Ignacio D. Acevedo-Polakovich | Michigan State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Ignacio D. Acevedo-Polakovich

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Cultural Considerations in Latino American Mental Health, 2015

Cultural Considerations in Latino American Mental Health, 2015

Creating Infrastructures for Latino Mental Health, 2011

US Latinos' limited access to existing services leads to lower service u... more US Latinos' limited access to existing services leads to lower service use which, in turn, leads to increased impairment as a result of behavioral health conditions. Although discussions of cultural-responsiveness efforts to address this limited access most often ...

Psychological services, 2014

Left untreated, conduct problems can have significant and long-lasting negative effects on childr... more Left untreated, conduct problems can have significant and long-lasting negative effects on children's development. Despite the existence of many effective interventions, U.S. Latina/o children are less likely to access or receive evidence-based services. Seeking to build the foundation to address these service disparities, the current study used a Community-Based Participatory Research approach to examine U.S. Latina/o parents' perceptions of the need for interventions to prevent childhood disruptive behaviors in their community in general, and of an existing evidence-based intervention-parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)-in particular. Results suggest that parents recognize a need for prevention resources in their community and value most of the core features of PCIT. Nevertheless, important directions for potential adaptation and expansion of PCIT into a prevention approach were identified. Results point to several goals for future study with the potential to ameliorat...

Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 2009

This article presents a conceptual model of organizational cultural competence for use in mental ... more This article presents a conceptual model of organizational cultural competence for use in mental health services that resulted from a comprehensive review of the research literature. The model identifies four factors associated with cultural competence in mental health services (community context, cultural characteristics of local populations, organizational infrastructure, and direct service support) and redefines cultural competence as the degree of compatibility among these factors. A strength of this model of organizational cultural competence is that it facilitates future research and practice in psychiatric services settings and links culturally competent practices to service parity.

Youth & Society, 2013

Although Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience a... more Although Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience alarming rates of behavioral and social problems, service use among these youth is disproportionately low. It is likely that decreased service accessibility plays a causal role in service underutilization among LGBTQ youth. To expand the existing research on service accessibility issues in this population, a modified Delphi approach was used to gather expert consensus opinion from experienced youth service providers. Data revealed four broad levels of service accessibility barriers (i.e., societal, provider-related, youth-related, and resource-related) and five categories of strategies to increase service accessibility for LGBTQ youth (providerfocused, society-focused, youth-focused, school-focused, and resourcefocused). Implications of current findings for future research into service access issues among LGBTQ youth are discussed, as are applications of current findings for the creation of service structures that facilitate service access among these youth.

The Counseling Psychologist, 2014

Despite their significant and growing demographic importance, U.S. Latina/o youth are rarely the ... more Despite their significant and growing demographic importance, U.S. Latina/o youth are rarely the focus of research and almost never studied from a perspective that reflects counseling psychologists' emphases on social justice and the strengths of individuals. Such a perspective is likely to result in more effective approaches to the understanding and prevention of adverse outcomes and can expand the understanding of variables that have been traditionally used to study U.S. Latina/o youth. In this study, two specific asset variables-leadership and social responsibility-were used to test hypotheses about the role of biculturalism in adaptive psychological functioning among U.S. Latina/o youth. Results suggest that bicultural identity is

The Counseling Psychologist, 2014

Ethnic identity is theoretically linked to the psychological health of U.S. Latinas/os and has pl... more Ethnic identity is theoretically linked to the psychological health of U.S. Latinas/os and has played a preeminent role in the limited literature focused on this group. However, research does not uniformly confirm a positive relationship between ethnic identity and psychological health among U.S. Latinas/os. Emerging work suggests that inconsistencies in the existing literature might be better understood if ethnic identity conceptualizations accounted for context and the developmental period under study. It also has been suggested that the narrow collection of methods and analytical tools used in ethnic identity research prevent a complete understanding of this construct. This article introduces the rationale for consideration of context, incorporation of a life span perspective, and expansion of methodological approaches in the study of U.S. Latina/o ethnic identity, describing the manner in which the four empirical studies in this major contribution illustrate these issues. The practice implications of current findings are summarized after offering suggestions for future research.

Qualitative Health Research, 2014

Although gang-involved Latino youth in the United States are uniquely at risk of adverse conseque... more Although gang-involved Latino youth in the United States are uniquely at risk of adverse consequences from sexual behavior, little research is available that can guide those who wish to develop interventions to reduce sexual risk among these youth. To facilitate the development of effective interventions, we identified cultural and contextual factors that influence sexual behavior and sex education among gang-involved Latino youth in one U.S. community. By analyzing transcripts from interviews and focus groups with three different groups of key stakeholders--gang-experienced Latino youth, the parents of gang-experienced Latino youth, and the personnel of a program providing comprehensive human services for gang-involved Latino youth--we identified three domains to be considered in developing sexual risk-reduction interventions for gang-involved U.S. Latino youth. The focus of our discussion is on the implications of these findings for future development or adaptation of interventions.

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2007

Page 1. Beyond Instrument Selection: Cultural Considerations in the Psychological Assessment of U... more Page 1. Beyond Instrument Selection: Cultural Considerations in the Psychological Assessment of US Latinas/os Ignacio David Acevedo-Polakovich University of Kentucky and University of South Florida Geneva Reynaga-Abiko University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign ...

Media Psychology, 2007

There has been abundant speculation, but very little research, concerning the role of television ... more There has been abundant speculation, but very little research, concerning the role of television in the lives of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study compared the use of television and other media in samples of children with ADHD and nonreferred children. Children with ADHD were reported to watch more television, a difference partially accounted for by demographic and environmental characteristics. Children with ADHD were also reported to enjoy television more and have greater involvement in television-related activities, and to enjoy reading less and be less involved in reading-related activities. However, there were no diagnostic group differences in reports of weekly reading, and weekly reading was unrelated to television viewing in children with ADHD. Results suggest a complex relation between television viewing and ADHD not recognized in previous research and popular commentary, and suggest that research on children with ADHD's television use should consider environmental and developmental contexts.

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2014

This paper describes the initial evaluation of the Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System (TP... more This paper describes the initial evaluation of the Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System (TPICS), a measure of in vivo therapist coaching for the evidence-based behavioral parent training intervention, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). Sixty-one video-recorded treatment sessions were coded with the TPICS to investigate (1) the variety of coaching techniques PCIT therapists use in the early stage of treatment, (2) whether parent skill-level guides a therapist's coaching style and frequency, and (3) whether coaching mediates changes in parents' skill levels from one session to the next. Results found that the TPICS captured a range of coaching techniques, and that parent skill-level prior to coaching did relate to therapists' use of in vivo feedback. Therapists' responsive coaching (e.g., praise to parents) was a partial mediator of change in parenting behavior from one session to the next for specific child-centered parenting skills; whereas directive coaching (e.g., modeling) did not relate to change. The TPICS demonstrates promise as a measure of coaching during PCIT with good reliability scores and initial evidence of construct validity.

Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 2014

This study examines whether incorporating a multidimensional perspective to the study of the rela... more This study examines whether incorporating a multidimensional perspective to the study of the relation between cultural adaptation and academic attitudes among Latinas/os in the United States can clarify this relation. Hypotheses about the relation between cultural adaptation and academic attitudes were examined using data provided by U.S. Latina/o high school students. Findings suggest that enculturation and acculturation moderate each other's effects on academic attitudes and that this moderation effect varies across cultural adaptation dimensions.

Children and Youth Services Review, 2014

ABSTRACT The present study used a qualitative approach to examine clinicians’ experiences as trai... more ABSTRACT The present study used a qualitative approach to examine clinicians’ experiences as trainees of an evidence-based parenting program, Parent–child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). In order to explore factors related to successful implementation and maintenance of the PCIT program in a community setting, twenty-nine community clinicians completed phone interviews six months to four years after an initial forty-hour PCIT training workshop. Clinicians reported positive experiences with the training, but also described barriers related to agency, client, program, and training factors. Findings suggest that (1) trainees view the core components of PCIT as acceptable and valuable, (2) training costs and problems with third-party reimbursement can impede implementation, (3) clinicians may benefit from training that includes skills in motivation enhancement, and (4) ongoing consultation is valuable to clinicians, although trainees differ in their preferences regarding the manner of delivery (e.g., teleconference, live). This study brings clinicians into the conversation regarding barriers to and facilitators of evidence-based training and implementation.

Children and Youth Services Review, 2014

The incorporation of natural helpers into services has been suggested as an innovative strategy t... more The incorporation of natural helpers into services has been suggested as an innovative strategy to address disparities for historically underserved children with conduct problems. In order to inform incorporation efforts, this study examined the perceptions of natural helpers serving one U.S. Latina/o community regarding need for services for children with conduct problems, their reactions to a specific parent training intervention, and the training and support needed to deliver this intervention successfully. Participants identified a need for culturally-responsive services for children with conduct problems, and felt that parent training would be appropriate for the families they serve. Participants further identified specific training and support that they would require in order to deliver parent training with fidelity and effectiveness. Findings support the suggestion that natural helpers have the potential to address service disparities among Latina/o children with conduct problems. Recommendations from natural helpers should guide the development of culturally-adapted preventive interventions that help address existing service disparities.

APA PsycNET Our Apologies! - The following features are not available with your current Browser c... more APA PsycNET Our Apologies! - The following features are not available with your current Browser configuration. - alerts user that their session is about to expire - display, print, save, export, and email selected records - get My ...

Cultural Considerations in Latino American Mental Health, 2015

Cultural Considerations in Latino American Mental Health, 2015

Creating Infrastructures for Latino Mental Health, 2011

US Latinos' limited access to existing services leads to lower service u... more US Latinos' limited access to existing services leads to lower service use which, in turn, leads to increased impairment as a result of behavioral health conditions. Although discussions of cultural-responsiveness efforts to address this limited access most often ...

Psychological services, 2014

Left untreated, conduct problems can have significant and long-lasting negative effects on childr... more Left untreated, conduct problems can have significant and long-lasting negative effects on children's development. Despite the existence of many effective interventions, U.S. Latina/o children are less likely to access or receive evidence-based services. Seeking to build the foundation to address these service disparities, the current study used a Community-Based Participatory Research approach to examine U.S. Latina/o parents' perceptions of the need for interventions to prevent childhood disruptive behaviors in their community in general, and of an existing evidence-based intervention-parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)-in particular. Results suggest that parents recognize a need for prevention resources in their community and value most of the core features of PCIT. Nevertheless, important directions for potential adaptation and expansion of PCIT into a prevention approach were identified. Results point to several goals for future study with the potential to ameliorat...

Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 2009

This article presents a conceptual model of organizational cultural competence for use in mental ... more This article presents a conceptual model of organizational cultural competence for use in mental health services that resulted from a comprehensive review of the research literature. The model identifies four factors associated with cultural competence in mental health services (community context, cultural characteristics of local populations, organizational infrastructure, and direct service support) and redefines cultural competence as the degree of compatibility among these factors. A strength of this model of organizational cultural competence is that it facilitates future research and practice in psychiatric services settings and links culturally competent practices to service parity.

Youth & Society, 2013

Although Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience a... more Although Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience alarming rates of behavioral and social problems, service use among these youth is disproportionately low. It is likely that decreased service accessibility plays a causal role in service underutilization among LGBTQ youth. To expand the existing research on service accessibility issues in this population, a modified Delphi approach was used to gather expert consensus opinion from experienced youth service providers. Data revealed four broad levels of service accessibility barriers (i.e., societal, provider-related, youth-related, and resource-related) and five categories of strategies to increase service accessibility for LGBTQ youth (providerfocused, society-focused, youth-focused, school-focused, and resourcefocused). Implications of current findings for future research into service access issues among LGBTQ youth are discussed, as are applications of current findings for the creation of service structures that facilitate service access among these youth.

The Counseling Psychologist, 2014

Despite their significant and growing demographic importance, U.S. Latina/o youth are rarely the ... more Despite their significant and growing demographic importance, U.S. Latina/o youth are rarely the focus of research and almost never studied from a perspective that reflects counseling psychologists' emphases on social justice and the strengths of individuals. Such a perspective is likely to result in more effective approaches to the understanding and prevention of adverse outcomes and can expand the understanding of variables that have been traditionally used to study U.S. Latina/o youth. In this study, two specific asset variables-leadership and social responsibility-were used to test hypotheses about the role of biculturalism in adaptive psychological functioning among U.S. Latina/o youth. Results suggest that bicultural identity is

The Counseling Psychologist, 2014

Ethnic identity is theoretically linked to the psychological health of U.S. Latinas/os and has pl... more Ethnic identity is theoretically linked to the psychological health of U.S. Latinas/os and has played a preeminent role in the limited literature focused on this group. However, research does not uniformly confirm a positive relationship between ethnic identity and psychological health among U.S. Latinas/os. Emerging work suggests that inconsistencies in the existing literature might be better understood if ethnic identity conceptualizations accounted for context and the developmental period under study. It also has been suggested that the narrow collection of methods and analytical tools used in ethnic identity research prevent a complete understanding of this construct. This article introduces the rationale for consideration of context, incorporation of a life span perspective, and expansion of methodological approaches in the study of U.S. Latina/o ethnic identity, describing the manner in which the four empirical studies in this major contribution illustrate these issues. The practice implications of current findings are summarized after offering suggestions for future research.

Qualitative Health Research, 2014

Although gang-involved Latino youth in the United States are uniquely at risk of adverse conseque... more Although gang-involved Latino youth in the United States are uniquely at risk of adverse consequences from sexual behavior, little research is available that can guide those who wish to develop interventions to reduce sexual risk among these youth. To facilitate the development of effective interventions, we identified cultural and contextual factors that influence sexual behavior and sex education among gang-involved Latino youth in one U.S. community. By analyzing transcripts from interviews and focus groups with three different groups of key stakeholders--gang-experienced Latino youth, the parents of gang-experienced Latino youth, and the personnel of a program providing comprehensive human services for gang-involved Latino youth--we identified three domains to be considered in developing sexual risk-reduction interventions for gang-involved U.S. Latino youth. The focus of our discussion is on the implications of these findings for future development or adaptation of interventions.

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2007

Page 1. Beyond Instrument Selection: Cultural Considerations in the Psychological Assessment of U... more Page 1. Beyond Instrument Selection: Cultural Considerations in the Psychological Assessment of US Latinas/os Ignacio David Acevedo-Polakovich University of Kentucky and University of South Florida Geneva Reynaga-Abiko University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign ...

Media Psychology, 2007

There has been abundant speculation, but very little research, concerning the role of television ... more There has been abundant speculation, but very little research, concerning the role of television in the lives of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study compared the use of television and other media in samples of children with ADHD and nonreferred children. Children with ADHD were reported to watch more television, a difference partially accounted for by demographic and environmental characteristics. Children with ADHD were also reported to enjoy television more and have greater involvement in television-related activities, and to enjoy reading less and be less involved in reading-related activities. However, there were no diagnostic group differences in reports of weekly reading, and weekly reading was unrelated to television viewing in children with ADHD. Results suggest a complex relation between television viewing and ADHD not recognized in previous research and popular commentary, and suggest that research on children with ADHD's television use should consider environmental and developmental contexts.

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2014

This paper describes the initial evaluation of the Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System (TP... more This paper describes the initial evaluation of the Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System (TPICS), a measure of in vivo therapist coaching for the evidence-based behavioral parent training intervention, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). Sixty-one video-recorded treatment sessions were coded with the TPICS to investigate (1) the variety of coaching techniques PCIT therapists use in the early stage of treatment, (2) whether parent skill-level guides a therapist's coaching style and frequency, and (3) whether coaching mediates changes in parents' skill levels from one session to the next. Results found that the TPICS captured a range of coaching techniques, and that parent skill-level prior to coaching did relate to therapists' use of in vivo feedback. Therapists' responsive coaching (e.g., praise to parents) was a partial mediator of change in parenting behavior from one session to the next for specific child-centered parenting skills; whereas directive coaching (e.g., modeling) did not relate to change. The TPICS demonstrates promise as a measure of coaching during PCIT with good reliability scores and initial evidence of construct validity.

Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 2014

This study examines whether incorporating a multidimensional perspective to the study of the rela... more This study examines whether incorporating a multidimensional perspective to the study of the relation between cultural adaptation and academic attitudes among Latinas/os in the United States can clarify this relation. Hypotheses about the relation between cultural adaptation and academic attitudes were examined using data provided by U.S. Latina/o high school students. Findings suggest that enculturation and acculturation moderate each other's effects on academic attitudes and that this moderation effect varies across cultural adaptation dimensions.

Children and Youth Services Review, 2014

ABSTRACT The present study used a qualitative approach to examine clinicians’ experiences as trai... more ABSTRACT The present study used a qualitative approach to examine clinicians’ experiences as trainees of an evidence-based parenting program, Parent–child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). In order to explore factors related to successful implementation and maintenance of the PCIT program in a community setting, twenty-nine community clinicians completed phone interviews six months to four years after an initial forty-hour PCIT training workshop. Clinicians reported positive experiences with the training, but also described barriers related to agency, client, program, and training factors. Findings suggest that (1) trainees view the core components of PCIT as acceptable and valuable, (2) training costs and problems with third-party reimbursement can impede implementation, (3) clinicians may benefit from training that includes skills in motivation enhancement, and (4) ongoing consultation is valuable to clinicians, although trainees differ in their preferences regarding the manner of delivery (e.g., teleconference, live). This study brings clinicians into the conversation regarding barriers to and facilitators of evidence-based training and implementation.

Children and Youth Services Review, 2014

The incorporation of natural helpers into services has been suggested as an innovative strategy t... more The incorporation of natural helpers into services has been suggested as an innovative strategy to address disparities for historically underserved children with conduct problems. In order to inform incorporation efforts, this study examined the perceptions of natural helpers serving one U.S. Latina/o community regarding need for services for children with conduct problems, their reactions to a specific parent training intervention, and the training and support needed to deliver this intervention successfully. Participants identified a need for culturally-responsive services for children with conduct problems, and felt that parent training would be appropriate for the families they serve. Participants further identified specific training and support that they would require in order to deliver parent training with fidelity and effectiveness. Findings support the suggestion that natural helpers have the potential to address service disparities among Latina/o children with conduct problems. Recommendations from natural helpers should guide the development of culturally-adapted preventive interventions that help address existing service disparities.