Manifestation of depression symptoms among Mexican American adolescents

Background. Previous findings reported more depression among Mexican American adolescents than among adolescents from other groups. There has been minimal research published on distribution of depression symptoms among Mexican American adolescents and practically no data has been published from community samples. Objective. To examine the phenomenology of DSM-IV major depression symptoms across groups defined by ethnic status, by gender and language use focusing on the Mexican American group. Methods. Secondary data from 2624 adolescents (ages 10-17) among three ethnic subgroups, Mexican (26.7%), African (45%) and Anglo Americans (28.3%), was analyzed. Data come from the Teen Life Changes (TLC) Survey conducted in 1994 by Roberts et al. (1997). A self-report questionnaire, which includes the DSD scale to measure depression, was used. Results. Analysis of data showed significant differences among youth in the phenomenology of depression symptoms by ethnicity, by gender and by language use at home. Conclusion. This study adds knowledge to the psychopathology and mental health literature from the identification of depression symptoms profile as well as permits the design of more appropriate policy for prevention and intervention programs among culturally diverse youth