Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among Latina/o Adolescents of Immigrant Parents. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lopez, William D.; LeBrón, Alana M. W.; Graham, Louis F.; Grogan-Kaylor, Andrew
• Is Part Of: International quarterly of community health education. Volume 36:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: discrimination -- depressive symptoms -- mental health -- immigrants -- Latinos -- adolescents; Health education -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; 613.071
• DOI: 10.1177/0272684X16628723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-684X

Abstract

Discrimination is associated with negative mental health outcomes for Latina/o adolescents. While Latino/a adolescents experience discrimination from a number of sources and across contexts, little research considers how the source of discrimination and the context in which it occurs affect mental health outcomes among Latina/o children of immigrants. We examined the association between source-specific discrimination, racial or ethnic background of the source, and school ethnic context with depressive symptoms for Latina/o adolescents of immigrant parents. Using multilevel linear regression with time-varying covariates, we regressed depressive symptoms on source-specific discrimination, racial or ethnic background of the source of discrimination, and school percent Latina/o. Discrimination from teachers (β = 0.06, p < .05), students (β = 0.05, p < .05), Cubans (β = 0.19, p < .001), and Latinas/os (β = 0.19, p < .001) were positively associated with depressive symptoms. These associations were not moderated by school percent Latina/o. The findings indicate a need to reduce discrimination to improve Latina/o adolescents' mental health.