A Personalized and Control Systems Engineering Conceptual Approach to Target Childhood Anxiety in the Contexts of Cultural Diversity

Abstract

In the child and adolescent anxiety area, some progress has been made to develop evidence-based prevention protocols, but less is known about how to best target these problems in children and families of color. In general, data show differential program effects with some minority children benefiting significantly less. Our preliminary data, however, show promise and suggest cultural parameters to consider in the tailoring process beyond language and cultural symbols. It appears that a more focused approach to culture might help activate intervention components and its intended effects by focusing, for example, on the various facets of familismo when working with some Mexican parents. However, testing the effects and nuances of cultural adaption vis-à-vis a focused personalized approach is methodologically challenging. For this reason, we identify control systems engineering design methods and provide example scenarios relevant to our data and recent intervention work.

Notes

¹There is some research showing that high anxiety sometimes delays the onset of smoking and is occasionally linked to lower levels of alcohol use disorder symptoms in young adulthood (Costello, Erkanli, Federman, & Angold, 1999; Pardini, White, & Stouthamer-Loeber, 2007; Wu et al., 2010).

Note: CBCL = Child Behavior Checklist; CDI = Children's Depression Inventory; RCMAS = Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale.