Microsystem and Macrosystem Predictors of Latinx College Students’ Depression and Anxiety

Abstract

Latinx college students experience depression and anxiety similarly to other groups. Systemic factors (e.g., discrimination, family support) may exacerbate or protect from symptoms. We incorporated an ecological framework to assess family cohesion, social networks, acculturative stress, perceived discrimination, and foreigner objectification as predictors of depression and anxiety for Latinx students at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Only discrimination predicted depression and anxiety after controlling for age, gender, and birthplace. Educational and counseling implications are addressed.

Students Anxiety Experiences in Higher Education Institutions

“…Some students feel anxiety because of unfair treatment from classmates, friends, and staff and faculty members. When the students feel they are not welcome and they are treated badly, this causes them to feel anxiety [28,29].…”

A Call for Person-Centered and City-Centered Student Supports

“…Generalized anxiety disorder is illustrated by chronic and persistent worry. Individuals with anxiety may exhibit restlessness, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and difficulty concentrating (Badiee & Andrade, 2019;Stein & Sareen, 2015). Equally important, many college students are anxious about their academic performance, the pressure to succeed, finances, interpersonal relationships, and postgraduate plans (Beiter et al, 2014).…”

“…There are also macro factors affecting students' anxiety. For example, some literature illustrates that while college students in the United States commonly suffer from anxiety, the stress related to holding a BIPOC status can exacerbate the mental health problems found among Latinx students (Badiee & Andrade, 2019). Applying an ecological framework to Latinx students at a Hispanic-serving institution, Badiee and Andrade (2019) found significant relationships between perceived discrimination, being treated as other, and anxiety.…”

“…Depression can manifest as self-harm, suicide, and violent behavior (Acharya et al, 2018;Nourse et al, 2017). Additionally, environment and psychological factors such as neighborhood, discrimination, family circumstances, and personal experiences of growing up absent financial stability can affect one's risk for depression (Acharya et al, 2018;Badiee & Andrade, 2019;Beiter et al, 2014).…”

Negative affect reactivity to stress and internalizing symptoms over the transition to college for Latinx adolescents: Buffering role of family support

“…The relation between stress and depressive symptoms in Latinx adolescents is robust (Grant, Compas, Thurm, McMahon, & Gipson, 2004; McCord et al, 2019; Romero & Roberts, 2003). Stress may also play a role in the development and etiology of anxiety (e.g., Bolger & Zuckerman, 1995), though there have been mixed findings for stress–anxiety associations in Latinx samples (Badiee & Andrade, 2019; Hope, Velez, Offidani-Bertrand, Keels, & Durkee, 2018). Many studies conceptualize depressive and anxiety symptoms as a joint construct of internalizing or distress (e.g., Sirin et al, 2013), rather than focusing specifically on depression and anxiety.…”