Due to the concern of underutilization of counseling services by Mexican Americans, several factors which have been identified in the research (acculturation, stress, and discrimination) were examined in relation to counseling attitudes. Ninety- seven Mexican American university students, who fit the criteria of Mexican American based on self identification participated in the study. All students were administered five measures which included the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, a cultural commitment scale, the Hispanic Stress Inventory, the Perceptions of Discrimination Scale, and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale. The purpose of the study was to explore the roles of acculturation, discrimination, and acculturative stress in relation to attitudes toward counseling for Mexican American college students and to further contribute to our understanding and knowledge of racism and its impact on ethnic minorities in counseling. Subjects were divided into high and low groups on measures of acculturation, acculturative stress, and perceptions of discrimination which was based on scores above and below the medians of instruments assessing these variables. Those who indicated experiencing higher levels of acculturative stress and perceptions of discrimination had overall more favorable attitudes toward seeking counseling than did those experiencing lower levels of acculturative stress and perceptions of discrimination. Women consistently had more favorable attitudes toward counseling than men based on the Need and Confidence subscales of the ATSPPH. The results of the Multiple Regression Analysis showed that discriminatory behaviors and attributes were significant predictors of overall Attitudes toward seeking psychological help. No significant differences were found between levels of acculturation and attitudes toward seeking counseling or between levels of cultural commitment and attitudes toward seeking counseling.

Using variables identified in the social science literature believed to influence attitudes toward seeking professional counseling, an attempt was made to develop a model for predicting Hispanics' willingness to obtain professional help. A second purpose of this study was to compare college students (n = 158) with their parents on their attitudes toward mental illness and toward seeking counseling. Among predictor variables, social stigma and the belief that mental illnesses are untreatable were the primary variables predicting attitudes toward seeking counseling. The more college students and their parents perceived there to be social stigma attached to those seeking therapy, and the more parents believed that mental illnesses are untreatable, the less favorable attitudes they had about seeking professional help. These attitudes were linked to their acculturation levels; in general, the more acculturated they were toward the Hispanic culture, the more pejorative their attitudes were toward mental illness and their willingness to seek professional help. Last, college students in general had significantly more positive attitudes toward mental illness and professional counseling than their parents. Recommendations for providing counseling with Hispanic clients are provided in the context of the present findings.

Offering a primary focus on North American cultural and ethnic diversity while addressing global questions and issues, Counseling Across Cultures, Seventh Edition draws on the expertise of 48 invited contributors to examine the cultural context of accurate assessment and appropriate interventions in counseling diverse clients. The book’s chapters highlight work with African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos/as, American Indians, refugees, individuals in marginalized situations, international students, those with widely varying religious beliefs, and many others. Edited by pioneers in multicultural counseling, this volume articulates the positive contributions that can be achieved when multicultural awareness is incorporated into the training of counselors.