The Effects Of Health Beliefs And Depression On Latino And African American Older Adults

Abstract

Disparities among minorities are prevalent, and it is pertinent to identify why. The relationships between culture, depressive symptoms, symptom identity, mental health-related quality of life, functional limitations, self-assessed health and care seeking were examined. The study interviewed 240 European American, African American, and Hispanic/Latino older adults. Contrary to expectations, no differences were found in symptom identity, mental health-related quality of life, self-assessed health, functional limitations and care seeking from a psychologist or psychiatrist, or any other mental health professional among cultures. No differences were observed among depressive symptom groups in symptom identity, and care seeking. As expected, patients with no depressive symptoms had better mental health-related quality of life, self-assessed health, and less functional limitations than those with above threshold depressive symptoms. As expected, European Americans with subthreshold depressive symptoms had better self-assessed health than Hispanics/Latinos with sub-threshold depressive symptoms. Contrary to expectations, acculturation did not predict health outcomes not did it moderate the relationship between symptom identity and health. In conclusion, few differences among cultural and depressive symptom groups were found. Other factors, such as perceived control, may better explain health disparities among minorities.