Venciendo la Depresi�n: A Feasibility Study of Telehealth-Delivered Behavioral Activation for Depressed Spanish-Speaking Latinxs

Although Latinxs are substantially impacted by depression, they tend to underutilizebehavioral health services. The research literature has documented barriers (e.g., stigma, limited English proficiency, and lack of transportation) contributing to the underutilization of behavioral health services among Spanish-speaking Latinxs (SSLs). Telehealth can be broadly defined as the provision of healthcare information and services through the use of telecommunications technology. Behavioral Activation (BA) has well established empirical support for reducing symptoms of depression among ethnic minority groups. The unprecedented challenges associated with accessing in-person behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the need to examine alternate methods for treatment delivery. Thus, the proposed study aimed to conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of telehealth-delivered BA for SSLs. Twenty-five SSL participants met eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the intervention and 17 participants completed treatment; the majority of participants experienced significant improvements in depressive symptoms, and positive affect. These treatment gains were sustained at one-month follow-up. Our data indicated that the majority of participants had never used telehealth-delivered services in the past, yet they viewed the intervention as acceptable and easy to use. Qualitative data highlighted positive and negative experiences while receiving the intervention via telehealth that can be used to inform future research. The present study offers promising preliminary data to support the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of telehealth-delivered BA, with the potential to lessen barriers to care by offering readily accessible behavioral health services for depressed individuals in underserved communities.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctorate Degree

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Reinosa Segovia, Francisco Arturo

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Benuto, Lorraine T

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Duckworth, Melanie P
• Fisher, Jane E
• O'Donohue, William T
• Lucero, Julie
• Caplovitz, Gideon

• behavioral activation
• depression
• Latinxs
• telehealth

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11714/8462

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/8462