Mai-Liis Edwards
Faculty Sponser: Maryam Gooyabadi
Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/92739296666
Biography
I am a first-year student at Wesleyan University planning to major in Psychology and Economics. I am also a member of the women’s lacrosse team. This project explores the association between incarceration history and cardiovascular health outcomes, with a focus on how structural and social factors influence long-term health.
Abstract:
This study examines whether incarceration history is associated with cardiovascular health outcomes, specifically high blood pressure, among U.S. adults. Using a nationally representative sample of 55,610 adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), incarceration history, high blood pressure, and key covariates such as age, smoking, education, and gender were analyzed . Bivariate and logistic regression results show that individuals with a history of incarceration have significantly higher odds of high blood pressure compared to those without such history. However, after controlling for demographic and behavioral factors, the relationship is weakened, suggesting that variables like age help explain part of the association while incarceration remains an important factor in long-term cardiovascular health disparities .