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Engaging Mexican Origin Families in a School-Based Preventive Intervention

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Abstract

This study describes a culturally sensitive approach to engage Mexican origin families in a school-based, family-focused preventive intervention trial. The approach was evaluated via assessing study enrollment and intervention program participation, as well as examining predictors of engagement at each stage. Incorporating traditional cultural values into all aspects of engagement resulted in participation rates higher than reported rates of minority-focused trials not emphasizing cultural sensitivity. Family preferred language (English or Spanish) or acculturation status predicted engagement at all levels, with less acculturated families participating at higher rates. Spanish-language families with less acculturated adolescents participated at higher rates than Spanish-language families with more acculturated adolescents. Other findings included two-way interactions between family language and the target child’s familism values, family single- vs. dual-parent status, and number of hours the primary parent worked in predicting intervention participation. Editors’ Strategic Implications: The authors present a promising approach—which requires replication—to engaging and retaining Mexican American families in a school-based prevention program. The research also highlights the importance of considering acculturation status when implementing and studying culturally tailored aspects of prevention models.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the families who participated in this project and to the following districts and schools who collaborated: Cartwright School District, Phoenix Elementary District #1, Marc T. Atkinson Middle School, Desert Sands Middle School, Frank Borman Middle School, Estrella Middle School, and Phoenix Preparatory Academy. We thank Michael Martinez, John Woollums, William Bean, Consuelo Nava, Ema Jauregui, Heather Davis, Pat Heichel, David Dowdle, Ken Hunter, Jim Paczosa, Raul Pina, Brenda Avalos, Susan Jurkunas, Jo May, Dan Perez, Maria Salas, Dave Malin, Phoenix Union High School District, Trevor Browne High School, and Maryvale High School for their assistance in implementing the intervention. We thank Anne Mauricio, Francesca Dillman Carpentier, Lorey Wheeler, Roger Millsap, Sharlene Wolchik, Irwin Sandler, Mark Roosa, Toni Genalo, Miguelina Germán, Fairlee Fabrett, Darya Bonds, Su Yeong Kim, Jake Heller, Diana Naranjo, Soyoung Lee, Krystel Martinez, Brandi Young, Jeanette Avila, and Connie Meza for their assistance in conducting this investigation. This research was supported by NIMH grant R01-MH64707 to fund a randomized, controlled trial of a preventive intervention for Mexican American adolescents, NIMH grant 5-P30-MH39246-13 to fund a Preventive Intervention Research Center at Arizona State University, Public Health Service grant GM071798 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to fund the PREP program, and the Cowden Endowment to the School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University. Connie Meza also wishes to acknowledge that her participation was made possible with a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS grant R25GM071798).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carroll Hall, Campus Box 3365, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3365, USA

    Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier

  2. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Anne M. Mauricio, Nancy A. Gonzales, Roger E. Millsap, Connie M. Meza, Larry E. Dumka, Miguelina Germán & M. Toni Genalo

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  1. Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier
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  2. Anne M. Mauricio
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  3. Nancy A. Gonzales
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  6. Larry E. Dumka
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  7. Miguelina Germán
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  8. M. Toni Genalo
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Correspondence to Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier.

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Dillman Carpentier, F.R., Mauricio, A.M., Gonzales, N.A. et al. Engaging Mexican Origin Families in a School-Based Preventive Intervention. J Primary Prevent 28, 521–546 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-007-0110-z

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