Racial Discrimination and Perceived Weight Status Are Positively Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Latina and Hispanic Women in the United States
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Holding intersecting marginalized identities in the United States (U.S.)—gender, ethnicity, and perceived weight status (PWS)—may increase Latina and Hispanic women’s risk for depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between racial discrimination stress, PWS, and depressive symptoms in Latina and Hispanic women. PWS was also examined as a potential moderator. Participants were an ethnically diverse sample of 467 Latina and Hispanic women ( M age = 40.79 ± 14.98 years) living in the U.S. After adjusting for age, ethnicity, health insurance status, acculturation, education, income, and body mass index (BMI), racial discrimination stress was positively associated with depressive symptoms ( p < .001). PWS did not moderate this association. However, PWS was significantly associated with depressive symptoms; perceiving oneself as “overweight” was associated with more severe depressive symptoms ( p < .05) compared to perceiving oneself as “skinny” ( p < .05), “average weight” ( p < .05), or “slightly overweight” ( p < .05). These data underscore the influence of both racial discrimination and body size perception, regardless of BMI, on Latina and Hispanic women’s psychological health. Health promotion efforts for Latina and Hispanic women in the U.S. may consider targeting the perpetration of racial and weight-based discrimination, as well as addressing self-perceptions and accompanying beliefs surrounding race and body size.
Institutions: University of Oregon, University of Colorado Denver
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4406229441