Risk and Protective Factors for Depression among Racial Groups

Project Summary:
The study aims to increase understanding of differences in risk and protective factors for profiles of depression among diverse populations and demonstrate a broader public health value in informing the design of targeted prevention and intervention programs for depression in adults that make use of existing, natural helping networks. The goal is to identify factors that will enhance current interventions & develop new research-based interventions that meet the mental health needs of diverse populations.

Project Description:
This study aims to investigate the social and psychological risk and protective factors for depression among African
American, Caribbean Black, Asian American, Latino and White adults using existing national data. The proposed research
will take advantage of comprehensive epidemiological data and sophisticated and innovative statistical methods to
examine a wide range of risk and protective factors and their interactions, while also considering the heterogeneity within and between racial and ethnic groups. These relationships will be examined using the National Institute of Mental Health's Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES).

Project Investigator(s):
Karen Lincoln

Research Period: 09/15/09 - 09/14/11

Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Total Award Amount: $ 823,908