An examination of Mexican descent caregivers' reasons for seeking treatment for relatives with severe and persistent mental illness

Marquez, Jorge

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/45587 Copy

Description

Title

An examination of Mexican descent caregivers' reasons for seeking treatment for relatives with severe and persistent mental illness

Author(s)

Marquez, Jorge

Issue Date

2013-08-22T16:48:46Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Ramirez Garcia, Jorge I.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Ramirez Garcia, Jorge I.

Committee Member(s)

• Berenbaum, Howard
• Kral, Michael
• Miller, Peggy J.
• Shapiro, Constance H.

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Latinos
• Family Caregiving
• Serious Mental Illness
• Mental Health Services
• Care Pathways

Abstract

Examining how Latino caregivers of relatives with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) conceptualize their relative’s problems and how their relatives engage and disengage with services is a critical undertaking in light of (a) evidence showing that Latino caregivers have high levels of involvement in the care of their diagnosed relatives, and (b) consistent reports of low usage of mental health services by Latinos. Mental illness conceptualizations and experiences with seeking treatment were examined with a sample of Latino caregivers (n = 17) who were users of services at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We conducted a stability check of the findings with a second sample of caregivers from community venues (n = 15). Following caregivers’ self-reports in standardized measures, the combined sample had elevated levels of depression and comparable levels of familismo (high), stigma (low), and enculturation (high) when compared to samples of Latino adults and/or caregivers. Qualitative analyses indicated that caregivers played key roles in the initiation and retention of mental health services by their relatives. A large portion of caregivers reported that psychiatric crises, family caregiver support, and early positive experiences with services played an important role in successfully engaging Latinos in services. Findings are particularly significant because: (a) they provide empirical data which are scarce in the literature on service usage processes among Latinos, and (b) qualify the degree to which common explanations, such as familismo and folk beliefs, might be influential in Latinos’ low service usage.

Graduation Semester

2013-08

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45587

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2013 Jorge A. Marquez

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