All ETDs from UAB

Advisory Committee Chair

Shelia R Cotten

Advisory Committee Members

William Cockerham

Belinda Needham

Jeffrey Hall

Patricia Sawyer

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

2012

Degree Name by School

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) College of Arts and Sciences

Abstract

This research examined factors associated with mental health outcomes for minority groups residing in the United States, with an emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities and a further segmentation between those born in the United States and those born outside the United States. Two theories were used: the Healthy Migrant Theory and Health Lifestyles Theory. In combination, they identified important elements, such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, exposure to discrimination, and health lifestyle behaviors, thought to influence mental health outcomes. Nine hypotheses were presented; support was mixed. Some support was found to support the idea that nativity, independently, influenced mental health outcomes (especially depression) as suggested by the Healthy Migrant Theory; however support was found substantiating the relationship between health lifestyle behaviors and negative mental health outcomes. Discrimination and acculturation influenced both depression and anxiety even with the inclusion of other measures.

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