Journal of Women's Health
Volume 18, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 369-375

Perceived need for care among low-income immigrant and U.S.-born black and Latina women with depression (Article)

Nadeem E.* , Lange J.M. , Miranda J.
  • a Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, Health Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States
  • b Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • c Health Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

Purpose: To examine perceived need for care for mental health problems as a possible contributor to ethnic disparities in receiving care among low-income depressed women. Methods: The role of ethnicity, somatization, and stigma as they relate to perceived need for care is examined. Participants were 1577 low-income women who met criteria for depression. Results: Compared with U.S.-born depressed white women, most depressed ethnic minority women were less likely to perceive a need for mental health care (black immigrants: OR 0.30, p < 0.001; U.S.-born blacks: OR 0.43, p < 0.001; immigrant Latinas: OR 0.52, p < 0.01). Stigma-related concerns decreased the likelihood of perceiving a need for mental health care (OR 0.80, p < 0.05). Having multiple somatic symptoms (OR 1.57, p < 0.001) increased the likelihood of endorsing perceived need. Conclusions: Findings suggest that there are ethnic differences in perceived need for mental healthcare that may partially account for the low rates of care for depression among low-income and minority women. The relations among stigma, somatization, and perceived need were strikingly similar across ethnic groups. © Copyright 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

depression immigrant lowest income group demography poverty mental health human Health Behavior middle aged controlled study priority journal Aged social support diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders Hispanic Americans Health Services Needs and Demand United States Humans Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors stigma women's health Article Questionnaires adult major clinical study Patient Acceptance of Health Care ethnicity attitude to health African Americans somatization
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-62449083816&doi=10.1089%2fjwh.2008.0898&partnerID=40&md5=2e2ba40838c6db499a0bad6019aee1bc
DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2008.0898
ISSN: 15409996
Cited by: 47
Original Language: English