Depression Diagnoses Show Greatest Racial Disparity Among Lowest-Income Adults

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability in the U.S.
• Racial and ethnic disparities in physical health are well-documented.
• The relationship between race, ethnicity, and depression is complex and requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between depression diagnosis, race, and ethnicity.
• To investigate the role of income levels in these disparities.
• To analyze data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.

Main Methods:

• Logistic regression analysis of 2022 BRFSS data (n=224,392).
• Sample weighted to represent working-age American adults (18-64 years).
• Examined likelihood of reporting a depression diagnosis based on race, ethnicity, and income.

Main Results:

• Higher depression diagnosis likelihood in younger and female respondents.
• Non-Hispanic White respondents reported higher depression rates than other groups.
• This disparity was most significant among individuals with incomes below $25,000 per year.

Conclusions:

• The overall higher depression diagnosis rate among Non-Hispanic White individuals narrows or reverses at the lowest income levels.
• Income significantly modifies the relationship between race/ethnicity and depression diagnosis.
• Targeted interventions are crucial for improving depression detection and treatment in underserved, low-income populations.