Hausmann, Leslie R. M.Cohen, Alicia J.Eliacin, JohanneGurewich, Deborah A.Lee, Richard E.McCoy, Jennifer L.Meterko, MarkMichaels, ZacharyMoy, Ernest M.Procario, Gregory T.Russell, Lauren E.Schaefer, James H., Jr.2024-04-162024-04-162023Hausmann LRM, Cohen AJ, Eliacin J, et al. Developing a brief assessment of social risks for the Veterans Health Administration Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients. Health Serv Res. 2023;58(6):1209-1223. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.14220https://hdl.handle.net/1805/40058Objective: To determine whether a 6- or 12-month look-back period affected rates of reported social risks in a social risk survey for use in the Veterans Health Administration and to assess associations of social risks with overall health and mental health. Study design: Cross-sectional survey of respondents randomized to 6- or 12-month look-back period. Data sources and study setting: Online survey with a convenience sample of Veterans in June and July 2021. Data collection/extraction methods: Veteran volunteers were recruited by email to complete a survey assessing social risks, including financial strain, adult caregiving, childcare, food insecurity, housing, transportation, internet access, loneliness/isolation, stress, discrimination, and legal issues. Outcomes included self-reported overall health and mental health. Chi-squared tests compared the prevalence of reported social risks between 6- and 12-month look-back periods. Spearman correlations assessed associations among social risks. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models estimated associations between social risks and fair/poor overall and mental health. Principal findings: Of 3418 Veterans contacted, 1063 (31.10%) responded (87.11% male; 85.61% non-Hispanic White; median age = 70, interquartile range [IQR] = 61-74). Prevalence of most reported social risks did not significantly differ by look-back period. Most social risks were weakly intercorrelated (median |r| = 0.24, IQR = 0.16-0.31). Except for legal issues, all social risks were associated with higher odds of fair/poor overall health and mental health in bivariate models. In models containing all significant social risks from bivariate models, adult caregiving and stress remained significant predictors of overall health; food insecurity, housing, loneliness/isolation, and stress remained significant for mental health. Conclusions: Six- and 12-month look-back periods yielded similar rates of reported social risks. Although most individual social risks are associated with fair/poor overall and mental health, when examined together, only adult caregiving, stress, loneliness/isolation, food, and housing remain significant.en-USAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 InternationalVeteransHealth status disparitiesQuestionnaire designSocial determinants of healthSocial risk factorsArticle