Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Kimberly Farris

Abstract

Using culturally specific interventions to provide mental health support to young adult Latina women may improve mental healthcare results by furnishing resources that are culturally competent and inclusive. Young adult Latina women continue to experience disparities with mental healthcare resources such as cultural adaptability and accessibility. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore how culturally specific interventions could result in mental healthcare support for young adult Latina women who are experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory was used as the conceptual framework. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 12 young adult Latina women who resided in one of the five boroughs in New York City. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. Eight themes were identified. The young adult Latina women identified a lack of cultural competence in the mental health field as a contributor to issues with engagement with mental healthcare resources. A significant finding was the young adult women acknowledged the role they played in creating a barrier to engaging with mental health resources. A revelation was that participants believed mental healthcare would be helpful to their well-being. One recommendation was that young adult Latina women be given more access to information on symptoms of mental health issues to identify them sooner and begin seeking help. The findings are potentially useful for positive social change for practitioners and policymakers to create culturally specific interventions to help improve the mental health outcomes for young adult Latina women.

Download

Share

 
COinS