A 4-phase project was conducted to develop a culturally appropriate measure of psychosocial stress, the Hispanic Stress Inventory (HSI). Phase 1 involved the collection of open-ended interview data (JV = 105) to generate a set of meaningful psychosocial stress items. Phase 2 examined the construct validity of the HSI items by means of consensus ratings of expert judges along 6 conceptual categories. Phase 3 (N = 493) involved the use of factor analytic procedures to determine the underlying scale structure of the HSI, both for a Latin American immigrant and a U.S.-born (Mexican American) sample. This procedure resulted in an Immigrant %rsion of the HSI comprised of 73 items and 5 distinct sub-scales, as well as a US.-born version of the HSI comprised 59 items and 4 distinct subscales. In Phase 4, reliability estimates for the HSI were conducted by means of both internal consistency and a small test-retest study (N-35). Both procedures yielded high reliability coefficients. Clinical research and service delivery conducted with Hispanic Americans has long suffered from the lack of adequate assessment instruments (Cervantes & Castro, 19 8 5). The lack of normative baseline information for this growing population has raised concern regarding the use of current assessment tools for use with Hispanics. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Revised (DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) provides a succinct description of stress-related disorders within the classification of Adjustment Disorder. Clinical experience with Hispanic adults sug-gests that this description may be useful in conceptualizing and assessing various forms of psychopathology among ethnic minority clients. This disorder is described as a "maladaptive reaction to an identifiable psychosocial stressor, or stressors, that

While there has been a rapid growth in mental health research which focuses on the Mexican American population, differences in theoretical formulations and consequent research methodologies have led to a host of conflicting findings. These conflicting findings are then often difficult to translate into useful clinical applications which would make clinical services more relevant and acceptable to this growing population. One suggested solution to the problem has been to develop more systematic theoretical frameworks for guiding Mexican American mental health research. In this vein a new theoretical model was presented. The model is based upon recent concepts regarding the relationship between psychological stress and consequent physical and/or psychological illnesses. This model includes some important intervening or mediating variables which may serve to aggravate or buffer the aversive impact of exposure to potential stressors. Examination of these intervening variables is of clinical importance in promoting a better understanding of the experience of stress and its relationship to various forms of psychopathology. The model allows for critical examination of those intervening variables which are particularly relevant to Mexican Americans. In addition to presenting this stress-mediation-out-come model, an attempt was made to synthesize extant Mexican American mental health research within the framework of the proposed model. This synthesis served as a basis for identifying conceptual and methodological problems in past research, as well as for identifying current gaps in this large body of research. Finally, an attempt was made to delineate new lines of mental health research which are more consistent with the postulated stress-mediation-outcome model.

Thlis study examined the reliability and validitv of a newly developed instrument to assess psychosocial stress amonig Hispanic adults, the Hispanic Stress Inventory (HSI). A community pilot sample (N = 493) was obtained using the HSI along with a variety of criterion measures. Factor analytic procedures resulted in two versions of the HSI, one for Hispanic immigrants and a second for U.S. born Hispanics. Sub-scale scores and total HSI scores for both versions were found to correlate strongly with criterion measures of psychological distress. Further, sub-scales and HSI total scores were found to have high levels of internal consistency. A small sample test-retest proved to lend additional support for the reliability of the HSI. Results are discussed in terms of the need for further validation antd reliability studies using the HSI, as well as the clinical and research utilit of this measure of psychological stress.

A 2-phase study was conducted to develop a culturally informed measure of psychosocial stress for adolescents, the Hispanic Stress Inventory-Adolescent Version (HSI-A). Phase I involved item development through the collection of open-ended focus group interview data (n=170) from a heterogeneous sample of Hispanic youth residing in the southwest and northeast United States. Phase 2 examined the psychometric properties of the HSI-A (n=1651) involving the use of factor analytic procedures to determine the underlying scale structure of the HSI-A, for foreign-born and U.S.-born participants in an aggregated analytic approach. An eight factor solution was established with factors that include Family Economic Stress, Acculturation Gaps Stress, Culture and Educational Stress, Immigration Related Stress, Discrimination Stress, Family Immigration Stress, Community and Gang Violence Stress and Family Drug Related Stress. Concurrent related validity estimates were calculated to determine relationships between HSI-A and other measures of child psychopathology, behavioral and emotional disturbances. HSI-A Total Stress Appraisal Scores were significantly correlated with both the CDI and YSR (p<.001 respectively). Reliability estimates for the HSI-A were conducted and yielded high reliability coefficients for most all factor sub-scales with HSI-A Total Stress Appraisal score reliability at alpha=.92.

Despite the deleterious mental health and health consequences experiences of perceived discrimination can have on ethnic and racial minorities in the United States, a dearth of qualitative studies exist to develop a better understanding of such experiences. As part of a larger study examining psychosocial stress events, and in an effort to fill this gap, this study sought to explore stressful life experiences of intergroup and within-group perceived discrimination among a heterogeneous sample of U.S.-born and foreign-born Latino youth (n = 170) residing in Los Angeles, California, and Trenton, New Jersey. Focus group methodology was implemented, and data were analyzed using grounded theory and constant comparison method. Findings suggest that Latino youths' experiences of intergroup and within-group discrimination vary by nativity status and region of the United States. Findings may be helpful for researchers, practitioners, and others working with Latino youth.