(PS4-38) A Scoping Review of Cultural Adaptations to Mental and Behavioral Health Interventions for Latino Youth

Abstract Text: Socioculturally competent treatments are crucial for promoting equitable behavioral and mental health outcomes for Latino youth. Despite the growing diversity of student and patient populations, many treatments are based on Eurocentric frameworks that may not effectively address the cultural and linguistic needs of Latino individuals. This scoping review aims to identify the characteristics of studies that adapt interventions for Latino youth in an attempt to document which adaptations are being utilized and to examine their potential promise.
A comprehensive search across PsycInfo and PubMed databases was used to identify 14 studies focused on Latino youth mental or behavioral health outcomes. We examined the types of cultural adaptations implemented, how these adaptations were measured, the age range of youth involved, the settings in which the interventions took place, the role of the interventionist, the behavioral or mental health outcomes for the youth (generally), and whether culturally adapted outcome measures were included. Additionally, we examined which domains of the Ecological Validity Framework were addressed in the culturally adapted programs, identifying common adaptation strategies.
Common adaptations included language modifications, incorporation of cultural values like familismo and respeto, and strategies to address immigration stress and biculturalism. Role-plays using real-life cultural scenarios, mindfulness exercises, and bicultural skill development were incorporated to enhance program relevance. Programs employed culturally relevant methods such as storytelling and flexible scheduling to improve engagement. Effectiveness was measured using participant satisfaction, attendance records, and culturally adapted assessment tools like the Hispanic Stress Inventory and scales validated in Spanish-speaking populations. The interventions targeted youth predominantly in middle school, with participants generally between the ages of 11 and 17 years. Settings varied widely, including schools, community centers, and homes. Interventionists were often bilingual, bicultural individuals from the target communities, ensuring cultural competence; some were community leaders with established trust. Positive outcomes included reductions in PTSD, depression, and externalizing behaviors, along with improved resilience, coping strategies, and family cohesion. Interventions addressed multiple domains of the Ecological Validity Framework, such as language, content, and methods, ensuring cultural relevance. However, adaptations frequently underemphasized the broader socio-political contexts that profoundly shape Latino youth's experiences, indicating that even carefully designed cultural adaptations may fail to adequately address critical contextual factors such as immigration-related stress, documentation status concerns, and experiences of discrimination. Findings emphasize the importance of culturally responsive strategies in enhancing outcomes for Latino youth and underscore the need for scalable interventions that address the unique needs of underserved populations.