Acculturation and Stigma of Mental Illness in Hispanic/Latino Youth

Background:Acculturation and acculturative stress are associated with poor mental health in Hispanic/Latino youth necessitating evaluating stigma of mental illness (MI) through a cultural lens. We examine first-time whether culture and ethnic identity via acculturation influence how Hispanic/Latino youth view MI and its services. Hispanic/Latino identity encompasses different nationalities, races, and educational and socioeconomic levels. Spanish language use and cultural values tend to be shared linkages that measure acculturation.

Methods:Data are from a randomized school-based intervention study aimed at reducing MI stigma among 721 sixth-graders in Texas from 2011-2012. Among the Hispanic/Latino longitudinal sample (n=182), acculturation was measured on a continuum and categorized into tertiles: Hispanic/Latino-dominant, bicultural, and Anglo/US-dominant. Two-sided Dunnett tests examined acculturation differences in knowledge, help-seeking, social distance, and attitudes regarding MI in response to personal experience and two vignette subjects described as having social anxiety or bipolar disorder. Acculturative stress and symptoms related to anxiety, manic behavior, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were also examined.

Findings:Compared to bicultural and Anglo/US-dominant, Hispanic/Latino-dominant youth reported better help-seeking but more social distance in response to vignettes, and fewer positive and more negative attitudes towards MI (P<0.05). Compared to the dominant-oriented groups, bicultural youth reported more acculturative stress and symptoms (P<0.10). No differences in knowledge of MI were found.

Implications: Interventions aimed to improve stigma of MI specific to Hispanic/Latino-dominant youth are needed. Bicultural youth may exhibit challenges in juggling two cultures leading to poor mental health and thus may require special support in overcoming the bicultural divide.