Mental Health and Exposure to the United States

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: We examined the association between exposure to the U.S. and symptoms of poor mental health among adult Hispanic/Latinos (N = 15,004) overall and by Hispanic/Latino background. Using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), we estimated logistic regressions to model the risk of moderate to severe symptoms of psychological distress, depression, and anxiety as a function of years in the U.S. and six key psychosocial risk and protective factors. In unadjusted models, increased time in the U.S. was associated with higher risk of poor mental health. After adjustment for just three key factors--perceived discrimination, perceived U.S. social standing, and the size of close social networks--differences in the odds of poor mental health by years in the U.S became insignificant for Hispanics/Latinos overall. However, analyses by Hispanic/Latino background revealed different patterns of association with exposure to the U.S. that could not be fully explained.

Source: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000350

Authors: Krista M. Perreira, Nathan Gotman, Carmen R. Isasi, William Arguelles, Sheila F. Castañeda, Martha L. Daviglus, Aida L. Giachello, Patricia Gonzalez, Frank J. Penedo, Hugo Salgado, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller

Institutions: Northwestern University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, University of Miami, San Diego State University, University of Illinois Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: University of Miami, San Diego State University, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

OpenAlex ID: W1046442371