Depressive symptoms among Mexican Americans: the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

This paper presents findings on depressive symptomatology among 3,118 Mexican-American adults who participated in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES). In 1982-1984, the National Institute of Mental Health Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was administered to Mexican Americans aged 20-74 years as part of the HHANES examination component. Respondents reported in either English or Spanish on both the presence and persistence of depressive symptoms during the week prior to the interview. The caseness rate (high levels of depressive symptoms) was 13.3%. Factors associated with increased risk of high levels of depressive symptoms were female sex, low educational achievement, low income, and US birth combined with Anglo-oriented acculturation. There were no significant differences by language. The relatively low prevalence rate and the increased risk associated with US birth/Anglo-oriented acculturation indicate the need for more multifactor studies and the investigation of possible additional factors that may contribute to the mental health of Mexican Americans.