Study Finds a Significant Racial Disparity in Depression Among Older American Adults

A study led by scientists at Harvard Medical School found far higher rates of depression among older Black adults than was the case for older non-Hispanic White adults. Researchers surveyed more than 25,000 adults over the age of 50. They found that members of racial and ethnic minority groups were up to twice as likely to report more severe depressive symptoms than non-Hispanic White participants.

Although the study did not find a significant gender difference in depression severity, older Black women with clinically significant depressive symptoms were found to be least likely to receive treatment through antidepressant medications or counseling. “These disparities are striking given findings that older Black adults appear as likely as older White adults to derive benefit from treatment when it is offered,” wrote the authors.

“There are good data and serious concerns that a range of social, racial and ethnic populations have understandable high rates of depression, and that even when there is access to care, depression is not recognized or treated,” said Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure, director of Women’s Health Research at Yale. “It is important that we recognize depression in all populations and seek to treat clinical depression even when someone may have a reason to be depressed.”

The full study, “Association of Race and Ethnicity With Late-Life Depression Severity, Symptom Burden, and Care,” was published on the JAMA Open Network of the Journal of American Medical Association. It may be accessed here.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs