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Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Mexican American Elders

¹ Department of Aging and Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa.
² Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
³ School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
⁴ Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.

Address correspondence to David Chiriboga, Department of Aging and Mental Health, Louis de La Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612. E-mail: dchiriboga{at}fmhi.usf.edu

Although social stressors have successfully predicted depressive symptomatology in a number of populations, few studies have examined the relevance of stressors for Mexican American elders. Results are reported here from a multistage probability sample of 3,050 Mexican Americans aged 65 and older drawn from a 5-state region. Participants reported low levels of education and income, and most reported difficulty in reading or writing in English. Deaths, illness of close other, and financial problems were the three most frequent life events, and many reported financial strains. Depressive symptoms were then regressed on demographic indicators, cognitive status, linguistic acculturation, social supports, and three types of stressors. Being a woman, lower income, decreased income, chronic financial strain, and several health stressors were associated with greater symptomatology. Results identified a cluster of economic stressors and conditions that may play a critical role in the etiology of depressive symptoms in this minority population.