THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON ANNUAL GYNECOLOGIST VISIT AMONG YOUNG FEMALES
Author(s)
Nga Weng Leong, MSc, Marie Barnard, PhD, John P. Bentley, PhD.
Department of Pharmacy Administration, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
Department of Pharmacy Administration, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Recent data suggest that fewer than 70% of young women aged 18-35 have had a gynecological visit in the past two years. Women with lower socioeconomic status (SES) were less likely to have an up-to-date gynecological exam. Lower SES may also be associated with reduced tangible and emotional social support, which could further limit preventive care utilization. However, the role of social support in promoting annual gynecologist visits (AGVs) remains unclear. Therefore, this study examined whether tangible and emotional support mediate the relationship between SES and AGV among young females.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using NIH All-of-Us controlled tier v8 data. Females aged 21-35 without major gynecological conditions were eligible. SES was operationalized as a composite score using education, income, and employment status. Tangible and emotional support were measured using mean scores derived from four items each in the modified Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey. A self-reported binary measure of AGV encounter was used based on whether participants had visited an obstetrician/gynecologist in the past 12 months. Causal mediation analysis using an interventional effect framework with multiple mediators, exposure-mediator interactions, and control variables was conducted to estimate the effects of SES on AGV through tangible/emotional support.
RESULTS: Among 18,467 females included in the analysis, most were White (69.11%), had insurance coverage (97.25%), and had a past 12-month gynecologist visit (61.59%). Of the 6.1% total difference in AGV probability between those with higher and lower SES (0.061, 95% CI: 0.046, 0.076), about 15.8% was mediated through tangible support and 20.5% through emotional support, with both indirect effects being statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Tangible and emotional social support significantly mediated the relationship between SES and AGV among young females. Interventions that enhance social support, particularly awareness and emotional encouragement, may help boost their engagement in annual gynecological care.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using NIH All-of-Us controlled tier v8 data. Females aged 21-35 without major gynecological conditions were eligible. SES was operationalized as a composite score using education, income, and employment status. Tangible and emotional support were measured using mean scores derived from four items each in the modified Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey. A self-reported binary measure of AGV encounter was used based on whether participants had visited an obstetrician/gynecologist in the past 12 months. Causal mediation analysis using an interventional effect framework with multiple mediators, exposure-mediator interactions, and control variables was conducted to estimate the effects of SES on AGV through tangible/emotional support.
RESULTS: Among 18,467 females included in the analysis, most were White (69.11%), had insurance coverage (97.25%), and had a past 12-month gynecologist visit (61.59%). Of the 6.1% total difference in AGV probability between those with higher and lower SES (0.061, 95% CI: 0.046, 0.076), about 15.8% was mediated through tangible support and 20.5% through emotional support, with both indirect effects being statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Tangible and emotional social support significantly mediated the relationship between SES and AGV among young females. Interventions that enhance social support, particularly awareness and emotional encouragement, may help boost their engagement in annual gynecological care.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH214
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health