背景:在COVID-19大流行期间,对西班牙裔和拉丁裔社区的歧视和仇外心理有所增加,可能对西班牙裔和拉丁裔人的心理健康造成重大损害。与大流行有关的金融和社会不稳定对西班牙裔和拉丁裔社区造成了不成比例的影响,可能加剧现有的差距和恶化的心理健康。
目的:本研究旨在研究在COVID-19大流行期间,西班牙裔和拉丁裔成年人的全国样本中歧视与抑郁症状之间的关系。
方法:分析了2021年5月至2022年1月进行的基于网络的116项全国分布调查的数据。样本(N=1181)仅限于西班牙裔或拉丁裔(墨西哥裔或墨西哥裔美国人,波多黎各人;古巴人或古巴裔美国人,中美洲或南美洲,和多米尼加或其他西班牙裔或拉丁裔)成年人。使用2项患者健康问卷评估抑郁症状。使用5项日常歧视量表评估歧视。使用带有块输入模型的多项逻辑回归来评估歧视与抑郁症状可能性之间的关系,以及检查控制和协变量如何影响利益关系。
结果:墨西哥或墨西哥裔美国成年人占样本的最大比例(533/1181,45.13%),其次是中美洲或南美洲(204/1181,17.3%),波多黎各人(189/1181,16%),多米尼加或其他西班牙裔或拉丁裔(172/1181,14.6%),和古巴或古巴裔美国人(83/1181,7.03%)。大约31.26%(367/1181)的样本具有抑郁症状。关于歧视,54.56%(634/1181)报告经历过某种形式的歧视。与那些没有遭受歧视的人相比,经历歧视的人出现抑郁症状的几率高出近230%(校正比值比[AOR]3.31,95%CI2.42~4.54).此外,我们观察到年龄和性别等社会人口统计学因素显著.与56岁及以上的参与者相比,年龄在18~35岁和36~55岁的参与者出现抑郁症状的几率增加(分别为AOR3.83,95%CI2.13~6.90和AOR3.10,95%CI1.74~5.51).女性患抑郁症状的几率高于男性(AOR1.67,95%CI1.23-2.30)。年收入低于25,000美元(AOR2.14,95%CI1.34-3.41)和25,000美元至低于35,000美元(AOR1.89,95%CI1.17-3.06)的受访者患抑郁症的几率高于年收入50,000美元至低于75,000美元的受访者。
结论:我们的发现具有重要意义,尤其是在考虑复合时,来自大流行的众多社会经济挑战对西班牙裔和拉丁裔社区造成了不成比例的影响。这些挑战包括仇外心理上升和针对移民的紧张局势,西班牙裔和拉丁裔人获得心理健康资源不足,以及在该人群中寻求心理健康服务的现有犹豫。最终,这些发现可以作为促进卫生公平的基础。
BACKGROUND: Discrimination and xenophobia toward Hispanic and Latino communities increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely inflicting significant harm on the mental health of Hispanic and Latino individuals. Pandemic-related financial and social instability has disproportionately affected Hispanic and Latino communities, potentially compounding existing disparities and worsening mental health.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among a national sample of Hispanic and Latino adults.
METHODS: Data from a 116-item web-based nationally distributed survey from May 2021 to January 2022 were analyzed. The sample (N=1181) was restricted to Hispanic or Latino (Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican; Cuban or Cuban American, Central or South American, and Dominican or another Hispanic or Latino ethnicity) adults. Depression symptoms were assessed using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Discrimination was assessed using the 5-item Everyday Discrimination Scale. A multinomial logistic regression with a block entry model was used to assess the relationship between discrimination and the likelihood of depressive symptoms, as well as examine how controls and covariates affected the relationship of interest.
RESULTS: Mexican or Mexican American adults comprised the largest proportion of the sample (533/1181, 45.13%), followed by Central or South American (204/1181, 17.3%), Puerto Rican (189/1181, 16%), Dominican or another Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (172/1181, 14.6%), and Cuban or Cuban American (83/1181, 7.03%). Approximately 31.26% (367/1181) of the sample had depressive symptoms. Regarding discrimination, 54.56% (634/1181) reported experiencing some form of discrimination. Compared with those who did not experience discrimination, those who experienced discrimination had almost 230% higher odds of depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.31, 95% CI 2.42-4.54). Also, we observed that sociodemographic factors such as age and gender were significant. Compared with participants aged 56 years and older, participants aged 18-35 years and those aged 36-55 years had increased odds of having depressive symptoms (AOR 3.83, 95% CI 2.13-6.90 and AOR 3.10, 95% CI 1.74-5.51, respectively). Women had higher odds of having depressive symptoms (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.23-2.30) than men. Respondents with an annual income of less than US $25,000 (AOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.34-3.41) and US $25,000 to less than US $35,000 (AOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.17-3.06) had higher odds of depressive symptoms than those with an annual income of US $50,000 to less than US $75,000.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide significant importance especially when considering the compounding, numerous socioeconomic challenges stemming from the pandemic that disproportionately impact the Hispanic and Latino communities. These challenges include rising xenophobia and tensions against immigrants, inadequate access to mental health resources for Hispanic and Latino individuals, and existing hesitations toward seeking mental health services among this population. Ultimately, these findings can serve as a foundation for promoting health equity.