THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL, STRESS, AND DEPRESSION IN MEXICAN-AMERICANS AND NON-HISPANIC WHITES

The effect of alcohol use on the relationship between stress and depre ssion in US-born Mexican American men, Mexican Americans born in Mexic o, and non-Hispanic Whites born in the United States was examined in a sample obtained from the Los Angeles Epidemiological Catchment Area s tudy. Chronic stress, measured by financial strain, and acute stress, measured by negative life events, were included in the analysis. Alcoh ol use was measured through a combination of frequency, quantity, and binging behavior. Non-Hispanic Whites were found to have a U-shaped re lationship in which moderate drinkers, in the presence of stress, had lower levels of depression than did heavy drinkers and abstainers. No such U-shaped relationship for Mexican Americans born in the United St ates was indicated. Mexican Americans born in Mexico had a more J-shap ed relationship, with abstainers through moderate drinkers having Lowe r mean depression scores than did heavy drinkers.