Methodology: Baseline interview data from 657 sexually active Mexican and Puerto Rican women, aged 18-44, recruited to be participants in a randomized evaluation of a culturally tailored HIV risk intervention in Chicago. Data collected included: demographics (years of school, ethnicity, marital status, income, employment status), Hispanic and Non-Hispanic acculturation, relationship with partner (number of sexual partners in the last 3 months and relationship with partner), domestic violence (partner), self-esteem (Rosenberg) and depressive symptoms (CES-D).

Results: Over half (54%) of the women had clinically significant depressive symptoms (CESD > 16, mean = 19, SD = 12). Women who had depressive symptoms were less satisfied with their relationships with their partners, had lower self-esteem, and reported more partner aggression (nonphysical, physical, and sexual). Also, they had less years of education, lower incomes, and were less likely to be married. A multiple regression analysis indicated that women who were Catholic, Puerto Rican, more acculturated to the Hispanic culture, more dissatisfied with their partner relationships, had more nonphysical aggression (domestic violence) and had lower self-esteem had more depressive symptoms (R= .654, R2 = .428, p<.001).

Conclusion: The likelihood of having significant depressive symptoms involved women who were more acculturated to the Hispanic culture, had more non-physical aggression and less satisfaction in their relationships with their partners, and poorer self-images. Especially vulnerable may be women who are Puerto Rican and Catholic. Effective interventions for Latinas must be culturally tailored and address their relationship with their partners (satisfaction and domestic violence).