Culturally Adapted Preventive Interventions for Children and Adolescents

As evidence to support the efficacy and long-term benefits of interventions to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral problems of childhood and adolescence has accumulated steadily over the past three decades, scholars involved in intervention development and evaluation have tackled concerns about the relevance and fit of these interventions for distinct ethnic and racial minority groups. A critical mass of scholars have engaged the fundamental question as to whether intervention adaptation is required and, if so, how adaptations should be conducted to best reach and address the needs of diverse ethnocultural groups. In this chapter, we summarize the historical context, key conceptual challenges, and methods that have shaped the emerging field of cultural adaptation during this period. Current progress and empirical evidence regarding the effects and relative benefits of culturally adapted interventions are highlighted by presenting the most influential exemplars that have been developed and evaluated to date. Conclusions are offered about the current status of the field, future research directions, and remaining challenges for launching effective population-based strategies that address the needs and health disparities of ethnocultural groups in the United States and internationally.