The Influence of Cultural and Caregiver Factors on Child Inclination toward Disclosure

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dc.contributor.authorSalinas, Carlos Enriqueen
dc.contributor.committeechairWhite, Susan W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDunsmore, Julie C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberOllendick, Thomas H.en
dc.contributor.departmentPsychologyen
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-02T20:48:45Zen
dc.date.adate2017-04-18en
dc.date.available2017-11-02T20:48:45Zen
dc.date.issued2017-04-03en
dc.date.rdate2017-04-18en
dc.date.sdate2017-04-12en
dc.description.abstractAlthough a considerable body of research has looked at factors underlying mental health help-seeking behaviors, many facets of this pathway have received only marginal attention, particularly for internalizing concerns in children. Moreover, caregivers and culture can exert a pronounced influence on family dynamics, conferring values and beliefs that can facilitate or inhibit help-seeking. In a two-group study of international (n = 20) and domestic (n = 20) families, we sought to determine whether parental and cultural factors could differentially predict children's tendency to disclose, withhold, or mask internalizing (i.e., anxiety and depression) symptoms. Caregivers completed a battery of measures while children completed self-report questionnaires and an interactive activity to assess disclosure propensity. Results indicate that parenting and attitudinal factors are not necessarily implicated in predicting children's decisions for both anxiety and depression, and irrespective of cultural background. However, among international families, children's inclination toward disclosure of anxiety-related concerns reflected significant cultural influences (Wilks' λ = .386, Chi-square = 15.230, df = 6, Canonical correlation = .729, p = .019). Caregiver acculturation in particular was found to account for 84.2% of the variance, with children of less acculturated parents being more likely to mask as opposed to disclose or withhold.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralAlthough a considerable body of research has looked at factors underlying mental health helpseeking behaviors, many facets of this pathway have received only marginal attention, particularly for internalizing (i.e., anxiety and depression) concerns in children. Moreover, caregivers and culture can exert a pronounced influence on family dynamics, conferring values and beliefs that can facilitate or inhibit help-seeking (Cauce et al., 2002). In a two-group study of international (<i>n</i> = 20) and domestic (<i>n</i> = 20) families, we sought to determine whether parental and cultural factors could differentially predict children’s tendency to disclose, withhold, or mask internalizing symptoms. Caregivers and children completed self-report questionnaires while children also went through an interactive story-based activity to assess disclosure propensity. Results indicate that parental styles and caregiver attitudes are not necessarily implicated in predicting children’s decisions for both anxiety and depression, and irrespective of cultural background. However, among international families, children’s inclination toward disclosure of anxiety-related concerns reflected significant cultural influences (Wilks’λ = .386, Chi-square = 15.230, <i>df</i> = 6, Canonical correlation = .729, <i>p</i> = .019). Caregiver acculturation in particular was found to account for 84.2% of the variance, with children of less acculturated (i.e., those families lacking social ties to the dominant cultural norms following immigration) parents being more likely to mask as opposed to disclose or withhold. Implications for guiding outreach to culturally diverse children and their families are discussed.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-04122017-134527en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04122017-134527/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/79947en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectmental healthen
dc.subjectchild disclosureen
dc.subjectcultureen
dc.subjectparentingen
dc.subjectcaregiveren
dc.titleThe Influence of Cultural and Caregiver Factors on Child Inclination toward Disclosureen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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