Publications

Publications

Featured publications

Research Report

The Health of California: A Regional Perspective

Using data from the 2021–2022 California Health interview Survey (CHIS), researchers at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research have identified key differences and similarities in seven selected regions across the state concerning demographics, health status, healthcare experiences, access to food and housing, and civic engagement.
Cover pages of 7 regional health profile reports shows California map and image from each region

Policy Brief

Variation in Psychological Distress, Life Impairment, and Unmet Need for Care Among Groups of American Indian/Alaska Native Adults in California

This brief uses five years of pooled data from the 2019 to 2023 CHIS to analyze data for all AIAN adults as a single population and as then as multiple populations with diverse Latino ethnic and racial identities.
photo of AIAN woman on report cover and infographics data page

Policy Brief

Addressing Gaps in Digital Supported Decision-Making (SDM) Resources for the Disability Community in California

This policy brief presents findings from a gap analysis of digital supported decision-making (SDM) resources in California.
supported decision making cover with woman and man looking at computer, plus infographic

Policy Brief

Child Care Among California Households With Young Children Ages 0-5

This brief uses data from the 2019–2023 California Health Interview Survey to describe the child care experiences of households with young children aged 0–5 years old, including unmet need for child care, and household spending on child care.
latina,woman,baby,chlld,care,access,cost,young

Search publications

default publication hero
Journal Article

School Lunch Source and Adolescent Dietary Behavior

Using data from the 2005 CHIS, the authors examine the association between dietary behaviors and the number of days that adolescents bring lunch to school.

default publication hero
Policy Brief

Teen Dietary Habits Related to Those of Parents

Every day, over two million California adolescents (62%) drink soda and 1.4 million (43%) eat fast food, but only 38% eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables.This policy brief examines adolescent consumption of fruits and vegetables, soda (not including diet soda) and fast food and the relationship to parental dietary behaviors using data from the 2005 CHIS.

default publication hero
Journal Article

Sociodemographic, Family, and Environmental Factors Associated with Active Commuting to School among US Adolescents

Active commuting (non-motorized transport) to school can be an important source of physical activity for children and adolescents. This research examined sociodemographic, family, and environmental characteristics associated with active commuting to or from school among 3,451 U.S. adolescents aged 12–17 years, who responded to the 2005 CHIS.

default publication hero
Policy Brief

Many Californians with Asthma Have Problems Understanding Their Doctor

In California, 90,000 adults with current asthma have experienced problems understanding their doctors. There are significant disparities in who experiences these communication problems according to education, income, insurance status, English proficiency, race/ethnicity and nativity.

default publication hero
Policy Brief

Low-Income Adolescents Face More Barriers to Healthy Weight

In this policy brief, the authors examine why teenagers from low-income households are almost three times more likely to be obese than teens from more affluent households. Specifically, persistent barriers to health were found, including high numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants, high sugary soda consumption and television viewing and low numbers of parks and other opportunities for physical activity.

default publication hero
Policy Brief

Uncontrolled Asthma Means Missed Work and School, Emergency Department Visits for Many Californians

Using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this policy brief examines the economic and social burden of the poor control of asthma and recommends policy changes to reduce those costs.

default publication hero
Journal Article

Physical Activity Among Adolescents: When Do Parks Matter?

Based on 2003, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data, this study examined whether the relationship between physical activity and access to parks differs depending on adolescents’ sociodemographic, housing and neighborhood characteristics.

CEI fact sheet cover with older woman and infographic
Policy Brief

Designed for Disease: The Link Between Local Food Environments and Obesity and Diabetes

People living in neighborhoods crowded with fast-food and convenience stores but relatively few grocery or produce outlets are at significantly higher risk of suffering from obesity and diabetes.

default publication hero
Policy Brief

Diabetes: The Growing Epidemic

This policy brief examines the prevalence and management of diabetes in California based on data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2005). It also describes how the prevalence has changed since 2001. Over 1.8 million adults age 18 and over (7%) have been diagnosed with diabetes, up from 1.5 million (6.2%) in 2001.

default publication hero
Policy Brief

Teens Living in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods Lack Access to Parks and Get Less Physical Activity

Teens living in neighborhoods with high concentrations of low-income households are unlikely to have a safe park near their home and are more likely to get less physical activity, according to this policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. The policy brief finds the same trends among teens in neighborhoods with higher unemployment rates, lower levels of education and higher levels of household crowding.