An Examination of the Role of Health Behaviors in the Relation between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Internalizing Symptoms among Latino Adolescents

Abstract

Although research suggests that Latino adolescents report a high rate of internalizing symptoms, little is known about contextual factors, such as neighborhood disadvantage, that influence the development of these symptoms among this growing population of youth. In addition, research is warranted to examine factors that may buffer the relation between neighborhood disadvantage and internalizing symptoms in order to inform intervention efforts. This study examined the role of neighborhood disadvantage in predicting symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the buffering role of health behaviors, among a sample of 144 Latino youth (N = 78 males, Mean age = 16.25, SD = 1.46) attending a charter high school in a large, Midwestern city. Findings from path models indicated that neighborhood disadvantage was significantly related to symptoms of anxiety (B = .26, p = .001) but not depression (B = .06, p = .48). Further, a trend towards significance was found in the interaction between neighborhood disadvantage and sleep problems in predicting symptoms of depression (B = .13, p = .08), suggesting that symptoms of depression were highest for those with both high levels of neighborhood disadvantage and high sleep problems. Findings from this study suggest that neighborhood disadvantage is important to consider when identifying Latino adolescents at risk for anxiety symptoms. Further, interventions that address sleep problems, particularly for those residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods, may aid in preventing or reducing depressive symptoms among this population of youth.