Physical Limitations, Health Rumination/Worry, and Depressive Symptoms: Gender Differences among African Americans.

Although studies have documented the relationships between physical health, health rumination/worry, and mental health, few investigations have assessed these linkages within African American communities. Using a community-based sample of residents in historically lower-income, African American communities (N = 306), this study assesses the mediating role of health rumination/worry in the physical limitation-depressive symptom relationship, and the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between health rumination/worry-depressive symptoms. Findings demonstrate that health rumination/worry explains half of the physical limitation-depressive symptom relationship, and the relationship between health rumination/worry and depressive symptoms is stronger for African American men than women.

Perceived Built Environment and Physical Limitations: Race Contrasts in Historically Lower-Income African American Neighborhoods.

This study uses primary data from a community-based random sample of adults in historically lower-income African American (or Black) neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia (N = 352). The aim was to investigate whether there are race differences in perceived neighborhood conditions/amenities, and the potential conditional effect of race on the relationship between the perceived built environment and physical limitations. Findings indicate significant race differences in the perceived built environment and that the relationship between the perceived built environment and physical limitations is conditioned by race, whereby Whites experience greater physical health benefits from more neighborhood conditions/amenities than African Americans.

Risk and Protective Factors for Depressive Symptoms Among African American Men: An Application of the Stress Process Model.

Objectives: This study employs the stress process model (SPM) to identify risk/protective factors for mental health among adult African American men.

Method: Using a community-based sample of Miami, FL residents linked to neighborhood Census data, this study identifies risk/protective factors for depressive symptomatology using a sample of 248 adult African American men.

Results: The stress process variables independently associated with depressive symptoms were family support, mastery, self-esteem, chronic stressors, and daily discrimination.

Time-clustered Deaths and Substance Use Disorder among Young Adults.

This study assesses whether experiencing multiple deaths of loved ones clustered in time increases risk for substance use problems. Using survey data from a community sample of young adults in Miami, Florida (N = 1747), time-clustered deaths were categorized based on the age of the respondent at the time of each death, with less time between deaths representing greater time-clustering. Results indicate that young adults experiencing multiple deaths that are highly time clustered are at increased risk for substance use disorder and alcohol use.

SES and race-ethnic differences in the stress-buffering effects of coping resources among young adults.

Objectives: This study assesses socioeconomic status (SES) and race-ethnic differences in the extent to which coping resources (social support and self-esteem) buffer the negative impact of chronic stress on depressive symptoms.

Design: We analyze data from a large community-based sample of young adults (ages 18-23) living in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA (N = 1411).

Results: Study findings indicate that the stress-buffering effects of social support or self-esteem do not vary by SES.

Reciprocity between depressive symptoms and physical limitations pre- and postretirement: exploring racial differences.

Objective: This study assesses (a) the reciprocity between mental and physical health pre- and postretirement, and (b) the extent to which these associations vary by race.

Method: Data are from the 1994 to 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study.

Results: Analyses based on structural equation modeling reveal that depression and physical health exert reciprocal effects for Whites pre- and postretirement.

The History and Timing of Depression Onset as Predictors of Young-Adult Self-Esteem.

Depression often emerges early in the lifecourse and is consistently shown to be associated with poor self-esteem. The three main objectives of the current study are to (1) evaluate the association between a history major depression and self-esteem in young adulthood; (2) assess the relationship between timing of depression onset and young adult self-esteem; and (3) help rule out the alternative interpretation that the relationship between major depression and self-esteem is due to state dependence bias stemming from recent depressive symptoms and stressful life events. To address these objectives we use data from a two-wave panel study based on a community sample of young adults in Miami-Dade County, Florida (n = 1,197).

Help-seeking behaviors in a community sample of young adults with substance use disorders.

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the U.S., many with a SUD go untreated and/or report lengthy delays to help-seeking initiation.

Depressive symptoms and bodily pain: The role of physical disability and social stress.

This study evaluates the bi-directional association between depressive symptoms and bodily pain, and examines the role of physical disability and perceived social stress in the depression-pain relationship. Data are employed from a two-wave panel study of Miami-Dade county residents (n = 1,459) that includes a substantial over-sampling of individuals who identify as physically-disabled. Findings indicate that the bi-directional relationship between depression and pain is similar for those with and without a physical disability.

Trends in state prison admission of offenders with serious mental illness.

Objective: This study examined whether the proportion as well as the number of prisoners with behavioral health disorders have increased in recent years.

Methods: Among 41,440 persons admitted to Washington State prisons from 1998 through 2006, this study estimated numbers and proportions of behavioral health disorders diagnosed while persons were in the community or in prison.

Results: There was a 44% increase in persons admitted with a diagnosed co-occurring substance use disorder between 1998 (N=477) and 2005 (N=686); this increase dropped to 27% by 2006 (N=604).

The mental health and psychosocial adjustment of Cuban immigrants in south Florida.

Given documented variation in pre-migration and migration-related experiences, Cuban immigrants in the U.S. who arrived during or subsequent to 1980 may be disadvantaged in mental health and psychosocial adjustment relative to earlier arrivals.

The long-term impact of childhood abuse on internalizing disorders among older adults: the moderating role of self-esteem.

Objectives: First, to determine if childhood experiences of abuse have an impact on internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders) among older adults.

Physical limitations and depressive symptoms: exploring the nature of the association.

Objectives: Although evidence suggests that physical disability and depression may be reciprocally related, questions of causality versus spuriousness and the direction of causality remain to be confidently answered. This study considered the hypothesis of reciprocal influence; the possibility of spuriousness in relation to pain, stress, and lifetime major depression; and the possible mediating effects of pain and social stress.

Methods: We analyzed data from a two-wave panel study of Miami-Dade County residents (n = 1,455) that included a substantial oversampling of individuals reporting a physical disability.