Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Culturally Modifying MassMen for Massachusetts Latino/x Men: Formative Research for the CDC-Funded Massachusetts
Airín D Martínez1, Samantha Kloft1, Delvis J Hernández1
1Department of Health Promotion & Policy, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
Culturally adapting the MassMen website improved its relevance for Latino/x men, increasing engagement with suicide prevention resources. Community involvement was key to these successful modifications.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Mental Health Intervention Research
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Rising suicide rates among Latino/x men in the U.S. highlight the need for culturally tailored suicide prevention.
- Existing mental health resources may not adequately serve diverse populations due to cultural and linguistic barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To culturally adapt the MassMen website, a mental health resource, for Latino/x men using a community-engaged approach.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of culturally adapted interventions in improving engagement with suicide prevention resources.
Main Methods:
- Applied Barrera et al.'s best practices for culturally adapting behavioral health interventions.
- Conducted a community-engaged study involving surveys and bilingual (English/Spanish) focus groups with 31 Latino/x men (ages 19-59).
- Utilized grounded theory for transcript analysis and post-adaptation surveys to assess website modifications.
Main Results:
- Focus groups identified significant limitations in the original website, including poor representation and cultural irrelevance.
- Key modifications included professional translation, information repositioning, and developing bilingual "Everyday Stories" videos.
- Post-adaptation surveys showed increased website revisitation (33.3%) and referrals (46.7%), with participants feeling "seen" and "not alone" after viewing new videos.
Conclusions:
- Community involvement is crucial for effectively modifying behavioral health interventions to meet the needs of specific populations.
- Culturally adapted resources, like the modified MassMen website, can enhance engagement with suicide prevention among Latino/x men.
- Further research should explore intersectionality and expand outreach to diverse subgroups within the Latino/x community.
Related Concept Videos
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Surveys
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...

