Mental health of immigrant and u.s. born populations with chronic low back pain

Immigration status has been shown in research to have a strong association with depression and anxiety due to issues with acculturation. We aim to investigate the relationship between immigrant status and mental health among chronic low back pain (cLBP) sufferers enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing yoga, physical therapy, and health education. We will recruit 90 study participants from five community health centers in racially diverse neighborhoods of Boston, MA; be 18-64 years old; have non-specific cLBP for >12 weeks; an average pain intensity for the previous week of ≥4 on a 0-10 numerical rating scale; and speak sufficient English to complete surveys and follow treatment instruction. At baseline, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale and a modified Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) will be used to assess participant anxiety and depression, respectively. We will compare mental health (GAD-7 and PHQ-8) of immigrant and non-immigrant participants using univariate (t-test) and multivariate analysis. Potential confounders include smoking and alcohol use measured by self-report and BMI, which is calculated by height and weight, will be presented. Sociodemographic data will be presented. Additionally, analyses of the associations between immigrant status and mental health, controlling for BMI, alcohol and smoking status will be presented. Data will be stratified by immigrant status. Findings will highlight associations between immigrant status and mental health for individuals with chronic low back pain. Results will suggest potential issues with access to mental health services for immigrant populations.