Ethnic differences in clinical presentation of depression in adult women

Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2002 May;8(2):138-56. doi: 10.1037/1099-9809.8.2.138.

Abstract

This study examined ethnic differences in self-report and interviewer-rated depressive symptoms and estimated the contributions of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors in predicting severity of depression. One hundred twenty-five clinically depressed African American (n = 46), Caucasian (n = 36), and Latina (n = 43) women were recruited. After controlling for differences in socioeconomic status, African American women reported more symptoms of distress and Latinas were rated as significantly more depressed than the other groups. However, these ethnic differences were not moderated by either education or employment. Finally, hierarchical regression analysis indicated that severity of depression was predicted by low education, being single, being Latina, high perceived stress, and feelings of hopelessness. Additional research is needed to validate these results and to investigate their clinical significance.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / ethnology*
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Regression Analysis
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • White People / psychology