Issues for Developmental Research Among Racial/Ethnic Minority and Immigrant Families

Abstract

As the United States becomes increasingly diverse and the inclusion of children, women, and ethnic minorities in research is encouraged for clinical research (National Institutes of Health, 1998, 2001), researchers are increasingly responsible for examining the role of social context and cultural processes in mental health and illness among racially and ethnically diverse families including immigrant and nonimmigrant families. Strong theoretical frameworks, developmental approaches, and innovative methodologies are available to determine why and how cultural processes matter for mental health across the life span. The task, however, requires an expansion on and refinement of traditional demographic indicators and cultural variables such as acculturation and racial identity to examine complex social and cultural processes in greater detail. Conceptual advances in recent culturally relevant and developmentally sensitive longitudinal studies and national surveys suggest the potential of new methodologies to inform efforts to reduce health disparities for mental health. Future research on specific cultural processes across the life span may uncover critical periods of risk and vulnerability, potential for resilience, as well as optimal opportunities for mental health prevention and treatment among racial/ethnic minority and immigrant families.