Latinx Youth's Mental Health Needs and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Service Utilization

This study examined mental health needs and risk factors associated with service use among Latinx high school students in two cities in the United States. We explored how socioeconomic characteristics, school location, youth and parental nativity, and self-perceived clinical needs were associated wi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2024-02, Vol.35 (1), p.341-358
Main Authors: Giraldo-Santiago, Natalia, Bjugstad, Arlene, Cardoso, Jodi Berger, Chen, Tzuan A, Brabeck, Kalina, López, Ruth M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Capitation
Economic hardship
Female
Health needs
Health Services Needs and Demand - statistics & numerical data
Hispanic or Latino - psychology
Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Immigrants
Male
Mental Disorders - ethnology
Mental health
Mental health professionals
Mental Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Risk factors
Secondary schools
Social factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomics
Underserved populations
United States
Young Adult
Youth
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study examined mental health needs and risk factors associated with service use among Latinx high school students in two cities in the United States. We explored how socioeconomic characteristics, school location, youth and parental nativity, and self-perceived clinical needs were associated with the odds of youths seeing a mental health provider. Data were collected from 306 Latinx youths during the 2018-19 school year. Most youths (78%) self-reported symptoms of anxiety, trauma, or depression above the clinical range. None of these clinical needs predicted service utilization. Youth experiencing less economic hardship and having a mother from South America were almost five times more likely to use services than their counterparts. Similarly, males and older respondents were more likely to be underserved than females and younger respondents. Implications to ensure equitable access to services among older, low-income Latinx youth, particularly those from Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, are discussed.
ISSN:1049-2089
1548-6869
1548-6869
DOI:10.1353/hpu.2024.a919822