The aim of this study has been to examine representations of Latino boys and young men in Latino American coming of age novels. Two concepts have been central to the study: positions of (in)betweenness and the ability to "fall in line" with norms and expectations. Three overarching themes are been explored in relation to masculinity. These are sexualities, ethnicities, and the representation of women. First, representations of queer sexualities are explored, focusing on the protagonists' "coming out" process and the varying reactions to this. The second part of this theme explores representations of disciplining strategies between boys and men as a means to regulating homosocial bonding and maintain the dominant masculinity ideal. The second theme, ethnicity, examines representations of "authentic" Latino identities in relation to language and bilingualism, and the link between location and identity. Disciplining measures aimed towards the protagonists, such as criminalization and dehumanization, are also explored. The final theme deals with the lacking representation of women in literature and research focused on men and masculinity. In the novels, women are depicted as confidants, present in the boys' lives mainly in order to provoke and facilitate their renegotiations of ideas regarding the previously discussed themes. The boys are represented as inhabiting positions of (in)betweenness throughout the novels, whether in relation to ethnicity, sexuality or gender. While (in)betweenness holds a potential to challenge and "worry" fixed categories, these positions are also characterized by unease, precariousness and the risk of being disciplined by other men.

This report examines the state of research regarding the psychological impact of war on American soldiers deployed in military operations in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom). Particular focus is given to examination of marital and relationship satisfaction within the Hispanic soldier and veteran population. A wide range of research examines the traumatic aftereffects of wartime service with predominant themes of posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse appearing across the literature. Examination of the Hispanic population is disputed with researchers producing conflicting findings: some researchers have indicated an increased risk of psychological disturbances in Hispanic wartime veterans while other have found no such difference between the Hispanic and majority groups. Attempts to explain these discrepant results have ranged from differences in acculturation, to potentially increased traumatic exposure, or to underlying feelings of persecution and alienation. However, consistent results were found in regards to the negative relationship between traumatic exposure and romantic relationship satisfaction. Younger males of lower socioeconomic status with increased trauma exposure and comorbid mental health diagnoses consistently reported less relationship satisfaction than their peers. Given the nature of family and the importance of close relationships within the Hispanic culture, it is increasingly necessary for clinicians working with Hispanic veterans to be aware of these findings. This author purposes that future researchers explore this concept of relationship satisfaction within the Hispanic veteran population with attention given to potentially mediating variables such as level of acculturation and traumatic experience exposure. / text

As the nation’s schools continue to increase in diversity, teachers are faced with numerous challenges regarding how to meet the needs and strengths of diverse student populations. In addition, small, rural schools tend not only to lack in resources, but may not be adequately prepared to understand student backgrounds, unable to support diverse learners' social and cultural well-being, especially those consisting of a homogenous, Caucasian staff. This qualitative case study examined one small, rural school’s response to a changing demographic, particularly in its Latino student population. Specific attention was given to teachers' attitudes, views, and perceptions regarding their Latino student learners. Faculty members' interviews served as the primary data collection method coupled with an examination of current school documents and notes from a researcher's journal. The three data collection methods provided insight into the research questions: 1) how does a small, rural school respond to its changing demographic, particularly in its Latino student population?; and 2) What are the views, perceptions, and attitudes of staff members regarding the school's Latino student population? The major findings suggest that the school displayed evidence of increased support in The major findings suggest that the school displayed evidence of increased support in resources are still necessary to effectively meet the needs and strengths of diverse learners within the school. At times, the evidence revealed teachers not taking responsibility of diverse learners' needs and strengths, placing blame on outside factors. Additionally, faculty members offered many examples of students' needs, but had difficulty identifying students' strengths. Staff members held narrowed views of what inhibited student learning and did not possess a thorough understanding of culturally responsive teaching practices. Also, teachers' and administrators' views varied from those they perceived of their colleagues; and lastly, generalizations latent with pity were evident in some responses. The results of the research contribute to the contemporary literature regarding teacher belief systems regarding diverse learners, how they perceive students of color, and how understanding these perceptions might help educators devise practices that will more successfully meet diverse learners' needs and strengths. Current research lacks in teacher perspectives; this research intends to add to the existing dialogue. / text

Culturally sensitive care is thought to take into account a person's specific cultural values and preferences when providing mental health care services. Latinos currently comprise 17% of the total U.S. population at 50.5 million and persons of Mexican heritage constitute over 66% of all Latinos in the United States. Persons of Mexican heritage experience higher rates of mental health issues and illness with 30% lifetime incidence versus 20% incidence for Anglos. Few studies have focused on the mental health treatment preferences for persons of Mexican heritage. Treatment preferences could reflect personal characteristics, acculturation perspective about mental health issues and illness, and experience with treatment. Mass media may also influence treatment preferences and mental health information-seeking.The purpose of this study was to describe preferences for mental health treatment services for persons of Mexican heritage living in the Southwest along the United States-Mexico border. Twenty-one participants were interviewed individually and their responses analyzed using Atlas-ti qualitative analysis software. The participants reported twenty-five mental health treatment preferences. The top six preferences- medication, going to the doctor, social and family support, counseling and herbal medicines, were consistent throughout demographic categories of age, gender, income, generational status, insurance status, education, and acculturation. Self-management interventions and integrative medicine were also reported as treatment preferences. Participants reported media use of television, internet, books and magazines, in-person interaction, and radio as primary mental health information sources. Media influences on mental health included education/information, hope, normalization, and a catalyst for conversation. Ascribed meanings for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder included cognitive, behavioral, and interactional reports. Mental health services for persons of Mexican heritage should include varying holistic mental health treatment practices, recognizing the need for understanding of potential meanings for mental health issues and illness. Persons of Mexican heritage report the desire for the same types of allopathic care including medications and counseling as Anglos in the US. Additionally, self-management interventions and integrative medicine therapies, as well as innovative media outreach methods were reported as integral to the holistic treatment process of obtaining help for mental health issues and illness.

This study investigates principals’ perceptions about the importance and degree of building relationships with Hispanic/Latino families in highly diverse schools in an Atlanta area school district. Over the past ten years, the school district’s Hispanic/Latino student population increased by more than 12,000 students. The school district’s current Hispanic/Latino enrollment is almost 15,000 students, which is 14.4% of the total student body. Six principals from different elementary and middle schools with growing Hispanic/Latino student populations participated in this qualitative study involving in-depth, one-on-one interviews, informal observations, and artifact collection. The data analysis process involved transcribing the interview tapes verbatim, analyzing the narratives for theme categories, and identifying the common theme patterns. Critical theorists Giroux, Apple, and Freire provided the framework to examine the principals’ responses and experiences. Hegemony, patriarchy, and reciprocity are critical theory concepts used to criticize and critique the data to glean meaning and understanding of the principals’ perceptions about relationship building with Hispanic/Latino parents and families. There is a disequilibrium between what the principals say is occurring at their schools and the hidden and taken-for-granted structures that exist at their schools. Based on their actions, it seems principals perceive that in order to build relationships with Hispanic/Latino families, the school leaders need to take on a patriarchal role and explain the necessary knowledge, skills, and practices to the parents. This hegemonic behavior perpetuates the dominant group’s power and control over the non-dominant, oppressed groups. In addition, there was no indication that the principals gain an understanding of the Hispanic/Latino culture and language before attempting to help the families with parenting and schooling. The findings suggest that the principals are operating on the assumption that they know what is best for the Hispanic/Latino population without prior inquiry. There is little evidence that the principals believe they have something to learn from the Hispanic/Latino parents and families, thus, a reciprocal learning relationship is non-existent. These underlying beliefs and assumptions will hinder the principals from building a true relationship with the students, parents, and families who they serve in the school community.

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic, especially as the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes has increased in recent years. Minorities are disproportionately affected by the disease and, at the same time, often have less access to resources including medication and education. The Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program (ELDEP) is a culturally component diabetes education program aimed at promoting increased knowledge about diabetes disease management within the Latino population of metropolitan Atlanta. The program considers cultural competence and acculturation theory in its learning structure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ELDEP’s effectiveness in increasing knowledge of diabetes, healthy behaviors, and disease management in the study population. The study evaluated changes in knowledge for those participants who attended only the initial intervention and those patients who attended both the initial session and at least one follow-up intervention. Data was collected through a selfreport questionnaire completed by patients at the beginning of each intervention session. The results of this study indicate that specific participant characteristics may be associated with attendance at follow-up sessions. Participant knowledge about certain factors related to diabetes also increased. Based on these results, recommendations will be made to the program staff at ELDEP.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The changing demographics of the U.S. are increasingly drawing attention to the growing Hispanic and Asian populations. Historically, the majority of these two groups have resided in the same areas, which has created opportunities for interaction over shared resources. Intergroup relations between Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans have resulted in both cooperation and conflict. Realistic group conflict theory and social identity theory have not been evaluated in light of Hispanic-Asian interactions and therefore may not account for unique cultural psychological aspects of group members. It was hypothesized that while the two theories may accurately explain components of the intergroup relations between Asians and Hispanics, they would not fully explain them due to unconsidered cultural influences. Ultimately, it was found that while the theories can be applied well to explain Asian-Hispanic intergroup relations and make space for the central concepts concerning perception and identity to be influenced by culture, the issue of how culture influences intergroup conflict and cooperation is not directly addressed.

Latino children living in the context of domestic violence (DV) often lack access to cultural-specific services. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among Latino children’s level of cognitive development (age), country of origin and psychological adjustment as well as styles of coping with domestic violence . Analysis of data collected from an interview conducted with Latino children at a local DV intervention program suggests that Latino children utilize a range of coping responses when confronted with violence in their homes. In a regression analysis using psychological adjustment as the dependent variable, developmental age was not related to adjustment in children. However, country of origin was a significant predictor of psychological adjustment. That is, immigrant children reported lower levels of psychological adjustment compared to children born in the U.S. This remained true while controlling for age, coping strategy, and family cohesion. The growing number of immigrant Latino children in the United States increases the need for culturally relevant research with racial and ethnic minority groups in regard to DV. These findings suggest immigrant Latino children have unique needs in the context of DV.

The current study employed quantitative and qualitative methods to examine predictors of adherence and diabetes health outcomes in Latino youth, and to gain understanding of mechanisms that underlie health behaviors and outcomes. Forty-nine Latino youth and their caregivers were recruited at a hospital-based outpatient diabetes clinic, 76% of the youth were either first or second-generation Latino youth (i.e., immigrant youth or youth whose parents are immigrants). A primary aim of this study was to quantitatively examine the impact of parent immigrant-related stress on child health behaviors and outcomes. This study complements these quantitative analyses by qualitatively exploring how (e.g., under what conditions) pathways to health are created. Specifically, qualitative analyses examined the unique experiences of Latino immigrant families in managing adherence to treatment and metabolic control, and gain insight into specific health promoters and barriers. Further, the author intended to qualitatively explain the effects of recently enacted immigration laws on Latino youths’ health behaviors and outcomes. Results revealed that higher levels of fear of deportation predict lower child-reported adherence, β = -41, p < .05. Higher levels of caregiver immigrant stress predict higher BMI rates in children, β = .30, p < .05. Immigrant related stressors, including fear of deportation, did not predict A1c or diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) hospitalizations in the last year. Qualitative results highlight themes related to direct and indirect barriers to health behaviors and outcomes for youth, as well as ethnocultural promoters of coping and resilience.