Older and Wiser? Age Moderates the Association Between Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms in American Indians and Alaska Natives

• Main Authors: Danyluck, Chad, Blair, Irene V, Manson, Spero M, Laudenslager, Mark L, Daugherty, Stacie L, Jiang, Luohua, Brondolo, Elizabeth
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: eScholarship, University of California 2021
• Subjects: Public Health; Health Sciences; Behavioral and Social Science; Rural Health; Mental Health; Depression; American Indian or Alaska Native; Aging; Clinical Research; Arctic; Good Health and Well Being; Adult; Aged; 80 and over; Alaska; Alaskan Natives; Cross-Sectional Studies; Discrimination; Psychological; Female; Humans; Indians; North American; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Racism; American Indians and Alaska Natives; life course perspective; Public Health and Health Services; Gerontology; Clinical sciences
• Online Access: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/78n820gc

Objectives: To examine age differences in the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Methods: A sample of 303 urban AI/AN (18-78years old) reported on lifetime and past-week experiences of racial discrimination and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were regressed on racial discrimination, age, and their interaction, adjusting for demographic factors and other life stressors. Results: Lifetime and past-week discrimination were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, and these associations were stronger among younger than older adult AI/AN. Discussion: The results are consistent with prior reports in other populations, but this is the first such study to focus on AI/AN, and it highlights the importance of considering life course perspectives. Conclusions are limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data. Longitudinal and qualitative work is needed to understand why discrimination may have a stronger effect on mental health for younger than older AI/AN.