Acceptability and Cultural Fit of Spiritual Self-Schema Therapy for Puerto Rican Women with Addiction Disorders: Qualitative Findings

Abstract

We present findings on the (1) acceptability of Spiritual Self-Schema (3-S) therapy with Puerto Rican women and (2) fit with women's cultural, gender, literacy, clinical, and religious backgrounds. 3-S is a well-documented efficacious intervention for substance use and HIV risk behaviors. Participants were 13 urban, low-income Puerto Rican women in a residential treatment program in a large Northeastern city.

Findings from therapy session videotapes, focus groups, and clinician memos indicate high acceptability and fit of 3-S therapy for Puerto Rican women. However, lack of fit in several areas indicates the need for modification of specific aspects of 3-S for Latinas.

KEYWORDS:

• adaptation
• addiction
• Hispanic/Latino
• HIV/AIDS prevention
• mindfulness
• Puerto Rican
• spirituality
• treatment
• women

Notes

This manuscript was prepared with support from the Bouvé College Research Grants Program, Northeastern University and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment grant #1H79TI 14442-0 awarded to Dr. Hortensia Amaro.

The authors wish to thank the program staff who assisted in the study implementation (Bethany Stuart, Brenda Marshall, and Rita Nieves) and the clients who participated in the study. We also want to thank Dr. Arthur Margolin of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, who generously provided guidance, consultation, and training on 3-S therapy to our research and clinical team.