Abstract
Discusses the relationship between cultural variables and psychosocial treatment. It is assumed that in order for psychosocial treatment to be acceptable and effective with a client population, it must be sensitive to the cultural characteristics of that population. The paradigm of planning therapy according to the cultural characteristics of a population is illustrated for Cuban immigrant adolescents. To investigate cultural variables, a Value Orientations Scale was developed based on the work of F. R. Kluckhohn and F. L. Strodtbeck (1961) using 220 Cuban immigrant, 65 White American, 28 Black American, and 12 non-Cuban Latin 15-77 yr old Ss. Four factorially derived subscales were obtained. When 56 Cuban immigrant and 152 Anglo-American adolescents were compared along the Value Orientations Scale, the Cubans tended to prefer lineality, subjugation to nature, present time, and not to endorse idealized humanistic values, whereas the Americans tended to prefer individuality, mastery over nature, future time, and to endorse idealized humanistic values. The implications of these value differences for the delivery of mental health treatment are discussed. (22 ref)
