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Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ornelas, IJ; Rao, D; Price, C; Chan, G; Tran, A; Aisenberg, G; Perez, G; Maurer, S; Nelson, AK
Published in: Soc Sci Med
March 2023

INTRODUCTION: Latina immigrants are at increased risk of depression and anxiety and limited access to mental health care. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA), a community-based intervention to reduce stress and promote mental health among Latina immigrants. METHODS: ALMA was evaluated using a delayed intervention comparison group study design. Latina immigrants (N = 226) were recruited from community organizations in King County, Washington from 2018 to 2021. Although originally developed to be delivered in-person, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the intervention was adapted mid-study to be delivered online. Participants completed surveys to assess changes in depression and anxiety post-intervention and at a two-month follow-up. We estimated generalized estimating equation models to assess differences in outcomes across groups, including stratified models for those receiving the intervention in-person or online. RESULTS: In adjusted models, participants in the intervention group had lower levels of depressive symptoms than the comparison group post-intervention (β = -1.82, p = 0.01) and at two-month follow-up (β = -1.52, p = 0.01). Anxiety scores decreased for both groups, and there were no significant differences post-intervention or at follow-up. In stratified models, participants in the online intervention group had lower levels of depressive (β = -2.50, p = 0.007) and anxiety (β = -1.86, p = 0.02) symptoms than those in the comparison group, but there were no significant differences among those that received the intervention in-person. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based interventions can be effective in preventing and reducing depressive symptoms among Latina immigrant women, even when delivered online. Further research should evaluate the ALMA intervention among larger more diverse Latina immigrant populations.

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Published In

Soc Sci Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-5347

Publication Date

March 2023

Volume

321

Start / End Page

115776

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Washington
  • Public Health
  • Mental Health
  • Humans
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Female
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • 44 Human society
 

Citation

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Ornelas, I. J., Rao, D., Price, C., Chan, G., Tran, A., Aisenberg, G., … Nelson, A. K. (2023). Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial. Soc Sci Med, 321, 115776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115776
Ornelas, India J., Deepa Rao, Cynthia Price, Gary Chan, Anh Tran, Gino Aisenberg, Georgina Perez, Serena Maurer, and Adrianne Katrina Nelson. “Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial.Soc Sci Med 321 (March 2023): 115776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115776.
Ornelas IJ, Rao D, Price C, Chan G, Tran A, Aisenberg G, et al. Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial. Soc Sci Med. 2023 Mar;321:115776.
Ornelas, India J., et al. “Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial.Soc Sci Med, vol. 321, Mar. 2023, p. 115776. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115776.
Ornelas IJ, Rao D, Price C, Chan G, Tran A, Aisenberg G, Perez G, Maurer S, Nelson AK. Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial. Soc Sci Med. 2023 Mar;321:115776.
Journal cover image

Published In

Soc Sci Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-5347

Publication Date

March 2023

Volume

321

Start / End Page

115776

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Washington
  • Public Health
  • Mental Health
  • Humans
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Female
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • 44 Human society