This paper will present findings on the relationship of acculturation, behavioral problems and service use among culturally diverse youth sampled from service system users in a large metropolitan county in California. This study used a new "Pan-Acculturation Scale" (PAN) that is unique in being relevant to and answerable by cultural minorities and non-minorities. This presentation has the following objectives. First, it will briefly introduce the PAN in the context of current developments on the measurement of acculturation, including calls for the concept to be considered as non-linear and multidimensional. Second, the presentation will examine the relationship of PAN acculturation scores to behavioral problems and mental health service utilization. The hypothesis is that respondents with serious behavioral problems and who are less well acculturated to American culture are less likely to make use of mental health services than those with serious behavioral problems who are more acculturated to American culture. The potential utility of the PAN concept and measure in research on behavioral problems and mental health service use will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: Describe findings on the relationship of acculturation, behavioral problems, and service use among culturally diverse youth
Keywords: Culture, Service Delivery
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.