Aging and Mental Health
Volume 14, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 347-354

High depressive symptomatology among older community-dwelling Mexican Americans: The impact of immigration (Article)

Gerst K.* , Al-Ghatrif M. , Beard H.A. , Samper-Ternent R. , Markides K.S.
  • a Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
  • b Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States, Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
  • c Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
  • d Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
  • e Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States, Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States

Abstract

Objectives: This analysis explores nativity differences in depressive symptoms among very old (75+) community-dwelling Mexican Americans. Design: Cross-sectional analysis using the fifth wave (2004-2005) of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (Hispanic EPESE). Participants: The sample consisted of 1699 non-institutionalized Mexican American men and women aged 75 years and above. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Logistic regression was used to predict high depressive symptoms (CES-D score 16 or higher) and multinomial logistic regression was used to predict sub-threshold, moderate, and high depressive symptoms. Results: Results showed that elders born in Mexico had higher odds of more depressive symptoms compared to otherwise similar Mexican Americans born in the US. Age of arrival, gender, and other covariates did not modify that risk. Conclusion: The findings suggest that older Mexican American immigrants are at higher risk of depressive symptomatology compared to persons born in the US, which has significant implications for research, policy, and clinical practice. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Hispanic Americans Mexican Americans immigrants Depressive symptomatology

Index Keywords

depression psychological aspect risk human Aged ethnology Mexico Cross-Sectional Studies United States Humans cross-sectional study Hispanic male female Aged, 80 and over Article migration Emigration and Immigration Mexican Americans
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77951963442&doi=10.1080%2f13607860903292578&partnerID=40&md5=54710bc357eaa2c2fdb3831854cd1d93
DOI: 10.1080/13607860903292578
ISSN: 13607863
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English