Multiracial Identity and Depression: Evidence for the Depletion Hypothesis

Approximately 7 percent of Americans suffer from depression. Prior research finds rates of depression vary by race, with racial minorities having lower life-time risks compared to whites. Yet, other research finds these racial minorities have higher within group percentages of depression than whites. At the same time, less is known about the racial group that holds both majority and minority racial statuses: multiple race whites (i.e., individuals who self-identify as white and also one of the racial minority statuses). With nationally representative data from the 2014 General Social Survey, we find that multiple race whites have greater odds of reporting depression than whites, African Americans, Asians, and American Indians. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that the driving force behind these differences is female multiple race whites. Socialization processes of women and multiple race whites combine in this group, resulting in a depletion effect of cognitive functioning and higher rates of depression