Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Psychological Distress Behavioral Patterns Among Latinos: We Don't See Ourselves as Worthless
Armando Barragán1, Ann-Marie Yamada2, Tamika D Gilreath3
1School of Social Work, College of Social and Behavioral Science, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA, 92407-2318, USA. abarragan@csusb.edu.
Abstract:
A cross-sectional study of 4921 Latinos from the National Health Interview Survey was conducted to examine behavioral patterns of psychological distress among Latinos. Latent class analysis was used to ascertain psychological distress behavioral profiles among Latinos. Analysis revealed four latent classes of distress, which included moderate psychological distress (13.6%); mild sadness, nervousness, and restlessness (13.0%); high psychological distress (2.8%); and no psychological distress (70.7%). Worthlessness, a widely-accepted dimension of distress, was not a significant behavioral trait. Results from the present study suggest that underlying cultural elements affect the subjective interpretations of symptoms reported by Latinos. These findings highlight distress profiles among Latinos and the possibility of overlooking behaviors that are uniquely indicative of distress, potentially leading to the underreporting of serious psychological distress in this population. Furthermore, these findings shed light on other paradoxical issues impacting the mental health of Latinos.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

