Psychological Science Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2025
Abstract
Latino individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges during their transition to adulthood. This study evaluates ¡Iniciando! la Adultez, a culturally adapted behavioral health program aimed at addressing the co-occurring mental health needs of Latino young adults with ASD and their families. The program integrates culturally relevant elements to enhance engagement and effectiveness. Results indicated that the behavioral health intervention was associated with significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms, highlighting the urgent need for tailored behavioral health services in this population. Additionally, the involvement of parents in group therapy demonstrated a positive impact on both parental and young adult mental health, underscoring the importance of supporting both young adults and their caregivers during this critical transition. These findings emphasize that culturally adapted behavioral health interventions can effectively address the distinct needs of Latino young adults with ASD, ultimately contributing to improved mental health outcomes and quality of life. Given the systemic disparities faced by Latino families, this study underscores the necessity for ongoing development and evaluation of culturally informed behavioral health services to support the well-being of this underserved population, particularly as they navigate the complexities of adulthood.
Recommended Citation
Pagán, A. F., Ramirez, A. C., Loveland, K. A., Montiel-Nava, C., & Acierno, R. (2025). Mental health outcomes of Latino emerging adults with autism spectrum disorder in a community-based, transition to adulthood program. Discover psychology, 5(1), 176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00504-7
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Publication Title
Discover Psychology
DOI
10.1007/s44202-025-00504-7
Comments
© The Author(s) 2025 This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it.