181070 Ethnic Minority Generational Status: Implications for Service Provision Policy

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Christina J. Sun, MS , Health, Behaviof and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Kyle L. Gravel, BA , Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Nana Sadamura, PhD , Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Erin Moniz, BA , Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Background/Significance

Ethnic minorities have traditionally underutilized mental health services, possibly due to generational or acculturation issues which affect willingness to see a counselor, attitudes towards seeking psychological help, and coping techniques among ethnic minority populations.

Objective/Purpose

The aims of this study were to explore the relationship between different coping techniques and various service utilization variables and to provide suggestions for improving therapeutic interventions with ethnic minorities such as APIs and Hispanics.

Methods

Fifty-one Asian Pacific Islander (API), 51 Hispanic, and 79 Caucasian college students completed online measures including the Willingness To See A Counselor questionnaire, the Revised Ways of Coping questionnaire, and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form.

Results

Results demonstrated both gender and generational differences in the Hispanic and API groups in preferred coping strategies. Results also indicated that recognizing the need for psychological help related to general willingness to see a counselor among ethnic students and that Asian Pacific Islanders were only willing to seek counseling for health or substance abuse issues.

Discussion/Conclusions

Results indicative of generational differences in ways of coping may be related to acculturation issues with implications for mental health service utilization in ethnic minorities. Additionally, interventions can be adjusted to make interventions more effective in these populations.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify generational differences in coping techniques between APIs and Hispanics. 2. Discuss implications of coping differences for service utilization by APIs and Hispanics. 3. Describe possible methods of improving service provision to API and Hispanics.

Keywords: Service Delivery, Ethnic Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was instrumental in data collection and analysis
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Mental Health Section Posters VII
See more of: Mental Health