Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Volume 2, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 40-48

Trauma exposure, mental health, and service utilization rates among immigrant and United States-born Hispanic youth: Results from the Hispanic family study (Article)

Bridges A.J. , De Arellano M.A. , Rheingold A.A. , Danielson C.K. , Silcott L.
  • a National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, P. O. Box 250852, Charleston, SC 29425, United States, Department of Psychology, University of Arkansas, United States
  • b National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, P. O. Box 250852, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
  • c National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, P. O. Box 250852, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
  • d National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, P. O. Box 250852, Charleston, SC 29425, United States
  • e National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, P. O. Box 250852, Charleston, SC 29425, United States

Abstract

Although the largest immigrant group in the United States is Hispanic, little is known about their rates of traumatic experiences and psychiatric disorders, particularly for youth. Findings with adults suggest that recent immigrants have lower rates of mental illness than long-time residents or U.S.-born Hispanics, but use health-related services less often. The present study examined this relationship in a convenience sample of 131 foreign-born (64.5%) and 72 U.S.-born (35.5%) Hispanic youth, ages 8-17 years and a subset of their caregivers (n = 110). Findings from youth interview data suggest that immigrant and U.S.-born youth did not differ significantly in experiences of potentially traumatizing events or psychiatric disorders. However, findings from caregiver interview data suggest that there were significant disparities between the two groups in health service utilization for doctors and other medical professionals, with caregivers reporting that foreign-born youth utilize these health services at lower rates than U.S.-born youth. Results are discussed in the context of prior findings and recommendations offered for increasing service utilization. © 2010 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

Latino/Hispanic service utilization trauma

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77957882077&doi=10.1037%2fa0019021&partnerID=40&md5=4d1a5d34714ab18de8288968544bc73d
DOI: 10.1037/a0019021
ISSN: 19429681
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English