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Examining Psychological Distress Across Intersections of Immigrant Generational Status, Race, Poverty, and Gender

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Abstract

While many studies have documented the health outcomes of immigrants, little is known about the direct and intersectional influences of generational status on mental health. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using data from the California Health Interview Survey from 2015 to 2016 (N = 41,754) to compare the prevalence of psychological distress among first-generation immigrants and non-immigrants relative to second-generation immigrants, overall and across intersections of race, poverty status, and gender. Second-generation and non-immigrant respondents had a significantly higher prevalence (10.1% and 9.4%, respectively) of psychological distress compared to first-generation immigrants (5.9%). Prevalence ratios comparing first-generation to second-generation immigrants were suggestive of an association where first-generation immigrants had lower prevalence of psychological distress compared to second-generation, though not statistically significant (0.81, 95% Confidence interval 0.63, 1.04). Prevalence ratios of non-immigrants relative to second-generation immigrants were not statistically significant (1.12, 95% Confidence interval 0.84, 1.50).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA

    Amanda Mancenido & Anjum Hajat

  2. Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA

    Emily C. Williams

  3. Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development, Seattle, WA, USA

    Emily C. Williams

Authors
  1. Amanda Mancenido
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  2. Emily C. Williams
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  3. Anjum Hajat
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Correspondence to Amanda Mancenido.

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Mancenido, A., Williams, E.C. & Hajat, A. Examining Psychological Distress Across Intersections of Immigrant Generational Status, Race, Poverty, and Gender. Community Ment Health J 56, 1269–1274 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00584-w

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