Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression among African American and White Women

Abstract EN

Background.

We examined factors associated with depression and anxiety in a cohort of low-income Baltimore women.

Methods.

We used Pathways to Adulthood data, a cohort of adults aged 27 to 33 who were born in Baltimore between 1960 and 1965.

Our outcomes were a score of >4 on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) across the depression or anxiety domains.

Linear regression clustered on census tract was used for multivariate analysis.

Results.

In multivariable analyses, unmarried women, White women, those with lower self-rated health, and younger mothers had higher depression scores.

Only lower self-rated health and White race were associated with a higher anxiety score.

Neither neighborhood poverty nor racial composition was a predictor for anxiety or depression; however, the significant risk factors cluster in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Conclusion.

Our work highlights the importance of universal screening for depression or anxiety with more in-depth surveillance based on risk factors rather than on race.