Culturally sensitive approaches to research among immigrant families serves as a basis for culturally competent care. When examining research among immigrants however, it is often apparent that the approaches for assessing need or outcomes lack culturally sensitive rigor. This paper outlines the developmental steps taken to assure reliability and validity of an intergenerational conflict measure in Chinese immigrant families and mental health status, family functioning, self esteem and health conceptions in Mexican immigrant families. Methods included collaboration with community residents and experts in focus groups and review of existing instruments at various stages of the projects. The interpretation of the psychometric analyses and cultural expert reviews of the findings lead to the conclusion that many social, psychological and mental health responses to adaptation are similar but the expression of those responses may differ across immigrant groups. Research findings are valid only if culturally competent strategies for working with immigrant groups are employed. The important methodological steps in measurement for non-immigrant researchers are outlined and include partnerships with community members and ethnic experts, culturally sensitive implementation of strategies including translation steps, rigorous psychometric analyses and cultural equivalence assessment. Our experience indicates that intervention approaches should be tailored to meet the needs of immigrant groups. Providers can adopt many of the steps reported here to assure the cultural competence of their care.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1. identify steps to assure culturally competent assessment of adpatation among immigrants 2. link culturally competent research strategies and care 3. evaluate cultural competency of adaptation measures among immigrant groups
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Family/Consumer Perspective
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.