Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries (January 11 - 14, 2007)

Purpose: Research suggests that Latino adolescents demonstrate equal or greater rates of mental health symptoms when compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. Yet, Latino adolescents are less likely to access mental health services than other groups (U.S. Surgeon General, 2001). Proposed barriers to treatment include cultural differences in views of mental illness. However, a recent study found no differences between Latino, White, and Black parents when asked the source of child problems (McCabe, 2002). The current study uses mixed methods to further understand how culture shapes Latino parents' understanding of adolescent behavior.

Methods: Data from the Latino Adolescent Migration, Health, and Adaptation Project, a stratified random sample of youth across North Carolina funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, was used to ascertain service use patterns and parents' understandings of mental health symptoms. An adapted version of the Children and Adolescent Service Assessment (Ascher et al, 1996) was administered to 170 immigrant Latino parents of adolescents. Fifteen parents were asked to participate in interviews about adolescent behavior. Parents were recruited following the initial data collection and divided into parents whose children had elevated mental health symptoms and a group whose children did not. Parents heard six case studies of adolescents demonstrating symptoms associated with mental health diagnoses such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and externalizing disorders. After hearing each case, parents were asked an adaptation of the Kleinman (1980) questions which have been widely used to understand cultural variations in symptom interpretation.

Findings: Findings indicate that immigrant parents recognize many symptom constellations as problematic. They see these behaviors as based in relationships and would first try to handle these issues within the family. However, the next line of defense is a mental health professional, although they consider accessing such help difficult. The professional's role is seen differently; these new immigrant parents wanted a professional to guide them in their parenting versus working with the youth outside of the family context. The quantitative findings support the notion that structural barriers prevent families from receiving services.

Implications: Increased understanding of cultural beliefs related to adolescent behavior is critical to tailoring mental health interventions to this population. The findings of this study indicate that in addition to overcoming language barriers and other access issues, parents may need more inclusion in the process of treatment with their adolescents.