Maternal and Child Health Journal
Volume 20, Issue 8, 2016, Pages 1578-1585

Depressive Symptoms and Weight Status Among Women Recently Immigrating to the US (Article)

Anzman-Frasca S. , Economos C.D. , Tovar A. , Boulos R. , Sliwa S. , Gute D.M. , Pirie A. , Must A.*
  • a Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
  • b Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
  • d School of Community and Population Health, University of New England, Portland, ME, United States
  • e Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • f Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
  • g Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health, Somerville, MA, United States
  • h Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States

Abstract

Objectives Depressive symptoms have been associated with obesity. Little is known about this relationship among immigrants. We examined relationships between depressive symptoms and weight status in immigrant women from three ethnic groups. Methods Participants were Brazilian, Haitian, and Latina women (n = 345) enrolled in Live Well, a community-based, randomized intervention designed to prevent weight gain in recent immigrants. Study data are from baseline when participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Perceived Stress Scale, a physical activity questionnaire, and socio-demographic questions; BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. Results Forty-four percent of participants (36 % of Brazilians, 66 % of Haitians, 30 % of Latinas) had high depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16), and 38 % (26 % of Brazilians, 49 % of Haitians, 42 % of Latinas) were obese (BMI ≥ 30.0). Those reporting more depressive symptoms were more likely to be obese (Wald Chi square = 4.82, p < .05). An interaction between depressive symptoms, ethnic group, and income was revealed (F(4,340) = 2.91, p < .05), such that higher depressive symptoms were associated with higher BMI among Brazilians earning ≥$30,000 per year and with lower BMI among Brazilians earning <$30,000. The relationship between depressive symptoms and obesity did not differ by income among Haitians or Latinas. Conclusions Depressive symptoms and obesity were highly prevalent among these recently-immigrated women. Positive relationships between these variables were consistent across ethnic and income groups, with the exception of lower-income Brazilians. While these findings suggest similar patterns and health needs across several groups of immigrants, cultural differences should be considered when addressing these health conditions. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Depressive symptoms immigrants Obesity Women

Index Keywords

depression longitudinal study human epidemiology Longitudinal Studies middle aged statistics and numerical data obesity ethnology Hispanic Americans Surveys and Questionnaires Haiti Young Adult United States migrant psychology Hispanic Humans Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation female risk factor psychological rating scale Risk Factors Psychiatric Status Rating Scales questionnaire cultural factor prevalence adult body weight Brazil
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84961601688&doi=10.1007%2fs10995-016-1957-5&partnerID=40&md5=8f585ec9c23325ca0ec5e3306f27bde3
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-016-1957-5
ISSN: 10927875
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English