Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Mar;41(3):680-689. doi: 10.1177/07334648211012802. Epub 2021 May 14.
Older adults of color face systemic obstacles in seeking mental health care. Unaddressed late-life mental health issues can challenge independent living and increase disability and mortality risk. This study examined factors associated with mental health service use among community-dwelling older adults.
This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Positive Minds-Strong Bodies trial (= 1,013).
Higher anxiety, depressive, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms increased odds of service use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05-2.11). Asian and Latinx, but not Black, older adults had lower odds of service use than Whites (OR = 0.15-0.35). Yet Asian and Latinx older adults with higher anxiety and depression symptoms and Asians with at least one PTSD symptom had higher odds of service use than Whites with the same symptomatology (OR = 1.16-2.88).
White older adults might be more likely to seek mental health care at lower levels of need, while Asian and Latinx older adults might seek services when they perceive greater need.
有色人种的老年人在寻求心理健康护理方面面临系统性障碍。未得到解决的晚年心理健康问题可能会对独立生活构成挑战，并增加残疾和死亡风险。本研究调查了与社区居住的老年人心理健康服务使用相关的因素。
本横断面分析使用了积极思维-强健体魄试验的数据（n=1013）。
更高的焦虑、抑郁和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状会增加服务使用的可能性（比值比[OR] = 1.05-2.11）。与白人相比，亚洲人和拉丁裔老年人使用服务的可能性较低（OR = 0.15-0.35）。然而，与有相同症状的白人相比，焦虑和抑郁症状较高的亚裔和拉丁裔老年人以及至少有一种 PTSD 症状的亚裔老年人使用服务的可能性更高（OR = 1.16-2.88）。
白人老年人可能更倾向于在需求较低时寻求心理健康护理，而亚洲和拉丁裔老年人可能在感知到更大需求时寻求服务。
