Racial/ethnic differences in the association between symptoms of depression and self-rated mental health among older adults

Community Ment Health J. 2014 Apr;50(3):325-30. doi: 10.1007/s10597-013-9642-2. Epub 2013 Aug 8.

Abstract

The study examined racial/ethnic differences in the association between symptoms of depression and self-rated mental health among older adults. Data came from the first wave of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a population-based study of non-institutionalized older adults aged 57 to 85. The sample consisted of non-Hispanic Whites (n = 2,110), Blacks (n = 509), and Hispanics (n = 304). The association between symptoms of depression and self-rated mental health was weaker among minority groups than that among non-Hispanic Whites. Tests of interaction effects showed that the predictability of depressive symptoms to self-rated mental health was substantially weakened among Blacks of advanced ages and Hispanics with multiple chronic conditions. The study explored potential sources of racial/ethnic differences in subjective reports of mental health and called attention to older minorities with advanced ages and cormorbid conditions in mental health services and interventions.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Black People / psychology*
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / ethnology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health / ethnology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Regression Analysis
  • Self Report*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / psychology*
  • White People / statistics & numerical data