your income status. Stopbullying.gov lists out some of the most common risk factors for kids who have been bullied, including being perceived as different from others,  and weaker or seemingly easier to prey on. The impacts of bullying are lightly addressed, but to what extent do they affect people?

Stopbullying.gov states that children who experienced bullying have “Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.” The CDC elaborates how about 160,000 high schoolers missed school because of bullying or violence at school. In 2019, about 20% of high schoolers reported having experienced bullying, 16% of which was online. Not to mention how “Overall, individuals with less education are more likely to experience a number of health risks, such as obesity, substance abuse, and intentional and unintentional injury, compared with individuals with more education.4 Higher levels of education are associated with a longer life and an increased likelihood of obtaining or understanding basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”

In the end, bullying obviously has no good results, and a mere constant of insults can greatly impact many people for the rest of their lives. A youth disparity index by the CDC confirms, “These trends are consistent with previous studies that show LGBTQ students are at a disproportionately higher risk for negative health outcomes related to sexual behaviors, experiences of violence, substance use, and mental health, including suicide, and poor academic performance”. Being targeted at school can affect a student’s mental and physical health, along with stunting their academic growth.


Works cited: 

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). “Effects of Bullying.” StopBullying.gov, 21 May 2021, https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/effects.

“Health Disparities.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Nov. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/index.htm#:~:text=Health%20disparities%20are%20preventable%20differences,experienced%20by%20socially%20disadvantaged%20populations.

“YRBSS Data & Documentation.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 May 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/data.htm.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Health

Mental Health by Gender

by Shivangi Kumari
3 mins read

Mental illness is a growing conversation as people are emerging into a more accepting environment, but the causes and social factors that contribute to them are still frequently looked over. Gender doesn’t greatly affect mental illness statistics by itself, but taking social interactions into count, drastic differences are made clear. Between men and women, the causes and visible symptoms of mental illnesses can differ in ways that aren’t usually considered.

News Medical-Life Sciences elaborates how the difference is rooted to be produced from social conventions;” People have similar ideas about what behavior is acceptable for men and women and continually engage in establishing a perception of gender difference during social encounters…Emotional expression, health care, and asking for help are all framed as feminine traits. Men are expected to be emotionally stable and have a strong, independent, and self-reliant demeanor.” The American Psychiatric Association (APA) supports this by noting important differences in seeking help by gender. In conclusion, women tend to get diagnosed more even if they show the same symptoms as men. This can be credited to the way society portrays women as more emotional and vulnerable, even if it is the same in men. 

Statistics by the APA also show that women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). But this isn’t only because men don’t get diagnosed, but instead a disproportionate experience of risk factors. Some mental health issues can stem from financial, workload, and home-violence problems. The gender pay gap leaves women working longer hours than men yet being paid less. Poverty levels are higher amongst women as well, where ages 18-64 are 14.2% for females and 10.5% for men as of 2017. Stereotypes in everyday life have very clear effects on mental illnesses, whether it be the assumption of men being strong and stable all the time or the systemic issues women face. 


Work Cited: 


Mental health disparities: Women’s mental health – psychiatry.org. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Women.pdf 


The gender gap in Mental Health. News. (2022, January 31). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Gender-Gap-in-Mental-Health.aspx 


Depression in women. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.mhanational.org/depression-women 

 
 
 
 

 

 
0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Health

Heart Disease Disparities Do Exist

by Shivangi Kumari
3 mins read

According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the USA between men and women. Some factors that contribute to heart issues are elevated rates of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cholesterol. Even though cardiovascular disease reflects lifestyle, racism and everyday prejudice result in black, indigenous, and people of color showing higher frequencies of it.


The Medical News Today summarizes multiple research projects; “A 2017 study that examined high blood pressure prevalence across racial and ethnic groups in New York City found significantly lower rates of hypertension among white Americans, with an overall age-adjusted rate of 27.5%. Black Americans had the highest high blood pressure rate at 43.5%, with a rate of 38% among Asian Americans and 33% among Hispanic Americans.” The author elaborates on how “residential segregation in the U.S. means that predominantly Black neighborhoods have fewer financial resources and are more likely to have shortages of doctors. It can also contribute to food deserts, which refers to areas where it is difficult to get fresh produce, and unsafe public spaces, which can affect a person’s ability to exercise.”


A heart disease study conducted by the CDC showed that during 2015-2016, Hispanic and non-Hispanic blacks were more likely to have hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Experts suggest that racism can elicit higher blood pressure, putting people of color at risk. Not to mention, having access to clean and safe resources also greatly impacts a person’s chances of developing obesity or diabetes. 



Work Cited

CDC. Health, United States Spotlight – Centers for Disease Control and … https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/spotlight/HeartDiseaseSpotlight_2019_0404.pdf. 

CDC.  “Million Hearts® Costs & Consequences.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Feb. 2021, https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/learn-prevent/cost-consequences.html#:~:text=More%20than%20800%2C000%20people%20in,in%20people%20under%20age%2065. 

Villines, Zawn. “Cardiovascular Disease and Race: What to Know.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 23 Aug. 2021, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cardiovascular-disease-and-race. 


1 comment
3 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail