Studies associate mental health disparities among Latine and non-Latine adolescents with exposure to structural inequities and social stressors such as racial/ethnic discrimination (R/ED). Yet, there is limited longitudinal evidence for these relationships among Latine adolescents or how they might differ based on generational status.

Data are from a cohort study of 389 Latine adolescents (age 13 years at Wave 1) in California followed for up to 8 years (2015–2023). Exposures included types of R/ED and places where R/ED was experienced. Outcomes included depressive symptoms and anxiety. Authors examined the association between exposures and outcomes in early and middle adolescence, including moderation by generational status, and the association between cumulative exposures during adolescence and outcomes during emerging adulthood. Generalized estimating equations and generalized linear models were used to estimate adjusted risk ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Findings: Participants were mostly females (56%), second generation (56%), and identified as Latine (96%). At Wave 1, 14% reported depressive symptoms. At Wave 6, 19% reported depressive symptoms and 65% reported anxiety. Depressive symptoms in adolescence were associated with experiencing any type of R/ED and R/ED at school or during medical care. Experiencing R/ED > 5 times during adolescence was associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety in emerging adulthood.

The study referenced a study that used California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data.