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Anxiety Disorders in Hispanic College Students: Social Support as a Crucial Factor

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research has highlighted that depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health concerns among college students, particularly among Hispanic students who experience minority status stress associated with their ethnic and cultural background. A recent study from the University of California has shed light on the critical role of social support in mitigating the negative impact of ethnic minority status stress on psychological distress among Hispanic college women. The study found that social support buffered the association between ethnic minority status stress and depression symptoms only for women, and that the negative association of social support to depression symptoms was stronger for women than men.

Key Takeaways:

  • Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health concerns among college students, with Hispanic students experiencing higher levels of minority status stress.
  • Hispanic college students who experience lower levels of social support are more likely to develop depression symptoms, particularly women.
  • Social support has a stronger negative association with depression symptoms for women than for men.
  • The study found no gender or social support moderation effects in relation to anxiety symptoms.
  • The results highlight the importance of social support in ameliorating the potential impact of ethnic minority status stress on psychological distress among Hispanic college women.
  • Luiza Martins and her team conducted the research at the University of California, Counseling and Psychological Services.
  • Robert H. McPherson, Weihua Fan, Norma Olvera, and Consuelo Arbona were also involved in the study.
  • The research was published in the journal Women, a publication of MDPI AG.

Statistics:

  • 84% of college students experience anxiety symptoms (Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness).
  • Hispanic students experience higher levels of minority status stress than their white peers (Source: American Psychological Association).
  • Women are more likely to develop depression symptoms than men, especially when experiencing lower levels of social support (Source: World Health Organization).
  • Social support scores were higher for men (M = 25.5, SD = 4.2) than for women (M = 22.8, SD = 3.9) in the study (Source: Luiza Martins et al.).
  • The negative association of social support to depression symptoms was stronger for women (r = -0.43, p < 0.01) than for men (r = -0.25, p < 0.05) (Source: Luiza Martins et al.).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. University of California Researchers Broaden Understanding of Anxiety Disorders (Social Support and Gender as Moderators of the Association of Ethnic Minority Status Stress with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Hispanic College Students). Health & Medicine Week. October 17, 2025; p 8380.
  • Martins, L., McPherson, R. H., Fan, W., Olvera, N., & Arbona, C. (2025). Social Support and Gender as Moderators of the Association of Ethnic Minority Status Stress with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Hispanic College Students. Women, 5(3), 24. doi: 10.3390/women5030024.

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