Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Stephanie Cheek

Keywords

Hispanic immigrants, social work, mental health disparities, cultural competence, phenomenology, acculturation stress

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to describe the experiences of social workers as they provide services to meet the mental health needs of Hispanic immigrant males in New York City. The study was based on Bronfenbrenner's (1979) Social Ecological Theory and Vygotsky's (1978) Social Constructivism to examine how social workers in New York City perceived and addressed the mental health needs of Hispanic immigrant men, while accounting for the influence of cultural and systemic factors. The main research question used in the study was: How do social workers in New York City describe their experiences providing services to Hispanic immigrant males? Sub-questions addressed perceived barriers to mental health care, the roles of cultural and systemic factors, strategies for providing culturally competent care, the roles of cultural competence training, and the roles of community resources. The study used a qualitative phenomenological design, with a purposive sample of licensed social workers with at least 2 years' experience working with Hispanic immigrant males in urban settings. The researcher gathered data through semi-structured interviews via secure video conferencing, with recordings made to ensure accuracy. The results provided a rich first-hand account from social workers, highlighting the complex interaction among cultural stigma, language barriers, institutional issues, and acculturation pressures. These findings have implications for culturally responsive social work training, policies, and mental health practices aimed at enhancing service delivery to immigrant Hispanic males and promoting mental health equity among this group.

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