Why bother with beliefs? Examining relationships between race/ethnicity, parental beliefs about causes of child problems, and mental health service use.

Full Abstract

In this study, the authors examined the role of parental beliefs about the causes of child problems in predicting later mental health service use in a large, diverse population of at-risk youths. Study hypotheses were that parental beliefs consistent with biopsychosocial causes would be associated with later mental health service use; sociological, spiritual, or nature disharmony etiologies would be negatively associated with service use; and beliefs would partially mediate the relationship between race/ethnicity and service use. Of the 5 biopsychosocial beliefs, 2 were positively related to later mental health service use. Unexpectedly, of the 6 parental beliefs related to sociological, spiritual, or nature disharmony etiologies, only 1 was negatively associated with later service use patterns. Parental endorsement of etiologies relating to physical causes, relational issues, trauma, and prejudice was found to partially mediate the relationship between race/ethnicity and service use for Asian/Pacific Islander American and Latino youths. ((c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved). ((c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).

Author information

Author/s: Yeh, May (M); McCabe, Kristen (K); Hough, Richard L (RL); Lau, Anna (A); Fakhry, Fatmé (F); Garland, Ann (A);

Affiliation: Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. myeh(-atsign-)casrc.org

Grants: K01 MH01544 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; K01 MH01767 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; K01 MH01924 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; U01 MH55282 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology (J Consult Clin Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Oct; vol 73 (issue 5) : pp 800-7

Dates: Created 2005/11/18; Completed 2006/05/05; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16287380, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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