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Ethnic Identity, Acculturation, and 12-Month Psychiatric Service Utilization Among Black and Hispanic Adults in the U.S.

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Abstract

A cross-sectional study design was used to examine the associations of ethnic identity, acculturation, and psychiatric service utilization among Wave 2 respondents of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol Related Conditions with 12-month psychiatric disorders who self-identified as Black (6587, 19%) and Hispanic (6359, 18%). Weighted multivariable regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between ethnic identity, acculturation, and 12-month psychiatric service utilization. Stronger ethnic identity was associated with decreased odds of using psychiatric services among Black (AOR = 0.956; CI = 0.923–0.991) and Hispanic individuals (AOR = 0.967; CI = 0.945–0.990). Greater acculturation was associated with an increased odds of psychiatric service utilization for Hispanic individuals (AOR = 1.025; CI = 1.000–1.050). These findings suggest that a sense of pride, belonging, and attachment to one’s racial/ethnic group and participating in ethnic behaviors is associated with lower rates of participation in psychiatric services; alternatively, acquiring key elements of the U.S. culture is associated with greater participation in psychiatric services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Claire, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL, USA

    Inger Burnett-Zeigler PhD & Yuri Lee MA

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Kipling M. Bohnert PhD

  3. VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (SMITREC) and VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Kipling M. Bohnert PhD

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  1. Inger Burnett-Zeigler PhD
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Correspondence to Inger Burnett-Zeigler PhD.

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Burnett-Zeigler, I., Lee, Y. & Bohnert, K.M. Ethnic Identity, Acculturation, and 12-Month Psychiatric Service Utilization Among Black and Hispanic Adults in the U.S.. J Behav Health Serv Res 45, 13–30 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-017-9557-8

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