Stress, social support and their relationship to depression and anxiety among Latina immigrant women

Abstract

Objective: Latina immigrant women in the United States are at increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes due to economic, political, cultural and social stressors related to migration and resettlement. However, few studies have described how stress and social supports are related to depression and anxiety symptoms among Latina immigrant women.

Method: This cross-sectional study used survey data collected from a community-based sample as part of the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA) study to describe levels of stress, social support, depression and anxiety among Latina immigrant women (N=153). We also estimated associations between stressors, social supports and mental health.

Results: At baseline, 29% of participants reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms and 32% of participants reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. In adjusted regression models, stressors including social isolation (β=0.2, p<0.001), perceived stress (β=0.6, p<.0001), and law/immigration enforcement stress (β=0.3, p=0.04) were associated with higher levels of depression symptoms. Perceived stress (β=0.6, p<0.001) and stress associated with meeting basic needs (β=0.6, p<0.001) were associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms, while social support received through positive social interactions was associated with fewer anxiety symptoms (β=-0.8, p=0.03).

Conclusions: Latina immigrant women experience a number of stressors associated with immigration and their social position, which in turn are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. Future research should examine how social support, along with programs and policies that reduce stress, can improve mental health outcomes in this population.

Keywords: Latina health; Mental health; Minority health; Social support; Stress.