The effect of emotional disorders on adherence to mammography screening guidelines

Depression, anxiety, and other emotional disorders are highly prevalent; however, the impact of these on adherence to mammography screening guidelines remains unclear. We sought to determine the effect of feeling limited by emotional disorders on adherence to mammographic screening guidelines.

Data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey were used to evaluate whether women aged 50-74 who felt limited in some way by an emotional issue (EI; defined as depression, anxiety, or another emotional problem) were less likely to report having had a mammogram within the past two years than those who reported no such limitation.

Of the 5815 women surveyed, 3.25% stated that they were limited in some way by EI. These women were significantly less likely to report having had a mammogram within the past two years compared to those without EI (68.28% vs. 79.36%, p = 0.002). Controlling for sociodemographic factors, EI no longer predicted worse mammography screening adherence (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.54-1.12, p = 0.182). Rather, family income relative to poverty level, health insurance coverage, and having a usual place of healthcare were independent predictors of adherence to screening mammography guidelines.

Women who feel limited by an EI tend to have lower mammography screening rates than those without such limitations; however, this is driven primarily by socioeconomic factors such as income, insurance status, and access to healthcare.