Acculturation and the prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans: baseline results of the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between acculturation, immigration, and prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis from a cohort study.


METHODS
Urban and rural counties of the Central Valley of Northern California.


METHODS
One thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine Latinos recruited from a population-based sample (85% Mexican Americans) with a mean age of 70.6 (range 60-100; standard deviation (SD) = 7.13); 58.2% were women.


METHODS
Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression scale (CES-D). Acculturation was measured with the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans--II. Psychosocial, behavioral, and medical histories were also obtained.


RESULTS
The prevalence of depression (CES-D > or = 16) was 25.4%. Women were at greater risk (32.0%) than men (16.3%; male/female odds ratio (OR) = 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.90-3.09). The prevalence of depression was higher among immigrants (30.4%, OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.36-2.13), bicultural participants (24.2%, OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.24-2.24), and less-acculturated participants (36.1%, OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 2.22-3.93) compared with U.S.-born (20.5%) and more-acculturated groups (16.1%). When adjustments for education, income, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-problem factors were made, the least-acculturated participants were at significantly higher risk of depression than highly acculturated Mexican Americans (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.06-2.31).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with previously reported estimates of a higher prevalence of depression for older Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic Caucasians and African Americans and are the first to report the prevalence and risk of depression for older U.S.-born and immigrant Mexican Americans. The high prevalence of depression of the least acculturated group may be related to cultural barriers encountered by immigrants and less-acculturated older Mexican Americans and to poorer health status.
González
H M
HM
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA.
Haan
M N
MN
Hinton
L
L
D000069:Acculturation; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data