Date of Award
1-1-2016
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School/Department
School of Social Welfare
Content Description
1 online resource (xii, 102 pages) : 1 color illustration.
Dissertation/Thesis Chair
Blanca Ramos
Committee Members
Philip McCallion, Yong Li
Keywords
Depression, Latinas, Neighborhood Effects, Hispanic American women, Depression in women, Worry, Anxiety in women, Public safety
Subject Categories
Psychiatric and Mental Health | Social Work
Abstract
Previous research has confirmed that neighborhood level social factors (e.g. crime, safety) present chronic stressors that increase risk for depression in residents of economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. U.S. Latinos experience higher levels of poverty and thus are more likely to live in poor neighborhoods. In this study it was hypothesized that adult Latina women who reported (1) higher levels of worry regarding the general safety of their household children in the neighborhood, (2) higher levels of worry regarding influence of bad friends on their household children, and (3) higher levels of worry regarding their household children being exposed to drugs and alcohol, would also report higher levels of depression after controlling for the individual level characteristics of level of acculturation, education, age, income and marital status. This study used a cross-sectional survey design and a convenience sample of 136 Latina women. Depression was measured using the CES-D Spanish version. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the first step consisting of control variables was significantly correlated with depression, R2 =.14, F (5,130) =4.261, p = .001. In step two, after entering the neighborhood level variables, the resulting R2 increased significantly, R2 = .21, F (1, 129) = 10.937, p < .001. The relationship between depression and each CES-D subscale was also explored. Understanding both micro and macro level factors that contribute to depression is essential for developing complex multi-level explanatory models and designing effective interventions. This study contributes to an emerging critical framework that illustrates how public policy influences the more proximal mechanisms that contribute to mental health and health problems.
Recommended Citation
Stetson, Randall, "Exploring the association between perceived safety of household children in the neigborhood and levels of depressive symptoms among Spanish speaking Latina adults living in a high crime, low income neigbhorhood" (2016). Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024). 1732.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/legacy-etd/1732