This study utilized logistic and hierarchical regression to examine the impact of skin color, acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination on the lifetime use of mental health services through an intersectional lens. More specifically, the current study examined the Latinx ethnic identity, US-born status, across the skin color spectrum to better understand mental health service use disparities. Participants' (n = 173) mental health service use was measured at two levels, first, the overall number of hours of sessions attended and second overall hours of sessions of specific types of mental health services attended. Results indicated skin color was the only predictor associated with lifetime mental health service use among a sample of US-born Latinx individuals while acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination were associated with the use of specific types of mental health services. The findings suggest that for US-born Latinxs service use patterns differ based on skin color. Implications are discussed for US-born Latinx adults, mental health counselors, counselor educators, researchers, and policymakers. Recommendations for future research are provided.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study utilized logistic and hierarchical regression to examine the impact of skin color, acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination on the lifetime use of mental health services through an intersectional lens. More specifically, the current study examined the Latinx ethnic identity, US-born status, across the skin color spectrum to better understand mental health service use disparities. Participants' (n = 173) mental health service use was measured at two levels, first, the overall number of hours of sessions attended and second overall hours of sessions of specific types of mental health services attended. Results indicated skin color was the only predictor associated with lifetime mental health service use among a sample of US-born Latinx individuals while acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination were associated with the use of specific types of mental health services. The findings suggest that for US-born Latinxs service use patterns differ based on skin color. Implications are discussed for US-born Latinx adults, mental health counselors, counselor educators, researchers, and policymakers. Recommendations for future research are provided.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Dipre Montes De Oca, Kirsis Allennys"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Counseling and Human Services","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Luke, Melissa"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022-05-15T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2022-05-15T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:56:23Z","subjects":["Acculturative Stress","Latinx","Mental Health literacy","Mental Health Service Use","Racial Discrimination","Skin Color","Education","International and Area Studies","Latin American Studies","Medicine and Health Sciences","Public Health","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://surface.syr.edu/etd/1488","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Luke, Melissa"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Dipre Montes De Oca, Kirsis Allennys"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Counseling and Human Services"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Acculturative Stress","Latinx","Mental Health literacy","Mental Health Service Use","Racial Discrimination","Skin Color","Education","International and Area Studies","Latin American Studies","Medicine and Health Sciences","Public Health","Social and Behavioral Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/1488"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study utilized logistic and hierarchical regression to examine the impact of skin color, acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination on the lifetime use of mental health services through an intersectional lens. More specifically, the current study examined the Latinx ethnic identity, US-born status, across the skin color spectrum to better understand mental health service use disparities. Participants' (n = 173) mental health service use was measured at two levels, first, the overall number of hours of sessions attended and second overall hours of sessions of specific types of mental health services attended. Results indicated skin color was the only predictor associated with lifetime mental health service use among a sample of US-born Latinx individuals while acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination were associated with the use of specific types of mental health services. The findings suggest that for US-born Latinxs service use patterns differ based on skin color. Implications are discussed for US-born Latinx adults, mental health counselors, counselor educators, researchers, and policymakers. Recommendations for future research are provided.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Mental Health Service Use Disparities Among Latinx Communities: An Intersectional Examination of The Role of Skin Color, Acculturative Stress, Racial Discrimination, And Mental Health Literacy"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Luke, Melissa"],"dc:creator":["Dipre Montes De Oca, Kirsis Allennys"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study utilized logistic and hierarchical regression to examine the impact of skin color, acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination on the lifetime use of mental health services through an intersectional lens. More specifically, the current study examined the Latinx ethnic identity, US-born status, across the skin color spectrum to better understand mental health service use disparities. Participants' (n = 173) mental health service use was measured at two levels, first, the overall number of hours of sessions attended and second overall hours of sessions of specific types of mental health services attended. Results indicated skin color was the only predictor associated with lifetime mental health service use among a sample of US-born Latinx individuals while acculturative stress, mental health literacy, and experiences of racial discrimination were associated with the use of specific types of mental health services. The findings suggest that for US-born Latinxs service use patterns differ based on skin color. Implications are discussed for US-born Latinx adults, mental health counselors, counselor educators, researchers, and policymakers. Recommendations for future research are provided.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/1488"],"dc:subject":["Acculturative Stress","Latinx","Mental Health literacy","Mental Health Service Use","Racial Discrimination","Skin Color","Education","International and Area Studies","Latin American Studies","Medicine and Health Sciences","Public Health","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"dc:title":["Mental Health Service Use Disparities Among Latinx Communities: An Intersectional Examination of The Role of Skin Color, Acculturative Stress, Racial Discrimination, And Mental Health Literacy"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Counseling and Human Services"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:56:23Z"}