title: Commentary on Caetano, Vaeth, Mills, and Canino (2016): Employment Status, Depression, Drinking, and Alcohol-Use Disorders in Puerto Rico.
abstract: In this commentary, we discuss a study by Caetano and colleagues (in press) that examines the relation between depression, employment status, and drinking behaviors among adults (aged 18 to 64) living in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  
  
  
  We discuss the contribution of Caetano and colleagues' (in press) study to the understanding of socioeconomic risk and protective factors associated with depression and drinking behaviors among Hispanics, specifically Puerto Ricans. We focus on 3 topics: (i) gender differences in the relation between depression and employment status, (ii) the relation between participation in the workforce and drinking behaviors, and (iii) the potential role of family and contextual factors mitigating the effects of unemployment on drinking behaviors.
  
  
  
  Findings suggest that in Puerto Rico, employment status, although associated with depression and drinking behaviors, was not associated with alcohol-related outcomes.
  
  
  
  Caetano and colleagues' (in press) article represents an important contribution to understanding differential effects in risk and protective factors associated with drinking behaviors and alcohol-related consequences among Hispanics. Future research should focus on examining the role of family and social support to mitigate the effects of unemployment, depression, and drinking behaviors among Puerto Ricans living in Puerto Rico.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Policy , College of Medicine & the Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Mildred M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maldonado-Molina
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology , University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Wesley G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jennings
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism; D003863:Depression; D004651:Employment; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Alcohol; Depression; Employment Status; Puerto Rico