Chapter 6. Mexican American and Anglo American parents of the mentally Ill: Attitudes and participation in family support groups

Abstract

Summary Mexican American parents (N = 32) and Ango American parents (N = 34) of an adult son/daughter with serious mental illness were interviewed in order to identify factors related to their interest in attending a family support group. Parents were interviewed regarding their caregiving burden (level of distress), their causal attributions regarding their son/daughter's problems, and level of satisfaction with their social support network. Additionally, Mexican American parents were invited to participate in one of two Spanish‐speaking support groups facilitated by a bilingual Hispanic mental health professional. There was some support for the hypotheses that interest in attending a meeting would be greater among parents who attributed their son/daughter's problems to an illness rather than to a moral weakness, and that interest would be greater among parents who were less satisfied with their social support networks. Additionally, 44% of the Mexican American parents attended at least one group meeting...