Mental Health of Brazilian Immigrant Women: The Role of Discrimination, Social Support, and Community Strengths

Abstract

Abstract Background: Little is known about the mental health status of Brazilians living in the U.S. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of depression among Brazilian women living in the U.S. to guide the development of culturally relevant community-based mental health interventions. Method: We conducted an online survey among a convenience sample of Brazilian women living in the U.S. between July and August 2020. Eligible participants (age 18 and over, born in Brazil, English or Portuguese speaking) were recruited through Brazilian social media pages and community organizations. The survey included items to assess depression using the Center for Epidemiological Study Depression Scale (CES-D-10), as well as the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS), as well as perceived community strengths (CS). We first assessed the correlation between CES-D-10 scores and EDS, OSSS, and CS. We then constructed multiple linear regression models to examine the relationships between EDS, OSSS, and CS with CES-D-10 scores. Results: Participants (N=353) had a mean age of 39 years (SD = 12). Most spoke Portuguese (99.7%), and the majority also reported being proficient in English (70.2%). CES-D-10 scores ranged from 2 to 29, with a mean of 11.4 (SD = 6.2). Nearly half of the participants (47.4%) had CES-D-10 scores of 10 or greater, indicating the presence of depressive symptomatology. In a multivariable model controlling for significant covariates (age, time lived in U.S.), EDS was positively associated with CES-D-10 scores (β = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.45, 0.83), while OSSS was negatively associated with CES-D-10 scores (β = -0.53, 95% C I= -0.80, -0.27). No statistically significant relationship was observed between CES-D-10 and CS scores. Conclusions: In this sample of Brazilian immigrant women, depressive symptomatology was highly prevalent, and experiences of discrimination were associated with increased symptoms of depression. There is a need to understand and address mental health in Brazilian immigrant women.