Mental health in senior housing: racial/ethnic patterns and correlates of major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Mental health problems are associated with disability, overuse of medical care, higher rates of mortality and suicide as well as personal suffering for older adults. Residents of urban, low-income senior housing may face increased risk of a variety of mental health problems, including depression. This study identified the prevalence of multiple mental health problems in older residents of low-income senior housing and explored correlates of major depressive disorder for the two largest ethnic groups: black and Latino.


METHODS
In-person diagnostic interviews identified rates of mental illness in a sample of 635 residents of 13 low-income senior housing buildings in a medium-sized northeastern city. Applying George's Social Antecedent Model of Depression, logistic regression analyses identified shared and unique correlates of depression for Latino and black participants.


RESULTS
This population had high rates of major depressive disorder (26%), generalized anxiety disorder (12%) and other mental health problems that varied significantly by ethnic and racial group. Separate multivariate models for Latino and black people showed that younger age, more chronic conditions and social distress were related to major depressive disorder for both ethnic groups. Perceived environmental stress, shorter tenure in the building, poorer perceived health, higher life stress and fewer leisure activities were associated with depression for Latinos only.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health screening and treatment services are needed in senior housing to address these high rates of mental illness. Unique constellations of correlates of depression for different ethnic groups underscore a need for culturally competent approaches to identification and treatment.
Robison
Julie
J
University of Connecticut Health Center, Center on Aging, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. jrobison@uchc.edu
Schensul
Jean J
JJ
Coman
Emil
E
Diefenbach
Gretchen J
GJ
Radda
Kim E
KE
Gaztambide
Sonia
S
Disch
William B
WB
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data