2 - (SYM 9) Centering Hispanic/latino Parents' Perspectives in the Treatment of Child Anxiety

Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the strongest evidence-based psychosocial treatment for anxiety disorders in youth, up to 50% do not respond adequately. Parent involvement has been proposed and evaluated as a promising way to enhance outcomes in majority non-Hispanic/Latino White samples. However, considering that CBT was designed from a majority-culture perspective, less is known about Hispanic/Latino parents' involvement, and whether current evidence-based treatments (EBTs) align with Hispanic/Latino families’ culture and values. The lack of knowledge is largely due to the underrepresentation of Hispanic/Latino families in the youth anxiety treatment literature (Piña, Polo & Huey, 2019; Patriarca et al., 2022), even though Hispanic/Latino youth experience higher rates of anxiety disorders than other ethnic groups (Roberts, Roberts & Xing, 2006). First, the assumption that Hispanic/Latino parents prefer to be involved in their children’s treatment has not been adequately studied, particularly from approaches centering Hispanic/Latino parents’ perspectives. Second, no study has directly examined how, and to what extent, Hispanic/Latino parents’ preferences depend on levels of acculturation (the degree to which individuals identify with the majority culture). Third, no prior study has examined whether skills taught to youth and parents in CBTs for youth anxiety are congruent with Hispanic/Latino families’ values. The present study aims to close these gaps in the literature by gathering information from Hispanic/Latino parents seeking services for their child’s anxiety using qualitative methods. We will present qualitative findings from a semi-structured interview with Hispanic/Latino parents that assessed 1) their preference on becoming involved in their child’s treatment, 2) their beliefs and experiences on cultural values as they relate to their parenting behaviors, and 3) their perspectives on parent-related CBT skills, with a focus on parental psychological control and parental accommodation. Data from this project are expected to provide critically needed guidance on ways to enhance the cultural congruence between Hispanic/Latino families’ values and skills for treating youth anxiety (Piña, Polo, & Huey, 2019), which may ultimately result in higher engagement and superior outcome in treatment among Hispanic/Latino families.