A Meta-Analysis of Mental Health among Latino Adults: Elucidating Disparities from Differences

Latinos continue to experience disparities in access to treatment for mental health, and these appear to be worsening with time. This meta-analysis identified and compared studies (N=20): (1) Across Latino origin groups, (2) Across immigration-related characteristics, and (3) with non-Latino groups. For the first comparison, results consistently showed Puerto Ricans had the highest rate of utilization compared to their Mexican, Cuban, Central American, and Other counterparts. For the second comparison, U.S-born Latinos had higher utilization and mental health costs for services, as well as higher rate of depression/anxiety symptomatology compared to their immigrant counterparts. For the third comparison, results were not as consistent but trended towards lower/less rates by Latinos compared to non-Latino whites. More research is needed on the different Latino groups and across the acculturation spectrum if we are to understand disparities from differences in risk and service use among this heterogeneous group.