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. 2023 Jan-Feb;46(1):14-26.
doi: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1976893. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Depressive Symptoms in Older African Immigrants with Mobility Limitations: A Descriptive Study

Manka Nkimbeng  1   2 , Nwakaego A Nmezi  2 , Zachary G Baker  1 , Janiece L Taylor  3 , Yvonne Commodore-Mensah  3 , Tetyana P Shippee  1 , Sarah L Szanton  3 , Joseph E Gaugler  1
Affiliations

Depressive Symptoms in Older African Immigrants with Mobility Limitations: A Descriptive Study

Manka Nkimbeng et al. Clin Gerontol. 2023 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: Before, during, and after their immigration to the United States, immigrants face stressful life circumstances that may render them at risk for depressive symptoms. However, there is a dearth of research on the mental health of African immigrants. We performed secondary data analyses of two studies in the Baltimore-Washington area to describe and identify correlates of depressive symptoms in older African immigrants.

Methods: Chi square tests, one-way ANOVAs, and linear regressions were used to describe and examine associations between depressive symptoms and immigrant-related risk factors.

Results: This sample included 148 participants who had a mean age of 62 (SD ± 8.2). Clinical depressive symptoms were present in 8.1% of participants, and trouble falling asleep for more than half of the days was the most prevalent symptom (20%). Levels of education, income, and migration reasons differed significantly from clinical depressive symptoms, but these were not significantly associated with more depressive symptoms after controlling for covariates.

Conclusions: Longitudinal designs may further elucidate incidence, correlates, and long-term effects of depressive symptoms within this population.

Clinical implications: Knowledge of depressive symptom burden and risk factors can inform timely assessment, referral, and treatment of depressive symptoms and other mental health outcomes in older African immigrants.

Keywords: Older Africans; PHQ-8; depression; depressive symptoms; immigrants.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest statements

The authors declare no conflicts of interest

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