Depression, alcohol abuse, and generational differences in Mazahua women in a rural Mexican village

Nance, Douglas C.

doi:10.1080/01612840490486746

Depression, alcohol abuse, and generational differences in Mazahua women in a rural Mexican village

Journal

Issues in Mental Health Nursing

ISSN

0161-2840

1096-4673

Date Issued

2004

Author(s)

Nance, Douglas C.

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud - CampCM

Type

text::journal::journal article

DOI

10.1080/01612840490486746

URL

https://scripta.up.edu.mx/handle/20.500.12552/2517

Abstract

This first study of depression and alcohol abuse in indigenous women in Mexico focuses on Mazahua women in a rural village. Women between the ages of 15 and 55 were interviewed using the Beck Depression Inventory, an Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse survey, and a socioeconomic survey. Unexpected results showed that although alcohol abuse was absent, these women experience depression a generation earlier than the international and national averages for women, with an overall incidence about twice as great. Depression was associated with spouse's emigration, infidelity, or alcoholism. Sharp intergenerational differences were found in identity and socioeconomic status.