Background: Systemic inequities lead to socioeconomic disparities and increased exposure to neighborhood deprivation among African American women, which in turn may have impacts on mental health. This study examined the individual and cumulative effects of neighborhood deprivation and experiences of trauma on depression among young African American mothers.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using data from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure (InterGEN) study. We analyzed demographic and psychological data of 248 participants in Southwest and Central Connecticut, employing descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, and regression analysis to predict depressive symptoms.

Results: In unadjusted models, high potentially traumatic event (PTE) exposure, avoidance coping, and stress were statistically significant predictors of depressive symptoms across all time points. Once adjusted, avoidance coping and stress remained statistically significant at baseline; neighborhood deprivation, mid-level PTE, and stress remained statistically significant at T2; and only stress remained statistically significant at T3.

Conclusions: There is a critical need for a comprehensive approach to address systemic issues rooted in racism and strengthen community resilience to improve mental health among young African American mothers, their families, and communities. Interventions that build on existing community strengths, provide psychological support, and enhance individual coping skills may be effective in fostering resilience and improving mental health.

Keywords: African American; Depression; Neighborhood deprivation; Stress; Trauma.

© 2025. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.

背景：

系统性不平等导致了非洲裔美国女性的社会经济差异和对社区劣势的增加暴露，这可能会影响她们的心理健康。本研究考察了邻里劣势和创伤经历在年轻非洲裔美国母亲抑郁中的个体效应和累积效应。

方法：

我们使用来自基因和心理因素对血压代际影响（InterGEN）研究的数据进行了一项纵向研究。我们分析了康涅狄格州西南部和中部地区248名参与者的 demographics 和心理学数据，采用描述性统计、潜在类别分析和回归分析来预测抑郁症状。

结果：

在未经调整的模型中，在所有时间点上，高潜在创伤事件（PTE）暴露、回避应对机制和压力都是抑郁症状的统计学显著预测因素。经调整后，仅在基线时，回避应对机制和压力仍然具有统计学意义；在 T2 时，邻里劣势、中度 PTE 和压力仍然具有统计学意义；而在 T3 时，只有压力具有统计学意义。

结论：

迫切需要采取全面的方法来解决根植于种族主义的系统性问题，并增强社区韧性以改善年轻非洲裔美国母亲及其家庭和社区的心理健康。那些建立在现有社区优势基础上、提供心理支持并提高个人应对技能的干预措施可能有助于培养韧性并改善心理健康。

关键词：

African American；抑郁；邻里劣势；压力；创伤。

© 2025. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.