Those Left Behind: Socioeconomic and Social Predictors of Psychological Distress among African Americans in a Post-industrial City

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  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 04. Mental Health and Depression

Abstract

Our understanding of how and why socioeconomic status (SES) shapes depression among African Americans is unclear. Guided by a novel conceptual model, I address this gap by examining the width of SES – depression gradients among African Americans. I also test social and environmental mechanisms that may explain gradient patterns. I employ logit regression models using data from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, which contains a predominantly African American sample and key measures of SES and depression. In models that solely examine the SES-depression relationship, findings indicate that those who are employed part time or full time have increased odds of depression when compared to those who are employed part time. I do not find an association between total household income, educational attainment, or homeownership and depression. However, the effect of employment status on depression seems to operate through the experience of stressful or traumatic events. Findings indicate that factors beyond SES may be stronger determinants of depression gradients among African Americans than SES alone.

Author

• Alexis Dennis, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill