Objective: To assess whether unhealthy behaviors moderated the relationship between allostatic load (AL) and future significant depressive symptoms (SDSs) among 1,789 older Latinos. Method: Longitudinal data included baseline AL, three unhealthy behaviors (UBs), and 2-year follow-up SDS. Multivariable logistic regression analyses, stratified by birthplace (U.S. vs. foreign born), modeled the effects of AL, UB count (range = 0-3), and their interaction on follow-up SDS. Results: Compared with U.S.-born, foreign-born participants engaged in fewer UBs (0.52 vs. 0.60 behaviors, p = .01) and had higher baseline SDS (31% vs. 20%, p < .001). Among foreign-born participants, the effect of AL on future SDS (adjusted odds ratios [aORs]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) significantly increased across UB counts of 0 to 3: 1.06 [0.83, 1.35], 1.46 [1.14, 1.87], 2.00 [1.18, 3.41], and 2.75 [1.18, 6.44], respectively. Discussion: Among foreign-born Latinos, these results were most pronounced for women and adults above age 80, which may represent higher risk groups requiring more intensive screening for depression.
Keywords: Hispanic Americans; allostasis; depression; health behavior; physiological stress.