Date of Award
Spring 6-13-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Psycholgoy
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology
First Advisor
Jenalee R. Doom
Second Advisor
Elysia P. Davis
Third Advisor
Pilyoung Kim
Fourth Advisor
Miriam G. Valdovinos
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Diabetes, Depression, Hispanic adults, Latine adults, Predictors, Discrimination
Abstract
Hispanic/Latine adults in the US have higher rates of diabetes and depression compared to non-Hispanic/Latine White adults. Hispanic/Latine adults may be at an increased risk of comorbid diabetes and depression, but no study has examined the longitudinal bidirectional association between these conditions among Hispanic/Latine adults. Additionally, few studies have longitudinally investigated predictors of diabetes and depression using factors relevant to Hispanic/Latine adults. Two sets of analyses using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were conducted as part of this dissertation to fill these gaps in the research. Study one examined the longitudinal bidirectional associations between diabetes and depressive symptoms among Hispanic/Latine adults over nine years. I found that depressive symptoms and diabetes diagnosis were positively associated with one another over time, though the association was only statistically significant among females and among adults born in the US. This study provided evidence of the longitudinal bidirectional association between depressive symptoms and diabetes diagnosis though there was limited evidence that the association extended to subclinical diabetes biomarkers. Study two examined whether discrimination, ethnic enclaves, and immigrant concentration within a county predicted diabetes and depressive symptoms over time among Hispanic/Latine adults. Higher discrimination predicted higher depressive symptoms and higher fasting glucose nine years later. Additionally, among participants who reported high discrimination, those born inside the US had a higher odd of a diabetes diagnosis than participants born outside the US. This study demonstrated that discrimination is an important individual level predictor for diabetes and depressive symptoms. These studies provide further information on predictors of diabetes and depressive symptoms among Hispanic/Latine adults, which has implications for future research investigating potential risk and resilience factors among this population.
Copyright Date
6-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Kenia M. Rivera
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
117 pgs
File Size
1.2 MB
Recommended Citation
Rivera, Kenia M., "Bidirectional Association Between Diabetes and Depression among Hispanic/Latine Adults: Discrimination, Ethnic Enclaves, and Immigrant Concentration" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2588.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2588
Included in
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Latina/o Studies Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons