300867
Experiences of Discrimination against Latinos in a Border Community Following September 11th: Implications for the Mental Health of Latinos in Detroit, MI
Methods. This study analyzed data from the Healthy Environments Partnership Community Survey (919 and 459 Whites, Blacks, and Latinos aged >25 surveyed in 2002 and 2008). Dependent variable: depressive symptoms. Independent variable: everyday discrimination. Using logistic regression, we examined racial/ethnic differences in discrimination, adjusting for age, education, and sex. We assessed the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms in 2002 and 2008 using linear regression, controlling for sociodemographics.
Results. In 2002, there were no racial/ethnic differences in the odds of discrimination. In 2008, Latinos (OR=2.39; 95% CI:1.06,5.39) and Blacks (OR=1.85, 95% CI:1.02,3.34) had significantly higher odds of discrimination than Whites. In 2002 (B=0.33, p<0.01) and 2008 (B=0.35, p<0.01), discrimination was associated with significantly higher DS. Tests of effect modification indicated that in 2008 discrimination was inversely associated with DS among Latinos (B=-0.22, p<0.05) and Blacks (B=-0.13, p=0.08).
Conclusions. The complex association between discrimination, race/ethnicity, ethnic identity, neighborhood factors, and mental health in the current immigration context will be discussed.
Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programsPublic health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe associations between discrimination and depressive symptoms.
Describe theoretical processes that might contribute to increases in discrimination by race and ethnicity and implications for mental health.
Identify potential intervention strategies to promote and support mental health.
Keyword(s): Mental Health, Immigrant Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceptualized the analysis, performed the analysis, and took the lead in writing the abstract and associated paper. My research training has focused on the influence of social, political, and economic contexts on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health inequities, with a particular focus on immigration policies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.