Central American health beliefs and practices are largely influenced by religious and indigenous worldviews. Study assesses the use of ethnomedical approaches and the illnesses for which these approaches are used among 76 Central Americans. Results indicate the importance of understanding and integrating cultural and spiritual influences on…

Many Latin American immigrants have encountered new social problems, including language barriers, stereotypes associated with being hispanic, special insecurities experienced by women, role changes, isolation, and alienation from families. Attitudes about return migration appear to be different in men and women. Men more often wish to return to…

Adaptation to a new culture creates acculturative stress. This article defines and describes aspects of the pervasive, intense, and lifelong stressors among Hispanic emigres in the United States. Counselors should learn Hispanic immigrants' realities and the psychological impact of acculturation so as to help immigrants adapt to these stressors.…

This article examines common areas of misunderstanding between professionals and low-income Latino families concerning issues of physical abuse. It argues that low-income immigrant children deserve the same protection from harsh physical punishment as all other children. (Contains 57 references.) (GCP)

The underclass model used to describe the situation of inner-city Blacks cannot legitimately be employed to understand the social and economic status of Hispanic Americans. A comprehensive theory of Hispanic poverty must consider diversity of Spanish-origin groups; race; residential segregation; immigration; and role of the Spanish language.…

This paper seeks to make sense of the new diversity in the United States, with a focus on immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean. Some key facts and figures about contemporary immigrants are presented, looking at their patterns of settlement and comparing their distinctive social and economic characteristics to major U.S. racial-ethnic…

California's population is expected to grow from 33.9 million in 2000 to 45 million by 2020. In addition, Latinos are expected to outnumber Caucasians by the year 2020. In Los Angeles County, the Latino population is already 45%, compared with 31% Caucasian, 13% Asian, 9% African American, and 1% other. This manuscript offers a new model of course…