Ethnic Minority Mental Health Strengths in the United States

Persistent epidemiological evidence for racial health disparities has received significant attention. Less understood is the data showing reduced risk for several psychiatric disorders among Blacks and Latinos in the United States in comparison to Whites. This paradox is explored by examining several underlying explanations such as underreporting or cultural issues in assessment. Primarily, however, this review centers on the evidence for several forms of resilience among Blacks and Latinos that may serve as protective factors for mental health, including religion and spirituality, racial or ethnic identity, and culturally based coping strategies developed as a function of marginalized status.