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Latino Parental Help Seeking for Childhood ADHD

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Abstract

To better understand the help seeking process that occurs within Latino families when a child is exhibiting behaviors consistent with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), qualitative and quantitative data from 73 Latino parents were examined. Findings suggest that most Latino parents in the current sample recognized ADHD symptoms as concerning and in need of professional help and reported being motivated to seek help. Unfortunately, they also appeared to lack knowledge about the etiology of and effective treatment for ADHD, and many identified barriers to seeking help. Future research must involve community collaborations aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of ADHD and decreasing barriers to seeking help in targeted Latino communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Marquette University, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI, 53201-1881, USA

    Alyson C. Gerdes, Kathryn E. Lawton & Lauren M. Haack

  2. Aurora Mental Health Center, Aurora, CO, USA

    Brian W. Schneider

Authors
  1. Alyson C. Gerdes
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  2. Kathryn E. Lawton
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  3. Lauren M. Haack
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  4. Brian W. Schneider
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Correspondence to Alyson C. Gerdes.

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Gerdes, A.C., Lawton, K.E., Haack, L.M. et al. Latino Parental Help Seeking for Childhood ADHD. Adm Policy Ment Health 41, 503–513 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0487-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0487-3

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