Ethnicity and Risk of Psychiatric Disorder Among Adolescents

Abstract

We examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and association with a range of risk and protective factors among Euro-Americans (EA), African-Americans (AA) and Mexican American (MA) adolescents. We sampled 4,175 youths aged 11–17 years whose households were enrolled in large health maintenance organizations using questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. Based on crude prevalences, EA youths were at lower risk of anxiety disorders. AA youths were at lower risk of substance-use disorders and comorbid disorders. Multivariate analyses incorporating indicators referencing social status, stressors, personal and social resources, and ethnicity resulted in only 2 significant differences for 18 pairwise ethnic contrasts-EA were at greater risk than AA for substance-use and comorbid disorders. Based on these results, there appeared to be few differences between majority and minority adolescents in risk of psychiatric disorders. Ethnic experience factors were protective for AA youths but not MA youths.