The authors analyzed the association between downward social mobility in subjective social status among 3,056 immigrants to the United States and the odds of a major depressive episode. Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (2002-2003), the authors examined downward mobility by comparing immigrants' subjective social status in their country of origin with their subjective social status in the United States. The dependent variable was the occurrence of a past-year episode of major depression defined according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria. Logistic regression models were used to control for a variety of sociodemographic and immigration-related characteristics. Analyses suggested that a loss of at least 3 steps in subjective social status is associated with increased risk of a depressive episode (odds ratio=3.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.3, 6.6). Other factors independently associated with greater odds of depression included Latino ethnicity, female sex, having resided for a longer time in the United States, and being a US citizen. The findings suggest that immigrants who experience downward social mobility are at elevated risk of major depression. Policies or interventions focused only on immigrants of low social status may miss another group at risk: those who experience downward mobility from a higher social status.

Mental disorders Depression Mental health Social class Asian Americans social mobility Emigration and immigration Hispanic Americans

demographic transition statistical analysis immigrant mental health service regression analysis social policy mental health human risk assessment Odds Ratio Confidence Intervals Logistic Models social mobility Hispanic Americans Cross-Sectional Studies United States North America social status Humans Hispanic Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants Asian American Socioeconomic Factors female emigration Article major clinical study adult Prejudice ethnicity social class Depressive Disorder, Major major depression disease association citizenship Data Collection social behavior immigrant population