Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Difficulty Among Older Bhutanese Refugees
Author Information
Author(s): Katherine Kitchens, Jaclyn Kirsch
Primary Institution: The University of Texas Arlington
Hypothesis
How is socioeconomic status differentially associated with cognitive difficulties between older Bhutanese refugees and other refugee groups in the United States?
Conclusion
Higher income does not protect older Bhutanese refugees from cognitive difficulties, indicating a need for better resource conversion into cognitive health outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Refugee populations report cognitive difficulties at a rate significantly higher than older immigrants and native-born U.S. adults.
- High school completion was associated with a 43% decrease in the odds of cognitive difficulty among older refugees.
- Educational attainment was not a significant protective factor for older Bhutanese refugees.
- Living above 138% of the federal poverty level significantly increased the odds of reporting a cognitive difficulty.
Takeaway
Older Bhutanese refugees have a harder time with thinking and memory, even if they have more money or education.
Methodology
Binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of income level and high school completion with self-reported cognitive difficulty.
Participant Demographics
Older Bhutanese refugees compared to other refugee groups in the United States.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<.001
Confidence Interval
[0.43,0.75]
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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