Manka Nkimbeng1,2, Nwakaego A Nmezi2, Zachary G Baker1, Janiece L Taylor3, Yvonne Commodore-Mensah3, Tetyana P Shippee1, Sarah L Szanton3, Joseph E Gaugler1. 1. Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. 2. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 3. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Before, during, and after their immigration to the United States, immigrants face stressful life circumstances that may render them at risk for depressive symptoms. However, there is a dearth of research on the mental health of African immigrants. We performed secondary data analyses of two studies in the Baltimore-Washington area to describe and identify correlates of depressive symptoms in older African immigrants. METHODS: Chi square tests, one-way ANOVAs, and linear regressions were used to describe and examine associations between depressive symptoms and immigrant-related risk factors. RESULTS: This sample included 148 participants who had a mean age of 62 (SD ± 8.2). Clinical depressive symptoms were present in 8.1% of participants, and trouble falling asleep for more than half of the days was the most prevalent symptom (20%). Levels of education, income, and migration reasons differed significantly from clinical depressive symptoms, but these were not significantly associated with more depressive symptoms after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal designs may further elucidate incidence, correlates, and long-term effects of depressive symptoms within this population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Knowledge of depressive symptom burden and risk factors can inform timely assessment, referral, and treatment of depressive symptoms and other mental health outcomes in older African immigrants.
OBJECTIVES: Before, during, and after their immigration to the United States, immigrants face stressful life circumstances that may render them at risk for depressive symptoms. However, there is a dearth of research on the mental health of African immigrants. We performed secondary data analyses of two studies in the Baltimore-Washington area to describe and identify correlates of depressive symptoms in older African immigrants. METHODS: Chi square tests, one-way ANOVAs, and linear regressions were used to describe and examine associations between depressive symptoms and immigrant-related risk factors. RESULTS: This sample included 148 participants who had a mean age of 62 (SD ± 8.2). Clinical depressive symptoms were present in 8.1% of participants, and trouble falling asleep for more than half of the days was the most prevalent symptom (20%). Levels of education, income, and migration reasons differed significantly from clinical depressive symptoms, but these were not significantly associated with more depressive symptoms after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal designs may further elucidate incidence, correlates, and long-term effects of depressive symptoms within this population. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Knowledge of depressive symptom burden and risk factors can inform timely assessment, referral, and treatment of depressive symptoms and other mental health outcomes in older African immigrants.
Authors: Chelsie E Benca-Bachman; Dalora D Najera; Keith E Whitfield; Janiece L Taylor; Roland J Thorpe; Rohan H C Palmer Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2020-02-13 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Linda R Tropp; Sumru Erkut; Cynthia García Coll; Odette Alarcón; Heidie A Vázquez García Journal: Educ Psychol Meas Date: 1999-04-01 Impact factor: 2.821
Authors: Fay Saechao; Sally Sharrock; Daryn Reicherter; James D Livingston; Alexandra Aylward; Jill Whisnant; Cheryl Koopman; Sarita Kohli Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2011-06-08
Authors: Heide Castañeda; Seth M Holmes; Daniel S Madrigal; Maria-Elena DeTrinidad Young; Naomi Beyeler; James Quesada Journal: Annu Rev Public Health Date: 2014-12-10 Impact factor: 21.981
Authors: Manka Nkimbeng; Alvine Akumbom; Marianne Granbom; Sarah L Szanton; Tetyana P Shippee; Roland J Thorpe; Joseph E Gaugler Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-18 Impact factor: 3.390