Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jul;23(3):382-387.
doi: 10.1037/cdp0000126. Epub 2016 Oct 27.

Racial/ethnic differences in trauma exposure and mental health disorders in adolescents

Cristina M López  1 , Arthur R Andrews  2 , Andrea M Chisolm  3 , Michael A de Arellano  4 , Benjamin Saunders  4 , Dean G Kilpatrick  4
Affiliations

Racial/ethnic differences in trauma exposure and mental health disorders in adolescents

Cristina M López et al. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: Research has cited increased prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and exposure to interpersonal violence for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Black adolescents, as well as ethnic differences in externalizing behavior (e.g., substance use, delinquency). The current study combined these areas by examining racial/ethnic differences in mental health correlates of trauma exposure.

Method: Interviews were conducted to assess polyvictimization, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), substance use, and delinquency in a nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 3,614; 15.4% non-Hispanic Black; 11.3% Hispanic; 64.9% non-Hispanic White).

Results: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adolescents endorsed greater polyvictimization than non-Hispanic Whites; however, differences in MDD and PTSD were only significant when assessed with symptom counts. Non-Hispanic Black adolescents reported the least drug use. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adolescents endorsed more delinquency than non-Hispanic White adolescents. Polyvictimization only accounted for ethnic disparities in delinquency.

Conclusion: Trauma-related disparities may differ across internalizing and externalizing concerns. Subsequent research should continue to examine other factors that may contribute to racial/ethnic differences in trauma sequelae. (PsycINFO Database Record

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub; 2013.
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub; 2000. Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR.
    1. Begle A, Hanson R, Danielson C, McCart M, Ruggiero K, Amstadter A, Kilpatrick D. Longitudinal pathways of victimization, substance use, delinquency: Findings from the National Survey of Adolescents. Addictive Behaviors. 2011;36:682–689. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Boscarino JA, Galea S, Adams RE, Ahern J, Resnick H, Vlahov D. Mental health service and medication use in New York after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. Psychiatric Services. 2004;55:274–283. - PubMed
    1. Breslau N, Wilcox HC, Storr CL, Lucia VC, Anthony JC. Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder: a study of youths in urban America. Journal of Urban Health. 2004;81:530–544. - PMC - PubMed