Mental health among Hispanics and Caucasians: risk and protective factors contributing to prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders

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Abstract

The current study examined the one-year prevalence of psychiatric disorders for Hispanics and Caucasians in a large population sample (N = 4559) and explored factors that contributed to group differences. Hispanic participants (predominantly Mexican Americans) were more likely than Caucasian participants to have met the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis in the past year, had higher one-year prevalence rates of several anxiety disorders, had greater problems meeting their basic needs, and better interpersonal functioning. Hispanic participants’ problems meeting basic needs partially mediated their higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders compared to Caucasian participants. Better interpersonal functioning protected Hispanic participants against depression, panic, and substance use disorders. These findings are discussed in terms of the importance of psychosocial variables for the prevalence of psychiatric disorders.

Section snippets

Basic needs, ethnicity, and psychiatric disorders

In considering ethnic differences in psychiatric disorders, it is important to examine factors that may contribute to such differences. Low levels of SES have been associated with both higher rates of psychiatric disorders and ethnic minority status (Dohrenwend & Dohrenwend, 1969; Williams, 1996). Thus, SES may help to explain differences in rates of psychopathology between Hispanics and Caucasians. However, the relationship between SES and psychiatric disorders may not be a simple one. That

The current study

In the current study, we drew upon a large population sample to examine prevalence of psychiatric disorders for Hispanics and Caucasians and to explore potential risk and protective factors that may contribute to group differences. The current study is an extension of previous work by Plant and Sachs-Ericsson (2004) that focused on minorities in general and examined rates of major depression. The present study more specifically targeted Hispanics and included all Axis I psychiatric disorders in

Method

Data for this study were obtained as part of a large statewide survey of the Colorado general adult population, the Colorado Social Health Survey (Ciarlo, Shern, Tweed, Kilpatrick, & Sachs-Ericsson, 1992). As previously stated, it is worth noting that this is the same sample used by Plant and Sachs-Ericsson (2004). However, their focus was on minorities in general and they only examined rates of major depression. The current study is more specific with regard to minorities (Hispanics,

Demographics

Examination of the demographics information revealed several differences based on participants’ ethnicity (see Table 1). On average, the Hispanics compared to the Caucasians were younger, had lower incomes, fewer years of education, were more likely to be unemployed, and had more people living in the household.2

Functioning

Independent samples t tests were conducted on the

Discussion

The current study examined ethnic differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and explored risk and protective factors that contribute to these differences. The findings indicate that Hispanics (predominantly Mexican Americans) compared to Caucasians were more likely to have met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder during the past year and had higher prevalence of several anxiety disorders (i.e., phobia, GAD, OCD). These findings replicate previous research on clinical samples in

Conclusion

Hispanics are quickly becoming the largest minority group in the U.S. but relatively little is known about their psychological functioning and the factors that may influence their functioning. The current findings suggest that psychosocial factors should be examined in determining whether and why ethnic differences exist in prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders between Hispanics and Caucasians. The current work suggests that the explanation of these ethnic differences, when they are found,

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