Acculturation, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms among Urban Latino Adolescents

The Latino population is the largest minority group in America consisting of 17% of the population. This population faces tremendous disparities in relation to health and disease, particularly in relation to depression. A Latino adult is more likely to have depressive symptoms than his white counterpart. Specifically, Latino women are twice as more likely to have depressive symptoms than White or African-American females. The study sought to identify the relationship between perceived stress, emerging adulthood, and depressive symptoms for acculturated Latino adolescents in the Los Angeles Area. Subjects completed surveys as participants of the project RED (Retiendo y Entendiendo Diversidad para Salud) study. A sample of 1,387 young adults (59% female; mean age 20.45 years) provided data on socioeconomic status, perceived stress measures, acculturation, and depressive symptoms. Linear regression models for CES-D scores were estimated and stratified by gender. Some results varied by sex, while others were similar for both males and females. In both sexes, higher perceived stress and negativity/instability in life was indicative of a higher CES-D score. In addition, self-focused behaviors for young adults served as a protective factor from depression. In females, older age was indicative of a higher score, while explorative behavior was a protective factor. In males, higher US acculturation was indicative of a higher CES-D score. These results signify the need for more school and community based mental health programs that provide effective, culturally sensitive interventions for mental health disorders such as depression to Latino adolescents.