Impact of Youth Problem Type on Specific Dimensions of Caregiver Strain in Latino Families
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Impact of Youth Problem Type on Specific Dimensions of Caregiver Strain in Latino Families Thania Galvan1 · Omar G. Gudiño2
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Background Caregiver strain is directly impacted by youth symptom severity and is a robust predictor of youth mental health service utilization. A closer examination of caregiver strain may provide important insights into understanding mental health disparities as they affect Latino families. Objective This study examined the impact of youth problem type on specific dimensions of caregiver strain in Latino families. Method Data from 337 Latino caregivers that participated in the Patterns of Care Study was used in a cross-sectional examination of the relationship between youth emotional/ behavioral problems and caregiver strain. Caregiver strain was measured using the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire. Youth emotional/behavioral problems were assessed via caregiver ratings on the Child Behavior Checklist. Path analyses were conducted and used sampling weights to account for the complex survey design of the study. Results Multivariate analyses revealed that youth externalizing problems were significantly and positively associated with subjective internalized and externalized caregiver strain, but not with objective caregiver strain. Youth internalizing problems were associated with objective and subjective internalized caregiver strain, but not with subjective externalized strain. Youth sex was associated with caregiver subjective internalized strain and objective strain. Youth age was positively associated with subjective externalized caregiver strain. Conclusions This study emphasizes the significance of the relationship between youth problem-type and caregiver strain. It also highlights caregiver strain as an important point for assessment and intervention which, if appropriately targeted, may contribute to the reduction of health disparities and unmet mental health need for Latino youth. Keywords Latino families · Caregiver strain · Mental health disparities · Internalizing · Externalizing
* Thania Galvan [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
2
Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
13
Vol.:(0123456789)
Child & Youth Care Forum
Introduction Latino youth are less likely to receive mental health services (MHS) than their non-Hispanic white counterparts, despite having similar rates of psychiatric disorders (Ho et al. 2007; Garland et al. 2005). At the same time, research suggests that racial/ethnic disparities in the likelihood of receiving MHS vary as a function of youth problem type, with disparities more pronounced for internalizing problems than externalizing problems (Gudiño et al. 2008, 2009). While cross-ethnic group differences are important for understanding patterns of disparities more broadly, a closer examination of within-group disparities may better illuminate drivers of unmet mental health need among
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