Race/Ethnicity, Parent-Identified Emotional Difficulties, and Mental Health Visits Among California Children (The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research)
Asian and Latino children were less likely to receive mental health treatment even when their parents knew that the children had severe emotional problems, according to a journal article that uses California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data.
About 17 percent of Asian children and 22 percent of Latino children identified by parents as having serious emotional problems received mental health services, compared with 46 percent of whites and 42 percent of African-Americans, according to the research that appeared in The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research.
The article, which is co-authored by Ronald M. Andersen, a Center faculty associate, used 2005, 2007, and 2009 CHIS data. It also detailed differences among racial and ethnic groups and whether parents' age, marital status, and other factors increased the likelihood of children receiving services.
Researchers concluded that outreach efforts for Asians and Latinos should encourage parents to accept the use of mental health services for their children.
Publication Authors:
- Jim E. Banta
- Sigrid James
- Mark G. Haviland
- Ronald M. Andersen, Ph.D.