Effects of Using Different Rural Measurements on Estimates of Hospitalizations for Depression and Substance Use

Some evidence suggests that rural populations have a higher prevalence of depression and substance use disorder (SUD) than their urban counterparts. However, estimates for mental health conditions and SUDs in rural locations vary considerably depending on the measurement of rurality researchers use. The current study aims to empirically examine how the choice of rural measurements affects estimates of hospitalizations for depression and SUD in rural populations. Using several common methods for determining rurality, we examined how characteristics of “rural” patients hospitalized for depression or SUDs differ based on the definition of rurality used.