American Journal of Public Health
Volume 97, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 52-59

The mental health of Black Caribbean immigrants: Results from the National Survey of American Life (Article)

Williams D.R.* , Haile R. , González H.M. , Neighbors H. , Baser R. , Jackson J.S.
  • a School of Public Health, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
  • b Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • c Institute of Gerontology, Department of Family Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • d Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • e Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • f Institute for Social Research, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Black Caribbean immigrant ("Caribbean Black") and African American populations and the correlates of psychiatric disorders among the Caribbean Black population. Methods. We conducted descriptive and age-adjusted analyses of the data from the National Survey of American Life-an in-person household mental health survey of noninstitutionalized US Blacks. We assessed psychiatric disorders as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results. Compared with African American men, Caribbean Black men had higher risks for 12-month rates of psychiatric disorders. Caribbean Black women had lower odds for 12-month and lifetime psychiatric disorders compared with African American women. Risks varied by ethnicity, immigration history, and generation status within the Caribbean sample. First-generation Caribbean Blacks had lower rates of psychiatric disorders compared with second- or third-generation Caribbean Blacks, and, compared with first-generation Carribbean Blacks, third-generation Caribbean Blacks had markedly elevated rates of psychiatric disorders. Conclusions. Mental health risks were associated with ethnic diversity within the US Black population. Increased exposure to minority status in the United States was associated with higher risks for psychiatric disorders among Black Caribbean immigrants, which possibly reflects increased societal stress and downward social mobility associated with being Black in America.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Cultural Diversity mood disorder immigrant anxiety disorder minority group human risk assessment middle aged Odds Ratio Stress, Psychological Aged substance abuse Health Surveys Central America African American diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders social mobility Family Characteristics Mental Disorders Residence Characteristics mental health care mental disease United States Humans ethnic difference Adolescent social stress male female Risk Factors high risk population Caribbean Region prevalence Article major clinical study adult gender Social Environment Emigration and Immigration social class African Americans health care need health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33846085154&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2006.088211&partnerID=40&md5=5bb052ee8678d4d9236708e8a6998559
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.088211
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 186
Original Language: English