After reviewing the
following information readers will have an understanding of the items below:
In the U.S. the terms Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably. The US government first adopted the term Hispanic in 1970 as an attempt to classify a large and very diverse population who spoke Spanish. Hispanic refers to language - if you and/or your ancestry come from a country where they speak Spanish. Latino refers to geography. Spanish-speaking, Latin Americans were formerly ruled by the Kingdom of Spain. Mexico, Central and South America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries are called Hispanic America. (http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families/)
Contrary to popular belief, Hispanic is not a race, but an ethnicity. "Hispanic" adults say they most often identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. About half say they identify themselves most frequently by their family's national origin such as Mexican, Cuban, Salvadoran, etc. An additional 21% say they called themselves American most often, a figure that has climbed to 40% among those born in the U.S. ( http://hispanic-culture-online.com/hispanic-religion.html)
The Hispanic-American population is growing rapidly. In the 2000 census, the number of Hispanics rose to 35.3 million. It is predicted that by 2050, the number of Hispanics will increase to 97 million. This number will be equal to nearly one-fourth of the U.S. population. It is also estimated that by 2050 almost one-third of youth under 19 years of age will be Hispanic. Of note, according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 64% of Hispanics were born in the United States. USCB (2010).
Interesting Facts:
Family
Hispanic people are often referred to as family oriented. The importance of family can be seen in Hispanic living arrangements. Although family characteristics vary by subgroups, they most commonly live in family households and are unlikely to live alone. A basic feature of the Hispanic/Latino American family is the extended family. Grandparents, parents, and children may live in the same household or nearby. There are strong bonds and frequent interaction among a wide range of kin and they visit one another frequently. Children usually remain in the family until they marry. (Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., 1991)
Often there is a habit of placing the needs of the family ahead of individual concerns. This aspect of Hispanic family life has led to the conclusion that the family limits individual achievement and advancement. Observers of the Hispanic American culture must distinguish between being cooperative and respectful and being docile and dependent. Generally speaking, Hispanic children and adolescents learn to show respect for authority and extended family members. Hispanic American children learn early the importance of (1) a deep sense of family responsibility, (2) rigid definitions of sex roles, (3) respectful and reverent treatment of the elderly, and (4) the male's position of respect and authority in the family. Although some of the male's authority appears to be relaxing as the woman's role is redefined, the majority of women in the Hispanic American culture continue to occupy a subordinate position. Fathers have prestige and authority, and sons have more and earlier independence than do daughters.
Hispanics value the extended family structure and interaction in their daily lives. Parents often arrange for godparents or "companion parents" for the child demonstrating the value they place on adults other than the immediate parents. These parents also have a right to give advice and correction and should be responsive to the child's needs.
http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families
Traditions
Hispanic culture is rich in holidays and traditions. There are a wide range of Hispanic celebrations from the religious to patriotic, and from popular to unique. An example would be September 15th which was chosen to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
No Hispanic tradition illustrates more clearly the ties of family and friends as the wedding anniversary of the Abuelos (grandparents). Surrounded by children and grandchildren, family and friends, the anniversary celebrates relationships. Elders are considered the heroes and are respected and treasured. The richness of their celebrations is enhanced by the wide range of Hispanic backgrounds as well as the surrounding culture of North America, its language and its cultural norms. These traditions are often expressions of gratitude, love and commitment. They are demonstrated in church ceremonies and parties with family and friends. (quinceanera-boutique.com/hispanic-traditions-pg-19.html)
Religious Beliefs
Not all Hispanics are Catholic but the majority is, and in the near future this religion will have about 60 million participants of which half will be Hispanics. Most Hispanics practice many of the typical Roman Catholic traditions like attending mass on Sundays. Hispanic culture has a deep spiritual theme and many see religion as a way of living. This is sometimes evidenced in language. Words like ojalá or si Dios quire which mean “if God wills” and bendito sea Dios which means “praise the Lord” are typically used in every day language. Hispanic culture also celebrates the lives of different saints that vary among countries.
The main celebrations of Hispanic religion are:
Research has shown that Hispanics in the United States are confronted with language barriers, poverty, and discrimination in employment as well as education. The negative impact of these circumstances has created a variety of mental health problems such as depression and substance abuse. This combined with the rapid change in demographics has created a critical need for mental health professionals to provide culturally relevant and bilingual services. (Santiago-Rivera, A.L., 1995)
As a whole, Hispanics typically have relatively low educational and economic status. Central Americans may be in particular need of mental health services given the trauma experienced in their home countries. Recent immigrants who are adapting to the United States are likely to experience a different set of stressors than long-term Hispanic residents.
It is generally accepted that Hispanics encounter a variety of problems that create problems during the treatment process. In the examination of various factors that serve as sources of conflict and lead to obstacles in treatment, it has been concluded that language plays an important role. For example, their perceptions and beliefs of about mental health are different between those who speak primarily English and those who speak predominantly Spanish. An example would be how Spanish-speaking individuals describe depression as a "nervous" condition. The role of family and religion serve as more important sources of treatment for the Spanish-speaking group than for those who are English speakers. Therefore, determining the relative importance of religion to a Spanish speaking client and consulting with the clergy can be useful. Much has been written about the significance of the immediate and extended family in Hispanic culture. The mental health professional should first identify the client's family support system and then examine the linguistic and cultural dynamics of its members. If included as part of the counseling process, the family can be extremely helpful for creating new behaviors. (Santiago-Rivera, A.L., 1995)
An aspect contributing to the language barrier between client and counselor is that the Spanish-dominant client when speaking in English might communicate information that lacks emotion. When the client verbalizes experiences in their native language they release important memories and communicate strong emotions not expressed when speaking English. Thus, a Hispanic client who has cultural values, beliefs, and customs different from the counselor might not only attach a different meaning to symptoms but also express it in a way that can easily be misunderstood.
(Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., 1991)
For tips on avoiding pitfalls please click on the following link:
http://www.aacc.net/2012/11/26/ten-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-counseling-hispaniclatino-clients/
The Hispanic Stress Inventory
This scale was created to be easily given in English or Spanish to assess a variety of psychosocial stressors of either immigrants or US-born Hispanics. It is considered to be an important addition to clinical assessment instruments for use with the Hispanic population.
A set of 176 short statements relating to both chronic and acute stressors composed the first version of the Hispanic Stress Inventory (HSI). All items were initially developed in English and were worded in an easily comprehensible format. These items were generally found to be conceptually relevant to the study of stress among targeted populations, as evaluated by an experienced group of clinical researchers and mental health practitioners. From both a rational and psychometric perspective, the newly developed HSI can serve to bridge the gap that currently exists in the treatment and research of recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America as well as native-born Hispanics. (Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., 1991)
References
Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., (1991) The Hispanic Stress Inventory: A
Culturally Relevant Approach To Psychosocial Assessment, Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1991, Vol. 3, No. 3,438-447, American Psychological Association, Inc.
http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families/
http://www.explore-hispanic-culture.com/hispanic-culture.html
http://www.gru.edu/diversity/hhm/facts.php
http://hispanic-culture-online.com/hispanic-religion.html
Santiago-Rivera, A.L., (1995) Developing a Culturally Sensitive Treatment Modality for
Bilingual Spanish-Speaking Clients: Incorporating Language and Culture in Counseling, Journal of Counseling & Development Sept./Oct., Vol. 74, 12-17.
United States Census Bureau (2010) Retrieved from:
http://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about
- The difference between
the terms Hispanic and Latino
- Hispanic values
- Traditions
- Strategies for
counseling Hispanic Americans
- What to avoid when
counseling Hispanic clients
In the U.S. the terms Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably. The US government first adopted the term Hispanic in 1970 as an attempt to classify a large and very diverse population who spoke Spanish. Hispanic refers to language - if you and/or your ancestry come from a country where they speak Spanish. Latino refers to geography. Spanish-speaking, Latin Americans were formerly ruled by the Kingdom of Spain. Mexico, Central and South America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries are called Hispanic America. (http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families/)
Contrary to popular belief, Hispanic is not a race, but an ethnicity. "Hispanic" adults say they most often identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. About half say they identify themselves most frequently by their family's national origin such as Mexican, Cuban, Salvadoran, etc. An additional 21% say they called themselves American most often, a figure that has climbed to 40% among those born in the U.S. ( http://hispanic-culture-online.com/hispanic-religion.html)
The Hispanic-American population is growing rapidly. In the 2000 census, the number of Hispanics rose to 35.3 million. It is predicted that by 2050, the number of Hispanics will increase to 97 million. This number will be equal to nearly one-fourth of the U.S. population. It is also estimated that by 2050 almost one-third of youth under 19 years of age will be Hispanic. Of note, according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 64% of Hispanics were born in the United States. USCB (2010).
Interesting Facts:
- “Hispanics”
are a race to the United States Department of Justice when it enforces
provisions of the civil rights laws
- Spanish is ranked
number 2 as a world language in terms of how many people speak it as their
first language.
- St. Augustine,
Florida, and Sante Fe, New Mexico were Hispanic cities founded before Plymouth,
Massachusetts.
- Seventy
percent of the Hispanic population lives in five states: California, Texas, New
York, Florida and Illinois http://www.gru.edu/diversity/hhm/facts.php
Family
Hispanic people are often referred to as family oriented. The importance of family can be seen in Hispanic living arrangements. Although family characteristics vary by subgroups, they most commonly live in family households and are unlikely to live alone. A basic feature of the Hispanic/Latino American family is the extended family. Grandparents, parents, and children may live in the same household or nearby. There are strong bonds and frequent interaction among a wide range of kin and they visit one another frequently. Children usually remain in the family until they marry. (Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., 1991)
Often there is a habit of placing the needs of the family ahead of individual concerns. This aspect of Hispanic family life has led to the conclusion that the family limits individual achievement and advancement. Observers of the Hispanic American culture must distinguish between being cooperative and respectful and being docile and dependent. Generally speaking, Hispanic children and adolescents learn to show respect for authority and extended family members. Hispanic American children learn early the importance of (1) a deep sense of family responsibility, (2) rigid definitions of sex roles, (3) respectful and reverent treatment of the elderly, and (4) the male's position of respect and authority in the family. Although some of the male's authority appears to be relaxing as the woman's role is redefined, the majority of women in the Hispanic American culture continue to occupy a subordinate position. Fathers have prestige and authority, and sons have more and earlier independence than do daughters.
Hispanics value the extended family structure and interaction in their daily lives. Parents often arrange for godparents or "companion parents" for the child demonstrating the value they place on adults other than the immediate parents. These parents also have a right to give advice and correction and should be responsive to the child's needs.
http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families
Traditions
Hispanic culture is rich in holidays and traditions. There are a wide range of Hispanic celebrations from the religious to patriotic, and from popular to unique. An example would be September 15th which was chosen to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
No Hispanic tradition illustrates more clearly the ties of family and friends as the wedding anniversary of the Abuelos (grandparents). Surrounded by children and grandchildren, family and friends, the anniversary celebrates relationships. Elders are considered the heroes and are respected and treasured. The richness of their celebrations is enhanced by the wide range of Hispanic backgrounds as well as the surrounding culture of North America, its language and its cultural norms. These traditions are often expressions of gratitude, love and commitment. They are demonstrated in church ceremonies and parties with family and friends. (quinceanera-boutique.com/hispanic-traditions-pg-19.html)
Religious Beliefs
Not all Hispanics are Catholic but the majority is, and in the near future this religion will have about 60 million participants of which half will be Hispanics. Most Hispanics practice many of the typical Roman Catholic traditions like attending mass on Sundays. Hispanic culture has a deep spiritual theme and many see religion as a way of living. This is sometimes evidenced in language. Words like ojalá or si Dios quire which mean “if God wills” and bendito sea Dios which means “praise the Lord” are typically used in every day language. Hispanic culture also celebrates the lives of different saints that vary among countries.
The main celebrations of Hispanic religion are:
- Lent called Cuaresma
- Holy Week called Semana Santa
- Christmas called La Navidad
- Three Kings Day called Los Tres Reyes Magos
Factors Related to Mental Health
Research has shown that Hispanics in the United States are confronted with language barriers, poverty, and discrimination in employment as well as education. The negative impact of these circumstances has created a variety of mental health problems such as depression and substance abuse. This combined with the rapid change in demographics has created a critical need for mental health professionals to provide culturally relevant and bilingual services. (Santiago-Rivera, A.L., 1995)
As a whole, Hispanics typically have relatively low educational and economic status. Central Americans may be in particular need of mental health services given the trauma experienced in their home countries. Recent immigrants who are adapting to the United States are likely to experience a different set of stressors than long-term Hispanic residents.
It is generally accepted that Hispanics encounter a variety of problems that create problems during the treatment process. In the examination of various factors that serve as sources of conflict and lead to obstacles in treatment, it has been concluded that language plays an important role. For example, their perceptions and beliefs of about mental health are different between those who speak primarily English and those who speak predominantly Spanish. An example would be how Spanish-speaking individuals describe depression as a "nervous" condition. The role of family and religion serve as more important sources of treatment for the Spanish-speaking group than for those who are English speakers. Therefore, determining the relative importance of religion to a Spanish speaking client and consulting with the clergy can be useful. Much has been written about the significance of the immediate and extended family in Hispanic culture. The mental health professional should first identify the client's family support system and then examine the linguistic and cultural dynamics of its members. If included as part of the counseling process, the family can be extremely helpful for creating new behaviors. (Santiago-Rivera, A.L., 1995)
An aspect contributing to the language barrier between client and counselor is that the Spanish-dominant client when speaking in English might communicate information that lacks emotion. When the client verbalizes experiences in their native language they release important memories and communicate strong emotions not expressed when speaking English. Thus, a Hispanic client who has cultural values, beliefs, and customs different from the counselor might not only attach a different meaning to symptoms but also express it in a way that can easily be misunderstood.
(Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., 1991)
For tips on avoiding pitfalls please click on the following link:
http://www.aacc.net/2012/11/26/ten-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-counseling-hispaniclatino-clients/
The Hispanic Stress Inventory
This scale was created to be easily given in English or Spanish to assess a variety of psychosocial stressors of either immigrants or US-born Hispanics. It is considered to be an important addition to clinical assessment instruments for use with the Hispanic population.
A set of 176 short statements relating to both chronic and acute stressors composed the first version of the Hispanic Stress Inventory (HSI). All items were initially developed in English and were worded in an easily comprehensible format. These items were generally found to be conceptually relevant to the study of stress among targeted populations, as evaluated by an experienced group of clinical researchers and mental health practitioners. From both a rational and psychometric perspective, the newly developed HSI can serve to bridge the gap that currently exists in the treatment and research of recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America as well as native-born Hispanics. (Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., 1991)
References
Cervantes, R.C., Padilla, A.M., Salgdo de Synder, N., (1991) The Hispanic Stress Inventory: A
Culturally Relevant Approach To Psychosocial Assessment, Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1991, Vol. 3, No. 3,438-447, American Psychological Association, Inc.
http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families/
http://www.explore-hispanic-culture.com/hispanic-culture.html
http://www.gru.edu/diversity/hhm/facts.php
http://hispanic-culture-online.com/hispanic-religion.html
Santiago-Rivera, A.L., (1995) Developing a Culturally Sensitive Treatment Modality for
Bilingual Spanish-Speaking Clients: Incorporating Language and Culture in Counseling, Journal of Counseling & Development Sept./Oct., Vol. 74, 12-17.
United States Census Bureau (2010) Retrieved from:
http://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about