POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AND LONELINESS AMONG OLDER PUERTO RICANS: HOW DOES DISCRIMINATION MATTER?

Abstract

Abstract Loneliness is associated with worse mental health conditions, more functional limitations, and higher mortality among older adults. Almost one third older Puerto Ricans have experienced loneliness. Research has shown that post-traumatic stress has been associated with higher risk of loneliness among older adults; however, such an association has not been examined among Puerto Ricans despite their high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, perceived discrimination, a critical risk factor of social isolation, is likely to reduce help-seeking behaviors and aggregate loneliness among individuals who have experienced trauma. Nonetheless, few studies have focused on the moderating role of perceived discrimination on the association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness. This study examines the association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness and whether that association differs by everyday perceived discrimination among older Puerto Ricans. Data were collected from 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above living in the Greater Boston area who responded to questionnaires. We used ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between post-traumatic stress, perceived everyday discrimination, and loneliness. We found that post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness; however, the association differed by perceived everyday discrimination. The association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness was stronger for those that perceived a higher level of everyday discrimination. Findings underscored the role that perceived discrimination plays in exacerbating loneliness among older Puerto Ricans experiencing post-traumatic stress and have clinical and public health implications for service delivery and mental health promotion among older Puerto Ricans.