Understanding the factors that contribute to the health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States is very important given the growing Latina population. Although researchers have investigated the health and mental health status among Latinas, the relationship between mental health and self-esteem has not been given a lot of attention. Given that self-esteem is a proxy for mental health status, investigations exploring the factors that can negatively affect self-esteem are needed. Therefore, the current study examined the influence of discrimination and stress on self-esteem among Dominican immigrant women. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 235 immigrant Dominican women in New York City. Women (age 18-49 years) and in the United States for fewer than 20 years were more likely to report experiencing discrimination compared to women older than age 50 years and in the United States for more than 20 years. After controlling for age, time in the United States, educational level, and income, high levels of discrimination (-0.09, p < 0.01) and stress (-0.69, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with reduced self-esteem. Interventions with Latino/a populations, especially women, need to acknowledge their individual evaluations of the discriminatory and stressful experiences that negatively influence their self-esteem and subsequently their mental health status. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Self-esteem Stress discrimination Dominican immigrant women

educational status immigrant social psychology psychological aspect health disparity Health Status Disparities minority group age class mental health human middle aged Stress, Psychological mental stress ethnic group health status Aged Adaptation, Psychological ethnology Dominican Republic Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult income racial disparity cross-sectional study health impact Humans Adolescent Minority Groups Emigrants and Immigrants female Aged, 80 and over Multivariate Analysis educational attainment adaptive behavior self concept Psychometrics psychometry Article adult migration Prejudice Linear Models statistical model abatement cost womens health