Developing a Culturally Adapted Intervention for Latino Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

Developing a Culturally Adapted Intervention for Latino Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility (e.g., satisfaction, completion rate, barriers to recruitment, treatment fidelity) of the culturally refined Launching! to Adulthood (¡Iniciando! la Adultez) program, to test for a preliminary signal of effect between baseline and post-treatment for the Launching! to Adulthood (¡Iniciando! la Adultez) program and to identify preliminary neural mechanisms of action, including biomarkers of brain structure and connectivity, in terms of treatment response for 15 Latino young adults participating in the ¡Iniciando! therapy program.

The Launching! to Adulthood (¡Iniciando! la Adultez) program uses a culturally sensitive therapy program that was translated into Spanish to help Latino young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who are transitioning to adulthood (18-25 years old) and their parents. The program aims to make the transition to adulthood easier for young adults and their families, and it includes specific cultural values of Latino young adults and their family members. The ¡Iniciando! la adultez program helps autistic young adults manage mental health needs like depression and anxiety and also addresses several areas impacting transition, including mental health barriers, executive functioning, and motivation. The ¡Iniciando! program also helps parents manage their own needs and addresses several areas, including psychoeducation and mental health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• confirmed case of ASD
• a score of >14 on the Social Communication Questionnaire-Lifetime (SCQ-L110) completed with the mother or father
• meet DSM-5 criteria for ASD based on a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 ASD symptom checklist
• previous diagnosis of ASD from a licensed mental health or medical professional
• speak English
• have a parent willing to participate
• score >85 on verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2)

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of a psychotic disorder or current psychotic symptoms
• suicidal ideation with intent or plan
• current alcohol or other substance use disorder rated severe
• concurrent enrollment in another clinical trial for autism spectrum disorder
• expression of unwillingness to complete study procedures
• For fMRI, unable to undergo fMRI scanning due to metallic devices or objects (cardiac pacemaker or neurostimulator, some artificial joints, metal pins, surgical clips, or other implanted metal parts) or claustrophobic to the scanner.