Multicultural Psychology Commons^™

Alternative Approaches To Police Interventions When Responding To Mental Health Crises Incidents, Karen Rivera Apolinar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose: This study explored mental health workers perspectives on alternative approaches in responding to mental health crises.

The study was carried out in Southern California, in collaboration with mental health workers who currently work or previously have worked in mental health crisis. It adopted a post-positivists paradigm and data was gathered through individual interviews with mental health workers who have direct experience with mental health crisis response in the community and with the police. The twenty participants in the study were men and women working in the mental health field, and of various backgrounds, licensures, and ages.

The study found …

Barriers To The Use Of Palliative And Hospice Care Among The Latino Population, Diana Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Patients suffering from irreversible and terminal illnesses may benefit from the services provided by Palliative and Hospice Care to control any symptom burden and assist in navigating complex medical decisions. Many patients may express hesitation in accepting and enrolling to this service due to misconceptions. Language barriers may add an additional layer of complexity. This study explored the challenges Palliative Care providers encounter when introducing concept of hospice to Spanish-speaking patients their families for the first time. This study implemented qualitative research methods by using semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Ten members of an In-patient Palliative Care Team at a University Hospital …

Which Generation Is Having Safe Sex? Millennial Or Gen-Z, Rachel Silver

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This research study aims to examine the sex practices of Millennials vs. Gen Z's. There are many concerns and questions about the long-term effects of hook-up culture for modern youth. In the last few years, there has been a rise in STDs and a decrease in teenage pregnancy. This quantitative research intends to find out where are education gaps are and the most significant motivators for young people to use protection and contraceptives through a list of questions in a survey. The goal is to understand better the similarities and differences between Millenials and Gen-Z's safe sex education and …

The Impact Of Implicit Bias On The Overdiagnosis Of Schizophrenia, Ace Ogbebor

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

According to the American Psychiatric Association (2017), Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and less likely to be diagnosed with a mood disorder in compassion to their White counterparts presenting with the same symptoms. To address mechanisms of implicit bias and the implications for mental health practice, it is imperative to investigate the diagnostic process of students who will enter the field of mental health.

According to the Council on Social Work Education, 80% of MSW graduates work in positions providing micro-level direct service to individuals, families, and groups (CSWE, 2019). Moreover, 80% of MSW graduates …

Treatment Access For Dual Diagnosis Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Pedro Banuelos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In 2018, of 1.3 million Latinx adults in the United States facing concurrent issues with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders (MHD) 93% remained untreated for either diagnosis. This is concerning since Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data reveals that this population is at greater risk for suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. They also face structural barriers such as employment, housing, legal involvement, and insurability that further impede access to treatment.

This study’s purpose was to examine barriers to accessing treatment for Latinx populations confronting co-occurring SUDs and MHDs. This study used a qualitative design …

La Mera Verdad: Exploring Immigrant Latino Fatherhood, Jessica Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the current experiences of immigrant Latino fathers and their families in Southern California, and to examine the barriers and facilitators that impacted their paternal involvement. The literature suggests that father-absence diminishes the ability of a child to thrive in life and yet immigrant Latino fathers are more at risk of all the factors that lead to father-absence, such as poverty and other added stressors. Likewise, these fathers have been noted to experience a lack of fathering in their childhood, which speaks on generational trauma creating the father wound …

Depressed & Dis-Eased: Storytelling, Melancholia And The Rhetorical Affordances Of Affect, Carlee Franklin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Because racial oppression is often internalized, this thesis examines literature written by POC about protagonists of color struggling with depression. The pieces are Gwendolyn Brooks’ Maud Martha, Haruki Murakami’s “Tony Takitani,” and Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Using literary concepts informed by Black feminist theory, decolonial theory, and affect studies, as well as rhetorical frameworks of silence and listening, this thesis attempts to better understand how the relationship between depression and racial oppression work to color the life expectancy and perspectives of depressed people of color

Religion And Spirituality In Clinical Practice: An Exploration Of Reluctance Among Practitioners., David Drew, Jessica Banks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Across the United States, an overwhelming majority of the population claim that religion and spirituality beliefs shape their worldview and assist in coping with life stressors. Yet, the literature has shown that mental health practitioners reported discomfort integrating religion and spiritually in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore whether license-holding mental health professionals in Southern California develop reluctance toward addressing religion/spirituality with their clients. Through snowball sampling, 52 clinicians composed of social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists were recruited across Southern California (N =52). The participants were measured descriptively based on …

Minorities' Perceptions Of Child Protective Services, Vernae Elaine Hicks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The study examined minority persons’ views and experiences with Child Protective Services (CPS) in the community. This study used a qualitative design with face‑to‑face interviews with 12 participants in the community. This study used the “Post‑Positivist” data analysis, which is qualitative in evaluation and explained each participant’s subjective reality.

The study found that most participants were satisfied with the results and were dissatisfied with the process in and of itself. Overall the study found that most participants felt that there was some sort of a disconnect with social workers in reference to cultural competency. Miscommunication between the social workers at …

Backward And Forward Continuity As A Predictor Of Wellbeing Among Mexican American Respondents: Scale Development, Jennifer Joy Wacan

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological benefits derived from perceiving one's social group as having historical and temporal endurance (i.e., backward and forward continuity). The study found that Mexican Americans who perceive their group as having cultural perseverance not only derive psychological benefits (i.e., enhanced individual and collective self-esteem), but these beliefs can have even greater psychological benefits than other forms of ethnic identification.

The Relationship Between Acculturation And Depression Among Latina College Students, Carla Elizabeth Bryant

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturation and depression among Latina college students. Out of 72 participants, the respondents had low reports of experiencing depressive symptoms and had an equal balance between traditional culture and western culture. Seventy-two students from the California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) undergraduate program were administered questionaires to participate in this study. The study sample consists of only Latina women of Mexican origin.

The Influence Of Marital Satisfaction And Parenting Styles On Child Depressive Symptoms: An Exploration Of Ethnic Differences, Briawna Simone Williams

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between marital satisfaction, parenting styles and child depressive symptoms across ethnic groups. Gender differences in these associations were also examined for mothers and fathers.

Effect Of Positive Ingroup Exemplars On Negative Self-Stereotyping, Sandra Yvette Benitez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this research is to examine how being exposed to positive in-group exemplars will affect the extent to which participants use negative stereotypes of their group to evaluate themselves, which in this case is referred to as self-stereotyping.

Biculturalism, Self-Construal, And Self-Stereotyping, Kelly Anne Hirsch

Theses Digitization Project

The research sought to examine the process by which bicultural individuals self stereotype. The goals of the research are to test if bicultural individuals, through the process of frame-switching, shift their self-construals how one sees oneself in relation to others and to determine whether this shifting of self-construals is the mechanism through which bicultural individuals negatively self-stereotype.

The Efffects Of Ethnic Identity And Perceived Racial Discrimination On Psychological Distress In A Sample Of Latinos, Joseph Anthony Toruno

Theses Digitization Project

The goal of the current study is to examine the role of ethnic identity as a potential moderator in the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress in a sample of Latino college students. Previous research has demonstrated a moderating effect of ethnic identity on the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress ; however, this study also considers social support and self-esteem as covariates. The study sample consisted of 126 Latino college students. Participants were instructed to complete questionaires at home and researchers collected the surveys one week later.

Depression In Korean Immigrant Women, Darin Lee Rorrer

Theses Digitization Project

This study found that the depression levels of Korean immigrant women in the U.S are affected by their education and/or income levels, often stemming from their inability to successfully navigate in the American culture.

Self-Stereotyping And Vocational Choice Among Asian Americans, Tzuting Chang

Theses Digitization Project

The underlying purpose of this study was to examine how the social portrayal of Asian Americans, with social identity as the moderator, may impact their career preferences for Investigative/Realistic professions. The role of Asian Americans' self-efficacy in math/science was also explored in the self-stereotyping process. Asian American undergraduate students of all majors were recruited electronically. Professors of Engineering and other science departments from the University of California, Riverside, Irvine, and Los Angeles were contacted via email and were asked to assist with recruitment by forwarding the message to students. In total, 162 Asian American students clicked on the web link …

Sibling Relationships Across Cultures: A Comparison Of United States And Egyptian Sibling Relations, Sarah Janet Sabet

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to gain a more complete understanding of sibling relations (and therefore family dynamics) in individualistic and collectivist cultures. Sibling relationships among U.S. and Egyptian cultures are examined.

Information Gathering And Culture Shock: Mediating The Effect Of Individual Characteristics Of International Adjustment, Jeremiah James Mcfarland

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect that information gathering and culture shock have on the relationship between individual characteristics and international adjustment. Participants for this study consisted of 95 international students within the California State University system.

Multiple Forms Of Maltreatment And The Effects On Mental Health In Hispanic And Caucasian Women, Marci Mae Danielson

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of multiple forms of abuse (physical, psychological, and sexual) on later psychopathology (depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints as assessed by the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist -HSCL) among two ethnic groups (non-Hispanic Caucasian and Hispanic).

Whites' Physiological And Psychological Reactions Toward Affirmative Action Programs, Victor Soto-Marquez

Theses Digitization Project

Discrimination has many effects on the individual/group being discriminated against regardless of the reasons for the discrimination. Further exploration on discrimination processes and their relationships to physiological and psychological outcomes, both of which, over time may become problematic and affect the health and well-being of individuals.

Depression And Coping Among Hmong Refugees, May Vang

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of study was to explore depression among Hmong refugees and the ways they use their coping skills to deal with stressful life events.

The Effects Of Perceived Discrimination On Samoan Health, Shail Singh

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived discrimination on Samoan health. This study employed purposive data collection and was conducted quantitatively using a questionnaire format, which measured everyday perceived discrimination, depression, and physical health.

Cross Cultural Comparison Between The United States And Japan: Executive Traits, Yoshimi Ishibashi

Theses Digitization Project

This study examined comparisons of gender stereotypes of executives in two cultures, American and Japanese. Undergraduate students in Japan and the U.S. estimated the extent to which executives in general, male and female exectuives possessed person-oriented and task-oriented leadership traits.

Acculturation And Attachment Among Mexicans And Mexican Americans, Simonetta Fosci

Theses Digitization Project

This study explored attachment styles and acculturation among 173 Mexicans and Mexican Americans. It was hypothesized that a secure attachment style would be positively associated with higher levels of biculturalism.

Motives As A Factor In Acculturation Among Asian International Students, Kevin Ha Hy

Theses Digitization Project

This research examined the relationships between international students' acculturation levels and their motives for study abroad, residency intentions regarding the United States, English proficiency, and length of residency in the United States. Implications are discussed, including how the understanding of students' motives can be used in counseling and recruitment of international students.

Differences Between African Americans And White Americans On Social Acuity, Richard Raymond Jaramillo

Theses Digitization Project

This study, conceptually replicating the study by Funder and Harris (1986), examined the difference between African Americans and white Americans on measures of social acuity. Social acuity, as defined in this context, is the ability and inclination to perceive the psychological state of others and guide one's behavior in accordance with that perception.

Language Brokering: A Parent's Perspective, Lucy Sloan

Theses Digitization Project

Language brokering is known as the translating transaction between two individuals. This study seeks to investigate the language brokering which occurs between Latino parents and their children. In particular, it seeks to examine Latino parents' comfort level in different brokering settings/places and with different individuals.

The Impact Of Stressful Life Events And Exposure To Community Violence On Delinquency In Hispanic Pre-Adolescents, Nadine Valerie Perez Zamora

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the current study was to examine delinquent pre-adolecents. It was hypothesized that both predictor variable [exposure to community violence (number of events; preception of events) and stressful life events (number of events)] would impact delinquent behavior (violent thoughts, violent behaviors, and promiscuity).

The Effects Of Perceived Parental Educational Involvement, Acculturation And Self-Esteem On The Academic Performance And Aspirations Of Mexican-American Adolescents, Francisco David Carranza

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of parental educational involvement, acculturation and self-esteem on the academic performance and academic aspirations of Mexican American adolescents.