Psychological Distress Differentials as a Function of Subjective Social Status among Latino Subgroups in the United States
Underserved and Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Linkages with Health and Health Care Differentials
ISBN: 978-1-83867-055-9, eISBN: 978-1-83867-054-2
Publication date: 30 August 2019
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the association between subjective dimensions of socioeconomic status and psychological distress, paying particular attention to Latino subgroup differences.
Methodology/Approach
We used data from the Latino sample (N = 2,554) of the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). For our main analyses, we conducted a series of weighted multivariable linear regressions.
Findings
The results showed that subjective social status was associated with reduced psychological distress.
Research Limitations/Implications
There are several key study limitations that warrant consideration. Chiefly, data utilized were cross-sectional; thus, it is unclear whether subjective socioeconomic status (SES) precedes or follows psychological distress.
Originality/Value of Paper
Overall, our study makes several contributions to the sociological study of mental health differentials among Latinos. We show the importance of the association between subjective SES indicators and psychological distress. We also demonstrate how the associations analyzed in this study varied by Latino subethnicity, which we argue is an important step to fully understand the different social processes associated with the mental health of different Latina/o groups.
Keywords
Citation
Rivera, F.I., Molina, K.M. and Nicdao, E. (2019), "Psychological Distress Differentials as a Function of Subjective Social Status among Latino Subgroups in the United States", Underserved and Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Linkages with Health and Health Care Differentials (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 37), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 53-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0275-495920190000037007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019 Emerald Publishing Limited