Acosta F X
Am J Community Psychol. 1979 Oct;7(5):503-20. doi: 10.1007/BF00894047.
The paradox of underutilization of mental health services by Mexican Americans is critically examined. It is argued that Mexican Americans live under high levels of psychological and environmental stress that would ordinarily lead to mental health problems and an increased utilization of mental health services. A number of barriers to the use of mental health services by Mexican Americans are examined. Included among these barriers are such factors as the relationship between social class and treatment offered, stereotypes concerning Mexican American folk psychiatry, limitations imposed by language differences, and the effects of stereotypes between Anglo Americans and Mexican Americans. Paradoxical findings in some studies which show a positive perception of mental health services by Mexican Americans are seen to further underscore the need for more research on the Mexican American's position. Stereotypes and generalizations about Spanish-speaking and bilingual Mexican American's approaches to psychotherapy are challenged in the light of recent empirical findings. Recommendations for future research directions and for improving the delivery of mental health services are presented.
墨西哥裔美国人对心理健康服务利用不足这一矛盾现象受到了批判性审视。有人认为，墨西哥裔美国人生活在高度的心理和环境压力之下，这通常会导致心理健康问题以及心理健康服务利用率的增加。文中探讨了墨西哥裔美国人使用心理健康服务的诸多障碍。这些障碍包括社会阶层与所提供治疗之间的关系、有关墨西哥裔美国人民间精神病学的刻板印象、语言差异造成的限制以及英裔美国人和墨西哥裔美国人之间刻板印象的影响等因素。一些研究中出现的矛盾发现显示墨西哥裔美国人对心理健康服务持积极看法，这进一步凸显了对墨西哥裔美国人状况开展更多研究的必要性。鉴于最近的实证研究结果，针对说西班牙语和双语的墨西哥裔美国人心理治疗方法的刻板印象和一概而论的看法受到了挑战。文章还提出了未来研究方向以及改善心理健康服务提供的建议。
