Suchergebnisse

Mexican Americans report significantly lower rates of major depression than do other Americans. This difference has been attributed to several possible mechanisms, including a cultural immunity to acute stressors. Tested here is the hypothesis that Mexican Americans are reactive to one acute stressor, job loss, that is a demonstrated risk factor for depression in samples of the overall US population. Survey data from a representative sample of 3,012 Mexican Americans living in Fresno County, CA, indicate that job loss is a risk factor for major depression. The inference from previous research that Mexican Americans are less reactive to acute stressors than others in the community is probably incorrect. The relatively low rate of depression among Mexican Americans may be explained by cultural factors that protect against the chronic strains rather than acute stressors. Any public policies or clinical practices that assume Mexican Americans can withstand acute stressors better than other persons should be reviewed in light of these findings. 3 Tables, 32 References. Adapted from the source document.