1. Socioeconomic status, ethnicity, psychological distress, and readiness to utilize a mental health facility
- Author
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Heller Pl, Farr Wf, Chalfant Hp, David F. Briones, Aguirre-Hauchbaum Sf, and Roberts Ae
- Subjects
Male ,Mental Health Services ,Gerontology ,Health Behavior ,Population ,Ethnic group ,Social class ,Affect (psychology) ,Life Change Events ,Social support ,Sex Factors ,Humans ,education ,Socioeconomic status ,Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ,education.field_of_study ,Depression ,Age Factors ,Social Support ,Hispanic or Latino ,Models, Theoretical ,Patient Acceptance of Health Care ,Mental health ,Acculturation ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Social Class ,Regression Analysis ,Female ,Psychology - Abstract
The effects of minority status versus ethnic culture on Mexican-Americans' underutilization of mental health services were reassessed through development and testing of an analytic path model that proposes a sequence of factors, including Mexican-American ethnicity, socioeconomic status, degree of social and institutional support, and depression, which culminate in a person's decision to utilize mental health facilities. The model also predicts that life stress will affect utilization through its influence on depression. Data from 783 subjects generally supported the model's predictions. A multifactorial approach to the causes of mental health problems and utilization behavior in the Mexican-American population is suggested.
- Published
- 1990
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