| Abstract: | Concern has been expressed about underrepresentation of Hispanics in mental health facilities, but little has been done to examine Hispanic gender differences in the use of such facilities. This descriptive study provides a broader and more detailed profile of Hispanic women's use of selected inpatient mental health facilities than is currently available. It presents gender differences in number, percent, and rate per 100,000 population for Hispanic and non Hispanic inpatient admissions with respect to age, marital status, and diagnosis. Results suggest that women use these inpatient facilities less than men, and this gender difference is greater for Hispanics. This greater gender difference in admissions among Hispanics was found across age and marital status categories, but not in all diagnoses. Regardless of ethnicity, men had higher admission rates for schizophrenia and alcohol-related disorders, but not for affective disorders. Marital status was related to diagnosis differently for Hispanics and nonHispanics. The gender difference in favor of higher rates for men with schizophrenia was not found for married nonHispanics. The gender difference in favor of higher rates for women with affective disorders was not found for separated/divorced Hispanic women. These findings point to the importance of and need for psychological research that examines the relationship between gender and sex roles and mental health, the inclusion of the resultant knowledge in mental health education and training, and the application of that knowledge to the design of mental health services. |
