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The mental health of Black Caribbean immigrants: Results from the National Survey of American Life

Author

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  • Williams, D.R.
  • Haile, R.
  • González, H.M.
  • Neighbors, H.
  • Baser, R.
  • Jackson, J.S.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Black Caribbean immigrant ("Caribbean Black") and African American populations and the correlates of psychiatric disorders among the Caribbean Black population. Methods. We conducted descriptive and age-adjusted analyses of the data from the National Survey of American Life-an in-person household mental health survey of noninstitutionalized US Blacks. We assessed psychiatric disorders as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results. Compared with African American men, Caribbean Black men had higher risks for 12-month rates of psychiatric disorders. Caribbean Black women had lower odds for 12-month and lifetime psychiatric disorders compared with African American women. Risks varied by ethnicity, immigration history, and generation status within the Caribbean sample. First-generation Caribbean Blacks had lower rates of psychiatric disorders compared with second- or third-generation Caribbean Blacks, and, compared with first-generation Carribbean Blacks, third-generation Caribbean Blacks had markedly elevated rates of psychiatric disorders. Conclusions. Mental health risks were associated with ethnic diversity within the US Black population. Increased exposure to minority status in the United States was associated with higher risks for psychiatric disorders among Black Caribbean immigrants, which possibly reflects increased societal stress and downward social mobility associated with being Black in America.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, D.R. & Haile, R. & González, H.M. & Neighbors, H. & Baser, R. & Jackson, J.S., 2007. "The mental health of Black Caribbean immigrants: Results from the National Survey of American Life," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(1), pages 52-59.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2006.088211_3
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.088211
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    3. Audrey L. Jones & Susan D. Cochran & Jane Rafferty & Robert Joseph Taylor & Vickie M. Mays, 2020. "Lifetime and Twelve-Month Prevalence, Persistence, and Unmet Treatment Needs of Mood, Anxiety, and Substance Use Disorders in African American and U.S. versus Foreign-Born Caribbean Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Krim K. Lacey & Hira R. Shahid & Rohan D. Jeremiah, 2021. "Intimate Partner Violence and the Role of Child Maltreatment and Neighborhood Violence: A Retrospective Study of African American and US Caribbean Black Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, February.
    5. repec:pri:crcwel:wp08-15-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Jackson, Chandra L. & Hu, Frank B. & Redline, Susan & Williams, David R. & Mattei, Josiemer & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2014. "Racial/ethnic disparities in short sleep duration by occupation: The contribution of immigrant status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 71-79.
    7. Mosi Adesina Ifatunji & Yanica Faustin & Wendy Lee & Deshira Wallace, 2022. "Black Nativity and Health Disparities: A Research Paradigm for Understanding the Social Determinants of Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-40, July.
    8. Lisa M. Bates & Julien O. Teitler, 2008. "Immigration and low birthweight in the US: The role of time and timing," Working Papers 1085, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing..
    9. Bijou, Christina & Colen, Cynthia G, 2022. "Shades of health: Skin color, ethnicity, and mental health among Black Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    10. Lindert, Jutta & Ehrenstein, Ondine S. von & Priebe, Stefan & Mielck, Andreas & Brähler, Elmar, 2009. "Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees - A systematic review and meta-analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 246-257, July.
    11. Ashley N. Jackson & Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes & Jewel D. Stafford & Helen Robinson & Phylicia C. Allen, 2020. "“Can I Live”: Black American Adolescent Boys’ Reports of Police Abuse and the Role of Religiosity on Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-16, June.
    12. Leu, Janxin & Yen, Irene H. & Gansky, Stuart A. & Walton, Emily & Adler, Nancy E. & Takeuchi, David T., 2008. "The association between subjective social status and mental health among Asian immigrants: Investigating the influence of age at immigration," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(5), pages 1152-1164, March.
    13. Krim K. Lacey & Karen Powell Sears & Ishtar O. Govia & Ivy Forsythe-Brown & Niki Matusko & James S. Jackson, 2015. "Substance Use, Mental Disorders and Physical Health of Caribbeans at-Home Compared to Those Residing in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, January.
    14. Clarke, Christina A. & Miller, Tim & Chang, Ellen T. & Yin, Daixin & Cockburn, Myles & Gomez, Scarlett L., 2010. "Racial and social class gradients in life expectancy in contemporary California," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(9), pages 1373-1380, May.
    15. Krim K. Lacey & Regina Parnell & Sasha R. Drummond-Lewis & Maxine Wood & Karen Powell Sears, 2021. "Physical Intimate Partner Violence, Childhood Physical Abuse and Mental Health of U.S. Caribbean Women: The Interrelationship of Social, Contextual, and Migratory Influences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. John M de Figueiredo, 2014. "Explaining the ‘immigration advantage’ and the ‘biculturalism paradox’: An application of the theory of demoralization," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(2), pages 175-177, March.
    17. John, Dolly A. & de Castro, A.B. & Martin, Diane P. & Duran, Bonnie & Takeuchi, David T., 2012. "Does an immigrant health paradox exist among Asian Americans? Associations of nativity and occupational class with self-rated health and mental disorders," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2085-2098.
    18. Chadwick, Kathryn A. & Collins, Patricia A., 2015. "Examining the relationship between social support availability, urban center size, and self-perceived mental health of recent immigrants to Canada: A mixed-methods analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 220-230.
    19. Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A., 2007. "Beyond acculturation: Immigration, discrimination, and health research among Mexicans in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(7), pages 1524-1535, October.
    20. Bécares, Laia & Nazroo, James & Jackson, James & Heuvelman, Hein, 2012. "Ethnic density effects on health and experienced racism among Caribbean people in the US and England: A cross-national comparison," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2107-2115.
    21. Chae, David H. & Lincoln, Karen D. & Adler, Nancy E. & Syme, S. Leonard, 2010. "Do experiences of racial discrimination predict cardiovascular disease among African American men? The moderating role of internalized negative racial group attitudes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(6), pages 1182-1188, September.

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