Depression impairment among young adult college students: exploring the racial paradox

BackgroundStudies suggest Black Americans have a lower prevalence of depression than White Americans despite greater exposure to risk factors for depression across the life course. We examined whether this paradox exists among students in higher education, and whether the paradox may be partly explained by racial differences in reports of impairment from depression, which is a required criterion for clinical diagnosis.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020-2021), restricting the sample to young adults (18-29) who identified as either Black or White. Using modified Poisson regression models to estimate risk ratios, we examined associations between race and depression impairment across five levels of depression severity, adjusting for age and gender.ResultsApproximately 23% of Black students reported depression impairment, which is significantly lower than the 28% of White students who reported depression impairment. For all students, greater depression severity was associated with greater probability of impairment; however, the relationship was more modest among Black students. At severe, moderately severe, and moderate depression levels, Black students had lower risk of depression impairment compared with White students.ConclusionWhite students may be more likely than Black students to report significant impairment at high levels of depression. These findings open the possibility that racial differences in the impairment criterion of clinical diagnoses may explain some the racial depression paradox.

Automated summary

Despite higher exposure to risk factors, Black students in higher education have a lower prevalence of depression and less impairment compared to White students. Racial differences in reports of impairment may explain this paradox, suggesting a need to reconsider the diagnostic criteria for depression.