1. Racial/ethnic differences in trauma exposure and mental health disorders in adolescents.
- Author
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López CM, Andrews AR, Chisolm AM, de Arellano MA, Saunders B, and Kilpatrick DG
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Ethnicity statistics & numerical data, Female, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Racial Groups statistics & numerical data, United States epidemiology, Crime Victims psychology, Crime Victims statistics & numerical data, Ethnicity psychology, Mental Disorders epidemiology, Mental Disorders psychology, Racial Groups psychology
- Abstract
Objective: Research has cited increased prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and exposure to interpersonal violence for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Black adolescents, as well as ethnic differences in externalizing behavior (e.g., substance use, delinquency). The current study combined these areas by examining racial/ethnic differences in mental health correlates of trauma exposure., Method: Interviews were conducted to assess polyvictimization, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), substance use, and delinquency in a nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 3,614; 15.4% non-Hispanic Black; 11.3% Hispanic; 64.9% non-Hispanic White)., Results: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adolescents endorsed greater polyvictimization than non-Hispanic Whites; however, differences in MDD and PTSD were only significant when assessed with symptom counts. Non-Hispanic Black adolescents reported the least drug use. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adolescents endorsed more delinquency than non-Hispanic White adolescents. Polyvictimization only accounted for ethnic disparities in delinquency., Conclusion: Trauma-related disparities may differ across internalizing and externalizing concerns. Subsequent research should continue to examine other factors that may contribute to racial/ethnic differences in trauma sequelae. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).)
- Published
- 2017
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