Attached.

Outline Addressing Social Anxiety in Latino Young Adults
Thesis: Overview of anxiety disorders in Latino populations

I. Introduction
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Importance of culturally adapted therapies

II. Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders
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Statistics on anxiety prevalence among Latinos

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Cultural stigma and barriers to seeking help

III. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Effectiveness of CBT for anxiety disorders

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Importance of cultural adaptations
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Group CBT formats vs. individual sessions

IV. Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT)
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Overview of MBT and its alignment with Latino values

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Initial studies supporting MBT’s effectiveness

V. Conclusion
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Importance of integrating cultural insights into therapeutic practices

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Need for ongoing research to refine approaches for diverse populations



Attached.

1

Project Proposal and Literature Review on Cultural Factors in the Latino Community
and the Effectiveness of MBT and CBT in Young Adults with Social Anxiety
By (Student's Name)

Course Name
Course Instructor
Institutional Affiliation
Date of Submission

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Project Proposal and Literature Review on Cultural Factors in the Latino Community
and the Effectiveness of MBT and CBT in Young Adults with Social Anxiety

Introduction and Background of the Topic
The United States Latino community comprises people from various cultural backgrounds,
languages, and experiences. Today, Latinos comprise 18.7% of the U.S. population and are
the nation's largest ethnic minority group, and in 2020, they made up just shy of 10.8 million
voters. Cultural factors unique to this demographic affect how they think about mental health
and how well (or not) treatments work.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is prevalent among young adults 18 to 30 years of age, and
studies show that anxiety disorders affect approximately 19–30% of Latinos in the U.S.
(Terlizzi & Schiller, 2022). While the prevalence of this is high, individuals from this
community frequently cannot obtain mental health care due to stigma, cultural confusion, and
socioeconomic barriers.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Therapy are top evidence-based
treatments for anxiety disorders, but treatment effectiveness dramatically depends on cultural
context. This proposal will explore the role of cultural factors in the efficacy of CBT and
MBT with Latino young adults who experienced social anxiety during adolescence.
Statement of the Problem
Mental health issues in the Latino community are being increasingly recognized; however,
disparities in access and treatment outcomes still exist for young adults ages 18–30 with
social anxiety. In 2021, only 36.1 percent of Latino adults with mental health conditions
received care that's compared to 52.4 percent of white adults, indicating a pressing need for

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treatment (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2021). This issue of Latinos avoiding mental
health services is further compounded by the cultural stigma surrounding mental health that
deprives many Latinos of having their mental illness recognized as a source of shame or
personal weakness, as 30 percent of Hispanic adults were reported to be afraid or
embarrassed to seek care.
Additionally, current treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are often ill-suited
to account for the cultural subtleties needed for successful therapy in this population. For
example, in psychology in the US, over 80% of the workforce is white professionals, while
only 8% are Latino, further contributing to a lack of culturally competent care (Statista,
2024). The purpose of thi...