Men of Mexican ethnicity, alcohol use, and help-seeking: "I can quit on my own."

Eden Hernandez Robles; Yessenia Castro; Sarah Najera; Juliana Cardoso; Rubi Gonzales; Jason Mallonee; Javier Segovia; Leslie Salazar-Hinojosa; Cecilia De Vargas; Craig Field

doi:10.1016/j.josat.2024.209359

Men of Mexican ethnicity, alcohol use, and help-seeking: "I can quit on my own."

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Apr 25:163:209359. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209359. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Worden School of Social Service, Our Lady of the Lake University, United States of America. Electronic address: ehrobles@ollusa.edu.
² Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, United States of America.
³ Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, United States of America.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Hastings College, United States of America.
⁵ St. Louis School of Medicine, Washington University, United States of America.
⁶ Department of Social Work, The University of Texas at El Paso, United States of America.
⁷ Worden School of Social Service, Our Lady of the Lake University, United States of America.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, United States of America.

PMID: 38677598
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209359

Abstract

Introduction: Hispanics report higher rates of problematic alcohol use compared to non-Hispanic Whites while also reporting lower rates of alcohol treatment utilization compared to non-Hispanics. The study employs Anderson's Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization Model to guide the exploration of alcohol use, help-seeking and healthcare utilization.

Methods: The present qualitative study explored help-seeking and alcohol treatment utilization for Hispanic men of Mexican ethnicity. A total of 27 participants (M_age = 35.7, SD = 10.82) completed a semi-structured interview that explored the treatment experiences and underlying psychological mechanisms that shaped their help-seeking.

Results: Through a thematic content analysis, the following themes emerged: 1) perceiving need with subthemes of familismo, role as protector and provider, and positive face; 2) predisposing beliefs on help-seeking; and 3) treatment experiences and elements of patient satisfaction with subthemes of monetized treatment, respect, and perceiving professional stigma.

Conclusions: The findings in this article may assist in improving strategies for increasing alcohol treatment utilization among men of Mexican ethnicity. By exploring beliefs, values, and experiences health researchers can develop culturally informed intervention strategies.

Keywords: Alcohol use; Disparities; Help-seeking; Men of Mexican ethnicity; Qualitative health study.