The Role Of Stigma And Acculturation In Mental Health Services Utilization Among Foreign Born And Us Born Latinos

Author : Andrea C. Salazar
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 197 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (11 download)

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Download or read book An Exploratory Study of the Impact of Acculturative Stress on Wellness and Mental Health Practices of U.S.-born Latinas written by Andrea C. Salazar and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of the current study is to understand better how acculturation, specifically acculturative stress, influences health and wellness among U.S.-born Mexican-heritage females. Specifically, the study explored the experiences of second- and U.S.-born Mexican-heritage women and their experiences of loss and gain of culture and its role in health and wellness, particularly mental health. Specifically, the study sought to explore how acculturative stress influenced health and mental health-maintenance practices. The Latino/a population is a large and fast growing population in the U.S. and the expected growth by 2050 will be 25% of the population (Pew Hispanic Center, 2012). Of the current total Latina/o population, 64% are of Mexican origin and 66% of those Mexican-origin Latina/os are U.S.-born (Pew Hispanic Center, 2012). However, literature regarding the healthand mental health of U.S.-born Latino/as is limited and asserts that there is a connection between racism, discrimination, and acculturation and health (Sternthal, Slopen, & Williams, 2011). The Hispanic Health Paradox highlights the perplexing direction with health outcomes among Spanish-speaking individuals (Markides & Coreil, 1986) and the decreasing health outcomes for the U.S. born generations (Acevedo-Garcia et al., 2007; Collins & David, 2009; de la Rosa, 2002; Guendelman et al., 1990; Ruiz et al., 2006; Scribner & Dwyer, 1989). The decrease is largely attributed to negative effects of acculturation and/or acculturation processes (de la Rosa, 2002; Guendelman et al., 1990; Scribner & Dwyer, 1989). A content analysis was conducted as the exploratory qualitative method for analyzing data for two reasons: (a) indicative and unobtrusive category formation and (b) easy integrationof cultural competence. The multi-step analyses of qualitative data per LeCompte (2000) was utilized as the framework for analysis of the current study, which included a process of coding, organizing, and interpreting the data. Participants included eight U.S.- born Mexican heritage female participants, of second-generation status. The participants' ages ranged from 24-37 years old (M = 32.12, SD = 5.51). As per study criteria, all participants reported their place of birth in the U.S. and in the state of California. In addition, half of the participants spoke both English and Spanish (n = 4) and the other half spoke English only (n = 4). All eight participants reported their language preference for English. In addition, all participants reported their generational status as second- generation, as per criteria for study participation. All of the participants identified their race as Hispanic or Latino and their ethnicity as Mexican/Mexican American. The findings revealed a number of meta-themes that described a bi-cultural world with which the U.S.-born Latinas contend, prominent experiences of racism and discrimination, conceptualization of health and wellness, and strength in one's Latina identity. In particular, the intersection of ethnicity and gender seemed to bring many difficult points of contention as well as strength. The findings provided some insight into a large gap into the literature exploring U.S.-born Mexican American heritage Latinas experiences of acculturative stress and health values.