Physical-Psychiatric Comorbidity: Implications for Health Measurement and the Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox

• In Event: 266 - Section on Sociology of Mental Health Paper Session. Social Inequalities and Mental Health

Abstract

Few studies examine the co-occurrence of physical and psychiatric health problems (physical-psychiatric comorbidity), and whether these patterns differ across social groups. Using the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication and National Latino and Asian American Study, the current study asks: what are the patterns of physical-psychiatric comorbidity (PPC) between Whites and Latino subgroups, further differentiated by gender and nativity? Does the PPC measurement approach reveal different patterns across groups compared to when only physical or only psychiatric health problems are the health outcomes of interest? To what extent do SES, stress exposure, and social support explain PPC differences between groups? Results reveal that compared to U.S.-born White men, foreign-born Cuban women, and foreign-born Puerto Rican women and men experience elevated PPC risk. Social factors explain some of the health disadvantage of these groups, but do not explain the health advantage of Mexicans and Other Latinos over U.S.-born White men.

Author

• Christy LaShaun Erving, University of North Carolina at Charlotte