Imagine: A Promise Scholars and McNair Scholars Journal

Unfortunately, clinical psychology research has a long history of neglecting Latinx women, especially those with diagnoses related to neurodevelopmental disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This major oversight has had serious consequences for the advancement of psychiatric treatments for the Latinx community. This study on young Chicanx women with diagnosed ADHD or symptomatic ADHD at the University of California, Santa Barbara, conducted qualitative interviews to investigate the clinical experiences for this population (or lack thereof), as well as explore how their cultural identity and collectivism within the Latinx community has affected their help-seeking behavior. Participants were surveyed on their parents’ perceived attitudes using the Day’s Mental Illness Stigma Scale and the Mexican American Cultural Values Scale for Adolescents and Adults. There were three primary predictions: participants diagnosed with ADHD would report more familial support, higher rates of enculturation (traditionalism) would be associated with higher rates of mental health stigma, and inattentive ADHD would be prominent in this population. The results indicated that participants who received an ADHD diagnosis did in fact report more familial support, along with less enculturation and lower stigma rates. Perceived enculturation rates were found to be significantly positively correlated to stigma rates within one category, and participants reported experiencing mostly inattentive symptoms. Overall, Chicanx women with ADHD should be carefully evaluated for official diagnosis of ADHD as they are a vulnerable population due to their unique cultural needs.