Annals of Epidemiology
Volume 37, 2019, Pages 17-23.e3

Association between immigration status and anxiety, depression, and use of anxiolytic and antidepressant medications in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (Article)

Ross J.* , Hua S. , Perreira K.M. , Hanna D.B. , Castañeda S.F. , Gallo L.C. , Penedo F.J. , Tarraf W. , Hernandez R. , Vega Potler N. , Talavera G.A. , Daviglus M.L. , Gonzalez F., II , Kaplan R.C. , Smoller-Wassertheil S.
  • a Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
  • b Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
  • c Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
  • d Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
  • e South Bay Latino Research Center, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • f Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • g Feinberg School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
  • h Department of Healthcare Sciences, Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • i School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
  • j Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
  • k South Bay Latino Research Center, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • l Feinberg School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
  • m Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
  • n Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
  • o Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between undocumented immigration status and anxiety, depression, and use of anxiolytic or antidepressant medications in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data collected between 2014 and 2017. Participants were categorized as U.S.-born citizens, naturalized citizens, documented noncitizens, or undocumented noncitizens. We calculated prevalence and prevalence ratios for anxiety, depression, and use of anxiolytic or antidepressant medication, by immigration status. Results: Of 9257 participants, 1403 (15%) were undocumented noncitizens, 2872 (31%) were documented noncitizens, 3766 (41%) were naturalized citizens, and 1216 (13%) were U.S.-born citizens. Prevalence of anxiety was lower among undocumented than documented noncitizens (9 vs. 15%, P <.0001) but not significantly different in adjusted analyses. Prevalence of depression was similar among undocumented and documented noncitizens (20 vs. 24%, P =.07) and not significantly different in adjusted analyses. Among participants with depression, 7% of undocumented and 27% of documented noncitizens reported use of antidepressants (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.49, 95% CI 0.27–0.87). Conclusions: Undocumented noncitizens had similar likelihood of anxiety and depression, but lower likelihood of antidepressant use, compared with documented noncitizens. These results may reflect the resilience of an undocumented population facing multiple stressors but suggest that this group may be undertreated for depression. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Author Keywords

Depression Undocumented immigrants Anxiety Hispanic Americans Emigration and immigration Latinos

Index Keywords

depression anxiety disorder population immigration human anxiolytic agent middle aged priority journal Aged undocumented immigrant Hispanic male female prevalence Article major clinical study adult drug use antidepressant agent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069967478&doi=10.1016%2fj.annepidem.2019.07.007&partnerID=40&md5=6f957807fa8305f97d209b4c39335f41
DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2019.07.007
ISSN: 10472797
Original Language: English