Generalized Anxiety Disorder in racial and ethnic minorities: A case of nativity and contextual factors

Feb 10, 2015Journal of affective disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder in racial and ethnic minorities linked to birthplace and environment

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Abstract

Foreign-born Afro-Caribbeans exhibited lower rates of lifetime Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) compared to American-born individuals.

A lower percentage of foreign-born minorities met the criteria for GAD compared to their American-born counterparts.
All racial and ethnic groups studied had lower rates of lifetime GAD than American-born Whites.
Health lifestyle choices and exposure to discrimination significantly affected the likelihood of having GAD.
Nativity was associated with lower GAD rates, but this effect was reduced by experiences of discrimination or alcohol abuse.

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BACKGROUND: Minorities comprise more than one third of the U.S., and research on the correlates and causes of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses have yielded mixed results in minority groups necessitating an understanding of causes and correlates of health. Thus, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between minority status, contextual factors, and lifetime Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

METHODS: Logistic regression models were implemented, comparing immigrants to their American-born counterparts as well as to American-born Whites.

RESULTS: Foreign-born Afro-Caribbeans exhibited lower rates of lifetime GAD. A lower percentage of foreign-born minorities met the criteria for GAD as compared to their American-born counterparts, and all racial and ethnic groups met the criteria for lifetime GAD at a lower rate as compared to American-born Whites.

DISCUSSION: By using theory proactively and including contextual factors, this multi-faceted approach to health disparities research yielded findings which both supported historic beliefs but created opportunities for supplemental research looking at immigrants and GAD. Key findings were that health lifestyle choices and exposure to discrimination significantly affected the chance of having GAD. Nativity was protective; however, its effect was ameliorated by exposure to discrimination or engagement in alcohol abuse. Thus, this study offers practical insight into environmental factors for clinicians caring for racial and ethnic minorities diagnosed with GAD.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder in racial and ethnic minorities: A case of nativity and contextual factors

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