Predicting Psychiatric Rehospitalizations: Examining the Role of Latino Versus European American Ethnicity

Case files of 205 seriously mentally ill individuals (74% Latino, 22% European American) were examined. Medicare usage (β = .26), prior hospitalizations (β = .19), and European American ethnicity (β = .17) were significant sociodemographic and clinical predictors of rehospitalizations during the 3 years that followed hospital discharge. Ethnic rehospitalization differences were not mediated by barriers of service (e.g., not speaking English) nor by support (e.g., living with family) variables. Education was a predictor for European Americans ( r = .40) but not for Latinos ( r = .04). In regard to psychosocial intervention foci, treatment engagement was the top predictor (β = −.22). There were no significant ethnic differences in mean levels of treatment engagement nor in its prediction coefficient.