Associations of ethnic discrimination with symptoms of anxiety and depression among Hispanic emerging adults: a moderated mediation model

Peer Discrimination, Deviant Peer Affiliation, and Latino/a Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE

U.S. Latino/a adolescents experience high levels of ethnic discrimination, particularly in new immigrant destinations. Due to the salience of peers during adolescence, this study examined how peer discrimination related directly and indirectly, through deviant peer affiliation, to changes in Latino/a adolescents' internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Culture-specific moderators hypothesized to buffer discrimination impacts on adolescent symptomology included Spanish language enculturation and adolescents' social ties to relatives in the family's country-of-origin.

METHOD

The sample of 547 Latino/a adolescent participants from the Caminos al Bienestar study (55.4% female; age M = 12.8, range = 11-16) was selected at random from middle schools in a large, suburban school district in Atlanta, Georgia. Three time points of survey data spaced roughly 6 months apart were collected during 2018 and 2019.

RESULTS

Results from longitudinal structural equation models revealed that peer discrimination was associated indirectly with increased externalizing symptoms, through increases in affiliation with deviant peers (β = 0.05; SE = 0.02; B = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.09). We did not observe direct or indirect effects of peer discrimination on changes in internalizing symptoms, and we found no significant protective effects of either Spanish language enculturation or social ties with the country-of-origin.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethnic discrimination by peers may lead to deviant peer affiliation and, in turn, increased externalizing behaviors. Future research identifying protective factors that buffer discrimination impacts on deviant peer affiliation is needed to inform the development of interventions that can prevent Latino/a adolescents' externalizing symptoms.

The role of sociocultural factors on alcohol self-efficacy and protective drinking behaviors among Hispanic/Latinx young adults

OBJECTIVES

Hispanic/Latinx drinkers have been found to experience more adverse alcohol-related consequences than any other racial/ethnic group. Due to this, researchers have looked at the connection between drinking and cultural factors, alongside discrimination, to further analyze what sociocultural factors lead to negative outcomes when drinking.

DESIGN

Researchers used a sample of Hispanic/Latinx young adult drinkers (n = 710) with an average age of 22.43 (SD = 6.69), recruited through social media and assessed on several factors, including protective behavioral strategies (PBS), alcohol use severity, bicultural self-efficacy, discrimination, acculturation, and enculturation.

RESULTS

Utilizing an observed variable path analysis, results showed perceived discrimination to have a significant effect on all variables in the model (bicultural self-efficacy, acculturation, enculturation, PBS self-efficacy, PBS use, and alcohol use severity). Acculturation was positively associated with PBS self-efficacy, while enculturation was positively associated with PBS use. PBS self-efficacy was positively correlated with PBS use and negatively associated with alcohol use severity. There was a significant total indirect effect from perceived discrimination to alcohol use severity through various paths (i.e. PBS self-efficacy, acculturation, and bicultural self-efficacy), with the strongest path to occur through PBS self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings showcase the risk and protective effects of various sociocultural factors on drinking behaviors among young adults. PBS self-efficacy was found to have robust protective effects against alcohol use severity. Future research should continue to investigate these sociocultural and behavioral factors in order to develop efforts to mitigate hazardous alcohol use among Hispanic/Latinx young adult drinkers.

THE IMPACT OF ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION AND INSTITUTIONAL BETRAYAL ON CANADIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH

The aims of this study were to understand associations among mental health symptoms, ethnic discrimination, and institutional betrayal, and explore the potential role of protective factors (e.g. ethnic identity and racial regard) in attenuating the detrimental effects of discrimination and betrayal. A total of 89 racialized Canadian university students were recruited for this study. Self-report measures investigated demographics, mental health symptoms, experiences of discrimination and institutional betrayal, racial regard, and ethnic identity. Experiencing ethnic discrimination was associated with increased symptoms of depression and PTSD, even when controlling for the buffering effects of protective factors. Marginally significant results suggested that institutional betrayal might play a role in this relationship. Experiencing ethnic discrimination is linked to significant posttraumatic consequences. Unhelpful institutional responses may further aggravate symptoms. Universities have a duty to protect victims, and prevent ethnic discrimination.

Perceived discrimination and Latina college students' depressive symptoms: The roles of dyadic coping with sisters and familism values

Latinx young adults' experiences of discrimination are associated with high levels of depressive symptoms and examining protective factors that buffer the negative consequences of discrimination is important. In a sample of 195 Latina college students, predominately of Mexican origin, we examined associations between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms, and how sisters' dyadic coping behaviors and familism values moderated this association. We conducted hierarchical regression analyses to test our study hypotheses. We found that Latina college students who were older sisters reported more conflictual and antagonistic sibling relationships, or who perceived higher levels of discrimination also reported the most depressive symptoms, which supports prior research. Importantly, Latina college students who strongly endorsed supportive, obligatory, and referent familism values reported fewer depressive symptoms. Supportive familism values weakened the association between perceived discrimination and Latina college students' depressive symptoms but strengthened associations between sisters' negative dyadic coping behaviors and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, sisters' negative dyadic coping behaviors strengthened the positive association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight the importance of familism values for Latinx young adults' well-being, as well as the harmful effects of perceived discrimination, particularly in the context of sisters' negative dyadic coping behaviors.

Ethnic Discrimination and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of Self-esteem and Resilience

Exposure to ethnic discrimination has been conceptualized as a sociocultural stressor that is associated with lower self-rated health. However, this association remains understudied among Hispanics and less is known about constructs that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on self-rated health. Accordingly, this study aimed to (a) examine the association between ethnic discrimination and self-rated health among Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18-25), and (b) examine the extent to which self-esteem and resilience may moderate this association. A convenience sample of 200 Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona (n=99) and Florida (n=101) was recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses. Results indicate that higher ethnic discrimination was associated with lower self-rated health. Moderation analyses indicated that self-esteem functioned as a moderator that weakened the association between ethnic discrimination and self-rated health; however, resilience did not function similarly as a moderator. This study adds to the limited literature on ethnic discrimination and self-rated health among Hispanics and highlights that psychological factors, such as enhancing self-esteem, may help buffer the adverse effects of ethnic discrimination on health outcomes.

Depression and anxiety among college students at Historically Black and Predominantly White universities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess depression and anxiety among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with race.

PARTICIPANTS

Using a cross-sectional survey, depression and anxiety among college students at a Predominantly White (PWU) and a Historically Black University (HBU) during 2021 were evaluated.

METHODS

The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), general anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and self-reported sociodemographic characteristics were collected. Chi-square and logistic regression tests examined differences in depression and anxiety based on race.

RESULTS

Depression and anxiety among 3,102 students (87% female) were analyzed. Minority racial groups were associated with anxiety (p < 0.01) but not depression in the PWU. Moderately severe and severe depression was higher among the minority race at both the universities (1.76% compared to 0.53% at PWU, and 11.1% compared to 2.4% at HBU).

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and anxiety among college students is influenced by racial status. First-generation students were more likely to report depression in both HBU and PWU.

Acculturation and Psychopathology

Acculturation and psychopathology are linked in integrated, interactional, intersectional, and dynamic ways that span different types of intercultural contact, levels of analysis, timescales, and contexts. A developmental psychopathology approach can be useful to explain why, how, and what about psychological acculturation results in later adaptation or maladaptation for acculturating youth and adults. This review applies a conceptual model of acculturation and developmental psychopathology to a widely used framework of acculturation variables producing an Integrated Process Framework of Acculturation Variables (IP-FAV). This new comprehensive framework depicts major predisposing acculturation conditions (why) as well as acculturation orientations and processes (how) that result in adaptation and maladaptation across the life span (what). The IP-FAV is unique in that it integrates both proximal and remote acculturation variables and explicates key acculturation processes to inform research, practice, and policy.

Perceptions About Discrimination in a Rural, Older, Racially and Ethnically Diverse Cohort

Purpose

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine perceptions of discrimination among a small cohort of rural older, retired minority Florida farmworkers. Potential sources of discrimination were explored, such as health literacy, age, sex, gender, racial/ethnic background, or rural residency.

Sample

The study occurred in a rural area that is designated as a "hot zone" due to its HRSA designation as a medically underserved area (MUA), health provider shortage area (HPSA), and medically underserved population, despite lying only 50 miles due west of the affluent town of Palm Beach, Florida. More than 40% of residents live below the poverty level, and only 65% have received a high school diploma.

Method

A descriptive, correlational pilot study was conducted to investigate potential contributors to discrimination. Independent variables examined were age, sex, gender, rural residency, racial/ethnic background, and health literacy, using the Rapid Estimate of Health Literacy in Medicine, short form (REALM-SF) (Arozullah, 2007). The incidence of self-reported discrimination was investigated. Chi-square and Pearson correlation analysis were employed to examine survey results. Findings were supplemented with a brief narrative inquiry, and responses were analyzed using Saldaña's (2015) model of cyclical coding.

Findings

Twenty-five residents in a subsidized housing unit agreed to participate in this study. This convenience sample was 96% racially/ethnically diverse (68% African American, 24% Haitian Creole, and 4% Hispanic American.) Most (78%) were retired field workers, and largely self-identified as female (72%). The residents' average reading level was 4th-6th grade. Health literacy (44%) and rural residency (24%) were the greatest sources of discrimination. Female gender discrimination was associated with ethnicity discrimination (r = 0.6, p = .002).

Conclusions

Providers are strongly encouraged to assess their patients' health literacy levels and experiences with discrimination to inform effective care delivery.

Emotion Regulation Mediates the Relationship Between Therapeutic Alliance and Anxiety in Emerging Adults During Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period characterized by emotional growth and unstructured living. To date, there is little research on emerging adults-defined as those 18 to 25 years old-with serious mental illnesses and even less on emerging adults in psychiatric hospitals. This study analyzed therapeutic alliance with the clinical team and change in anxiety symptoms in emerging adult psychiatric inpatients with the goal of establishing whether emotion regulation could serve as a mediator between these 2 constructs. Participants were 913 emerging adults (46.7% female; 18 to 25 y of age) who were voluntarily admitted to an intermediate length-of-stay (6 to 8 wk) inpatient psychiatric hospital. Each patient completed measures assessing anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation strategies, and working alliance as an assessment of therapeutic alliance. The results indicated that working alliance had significant indirect effects on change in anxiety symptoms through emotion dysregulation and lack of awareness, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and lack of emotional clarity. This study emphasizes the need to understand emerging adults and the difficulties characteristic of this developmental period, and that clinicians should be aware that cognitive factors involved in emotion regulation may impact anxiety symptoms in emerging adult populations.

Experiences of ethnic discrimination and COMT rs4680 polymorphism are associated with depressive symptoms in Latinx adults at risk for cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Ethnic discrimination is frequently experienced among U.S. Latinx communities, and is linked to CVD risk factors, such as depression. Genetic variants may influence this relationship.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to examine associations between experiences of discrimination, rs4680 genotype, and depressive symptoms in Latinx adults.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 124 Latinx adults with two or more CVD risk factors, and conducted hierarchical linear regression, adjusting for sex, age, income, education, and acculturation.

RESULTS

Participants were predominately female (74.2%) and aged 40.2 ± 9.3 years. More experiences of discrimination were associated with higher depressive symptoms (p = 0.041). Those with Met-Met-and Val-Met-genotypes had increased depressive symptoms than those with Val-Val-genotype (p = 0.049). Rs4680 was not a moderator.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest discrimination and rs4680 genotype are associated with depressive symptoms in Latinx adults, which may increase CVD risk. Further research is needed to better understand biological mechanisms of these relationships.

The hidden minority: Discrimination and mental health among international students in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic

International students in the US occupy a precarious position at the intersection of immigration policy and global education mobility, one made more challenging by the disparate impact of COVID-19 on college students' mental health. Few studies, however, have explored the pandemic's effects on mental well-being among the international student population in the US. Our study aims to provide initial empirical evidence on the mental health status of these students, with a specific focus on discrimination, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. We propose a mediation framework and estimate the mediating effects of loneliness and anxiety in the relationships between discrimination and depression in a sample of US-based international students (N = 103). We collected cross-sectional data from July to August 2020, using a 50-item online survey instrument with three open-ended questions. Mediation analyses using PROCESS Macro were used to analyse quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Findings showed that higher levels of discrimination were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness. Higher levels of loneliness were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety, which in turn led to high levels of depressive symptoms. Our study contributes to understanding the needs and capacities of international students in the wake of COVID-19 and simultaneously provides pragmatic program and policy implications for inclusive higher education environments and the overall health and well-being of this crucial US student population.

Ethnic discrimination and psychological stress among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism

Hispanic emerging adults are often exposed to ethnic discrimination, yet little is known about coping resources that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on psychological stress in this rapidly growing population. As such, this study aims to examine (1) the associations of ethnic discrimination, distress tolerance, and optimism with psychological stress and (2) the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism on the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study of 200 Hispanic adults ages 18-25, recruited from two urban counties in Arizona and Florida. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were utilized to examine these associations and moderated effects. Findings indicated that higher optimism was associated with lower psychological stress. Conversely, higher ethnic discrimination was associated with higher psychological stress. Moderation analyses indicated that both distress tolerance and optimism moderated the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. These study findings add to the limited literature on ethnic discrimination among Hispanic emerging adults and suggest that distress tolerance may be a key intrapersonal factor that can protect Hispanic emerging adults against the psychological stress often resulting from ethnic discrimination.

Verbal Disclosure and Mental Health Among Gay Latino and Gay White Men

We examined the relationship between verbal disclosure of sexual orientation and mental health among gay Latino and gay White men. In Study 1, we recruited 164 gay Latino ( n = 81) and gay White ( n = 83) men via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Participants completed measures assessing the degree to which they verbally disclosed their gay identity to others, as well as their depression and anxiety symptoms. Increased verbal disclosure predicted better mental health among gay White men only; no statistically significant relationships emerged among gay Latinos. In Study 2, we recruited 281 gay Latino ( n = 130) and White ( n = 151) men via MTurk, in which feelings of shame and guilt independently mediated the relationship between verbal disclosure and mental health. Among gay White men, increased verbal disclosure predicted less shame and guilt, which predicted better mental health. These relationships did not emerge for gay Latinos.

Exposure to ethnic discrimination in social media and symptoms of anxiety and depression among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the moderating role of gender

METHOD

Two hundred Hispanic emerging adults from Arizona (n = 99) and Florida (n = 101) completed a cross-sectional survey, and data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses.

RESULTS

Higher social media discrimination was associated with higher symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety. Moderation analyses indicated that higher social media discrimination was only associated with symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety among men, but not women.

CONCLUSION

This is likely the first study on social media discrimination and mental health among emerging adults; thus, expanding this emerging field of research to a distinct developmental period.

Sex matters: stress perception and the relevance of resilience and perceived social support in emerging adults

The emerging adulthood represents a vulnerable and critical turning point for the beginning of mental illnesses and is therefore of particular interest for the study of risk and resilience. The present survey investigated the impact of sex on the associations between resilience and the perception of social support and stress in students. The Resilience Scale was used to assess resilience. Stress perception and social support perception were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Social Support Questionnaire FSozU k-22, respectively. Between the ages of 18 and 30, 503 subjects (59.6% female) were included into the study. We detected a significant effect of sex with markedly lower resilience and a more pronounced perception of stress and social support among females. Significant correlations between resilience, stress perception, and social support perception were found in both sexes with women showing a stronger interrelationship between stress perception and both resilience and social support perception. Mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between the perception of social support and stress was fully mediated by resilience among men and partly mediated by resilience among women. Of note, the mediation of resilience on the interrelationship between the perception of social support and stress was much stronger in women than in men. These findings suggest that sex-specific, customized interventions focusing on the strengthening of resilience and the claiming of social support are needed to promote mental health in emerging adults.

Gender and Age of Migration Differences in Mortality Among Older Mexican Americans

OBJECTIVES

Using a gendered life course perspective, we examine whether the relationship between age of migration and mortality is moderated by gender among a cohort of older Mexican Americans.

METHODS

Data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly and recently matched mortality data are used to estimate Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that the relationship between age of migration and mortality is moderated by gender, suggesting a more nuanced perspective of the immigrant mortality paradox. Among men, midlife migrants exhibit an 18% lower risk of mortality compared to their U.S.-born co-ethnics, possibly due to immigrant selectivity at the time of migration. Conversely, late-life migrant women exhibit a 17% lower risk of mortality relative to U.S.-born women, attributed in part to socio-cultural characteristics that influence lifestyle risk factors across the life course.

DISCUSSION

Selection mechanisms and acculturation processes associated with the immigrant experience are contingent on both age and gender, suggesting the utility of an integrated life course approach to contextualize the mortality profiles of older immigrants. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity among immigrants and highlight the need to understand gender differences in the migration process when assessing the immigrant mortality paradox.

Religious Discrimination Scale: Development and Initial Psychometric Evaluation

This study presents the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Religious Discrimination Scale (RDS). This 11-item instrument identified three dimensions based on perceived discrimination experiences of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS): Perceived Prejudice, Closet Symptoms, and Negative Labels. The psychometric evaluations of the RDS indicated a strong and clear factor structure as well as good internal consistency reliability. The test of measurement and structural invariance across gender also suggested that the RDS scale is equally appropriate to be used with both men and women. Implications for practice and research as well as future directions are discussed.

"Abrazame Que Ayuda" (Hug Me, It Helps): Social Support and the Effect of Perceived Discrimination on Depression among US- and Foreign-Born Latinxs in the USA

BACKGROUND

Higher level of social support is known to mitigate the effect of ethnic discrimination on depression symptoms, yet little is known as to which type of social support may be most effective for ameliorating the negative health effects of perceived ethnic discrimination among Latinxs varying in nativity status. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between perceived ethnic discrimination and depression among US- and foreign-born Latinxs, and to identify specific types of social support that may buffer the aforementioned association in this population.

METHODS

Data from 1340 Latinx respondents (70% US-born; 30% foreign-born) collected from the Texas City Stress and Health Study (TCSHS) was used in this study. The primary outcome was depression, and it was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R).

RESULTS

Findings showed that higher perceived ethnic discrimination were associated with higher depressive symptoms for both foreign-born and US-born Latinxs, with higher levels of social support, specifically positive interaction support, being associated with lower depressive symptoms for both groups. Importantly, results also showed that regardless of nativity status, higher levels of affectionate support mitigated the adverse association between ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that higher levels of positive interactions and affective support may be significant factors in helping Latinxs cope with ethnic discrimination. This information is essential to inform the development of interventions aimed at building resilience in the face of discrimination among the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the USA.

The effect of minority status and social context on the development of depression and anxiety: a longitudinal study of Puerto Rican descent youth

Few longitudinal studies have explored to date whether minority status in disadvantaged neighborhoods conveys risk for negative mental health outcomes, and the mechanisms possibly leading to such risk. We investigated how minority status influences four developmental mental health outcomes in an ethnically homogeneous sample of Puerto Rican youth. We tested models of risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depressive and anxiety symptoms (DAS), and psychological distress, as Puerto Rican youth (aged 5-13 years) transitioned to early adulthood (15-29 years) in two sites, one where they grew up as a majority (the island of Puerto Rico), and another where they were part of a minority group (South Bronx, New York). At baseline, a stratified sample of 2,491 Puerto Rican youth participated from the two sites. After baseline assessment (Wave 1), each youth participant and one caregiver were assessed annually for two years, for a total of three time points (Waves 1-3). From April 2013 to August 2017, participants were contacted for a Wave 4 interview, and a total of 2,004 young people aged 15 to 29 years participated in the assessment (response rate adjusted for eligibility = 82.8%). Using a quasi-experimental design, we assessed impacts of minority status on MDD, GAD, DAS and psychological distress. Via mediation analyses, we explored potential mechanisms underlying the observed relationships. Data from 1,863 Puerto Rican youth (after exclusion of those with MDD or GAD during Waves 1-3) indicated links between minority status and higher rates of lifetime and past-year GAD, DAS and past 30-day psychological distress at Wave 4, and a marginal trend for MDD, even after adjustments. Childhood social support and peer relationships partially explained the differences, as did intercultural conflict, neighborhood discrimination, and unfair treatment in young adulthood. The experience of growing up as a minority, as defined by context, seemingly elevates psychiatric risks, with differences in social relationships and increased social stress as mediators of this relationship. Our findings suggest that interventions at the neighborhood context rather than at the individual level might be important levers to reduce risks for the development of mood disorders in minority youth.

Life Expectancies With Depression by Age of Migration and Gender Among Older Mexican Americans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Prior studies examining depression among older Mexican Americans suggest both women and immigrants are at higher risk of depressive symptomatology than males and U.S.-born Mexican Americans. We use data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to examine whether life expectancy with depression and without depression varies by nativity, age of migration, and gender.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Sullivan-based life tables were used to estimate depression life expectancies among Mexican Americans aged 65 years and older residing in the Southwestern United States. Depression is based on the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). The CES-D is a continuous scale (0-60) with higher values indicating worse mental health. We dichotomize depression as a score of 16 or greater.

RESULTS

Immigrant women, particularly those who migrated in late-life (after age 50) are at a significant disadvantage in the number of years after age 65 lived with depression and the ratio of years spent without depression relative to U.S.-born women. Among men, only late-life immigrants were disadvantaged in the number of years spent with depression. Early- and mid-life immigrant males did not differ from U.S.-born males.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results highlight the heterogeneity among older Mexican Americans in life expectancies with depression. These findings illustrate the importance of considering age of migration as a high-risk factor for depression among Mexican-origin immigrants. Including this risk factor as a part of depression screening is a key step for timely interventions in preventing disability and comorbidities associated with untreated depression.

Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among US Latinos: the modifying role of educational attainment

OBJECTIVE

Despite growing evidence that discrimination may contribute to poor mental health, few studies have assessed this association among US Latinos. Furthermore, the interaction between discrimination and educational attainment in shaping Latino mental health is virtually unexplored. This study aims to examine the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms and the modifying role of education among a population of Mexican-origin adults.

DESIGN

We utilized population-based data from 629 Mexican-origin adults (mean age = 52.8 years) participating the Niños Lifestyle and Diabetes Study (2013-2014). Perceived discrimination was defined as responding 'sometimes' or 'often' to at least one item on the 9-item Everyday Discrimination Scale. High depressive symptoms were defined as scoring ≥10 on the CESD-10. We used log-binomial and linear-binomial models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and prevalence differences (PD), respectively, of high depressive symptoms for levels of perceived discrimination. Final models were adjusted for age, sex, education, cultural orientation, and nativity. General estimating equations were employed to account for within-family clustering.

RESULTS

Prevalence of perceived discrimination and high depressive symptoms were 49.5% and 29.2%, respectively. Participants experiencing discrimination had higher depressive symptom prevalence than those never or rarely experiencing discrimination [PR = 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-2.58; PD = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12-0.27]. The strength of this association varied by education level. The association between discrimination and depressive symptoms was stronger among those with >12 years of education (PR = 2.69; PD = 0.24) compared to those with ≤12 years of education (PR = 1.36; PD = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

US Latinos suffer a high burden of depressive symptoms, and discrimination may be an important driver of this burden. Our results suggest that effortful coping strategies, such as achieving high education despite high perceived discrimination, may magnify discrimination's adverse effect on Latino mental health.

The effect of discrimination on depression and anxiety symptoms and the buffering role of social capital among female domestic workers in Macao, China

Foreign migrant domestic workers experience an increased burden of mental disorders. Discrimination contributes to this burden. Social resources may buffer migrants from the effects of this discrimination. The present study explored the relationship between discrimination and common mental disorder (CMD) symptoms, anxiety and depression, and examined whether social capital (cognitive and structural) modified this association. A total of 131 female migrant Filipina domestic workers in Macao, China (M_age = 39.7) were sampled using snowball methods. Self-report data were obtained using tablet devices. Correlation analyses demonstrated that discrimination was significantly associated with depression (r_s = 0.43) and anxiety (r_s = 0.42). Mulitvariable regressions showed that cognitive, but not structural, social capital was significantly negatively associated with depression (β = -0.30) and anxiety (β = -0.32). Cognitive social capital modified the association between discrimination and depression (β = 0.39) and anxiety (β = 0.53). Contrary to predictions, as discrimination increased, compared to those with no cognitive social capital, those with moderate or high levels of cognitive social capital experienced worsening CMD symptoms. This finding provides greater nuance to our understanding of how and under what circumstances social resources are protective for mental health for migrant workers.

Experiences of Discrimination Are Associated With Greater Resting Amygdala Activity and Functional Connectivity

BACKGROUND

Social discrimination, a type of psychological stressor, is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes, yet we have little understanding of how discrimination affects neural functions in marginalized populations. By contrast, the effects of psychological stress on neural functions are well documented, with evidence of significant effects on the amygdala-a neural region that is central to psychosocial functions. Accordingly, we conducted an examination of the relation between self-reported discrimination exposure and amygdala activity in a diverse sample of adults.

METHODS

Seventy-four adults (43% women; 72% African American; 23% Hispanic; 32% homosexual/bisexual) completed self-report ratings of discrimination exposure. Spontaneous amygdala activity and functional connectivity were assessed during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

Greater discrimination exposure was associated with higher levels of spontaneous amygdala activity. Increases in discrimination were also associated with stronger functional connectivity between the amygdala and several neural regions (e.g., anterior insula, putamen, caudate, anterior cingulate, medial frontal gyrus), with the most robust effects observed in the thalamus. These effects were independent of several demographic (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex) and psychological (e.g., current stress, depression, anxiety) factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our findings provide the first evidence that social discrimination is independently associated with elevations in intrinsic amygdala activity and functional connectivity, thus revealing clear parallels between the neural substrates of discrimination and psychological stressors of other origins. Such results should spur future investigations of amygdala-based networks as potential etiological factors linking discrimination exposure to adverse physical and mental health outcomes.

Cultural Correlates of DUI Risk Perceptions Among Documented and Undocumented Recent Latino Immigrants in South Florida

Latinos do not drink and drive more often than non-Latino Whites, yet are disproportionately involved in alcohol-related arrests and fatal crashes. These disparities have been linked to a failure in recognizing the impairing effects of alcohol on driving psychomotor abilities and low risk perceptions of being caught or prosecuted by law enforcement for DUI (driving under the influence). However, little is known about the role that cultural factors play in shaping drinking and driving risk perceptions among Latino immigrants. This study examines associations between cultural factors and DUI risk perceptions in a sample of 467 documented and undocumented recent Latino immigrants. Results revealed cultural risk factors were associated with higher alcohol use and decreased DUI risk perceptions. Cultural protective factors were linked with less drinking behaviors. Undocumented immigrants reported higher rates of alcohol use, lower levels of cultural protective factors, and higher levels of cultural risk factors. Findings contribute to the limited knowledge of drinking and driving among Latino immigrants early in the immigration process and suggest a need for greater attention to cultural factors in developing DUI prevention programs tailored toward Latino immigrants.