Identifying the role of sociodemographic factors in major depressive disorder and suicidality among Spanish-speaking Latino patients in a federally qualified health center

Abstract

Rates of suicide and major depressive disorder (MDD) are currently at the highest point in the history of the United States (US). However, these rates are not distributed evenly among the population and Latinos show disproportionately high rates of both suicide and MDD. Yet, past research has infrequently explored factors related to suicide and MDD in primary care settings that serve as the major community portal for mental health among the Latino population. Thus, the current study investigated sociodemographic variables (marital status, nativity, education, employment, primary language, age, and gender) in terms of their relations with suicidal ideation, suicide risk, MDD, and MDD symptom severity among Latino primary care patients in a Federally Qualified Health Center (N = 634, M = 39.46, SD = 11.46, 87.1% female). Results indicated that gender and Nativity were associated with suicidal ideation, older age was associated with suicide risk, and higher education and having a partner were negatively associated with MDD and depressive symptom severity. These results provide novel insight into the role of sociodemographic factors predicting suicide and MDD among Latinos in primary care, and suggest greater scientific and clinical attention can be focused on certain sociodemographic factors to offset mental health disparities among this group.

Hispanics, Mental Health, and the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide: Brief Report

“…Males commit suicide at higher ratios than females nationally (Mayer-Lochtefeld, 2019); however, a recent cross-sectional, correlational study has reported that suicide mortality rates have significantly increased among females (N ¼ 12,401), ages 45 to 64 years, from 1999 to 2015 (Choi et al, 2018). Although Hispanic American females have historically reported higher suicide attempt rates than Hispanic American males and other ethnic groups, these rates have decreased among this group in the last decade (Rogers et al, 2018;Romero et al, 2018). Suicide mortality rates, however, have remained higher among Hispanic males than Hispanic females over the past decade nationally and globally (CDC, 2015;World Health Organization, 2018).…”

“…Gender roles among Hispanic males include providing financial support and protection to the family; however, negative circumstances such as chronic or physical illness, divorce, loss of employment or independence threaten a Hispanic man's mental health (Goldmann et al, 2017). Other factors such as being born in the United States, migrating to the United States at a young age, or acculturative stress place Hispanic males atrisk for suicide (Brown et al, 2015;Rogers et al, 2018). Hispanic males further avoid conversation related to feelings and are less likely to report suicidal problems than their female counterparts (Molina et al, 2016).…”

“…Hispanic males are also less likely to access medical or psychiatric treatment, including preventative care, compared with Hispanic females (Hempstead et al, 2013). These factors could negatively affect social relationships and create barriers to psychiatric care among Hispanic males, increasing the probability of thwarted belongingness and consequently suicide (Goldmann et al, 2017;Joiner, 2005;Rogers et al, 2018).…”

“…Gender roles among Hispanic females consist of providing emotional support to family members and maintaining family cohesiveness and cultural values within families (Molina et al, 2016). Hispanic females have reported higher suicide attempt, compared with Hispanic males (Brown et al, 2015;Rogers et al, 2018;Romero et al, 2018). This group has further reported increased levels of perceived family conflict and is more mentally vulnerable to discrimination than Hispanic males (Molina et al, 2016).…”

Effectiveness of Psychotherapy on Suicidal Risk: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

“…The creation of evidence-based guidelines for psychotherapy in suicide prevention is needed to improve the outcomes, especially in vulnerable groups presenting major social, psychiatric, or psychological risk factors (Valtonen et al, 2006; Rihmer, 2007; Fountoulakis et al, 2009; Rogers et al, 2018). Ideally, intervention strategies could follow a consensual methodology to ensure the coherence and comparability of results.…”