Interpersonal Experiences and Mental Health Among Low-Income Black and Latino Adults

Abstract

Introduction:

Mental health among Black and Latino adults is shaped by social and cultural dynamics. We examined associations of social support-seeking, interpersonal violence, and loneliness with depressive and anxious symptoms in a low-income urban context.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of 453 low-income Black and Latino adults in a Northeastern U.S. minority urban community. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and regressions that controlled for all interpersonal experiences and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results:

Latino adults reported greater depressive symptoms than Black adults. Loneliness was the strongest predictor of depressive and anxious symptoms. Social support-seeking predicted greater anxious symptoms only for Black adults in unadjusted models. Interpersonal violence predicted greater depressive symptoms in unadjusted models, and greater anxious symptoms only for Black adults in both models.

Discussion:

Loneliness may be a key risk factor for mental health symptoms. Some interpersonal factors appeared more salient to Black adults’ mental health, informing culturally congruent care.

Keywords

social support interpersonal violence loneliness depressive symptoms anxious symptoms urban minority adults

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