How Culturally Congruent Mental Health Services Relate to Subjective Norms and Help Seeking Intentions for Latino Older Adults.

Latino older adults under-utilize mental health services. Mental health professionals are encouraged to provide culturally competent treatment for many diverse populations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the importance of providing culturally congruent mental health services for older Latino adults. Research suggests that treatment is sought when the treatment fits an individual’s culture based on attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control. It was hypothesized that older Latinos who perceived high levels of cultural congruence would likely use mental health services, give others advice to seek mental health services, report lower levels of stigma, and report positive subjective norms. A series of standard scales were included in an interview that measured perceptions of cultural congruence in mental health services, stigma, mental health experience, and advise and help seeking behaviors.Sixty-three participants were interviewed through senior housing facilities in the southwest area of Florida. This study is a first step to examine the relationships of cultural congruence to social networks and help-seeking intentions for Latino older adults and may contribute to improve mental health services in order to address older Latinos\u27 needs