Findings from a National Health Interview Survey revealed that civically engaged adults were more likely to stay up to date with their breast cancer screenings. The research findings were published in the American Cancer Society's Cancer journal.
“The connection isn’t surprising, as being civically engaged could increase someone’s motivation to stay healthy by strengthening their sense of life purpose and role in their community,” said lead study author Jordan Baeker Bispo, PhD, MPH, Principal Scientist, Cancer Disparity Research at the American Cancer Society. “Also, civic engagement could foster relationships and social networks, which can facilitate access to material, informational, and social resources for screening.”
Study Methods
Researchers conducted an examination of the relationship between civic engagement and breast cancer screening based on data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. They looked at measures of civic engagement as participation in recent local elections, public meeting attendance, and volunteering. The dependent variable was past-year mammography completion.
Associations were also evaluated with adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics, including health insurance status and self-rated health.
Key Findings
The researchers analyzed 5,733 respondents who were eligible for breast cancer screening.
Past-year screenings were higher among individuals who voted (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.24), those who attended a public meeting (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.01–1.16), and those who volunteered (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.06–1.16) in comparison with those who did not, in adjusted models.
These associations were found to be strongest among individuals who participated in at least two measures of civic engagement vs none (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.18–1.35).
In stratified models, the associations between civic engagement and breast cancer screening was found to be positive across subgroups. The associations were consistently stronger in magnitude among individuals with a high school education or less in comparison with individuals with higher levels of education.
“We think [these data also have] important implications for health-care systems. They can play an important role in supporting civic engagement through programs like health-care–based voter registration campaigns and by partnering with community-based organizations to deliver outreach,” Dr. Baeker Bispo added. “Efforts like these could encourage more people to get regular health checkups, including preventive care services.”
The study authors noted that more research is needed to further understand the social mechanisms that underlie this relationship, but that these findings could support further efforts to advance cancer detection through paired public health and civic health programming.
“These findings show that civic engagement doesn’t just strengthen our communities, it can also improve individual health,” said Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Our volunteers are not only advocating for greater access to breast cancer screening through legislation like the SCREENS for Cancer Act, but they are also leading by example by prioritizing their own preventive care. Having the privilege of working alongside these dedicated advocates every day, these results come as no surprise.”
DISCLOSURES: The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
