Abstract
The negative impact of low acculturation on mental health in Hispanic older adults is widely known. The current study examined
whether this association varied by a perceived density of people with same racial/ethnic backgrounds in neighborhoods. We
hypothesized that the negative impact of low acculturation on mental health would be pronounced when they lived in neighborhoods
with a low density of Hispanics. Using data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (n = 1,267), hierarchical regression models of depressive symptoms were estimated with sets of predictors: (1) demographic variables,
(2) acculturation, (3) perceived density of Hispanics in neighborhoods, and (4) an interaction between acculturation and perceived
density of Hispanics. Supporting the hypothesis, the impact of acculturation on depressive symptoms was found to be moderated
by the perceived density of Hispanics in neighborhoods. Findings suggest the importance of neighborhood characteristics in
the lives of immigrant older adults.
whether this association varied by a perceived density of people with same racial/ethnic backgrounds in neighborhoods. We
hypothesized that the negative impact of low acculturation on mental health would be pronounced when they lived in neighborhoods
with a low density of Hispanics. Using data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (n = 1,267), hierarchical regression models of depressive symptoms were estimated with sets of predictors: (1) demographic variables,
(2) acculturation, (3) perceived density of Hispanics in neighborhoods, and (4) an interaction between acculturation and perceived
density of Hispanics. Supporting the hypothesis, the impact of acculturation on depressive symptoms was found to be moderated
by the perceived density of Hispanics in neighborhoods. Findings suggest the importance of neighborhood characteristics in
the lives of immigrant older adults.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Communication
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9569-z
- Authors
- Kyung Hwa Kwag, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Louis University, 3750 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
- Yuri Jang, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- David A. Chiriboga, Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912