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¡No me duele cuando me deprimo!: An Examination of Ethnic Differences in Depression Symptoms Among Latinx and Non-Latinx Primary Care Patients

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Abstract

The research on ethnic differences in prevalence rates of depression is mixed. Additionally, culture has been hypothesized to impact symptom manifestation. The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence rates of depression among Spanish-speaking Latinx and non-Latinx White (NLW) primary care patients and explore ethnic differences in how depression symptoms manifest. Participants were 240 primary care patients who completed a demographic questionnaire and the Beck Depression-Inventory-2 (BDI-II). Latinx primary care patients had lower prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and less severe depressive symptoms than NLW primary care patients. Holding total BDI-II score constant, Latinxs also endorse pessimism, past failures, feelings of being punished, agitation, and problems with sleeping less than their NLW counterparts. This study adds support to research that indicates that Latinxs have lower rates of depression than NLWs and suggests that Latinxs are not more likely to endorse somatic complaints.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology MS0296, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA

    Lorraine T. Benuto, Martha Zimmermann, Jena Casas, Frances Gonzalez, Rory Newlands & Francisco Reinosa Segovia

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  1. Lorraine T. Benuto
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  2. Martha Zimmermann
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  3. Jena Casas
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  4. Frances Gonzalez
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  6. Francisco Reinosa Segovia
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Correspondence to Lorraine T. Benuto.

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Benuto, L.T., Zimmermann, M., Casas, J. et al. ¡No me duele cuando me deprimo!: An Examination of Ethnic Differences in Depression Symptoms Among Latinx and Non-Latinx Primary Care Patients. J Immigrant Minority Health 23, 917–925 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-021-01238-z

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