Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Enhancing Behavioral Health in Latino Populations pp 25–46Cite as

Eliminating Disparities Through Integrated Behavioral and Primary Care: Special Considerations for Working with Puerto Ricans

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

According to the latest US census estimate, Hispanics represent the largest minority, with 17.1 % of the total estimated population for 2013. Recognizing the diversity within the Hispanic population of the United States in modern times is an important step when integrated behavioral and primary care services are provided. Thus, one important aspect is the recognition of the within-group differences in the Hispanic population and other minority groups. One example is the Puerto Rican population, which has a very particular sociopolitical and biopsychosocial background that should be taken into consideration when quality health services are provided. It is important to recognize these differences because knowledge of the history and worldview of the Puerto Rican population regarding issues of health, disease, health-seeking behaviors, and interaction with health providers among other topics will make it easier for the teams of health professionals to bring better services to the patients being served. This aspect includes the importance of prevention, assessment, and treatment of disease and the development of a professional relationship between the interprofessional/interdisciplinary teams and this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Altarriba, J., & Santiago-Rivera, A. L. (1994). Current perspectives on using linguistic and cultural factors in counseling the Hispanic client. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 4, 388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrés-Hyman, R. C., Ortiz, J., Añez, L. M., Paris, M., & Davidson, L. (2006). Culture and clinical practice: recommendations for working with Puerto Ricans and other Latinas(os) in the United States. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 37(6), 694–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baig, A. A., Benitez, A., Locklin, C. A., Campbell, A., Schaefer, C. T., Heuer, L. J., … Chin, M. H. (2014). Community health center provider and staff’s Spanish language ability and cultural awareness. Journal of Health Care for the Poor & Underserved, 25(2), 527–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthold, M. S. (1989). Spiritism as a form of psychotherapy: implications for social work practice. Social Casework, 90, 89–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A., & Patten, E. (2013). Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin in the United States, 2011. Pew Research Center Report. Retrieved from http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/06/19/hispanics-of-puerto-rican-origin-in-the-united-states-2011/.

  • Comas-Diaz, L. (1988). Mainland Puerto Rican women: a sociocultural approach. Journal of Community Psychology, 16(1), 21–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Morris, S. B., Michaels, P. J., Rafacz, J. D., & Rüsch, N. (2012). Challenging the public stigma of mental illness: a meta-analysis of outcome studies. Psychiatric Services, 63, 963–973. http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201100529.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Mueser, K. T., Bond, G. R., Drake, R. E., & Solomon, P. (2008). Principles and practice of psychiatric rehabilitation. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • De La Cancela, V. (1986). A critical analysis of Puerto Rican machismo: implications for clinical practice. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 23, 291–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deegan, P. (2004). Mentalism, micro-aggression and the peer practitioner. Retrieved from https://www.patdeegan.com/blog/posts/mentalism-micro-aggression-and-peer-practitioner.

  • Deyoung, Y., & Zigler, E. F. (1994). Machismo in two cultures: relation to punitive child-rearing practices. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 64, 386–395.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, J. A. (1983). The male experience. Dubuque, IA: William C. Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falicov, C. (2005). Emotional transnationalism and family identities. Family Process, 44(4), 399–406.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gil, R. M., & Vasquez, C. A. (1996). The Maria paradox: how Latina women can merge Old World traditions with New World self-esteem. New York, NY: Putnam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guarnaccia, P. J., Martinez, I., & Acosta, H. (2005). Mental health in the Hispanic immigrant community. An overview. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Services, 3(1/2), 21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guttfreund, D. G. (1990). Effects of language usage on the emotional experience of Spanish-English and English-Spanish bilinguals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 5, 604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, G., Qian, H., Kim, M., Melnik, T., Tucker, K., Jimenez-Velazquez, I., … Rohan, T. (2006). Health disparities between island and mainland Puerto Ricans. Revista Panamericana De Salud Publica, 19(5), 331–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. (2002). Unequal treatment: confronting racial and ethnic disparities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juckett, G. (2005). Cross-cultural medicine. American Family Physician, 72(11), 2267.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juckett, G. (2013). Caring for Latino patients. American Family Physician, 87(1), 48–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Roche, M. J. (2002). Psychotherapeutic considerations in treating Latinos. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 10(2), 115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levensky, E. R., & O’Donohue, W. T. (2006). Promoting treatment adherence: a practical handbook for health care providers. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, I., Interian, A., & Guarnaccia, P. (2013). Antidepressant adherence among Latinos: the role of the family. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 10(1), 63–85. doi:10.1080/14780887.2011.586102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemec, P. B., Swarbrick, M., & Legere, L. (2015). Prejudice and discrimination from mental health service providers. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38(2), 203–206.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Malley, A. S., Gonzalez, R. M., Sheppard, V. B., Huerta, E., & Mandelblatt, J. (2003). Review and special article: primary care cancer control interventions including Latinos. A review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25, 264–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos, B. M. (2005). Acculturation and depression among Puerto Ricans in the mainland. Social Work Research, 29(2), 95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reidy, D. E. (1993). “Stigma is social death”: mental health consumers/survivors talk about stigma in their lives. Holyoke, MA: Education for Community Initiatives.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivera, F., López, I., Guarnaccia, P., Ramirez, R., Canino, G., & Bird, H. (2011). Perceived discrimination and antisocial behaviors in Puerto Rican children. Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health, 13(3), 453–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Gomez, J. (2006). Adherence in ethnic minorities. In W. T. O’Donohoue & E. Levensky (Eds.), Promoting treatment adherence: a practical handbook for health care (pp. 415–420). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenker, Y., Karter, A. J., Schillinger, D., Margaret Warton, E., Adler, N. E., Moffet, H. H., … Fernandez, A. (2010). The impact of limited English proficiency and physician language concordance on reports of clinical interactions among patients with diabetes: the DISTANCE study. Patient Education and Counseling 81(2): 222–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, A., Rodríguez, M. D., Santiago-Rivera, A. L., Arredondo, P., & Field, L. D. (2010). Cultural and linguistic competence: welcome challenges from successful diversification. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 41(3), 210–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, S. (2003). In defense of cultural competency in psychotherapy and treatment. The American Psychologist, 58(11), 964–970.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W. (2013). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. [serial online]. Retrieved May 20, 2015, from Bibliotheksverbund Bayern, Ipswich, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62, 271–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres, J. B. (1998). Masculinity and gender roles among Puerto Rican men: a dilemma for Puerto Rican men’s personal identity. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68, 16–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torres, J. B., Solberg, V. H., & Carlstrom, A. H. (2002). The myth of sameness among Latino men and their machismo. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72(2), 163–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, W., & Streltzer, J. (2008). Cultural competence in health care. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Urciuoli, B. (1996). Exposing prejudice: Puerto Rican experiences of language, race, and class. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albizu University, San Juan, PR, 00902-3711, USA

    Nanet M. López-Córdova Psy.D. & José J. Cabiya Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Nanet M. López-Córdova Psy.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José J. Cabiya Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nanet M. López-Córdova Psy.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA

    Lorraine T. Benuto

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA

    William O'Donohue

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

López-Córdova, N.M., Cabiya, J.J. (2016). Eliminating Disparities Through Integrated Behavioral and Primary Care: Special Considerations for Working with Puerto Ricans. In: Benuto, L., O'Donohue, W. (eds) Enhancing Behavioral Health in Latino Populations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42533-7_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation