Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018
Objective: Psychological distress is associated with increased likelihood of chronic disease and mortality. Limited research has explored psychological distress among nationally representative minority and immigrant persons, especially Black and White immigrant populations who may be uniquely suscep...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Preventive Medicine Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525000919 |
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| author | David Adzrago Maryam Elhabashy David R. Williams Faustine Williams |
| author_facet | David Adzrago Maryam Elhabashy David R. Williams Faustine Williams |
| author_sort | David Adzrago |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Psychological distress is associated with increased likelihood of chronic disease and mortality. Limited research has explored psychological distress among nationally representative minority and immigrant persons, especially Black and White immigrant populations who may be uniquely susceptible to psychological distress, its risk factors, and comorbidities. This current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of moderate to severe (hereafter, moderate-severe) psychological distress and assess its risk factors among Black and White immigrants, respectively. Methods: Drawing from the 2005–2018 National Health Interview Surveys data, this study analyzed a sample of Black (n = 5939) and White (n = 40,127) immigrants using weighted Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses. The interaction between race (Black and White immigrants) and each of the predictors was assessed, adjusting for the rest of the predictors. Results: The prevalence of moderate-severe psychological distress was higher among White immigrants (19.56 %) compared to Black immigrants (17.43 %). Several sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors (i.e., low education, higher BMI, poverty, and smoking) were more strongly associated with elevated distress among Black immigrants. Age, acculturation, and alcohol drinking status significantly moderated the association between race and moderate-severe psychological distress among immigrants. Conclusions: The findings revealed that psychological distress prevalence and risk factors differ across Black and White immigrant populations, with more pronounced behavioral risks among Black immigrants. More population-specific mental health interventions may help reduce mental health disparities in immigrant communities while conducting longitudinal studies to characterize mental health patterns and changes with their risk factors over time among immigrant populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e725ae58fd6b4112b45afb2f63316da8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2211-3355 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e725ae58fd6b4112b45afb2f63316da82025-08-20T03:13:03ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552025-06-015410305210.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103052Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018David Adzrago0Maryam Elhabashy1David R. Williams2Faustine Williams3Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USADivision of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USADepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USADivision of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Corresponding author at: Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 11545 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20818, USA.Objective: Psychological distress is associated with increased likelihood of chronic disease and mortality. Limited research has explored psychological distress among nationally representative minority and immigrant persons, especially Black and White immigrant populations who may be uniquely susceptible to psychological distress, its risk factors, and comorbidities. This current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of moderate to severe (hereafter, moderate-severe) psychological distress and assess its risk factors among Black and White immigrants, respectively. Methods: Drawing from the 2005–2018 National Health Interview Surveys data, this study analyzed a sample of Black (n = 5939) and White (n = 40,127) immigrants using weighted Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses. The interaction between race (Black and White immigrants) and each of the predictors was assessed, adjusting for the rest of the predictors. Results: The prevalence of moderate-severe psychological distress was higher among White immigrants (19.56 %) compared to Black immigrants (17.43 %). Several sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors (i.e., low education, higher BMI, poverty, and smoking) were more strongly associated with elevated distress among Black immigrants. Age, acculturation, and alcohol drinking status significantly moderated the association between race and moderate-severe psychological distress among immigrants. Conclusions: The findings revealed that psychological distress prevalence and risk factors differ across Black and White immigrant populations, with more pronounced behavioral risks among Black immigrants. More population-specific mental health interventions may help reduce mental health disparities in immigrant communities while conducting longitudinal studies to characterize mental health patterns and changes with their risk factors over time among immigrant populations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525000919Psychological distressAnxietyDepressionMental healthImmigrant healthHealth disparities |
| spellingShingle | David Adzrago Maryam Elhabashy David R. Williams Faustine Williams Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018 Preventive Medicine Reports Psychological distress Anxiety Depression Mental health Immigrant health Health disparities |
| title | Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018 |
| title_full | Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018 |
| title_fullStr | Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018 |
| title_short | Psychological distress and its potential risk factors among Black and White adult immigrants in the United States – National Health Interview Survey 2005–2018 |
| title_sort | psychological distress and its potential risk factors among black and white adult immigrants in the united states national health interview survey 2005 2018 |
| topic | Psychological distress Anxiety Depression Mental health Immigrant health Health disparities |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525000919 |
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