In the study, participants from different racial and ethnic backgrounds were monitored over time to identify differences in symptoms related to depression and anxiety. At the end of the study, it was revealed that Black participants showed a significant reduction in these symptoms when compared to Hispanic and White participants.
Interestingly, the differences in symptoms were not attributed to sociodemographic factors as previously thought. Instead, trauma exposure and childhood emotional abuse seemed to be the key factors in determining the presence of depression and anxiety.
The study findings convey a thought-provoking message that racial and ethnic differences in depression and anxiety may not solely be a product of sociodemographic factors, but also may be shaped by personal histories of trauma.
