Social Work Commons^™

“It’S Not That We Care Less”: Insights Into Health Care Utilization For Comorbid Diabetes And Depression Among Latinos, Sharon Borja, Miriam G. Valdovinos, Kenia M. Rivera, Natalia Giraldo-Santiago, Robin Gearing, Luis R. Torres-Hostos

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite robust knowledge regarding the socio-economic and cultural factors affecting Latino* access to healthcare, limited research has explored service utilization in the context of comorbid conditions like diabetes and depression. This qualitative study, embedded in a larger mixed-methods project, aimed to investigate perceptions held by Latinos and their social support systems (i.e., family members) regarding comorbid diabetes and depression and to identify barriers and facilitators to their help-seeking behaviors and treatment engagement. Bilingual and bicultural researchers conducted eight focus groups with 94 participants in a large U.S. metropolitan area and were primarily conducted in Spanish. The participants either had a …

Non-Spanish Speaking Latinos' Experiences Of Intragroup Marginalization And The Implications For Ethnic Identity, Marissa Ayala

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study will explore how non-Spanish speaking Latinos perceive themselves amongst fellow Latinos and formulate their identity in the absence of the Spanish language. Limited research has been conducted to see how Latinos are impacted by not being able to speak Spanish and how this may reinforce negative self-schemas. However, attention has been given to how bilingual Latinos can embrace the benefits of staying connected to their heritage roots. As well as how Spanish positively impacts the identity of Latinos. Therefore, there is a need to understand non-Spanish speaking Latino's experiences of intragroup marginalization and identify how these experiences have …

How Language, Healthcare Insurance Status, Stigma, Age, And Educational Attainment Influenced The Utilization Of Mental Health Services Among The Latino Male Population, Esmeralda Solis, Annika Coe

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latinx individuals comprise the largest ethnic minority group in the US but are the least likely to use mental health treatments despite experiencing increased mental health difficulties. This study conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2020 and 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) by UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research. This study tested whether mental health service use among Latino males could be predicted based on language, healthcare insurance status, stigma, age, and educational attainment. The logistic regression analysis results explained that of the predictor variables, two, age and healthcare insurance status, were statistically significant. Our research aims to …

The Experiences Of Latino Adolescent Mentees Growing-Up With A Single Mother And Mentoring Program Development: A Narrative Analysis Study, Christine Marie Bishop

Faculty Publications

Latinos comprise the largest minority population in the United States. Research underscores the many positive effects that mentors can have on Latino adolescents who lack a male role model living in the home. Mentors can provide support and teach helpful skills that can be applied to multiple life domains needed throughout a person’s lifespan. There are many different types of mentoring services and styles available to adolescents. Yet, there are specific gaps and room for growth within the scholarly literature regarding Latino adolescents that need to be addressed. Shining light and allowing their narratives to be heard and understood in …

Mental Health Therapists' Views On The Challenges Latinos Face To Continue Services, Jessica Gutierrez, Elizabeth Casas-Valdovinos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors leading Latinos to withdraw from mental health services through the perspective of mental health therapists. This study employed a qualitative design and data were collected from face-to-face and phone interviews with 10 therapists from Riverside and San Bernardino County. The results of this study identified that Latino client’s low levels of mental health literacy contributed to a higher level of mental health stigma that led to premature withdrawal from services. The study also found that language barrier and job-related issues were major challenges Latino families faced in their continuation of …

Suicide Ideation, Planning, And Attempts: The Case Of The Latinx Lgb Youth, Javier F. Boyas, Tatiana Villarreal-Otálora, Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, Mariam Fatehi

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Guided by an ecological systems theory (EST) framework, the purpose of the present study was to investigate how multiple micro, mezzo, and macro factors influence the suicidality continuum from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt among Latinx LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) youth living in the United States.

Methods: Data for this cross sectional-study included 451 participants who self-identified as Latinx LGB on the 2017-National Youth Risk Behavioral Survey. The analysis explored micro, mezzo, and macro-level factors’ association with three suicidality outcomes (ideation, planning, and attempt) at the bivariate and multivariate level. Since the outcome variables were dichotomized, univariate logistic …

Mental Health Services In An Exclusive Latino Community Versus A Diverse Community, Karina Amador, Natalie Salas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examined whether Latino immigrants’ community environment influenced perceptions about the meaning of mental health and accessing mental health services. The two environments analyzed in were an exclusively Latino community (primarily Latino members) and a diverse community (composed of different ethnicities including Latinos). The research method used in this study was a qualitative survey design. A semi-structured interview guideline with questions on the meaning of mental health, mental health services access, and community norms on mental health was utilized with 24 respondents. Responses were then analyzed to find themes. Findings from this study found similarities as well as differences …

What Crucial Components Should Be Integrated Into Bereavement Programs For The Latino Population?, Aida Blanco

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to provide an understanding of the emotional and cultural needs Latinos experience when grieving the loss of a loved one. Current research shows that the Latino community is less likely to seek mental health treatment including end of life and bereavement services. This study uses a qualitative approach examining participant’s experiences during the bereaved phase focusing on emotional needs. The study reveals that Latinos experience emotional distress during bereavement and grief. It also identifies a scarcity of programs designed to meet the needs of the bereaved of Latino communities in the Inland Empire where …

The Impact Of Paternal Involvement And United States Stay Length On Latino Youth's Depressive Symptoms, Christine Marie Bishop, Sara Makki Alamdari

Faculty Publications

Latino youth in the United States are more at-risk for depression than youth of other ethnic backgrounds. This manuscript assesses the impacts of sex, age, United States stay length, and whether or not Latino children of immigrants’ fathers live with them on the youth’s depressive symptoms. For this purpose, data of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study was used. Using multiple regression analysis, the relationships among the aforementioned factors were examined among 1305 immigrant youth who were born in Latin America and Caribbean countries. The results of the study indicated that being male, living with one’s father and longer stay …

Emerging Bicultural Views Of Fatherhood: Perspectives Of Puerto Rican Fathers, Cristina Mogro-Wilson, Alysse Melville Loomis, Crystal M. Hayes, Reinaldo Rojas

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Puerto Rican fathers remain an understudied population despite the growing Latino community in the U.S. Understanding how Puerto Rican fathers perceive their roles as fathers can inform our conceptualization of their engagement with children as well as the development of culturally-specific parenting interventions. In this qualitative study, focus groups were conducted with Puerto Rican men to identify their perceptions of their role as a father and how individual, child, and cultural influences may relate to these roles. Parenting roles identified by fathers in the study were: being there, maintaining open communication, building confidence, preparing for adulthood, teaching culture/values, and providing …

Increased Immigration Enforcement And Perceived Discrimination Among Latino Immigrants, David Becerra, Jason Castillo, Maria Rosario Silva Arciniega, Michela Bou Ghosn Naddy, Van Nguyen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The purpose of this paper was to examine the impact of perceived discrimination among Latino immigrants in the context of recent immigration policies and immigration enforcement strategies. Data for this study were drawn from a pilot study (n=213) of adult Latino immigrants living in Arizona during the summer of 2014. The results of multivariate OLS linear regressions indicated greater perceived discrimination was significantly related to reporting: (1) avoidance of immigration officials; (2) family has suffered; and (3) friends have suffered. In addition, greater perceived discrimination was significantly related to lower confidence in a better future for the individual, their families, …

"Si No Estuviera Conmigo, Yo Seria Muda En Este País": A Systematic Literature Review Of Language Brokering Among Latinx Youth, Manuela Gonzalez

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study reviews the literature on language brokering among first and second-generation Latinx youth. Language brokering is a commonplace occurrence among bilingual Latinx children and takes place in many locations from public institutions to the family home. Language brokering consists of translating and interpreting oral and written information as well as the cultural nuances that come with many social interactions. The impact of language brokering on the emotional and social well-being, acculturation process and parent-child relationships of Latinx youth is mixed. Further research addressing the impact of language brokering on parents and siblings as well as the importance of familial …

Working With Latinos In Rural Communities: “Nuts And Bolts”, Wilma Cordova, Aparecida De Fátima Cordeiro Dutra

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Latinos currently compromise 16% of the entire U.S. population and 9.3% live in rural areas ((U.S. Census, 2010). These current percentages indicate that most social workers will work with this population at least once during their careers. Therefore, it is important that social workers develop skills and knowledge to work effectively with Latinos. Working with Latinos in our current sociopolitical climate poses many challenges for social workers working in rural areas. However, if social workers adhere to the guidelines and standards initially established by the profession and implement best practices many of their efforts will be successful. This chapter aims …

Working With Latinos In Rural Communities: “Nuts And Bolts”, Wilma Cordova, Aparecida De Fatima Cordeiro Dutra

Faculty Publications

Latinos currently compromise 16% of the entire U.S. population and 9.3% live in rural areas ((U.S. Census, 2010). These current percentages indicate that most social workers will work with this population at least once during their careers. Therefore, it is important that social workers develop skills and knowledge to work effectively with Latinos. Working with Latinos in our current sociopolitical climate poses many challenges for social workers working in rural areas. However, if social workers adhere to the guidelines and standards initially established by the profession and implement best practices many of their efforts will be successful. This chapter aims …

Moving From The Shadows: Shedding Light On Mixed-Citizenship Status Latino Families And Emotional Well-Being—A Mixed Methods Study, Ashley-Marie Vollmer Hanna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout history and in contemporary U.S. society, immigration policies and practices have been laced with racist nativism, benefiting the dominant (white, male elite) society at the expense of Immigrants of Color (Chavez, 2008; Hanna & Ortega, 2016; Huag, n.d.; Ortega, Hanna, & Haffejee, 2014; Pérez-Huber, 2008). Today, Latinos are particularly vulnerable as they are the target of racist nativist immigration policy and practices and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

This dissertation examines the emotional well-being of Latino youths and young adults in mixed-citizenship status families using mixed methods research methodology. The study is informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Latina/o Critical Race …

Mexican American Adolescent Couples Communicating About Conflict: An Integrated Developmental And Cultural Perspective, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lela Rankin Williams

Social Work Faculty Publications

Using observational methods on a small sample of committed Mexican American couples (N=10, ages 15-17, M length of relationship = 26.5 months), we describe and categorize developmental and cultural communication patterns concerning the negotiation of conflict issues. Videotaped dyadic interactions were transcribed and qualitatively coded using iterative confirmatory and exploratory approaches. Quantitative indicators confirmed the categorization of couples into discourse styles, as well as elucidated the contexts and extent of overlap of developmental and cultural themes. Nine of ten couples had a serious discussion of relational conflict issues, lasting a majority of the time allotted (14 minutes). Five …

Fear Vs. Facts: Examining The Economic Impact Of Undocumented Immigrants In The U.S., David Becerra, David K. Androff, Cecilia Ayón, Jason T. Castillo

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Undocumented immigration has become a contentious issue in the U.S. over the past decade. Opponents of undocumented immigration have argued that undocumented immigrants are a social and financial burden to the U.S. which has led to the passage of drastic and costly policies. This paper examined existing state and national data and found that undocumented immigrants do contribute to the economies of federal, state, and local governments through taxes and can stimulate job growth, but the cost of providing law enforcement, health care, and education impacts federal, state, and local governments differently. At the federal level, undocumented immigrants tend to …

The Impact Of Social Stigma On The Therapeutic Relationship For Latino Clinicians: The Elephant In The Room?, Mauricio Jose Cifuentes

Dissertations

Social stigma is consistently mentioned in the literature as one of the barriers

preventing Latinos from seeking, accessing and remaining in mental health care. This

study focuses specifically on social stigma as a barrier to remain in psychotherapy.

Social stigma is understood as the internalized fear of severe social disapproval for

behaving against acceptable cultural meaning systems. With intersubjective theory as

the analytical framework, this study primarily explores, through a series of focus groups

with Latino mental health service providers of Latino clients, the perceptions those

practitioners have regarding the influence of social stigma on the therapeutic

relationship and the …

Strengthening Family Practices For Latino Families, Karen G. Chartier, Lirio K. Negroni, Michie N. Hesselbrock

Social Work Publications

The study examined the effectiveness of a culturally-adapted Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for Latinos to reduce risks for alcohol and drug use in children. Latino families, predominantly Puerto Rican, with a 9–12 year old child and a parent(s) with a substance abuse problem participated in the study. Pre- and post-tests were conducted with each family. Parental stress, parent-child dysfunctional relations, and child behavior problems were reduced in the families receiving the intervention; family hardiness and family attachment were improved. Findings contribute to the validation of the SFP with Latinos, and can be used to inform social work practice with Puerto …

The Civic Engagement Of Latino Immigrants In The United States, Cristina Michele Tucker

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study employs acculturation and civic engagement theories to explain the incorporation and engagement of Latino immigrants in American society by examining how demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and characteristics of the immigrant experience, as moderated by acculturation and trust in government influence their civic engagement.

The core component of the study is a secondary data analysis of the 2006 Latino National Survey (Fraga et al., 2008). The study shows that some of the strongest predictors of civic engagement in the Latino immigrant community are citizenship, length of residence in the United States, level of education, household income, age, country of …

Latinas And The Massachusetts Employment And Training (Et) Choices Program: Factors Associated With Participation And Outcomes For Boston Latinas In Et, Miren Uriarte

Gastón Institute Publications

This report presents the results of an assessment of the participation and outcomes of Latinos in the Massachusetts Employment and Training (ET) Choices Program. From the start of the ET program, there has been evidence that Latinos participate at rates comparable to that of other groups, but that their outcomes in terms of job placements and wages fall well below the outcome rates of any other group of participants. The main goal of this report is to ascertain the experience of Latino participants in ET and the individual and program factors that present barriers to their successful participation in this …