What is it about?
This study introduces the Youth Affiliate Stigma Scale (YASS), a new tool to measure feelings of shame, avoidance, and negative thoughts experienced by Latinx caregivers of children with emotional or behavioral problems. The research validated the scale in both English and Spanish, showing how caregivers' stigma relates to their children's mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges.
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Why is it important?
Latinx families often face barriers to mental health services, and stigma can worsen these challenges. By measuring the stigma caregivers feel, the YASS offers a way to identify and reduce this barrier. This tool can help researchers, clinicians, and policymakers address mental health disparities and develop culturally tailored interventions for Latinx communities.
Perspectives
As researchers and advocates for mental health equity, we see this work as a step toward understanding the unique challenges Latinx caregivers face. Developing the YASS reflects our commitment to increasing access to tools that not only capture experiences of stigma but also empower communities to seek and access mental health care for their children. We hope this scale inspires further research and meaningful action to reduce stigma and promote well-being in underserved populations.
Dr. Alejandro L. Vázquez
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: La vergüenza [the shame]: Measuring affiliate stigma associated with youth mental health problems among Latinx caregivers., Journal of Latinx Psychology, June 2023, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/lat0000235.
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