Prevalence of depression by race/ethnicity: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III

Am J Public Health. 2005 Jun;95(6):998-1000. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.047225.

Abstract

Depression prevalence was examined by race/ethnicity in a nationally representative sample. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was administered to 8449 (response rate=96.1%) participants (aged 15-40 years). Prevalence of major depressive disorder was significantly higher in Whites than in African Americans and Mexican Americans; the opposite pattern was found for dysthymic disorder. Across racial/ethnic groups, poverty was a significant risk factor for major depressive disorder, but significant interactions occurred between race/ethnicity, gender, and education in relation to prevalence of dysthymic disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / ethnology*
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Dysthymic Disorder / epidemiology
  • Dysthymic Disorder / ethnology*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mexican Americans / psychology*
  • Mexican Americans / statistics & numerical data
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / psychology*
  • White People / statistics & numerical data