Key result
Foreign-born Latinos had higher odds of meeting CES-D criteria for depressive symptoms and higher anger scores compared with U.S.-born Latinos.
Why the study?
Does foreign-born status affect self-reported mental health measures (depression, anxiety, anger) in Latinos in the US?
Cross-Sectional
Does foreign-born status affect self-reported mental health measures (depression, anxiety, anger) in Latinos in the US?
Foreign-born Latinos report higher levels of depressive symptoms and anger compared to U.S.-born Latinos, challenging the immigrant paradox in mental health.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May signal higher depression risk by nativity in Latinos; leaves open causality and need for longitudinal confirmation.
BACKGROUND: Studies exploring the relationship between foreign-born status and mental health among Latinos in the United States have varied in their conclusions. We examined 2000-2002 MESA data on Latinos and compared responses between immigrants and non-immigrants on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and the Spielberger anxiety and anger scales. METHODS: We used logistic and linear regression to examine whether immigrant status was associated with these psychological outcomes in Latinos-overall, Mexicans-only and Other-Latinos (non-Mexicans). RESULTS: Compared with U.S.-born Latinos, foreign-born Latinos had significantly higher odds of meeting CES-D caseness- a score above 16, classifying depressive symptoms (p≤.05), higher anger scores (p≤.001) and a trend towards higher anxiety. These associations were similar within the Mexicans-only subgroup. DISCUSSION: When examining self-reported distress symptoms as outcomes, our findings do not coincide with the paradoxical effect of immigration on mental health. Furthermore, associations between immigrant status and psychological outcomes differed among the Latino subgroups.
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Casillas et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and anger. Foreign-born status vs. U.S.-born status was evaluated on CES-D caseness (score > 16) and anger scores (p=≤.05). Foreign-born Latinos had higher odds of meeting CES-D criteria for depressive symptoms and higher anger scores compared with U.S.-born Latinos.
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