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Abstract
The current study uses an intersectional framework to examine subgroup differences in the prevalence of depression among a community sample of predominantly low-income, racial/ethnic and sexual minority adults. Between May 2017-June 2018, participants (N = 1753) were recruited from and screened for depression in community organizations that predominantly serve sexual minority clients based in Los Angeles, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. Twenty-six percent of people screened for study eligibility met criteria for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8≥10). As is true in higher-resourced populations, bisexual (Odds Ratio; OR: 1.50; 95% Confidence Interval; CI: 1.08, 2.09) and queer/questioning (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.08, 3.19) individuals were more likely to be depressed than heterosexual and lesbian/gay individuals. These differences remained even when accounting for income. No differences in depression were observed between lesbian/gay and heterosexual adults. In terms of racial differences, bisexual Black (OR: .47; 95% CI: 0.21, 1.04) and Hispanic (OR: .51; 95% CI: 0.23, 1.12) adults were marginally less likely to be depressed than bisexual White adults. No racial differences emerged across other sexual orientations. Differences across some sexual minority subgroups may be race-specific, suggesting that intersectional frameworks may be the best way to understand how multiple marginalization affects different subgroups.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the RADD study participants, RADD Executive Committee, RADD Community Advisory Board, the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, and countless others whose involvement were essential to completing this study.
Disclaimer
The statements in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI, its Board of Governors or Methodology Committee.
Disclosure statement
Bowen Chung MD, is a part-time employee of Chorus Innovations Technology, that provided the digital platform for study participant screening and enrollment as well as text messaging about reminders for study activities.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Sylvanna M. Vargas
Sylvanna M. Vargas, PhD, MPH is a NIMH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology and MPH from the University of Southern California, and her BA from McGill University. Her research uses implementation science methods to translate observational research on intersectional stress and risk factors toward developing preventive interventions targeting depression and suicide disparities among sexual minority people of color. She is a recipient of the Ford Foundation 2017 Predoctoral and 2021 Postdoctoral Fellowships.
Sylvanna M. Vargas, PhD, MPH is a NIMH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology and MPH from the University of Southern California, and her BA from McGill University. Her research uses implementation science methods to translate observational research on intersectional stress and risk factors toward developing preventive interventions targeting depression and suicide disparities among sexual minority people of color. She is a recipient of the Ford Foundation 2017 Predoctoral and 2021 Postdoctoral Fellowships.