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Indicator: Physical and Mental Health Restrictions

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Percent of Adults for Whom Poor Physical or Mental Health Restricted Regular Activities in the Last Month By Number of Days

Figure 2: Percent of Adults for Whom Poor Health Has Restricted Activity by Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Income and Education

Figure 3: Percent of Adults Who Say Their Health is Poor

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Upstream Indicators
  •   Freedom from Discrimination --- Indicator information is based on three surveys conducted in 2001 2004, and 2007. There were no significant changes over the three survey years for the county as a whole. However, there are differences in reporting of experiencing of discrimination according to age, race/ethnicity,and smaller geographic areas.  (view data graph)
  •   Income Distribution --- In the two decades between 1979 and 2007, income has shifted from the four lower income groups to the highest income group.   (view data graph)
  •   Educational Background --- The educational level of King County residents has steadily increased over the past 25 years with more people getting high school diplomas, some college experience, and bachelor's degrees.   (view data graph)
  •   Health Insurance Coverage --- In King County, 15.5% of adult residents, 190,000 lacked health insurance in 2004. This is the highest percentage recorded since data began being collected in 1991. (Chapter 11, Health of King County 2006)   (view data graph)
  •   Pollution in Neighborhoods --- It appears that some neighborhoods, particularly those with lower income levels and greater racial diveristy, are more at risk of pollution from Toxic Release Facilities, hazardous waste sites, and other sources.  (view data graph)
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Downstream Indicators
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Related Goals

A supply of Affordable Quality Housing would reduce stress, positively affecting overall health. Health Equity should ensure that all people are entitled to treatment of physical and mental health, including preventative care. Healthy Living Choices have a direct effect on ones health. Education is important to teach people about making the right choices for a healthy and happy life.

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Sustainability Snapshot:

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Poor physical health may be caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse and stress. Poor mental health is linked with social isolation, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. A survey of King County residents asking how many days did poor physical or mental health keep them from doing their usual activities found substantial differences by income and race.

Sustainability Trend:

The percentage of King County adults with severe activity limitation increased between 1998 and 2007. This local finding is consistent with national trends. This local increase corresponds to worsening trends nationally.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Percent of Adults Age 18+ for Whom Poor Physical or Mental Health Restricted Regular Activities 3 or more days in the Last Month & Percent of Adults Who Say They Are in Poor Health

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

A recurring health survey of King County adults asks: During the past 30 days, for about how many days did poor physical or mental health keep you from doing your usual activities, such as self-care, work, or recreation? In the 2007 survey, 6.8% of King County adults reported 14 or more days per month of restricted activity due to poor health, 19.4% had 1 to 13 days, and 73.7% said that poor health did not restrict them on any days in the past month. 14 or more days of restriction in a month is considered a severe activity limitation due to health.

The percentage of King County adults with severe activity limitation increased between 1998 and 2007. This local finding is consistent with national trends. The 5-year average rate of severe limitation 2003-2007 was lower in the East and North Regions (4.3%, 4.2%) than in South Region (6.4%). Seattle’s rate (4.9%) did not differ from those of the other regions or King County overall (5.8%) (data not shown).

Data Source and Limitations

Data on general health status and restricted activity days due to poor health were contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and are based on data from the Washington State and national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a random telephone interview survey of non-institutionalized adults age 18 and older that has been conducted in King County every year since 1987. The geographic boundaries of the four King County subregions are defined by aggregating zip codes.

The limitations of an English-only telephone survey include the following: a) people who do not have a telephone are missed, b) people who do not speak English do not participate, c) people who have less education and lower incomes tend to be underrepresented.

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Additional Resources

  • Health of the Community, King County AIMs High Annual Indicators and Measures
    Years of Healthy Life (YHL) is the number of years the average King County resident born today can expect to live in good health. Over the last 10 years, YHL in King County has changed little, rising only from 71.5 years (1993-1995 average) to 72.5 years (2003-2005 average). Total life expectancy--which includes expected healthy and unhealthy years--has increased more, from 77.8 years to 80.7 years. In other words, only one of the three years of life expectancy we have gained in the last decade can be expected to be spent in good health.