Depressive symptoms of midlife Latinas: effect of immigration and sociodemographic factors

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of Latina participants (n = 94)

	US-born (n = 57)	Immigrant (n = 37)
Age (mean ± SD)	43.8 ± 2.6	43.2 ± 2.3
Body mass index	28.0 ± 6.07	28.7 ± 5.97
Completed high school (%)	96	51; χ^2[2] = 10.1 P = 0.006
Married/partnered (%)	52	69
Have one or more children (%)	59	97; χ^2[1] = 17.1 P < 0.001
Annual household family income (USD)
<$32,000 (%)	50	49
$32,000–$59,000 (%)	14	21
.$60,000 (%)	36	30
Income adequate for
Housing (mean ± SD)	3.26 ± 0.745	2.78 ± 0.712a
Food (mean ± SD)	3.26 ± 0.642	2.97 ± 0.642a
Health care (mean ± SD)	3.12 ± 0.908	2.89 ± 0.867
Essential daily needs (mean ± SD)	3.11 ± 0.646	2.59 ± 0.686a
Raising children (mean ± SD)	3.61 ± 1.317	2.95 ± 1.104a
Employed outside the home (%)	86	81
More than one job (%)	22	17
Type of employment
Unskilled/semi-skilled (%)	0	35; χ^2[3] = 26.3, P < 0.001
Clerical/technical (%)	51	33
Managerial/administration (%)	49	32
English as a second language (%)	60	92
Think in Spanish (%)	61	82
Read/speak Spanish better than English (%)	30	47
Speak Spanish at home (%)	49	68
Speak Spanish with friends (%)	51	74

Note:

a Groups significantly different on adequacy of income (t > 2.0, P < 0.05).

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 Responses for “less than adequate income to meet needs” reported by Latinas born in the US and Latinas born in Mexico or Central America.

Table 2 Self-report health measures

	US-born Latinas (n = 57)	Immigrant Latinas (n = 37)	t-test (P-values)
CES-Da	10.0 ± 7.90	14.4 ±11.78	t = 2.16 (P = 0.033)
General health perceptionb	2.26 ± 0.95	2.71 ± 1.04	t = 1.92 (P = 0.06)
Attitude toward agingc	58.8 ± 6.73	52.5 ± 6.10	t = 4.35 (P < 0.001)
Attitude toward menopaused	74.2 ± 9.99	71.2 ± 8.77	NS
Perceived Stress Scalee	17.2 ± 7.03	17.2 ± 4.43	NS
Stressf past month related to
Personal issues	2.11 ± 0.920	2.24 ± 1.090	NS
Physical health	2.21 ± 1.031	1.97 ± 0.986	NS
Work	3.09 ± 0.892	2.51 ± 1.017	t = 2.88 (P = 0.005)
Family	2.58 ± 0.944	2.97 ± 0.957	t = 1.97 (P = 0.05)
Total stress score	9.98 ± 2.489	9.70 ± 2.676	NS

Notes: Means ± standard deviations (n = 94).

a CES-D (20 items): rarely or none (0) to most or all the time (3); range 0–60, score > 15 indicates depression;

b general health perception (1 item): excellent (1) to poor (5);

c attitude toward aging (22 items): strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree (4); higher score = more positive attitude;

d attitude toward menopause (35 items): strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree (4); higher score = more positive attitude;

e perceived Stress Scale (10 items): never (1) to very often (5); ≥20 = high stress;

f stress (4 components): not at all (1) to a lot (4); total stress score range 4–16.

Abbreviations: CES-D, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression; NS, not significant.

Figure 2 Comparison of CES-D scores for Latinas born in the US and Latinas born in Mexico or Central America.

Abbreviation: CES-D, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression.