Journal Article

Associations Between Self-Rated Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders Among Older Adults: Do Racial/Ethnic Differences Exist?

Chiriboga, David A., Jang, Yuri, DeCoster, Jamie, Allen, Rebecca S., Kim, Giyeon, Parmelee, Patricia

2011

Overview

This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the association between self-rated mental health (SRMH) and psychiatric disorders among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Cross-sectional analyses of nationally representative data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (2001–2003). In-person household interviews. Older adults aged 60 and older (N = 1,840), including non-Hispanic Whites (N = 351), Blacks (N = 826), Hispanics (N = 406), and Asians (N = 257). SRMH was measured with a single item, “How would you rate your own mental health?” Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), diagnoses for mood and anxiety disorders were measured with the World Health Organization's World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results from logistic regression analyses showed significant main effects of both SRMH and race/ethnicity on the presence of mood and anxiety disorders: people who have poor SRMH and are non-Hispanic Whites were more likely to have mood and anxiety disorders. There were also significant interaction effects between SRMH and race/ethnicity, such that the relation of SRMH with diagnoses of psychiatric disorders was strongest in non-Hispanic Whites. Racial/ethnic variations were found in the relationship between self-perception of mental health and DSM-IV psychiatric disorders. The findings suggest the need to develop race/ethnicity-specific strategies to screen psychiatric disorders in diverse elderly populations. Future studies are needed to investigate possible reasons for the racial/ethnic group differences.

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Adults / Age differences / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Anxiety / anxiety disorder / Anxiety disorders / Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis / Anxiety Disorders - ethnology / Anxiety Disorders - psychology / Black or African American / Black people / Black People - psychology / Black People - statistics & numerical data / Black white differences / Black white relations / Cross-Sectional Studies / Diagnostic and Statistical Manual / Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders / Disorders / Emotions / Epidemiology / Ethnic differences / Ethnic groups / Ethnicity / Female / Health status / Health Status Disparities / Hispanic or Latino - psychology / Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data / Humans / Internal Medicine / Interviews / Latin American cultural groups / Logistic Models / Low income groups / Male / Mental disorders / Mental Health / Middle Aged / mood disorder / Mood Disorders - diagnosis / Mood Disorders - ethnology / Mood Disorders - psychology / older adults / Older people / Perceptions / Predictive Value of Tests / Public health / Race / Racial differences / racial/ethnic disparities / Self concept / Self evaluation / Self-Assessment / Self-rated mental health (SRMH) / Socioeconomic Factors / Surveys and Questionnaires / United States / White people / White People - psychology / White People - statistics & numerical data