RELATIONS OF DEPRESSION, ACCULTURATION, AND SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS IN ALATINO SAMPLE

This study investigated the relations among depression, acculturation, and socioeconomic status (SES) in a young-adult Latino sample. Data w ere obtained from 1,271 Latino first-year college students; 89% self-l abeled as either Mexican American or Hispanic, and 11% as Mexican Nati onal. Symptoms of depression were compared for various acculturation l evels, and bicultural groups with controls for SES and gender: The Acc ulturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II) was used t o assess acculturation characteristics. Clinical depression and sympto ms of depression were measured using the DSD26 Symptom Scale for asses sment of depressive symptoms and major depression. Variance in depress ion scores was found to be influenced more by gender and SES than by a cculturation or ethnic identity status. Assimilated Mexican Americans reported significantly fewer symptoms of depression than their more tr aditional counterparts. Ethnicity and acculturation per se were not fo und to lessen or increase risk for depression, but SES associated with ethnicity was found to directly affected depression scores.