Randomized Trial to Reduce Mental Health Disparities in Latina Immigrant Women
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Anxiety, Depression |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 6/7/2018 |
| Start Date: | March 7, 2018 |
| End Date: | May 31, 2022 |
| Contact: | Georgina E Perez, MSW, LICSW |
| Email: | geperez@uw.edu |
| Phone: | 206-543-9932 |
ALMA: A Randomized Control Trial of an Intervention to Reduce Mental Health Disparities in Mexican Immigrant Women
Latina immigrant women are particularly vulnerable to depression and anxiety due to the
social and economic stressors they face, including high levels of poverty, low levels of
education, family obligations, exposure to violence, and limited access to community
resources. ALMA aims to prevent and reduce depression and anxiety among Latina immigrant
women. Women attend 8 weekly sessions in a group format to teach and encourage women to use
coping strategies to reduce depression and anxiety. The intervention aims to increase
participants' social ties and the social support they receive from other Latina immigrant
women. The program also helps decrease the stigma associated with mental health and connects
women to mental health services when needed.
social and economic stressors they face, including high levels of poverty, low levels of
education, family obligations, exposure to violence, and limited access to community
resources. ALMA aims to prevent and reduce depression and anxiety among Latina immigrant
women. Women attend 8 weekly sessions in a group format to teach and encourage women to use
coping strategies to reduce depression and anxiety. The intervention aims to increase
participants' social ties and the social support they receive from other Latina immigrant
women. The program also helps decrease the stigma associated with mental health and connects
women to mental health services when needed.
The proposed study aims to test the efficacy of the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA)
intervention in a randomized control trial. ALMA is an 8-week program offered in a group
format to teach women new coping strategies and enhance their social ties and social support
to prevent and reduce their depression and anxiety. Aim 1 of the proposed study is to refine
the ALMA intervention and study procedures, using information learned from focus groups and
cognitive interviews with Mexican immigrant women. Aim 2 is to determine the efficacy of the
ALMA intervention to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms using a randomized control study
design. We will recruit women from community-based organizations serving Latino immigrants to
participate in the program, which will be offered in community settings. We will assess
process outcomes of recruitment, retention, fidelity, and participant satisfaction through
observations and in-depth interviews with participants. We will assess the efficacy of the
intervention by comparing changes in women's depressive and anxiety symptoms in the
intervention and attention control groups at four time points (pre-intervention,
post-intervention, 3 months, 6 months). Aim 3 is to assess the potential impact of the
intervention on both individual (stigma, stress, coping strategies) and interpersonal (social
support, social ties) factors, and whether the impact of the intervention is mediated by
these factors. The research team includes investigators in psychology, medicine, social work
and public health, as well as community-based organizations serving Latina immigrants. The
study uses rigorous methods to test an innovative program that integrates both culturally
relevant and evidenced-based strategies to address significant mental health disparities in a
high-risk and underserved population. Findings will help inform future research and practice.
Given the growth of the Latino population, identifying interventions that reduce mental
health disparities among Mexican immigrant women can have a significant public health impact.
intervention in a randomized control trial. ALMA is an 8-week program offered in a group
format to teach women new coping strategies and enhance their social ties and social support
to prevent and reduce their depression and anxiety. Aim 1 of the proposed study is to refine
the ALMA intervention and study procedures, using information learned from focus groups and
cognitive interviews with Mexican immigrant women. Aim 2 is to determine the efficacy of the
ALMA intervention to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms using a randomized control study
design. We will recruit women from community-based organizations serving Latino immigrants to
participate in the program, which will be offered in community settings. We will assess
process outcomes of recruitment, retention, fidelity, and participant satisfaction through
observations and in-depth interviews with participants. We will assess the efficacy of the
intervention by comparing changes in women's depressive and anxiety symptoms in the
intervention and attention control groups at four time points (pre-intervention,
post-intervention, 3 months, 6 months). Aim 3 is to assess the potential impact of the
intervention on both individual (stigma, stress, coping strategies) and interpersonal (social
support, social ties) factors, and whether the impact of the intervention is mediated by
these factors. The research team includes investigators in psychology, medicine, social work
and public health, as well as community-based organizations serving Latina immigrants. The
study uses rigorous methods to test an innovative program that integrates both culturally
relevant and evidenced-based strategies to address significant mental health disparities in a
high-risk and underserved population. Findings will help inform future research and practice.
Given the growth of the Latino population, identifying interventions that reduce mental
health disparities among Mexican immigrant women can have a significant public health impact.
Inclusion Criteria:
- To be eligible for study participation, participants must be at least 18 years of age,
female, speak Spanish, must self-identify as Latina, and have been born outside of the
United States.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants with the following conditions: substance abuse or dependence, suicidal
ideation or tendencies, psychosis, seizure disorders, or dementia. Expression or
history of these conditions will excluded participation in the intervention and lead
to a referral to an appropriate mental health agency/provider.
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