Keywords
Hispanic; Older Adult; Cognitive Impairment; Depression; Non-Hispanic White
Abstract
Hispanic older adults represent a growing population in the United States and may be disproportionately affected by cognitive impairment and depression. We theorize that cognitive impairment would be more prevalent in the older Hispanic community and would affect the levels of depression in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites older adults. This cross-sectional study examined the association between cognitive impairment and depression in 157 older adults, including Hispanic (n = 91, 57.96%, age: M = 76.4, SD = 6.8) and non-Hispanic White (n = 66, 42.04%, age: M = 76.2, SD = 6.5). We used the Memory Impairment Screen to assess cognitive impairment and the PHQ-9 for depression. Using a Chi-squared test, a significant difference in the rates of cognitive impairment between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites was found, X2 = 7.528, p < .01., with Hispanics being more affected. However, Mann-Whitney U tests found no significant differences in depression levels between Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites, U = 2930.50, p = .794. Similarly, depression levels did not differ significantly between those with cognitive impairment and those without in either Hispanics (U = 839.00, p = .708) or non-Hispanic Whites (U = 227.50, p = .929). These findings highlight that cognitive impairment is more prevalent among older Hispanic adults than their non-Hispanic White counterparts in lower-income communities. Addressing these disparities with culturally specific interventions is crucial for reducing health inequities and ensuring equitable access to cognitive and mental health care across diverse aging populations.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Thiamwong, Ladda
College
College of Nursing
Thesis Discipline
Nursing
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Latta, Cecil, "Cognitive Impairment and Depression in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Low-Income Older Adults a Cross-Sectional Study" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 300.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/300
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