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Factors Associated with Mental Health Service Use Among Latino and Asian Americans

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Abstract

Literature concur that there is a disparity between epidemiological prevalence and mental health services (MHS) utilization rates for Latino and Asian Americans. This study adapted the behavioral model of health service use to examine factors associated with MHS use among Latino and Asian Americans. The model consists of predisposing, enabling, and need factors. This study used the National Latino and Asian American Study data, including six ethnic groups. The outcome measure for this study was the use of MHS in the past 12 months. Age, sex, and education predicted higher odds of MHS use among Latinos, none of which were significant among Asians. Needs factors were strongly associated with higher odds of MHS use among Latinos and Asians.

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Notes

  1. Eleven DSM-IV diagnoses include: five anxiety disorders (Panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder); two mood disorders (Major depressive disorder and dysthymia); and four substance use disorders (Alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, and drug dependence).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Michigan State University, 254 Baker Hall, 655 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Hyunkag Cho

  2. Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea

    Hyunkag Cho

  3. School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Isok Kim

  4. School of Social Work and Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Daniel Velez-Ortiz

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  1. Hyunkag Cho
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  2. Isok Kim
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Correspondence to Hyunkag Cho.

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Cho, H., Kim, I. & Velez-Ortiz, D. Factors Associated with Mental Health Service Use Among Latino and Asian Americans. Community Ment Health J 50, 960–967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9719-6

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