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Peer-reviewedCC BYPLOS Mental Health

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Ethiopian and Ethiopian-Descent adults in the Seattle metropolitan area: A cross-sectional study

  • Hiwot Weldemariam1,2
  • Yonathan Dagnew3
  • Meron Girma2
  • Mehari Worku4
  • Daniel A Enquobahrie1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  2. 2Center for Firearm Injury Prevention, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  3. 3Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
  4. 4Middle Eastern Language and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
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Abstract

Depression is a common and disabling condition, yet population-level estimates among Ethiopian and Ethiopian-descendant adults in the Seattle metropolitan area are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional community-based survey from November to December 2024 among adults aged ≥18 years who self-identified as Ethiopian or Ethiopian-descendant. Participants were recruited through social media, community networks, and faith-based organizations and completed anonymous REDCap questionnaires. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10, a screening threshold rather than a clinical diagnosis. We used logistic regression to examine associations between clinically significant depressive symptoms and the primary exposures of nativity, self-rated physical health, chronic medical conditions, reproductive health history, recreational marijuana or other drug use, and firearm exposure, with adjustment for prespecified sociodemographic covariates. A comprehensive model included the primary full-sample exposures simultaneously, with Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. Among 474 participants (mean age, 31.6 years; 49.8% male), 178 (37.6%) screened positive for clinically significant depressive symptoms. In the mutually adjusted model, poorer self-rated physical health was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms: average health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.83; 95% CI, 2.08–7.36) and poor/somewhat poor health (aOR, 10.73; 95% CI, 4.53–26.80), compared with excellent health. Ever use of recreational marijuana or other drugs (aOR, 3.52; 95% CI, 2.08–6.03) and knowing someone injured or killed by a firearm in the past year (aOR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.39–3.90) were also associated with higher odds. Among parous women, a history of postpartum depression was associated with current depressive symptoms (aOR, 9.76; 95% CI, 4.31–23.51). Clinically significant depressive symptoms were common in this sample and were associated with poorer physical health, recreational marijuana or other drug use, firearm-related exposure, and prior postpartum depression. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify temporal relationships and inform culturally responsive prevention and care.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{weldemariam2026prevalence,
  title = {{Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Ethiopian and Ethiopian-Descent adults in the Seattle metropolitan area: A cross-sectional study}},
  author = {Hiwot Weldemariam and Yonathan Dagnew and Meron Girma and Mehari Worku and Daniel A Enquobahrie},
  journal = {PLOS Mental Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pmen.0000736},
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000736},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Ethiopian and Ethiopian-Descent adults in the Seattle metropolitan area: A cross-sectional study
AU  - Hiwot Weldemariam
AU  - Yonathan Dagnew
AU  - Meron Girma
AU  - Mehari Worku
AU  - Daniel A Enquobahrie
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - PLOS Mental Health
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000736
UR  - https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000736
AB  - Depression is a common and disabling condition, yet population-level estimates among Ethiopian and Ethiopian-descendant adults in the Seattle metropolitan area are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional community-based survey from November to December 2024 among adults aged ≥18 years who self-identified as Ethiopian or Ethiopian-descendant. Participants were recruited through social media, community networks, and faith-based organizations and completed anonymous REDCap questionnaires. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10, a screening threshold rather than a clinical diagnosis. We used logistic regression to examine associations between clinically significant depressive symptoms and the primary exposures of nativity, self-rated physical health, chronic medical conditions, reproductive health history, recreational marijuana or other drug use, and firearm exposure, with adjustment for prespecified sociodemographic covariates. A comprehensive model included the primary full-sample exposures simultaneously, with Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. Among 474 participants (mean age, 31.6 years; 49.8% male), 178 (37.6%) screened positive for clinically significant depressive symptoms. In the mutually adjusted model, poorer self-rated physical health was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms: average health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.83; 95% CI, 2.08–7.36) and poor/somewhat poor health (aOR, 10.73; 95% CI, 4.53–26.80), compared with excellent health. Ever use of recreational marijuana or other drugs (aOR, 3.52; 95% CI, 2.08–6.03) and knowing someone injured or killed by a firearm in the past year (aOR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.39–3.90) were also associated with higher odds. Among parous women, a history of postpartum depression was associated with current depressive symptoms (aOR, 9.76; 95% CI, 4.31–23.51). Clinically significant depressive symptoms were common in this sample and were associated with poorer physical health, recreational marijuana or other drug use, firearm-related exposure, and prior postpartum depression. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify temporal relationships and inform culturally responsive prevention and care.
SN  - 2837-8156
ER  -