•
PORTLAND, Maine

Rebecca Boulos co-authors article in ‘Maternal and Child Health Journal’

Rebecca Boulos

Rebecca J. Boulos, M.P.H., Ph.D., assistant professor in the , co-authored an article in the Maternal and Child Health Journal titled, “Depressive symptoms and weight status among women recently immigrating to the U.S.”

Depressive symptoms have been associated with obesity. Little is known, however, about this relationship among new immigrants to the U.S. In this study, the relationship between depressive symptoms and obesity was explored in immigrant women from three ethnic groups. Findings demonstrate that women reporting more depressive symptoms were more likely to be obese. An interaction between depressive symptoms, ethnic group, and income was revealed, such that higher depressive symptoms were associated with higher BMI among Brazilians earning more than $30,000 per year and with lower BMI among Brazilians earning less than $30,000. This same relationship was not observed in the other two ethnic groups.

 Boulos co-authored the study with colleagues from Tufts University, Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, Ph.D., Christina D. Economos, Ph.D., Alison Tovar, Ph.D., Sarah Sliwa, Ph.D., David Gute, Ph.D. and Aviva Must, Ph.D.

51СƳ the University of 51СƳ

The University of 51СƳ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.