Perceived discrimination, depressive symptoms, and cognitive control among mexican-origin women

Abstract Mexican-origin adults comprise over 60% of the Latino population in the U.S., and are at greater risk for cognitive impairment compared to non-Latino Whites. Older Mexican-origin women are also disproportionally affected by cognitive impairment compared to their non-Latino White counterparts. Identifying early-life precursors for reduced cognitive function can inform prevention efforts. Perceived discrimination is a ubiquitous stressor with emergent evidence linking it to cognitive function and no studies testing mechanisms of this association among Mexican-origin women. Using data from a three-wave longitudinal study of Mexican-origin women spanning 8 years (n = 595, mean baseline age = 38.89 (5.74)) living in central Texas, we tested the longitudinal associations between baseline daily and ethnic discrimination on a task of cognitive control at Wave 3 and the mediating effects of Wave 2 depressive symptoms. We also tested the moderating effects of age, education, and financial difficulties on these links. Structural equation model results indicated that baseline daily discrimination was associated with slower reaction times at Wave 3 and that depressive symptoms at Wave 2 mediated this association; models controlled for age, education, and baseline depressive symptoms. Ethnic discrimination was positively associated with Wave 2 depressive symptoms, but not with cognitive control. Greater daily discrimination was associated with faster reaction times among those with lower financial difficulties. Findings show that greater daily discrimination is subsequently associated with lower cognitive control through increased depressive symptoms and highlight the need for future research to consider the socioeconomic context under which these links operate among Mexican-origin women.