Life Enhancement Counseling and the Treatment of Depressed Cuban American Elders

Abstract

This article reports on a demonstration project designed to develop a psychosocial model of services for treating depressed Cuban American elders. Data were collected to identify client variables (age, sex, time in the United States, and education) and treatment variables (life enhancement counseling, medication, and number of sessions) that are differentially predictive of treatment effectiveness with depressed Hispanic elders. Data are reported on a sample of 100 elders. Treatment effectiveness was measured using a factorially derived composite criterion. Residualized gain scores and factor-analytic techniques were used to conduct an analysis of the outcome criteria structures and to create the outcome composite. Multiple-regression techniques were employed to identify client and treatment variables differentially predictive of treatment effectiveness. The results of these analyses indicated that treatment success was independent of client variables, while two treatment variables, extent of life enhancement counseling and medication, were significantly predictive of treatment outcome.

The effects of ethnic identity and acculturation in mental health of immigrants: A literature review

“…The understanding of immigrant acculturation and ethnic identity has been an increasing concern for mental health professionals in the last 50 years. Early empirical studies on acculturation and ethnic identity show that immigrants who acculturate to the mainstream culture are more likely to forget the traditions of their ethnic background (Berry & Annis, 1974; Szapocznik, Santisteban, Kurtines, & Hervis, 1982). The acceptance of one culture and the abandonment of the other, in recent years, have been viewed as two independent practices that can occur simultaneously.…”

Culture-specific strategies in counseling: A conceptual framework.

“…Indeed, the belief of many cross-cultural scholars is that minority clients tend to prefer and respond better to directive rather than nondirective approaches; that active rather than passive counseling approaches are more effective; that a structured, explicit approach may be more effective than an unstructured, ambiguous one; and that minority clients may desire a counselor who discloses his or her thoughts and feelings (Atkinson, Maruyama, & Matsui, 1978; Berman, 1979; Dauphinais, Dauphinais, & Rowe, 1981; Ivey, 1986; D. W. Sue, 1978; Szapocznik, Santisteban, Kurtines, Hervis, & Spencer, 1982).…”

Latino practice outcome research: A review of the literature

“…The human relations program did not lead to improvement in the school-related criteria. Szapocznik, Santisteban, Kurtines, Hervis, and Spencer (1982) reported on a psychosocial model of services for treating depressed Cuban American elders. Data for 100 clients were collected to identify client variables such as age, gender, time in the United States, and education.…”