Browsing by Author "Conrad, Katrina"

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    The Impact of a Resilience-Building Intervention with Indianapolis Latino Teenagers
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2015-04-17) Gonzalez, Manuela Roa; Bigatti, Silvia M.; Conrad, Katrina
    Background and Objectives: Data shows that Indiana Latino high school students face a 65 percent higher rate of suicide attempts and a 24 percent higher rate of depression than their non-Hispanic white peers. Together with the help of the Latino Health Organization, a team of researchers performed a pilot study to investigate this and from the findings developed a one-year resilience-building intervention called Your Life. Your Story. This program aims to increase self-mastery and resilience, as well as decrease rates of depression. This is accomplished through evidence-based, interdisciplinary components such as art, physical activity, and a resilience-building curriculum. In the summer of 2014, 30 Latino teens, ages 12 to 17, became the first to participate in the Your Life. Your Story pilot program. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of the program on increasing resilience and decreasing depression at the program’s six-month mark, participants completed surveys. The Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS) was utilized to measure depression, and the Resilience, Attitudes, and Skills Profile (RASP) was utilized to measure resilience. Paired samples t-tests were utilized to measure changes over time, from the data collected prior to the program start. Results: At the program’s six-month mark, depression levels (M=4.16, SD=4.018) continue to have decreased significantly, t(17)=2.270, p=0.037, and a significant increase in resilience (M=114.88, SD=14), has also been sustained, t(22)=-2.221, p=0.037. Conclusions: Results suggest that the Your Life. Your Story. Program is creating a significant impact on the Latino teen participants in regards to depression and resilience levels. More data will be collected at the end of the program (June 2016) and will be analyzed to evaluate the overall impact of the program.
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    Latino immigrant parents of adolescents: Need for parenting support
    (2014) Bigatti, Silvia; Diaz, Virna; Conrad, Katrina; Weathers, Tess; Mirabal, Magdy
    Statement of problem: Latino immigrants in Indianapolis report difficulties parenting their adolescents, meanwhile higher rates of suicide attempts among Latino adolescents have been documented. Relevance: Successful transition through adolescence leads to family and individual well-being. This is especially important for families dealing with the stress of migration and acculturation. Methods: As part of a larger study to identify predictors of Latino adolescent depression, the community partner recruited adolescents and their parents from the population they serve. While the adolescents completed survey instruments, parents (roughly 100) participated in focus groups (n = 8) at various locations around the metropolitan area. One community partner and one academic partner ran the focus groups jointly, asking parents about their concerns regarding parenting and their children. Results: Parents reported problematic behaviors in their children, including aggression, isolation, and cutting. Several themes emerged, with two highlighted here: 1) an understanding that depression and anxiety explained some of the more extreme adolescent behaviors, and 2) a concern that their children would lose their identity and acculturate so much that they would disconnect from the family and its values. Parents reported need for parenting resources to help them navigate the adolescent years. Conclusions: It is challenging to parent adolescents, especially those who have the additional burden of straddling two very distinct cultures. When the parents themselves are adjusting to the new culture it is even more difficult. Culturally-tailored parenting guidance is desired by this Latino community and is likely to improve family functioning and adolescent adjustment.