Publications

Scholarly Journals--Published

  • Hilton, B., Betancourt, H., Morrell, H., Lee, H., & Doegey, J. (2018). Substance abuse among American Indians and Alaska Natives: An integrative cultural framework for advancing research. International Journal of Mental Health and Addictions, DOI 10.1007/s11469-017-9869-1 (2018)
  • Baeza, M.J., Betancourt, H., Salinas, N, Ortiz, M., Marin, O., & Valle, G. (2018). Development  of an instrument to assess cultural beliefs about physicians. Revista Medica de Chile, 146. (2018)
  • Salinas-Onate N, Ortiz M S, Baeza-Rivera M J, & Betancourt H. (2017). Development of a culturally relevant instrument to measure beliefs in psychotherapy. Terapia Psicologica, 35(1), 15-22. The study of how cultural factors are related to adherence to psychotherapy is highly relevant, however in Chile there are no available measures that addresses these factors. In order to develop an instrument culturally relevant for measuring cultural factors associated with adherence to psychotherapy, a three-stage mixed methodology was used. First, 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted aiming to identifying socially shared beliefs about psychotherapy. Second, the Psychotherapy Beliefs Scale was developed and piloted with a sample of 109 participants. Finally, the factorial structure, and the scale reliability were tested with a sample of 201 women recruited from several primary care health centers. The results obtained suggest that this scale is psychometrically sound and culturally relevant for measuring cultural beliefs associated with adherence to psychotherapy. (2017)
  • Salinas-Onate, N., Ortiz, M., Baeza-Rivera, M., & Betancourt, H. (2017). Development of a culturally relevant instrument to measure beliefs in psychotherapy. Terapia Psicologica, 35, 15-22. (2017)
  • Otzen, T., Betancourt, H., González, M.E., & Martella, D. (2016). Fatalism, attributions of failure, and academic performance in Mapuche and Non-Mapuche Chilean Students.  Anales de Psicologia (Spain), 32, 341-348. (2016)
  • Ortiz, M., Baeza-Rivera, M., Salinas-Onate, N., Flynn, P., & Betancourt, H. (2016). Healthcare mistreatment attributed to discrimination and discontinuation of diabetes care among Mapuche patients.  Revista Medica de Chile, 144, 1281-1287. (2016)
  • Flynn Patricia M, Betancourt Hector, Garberoglio Carlos, Regts Gregory J, Kinworthy Kayla M, & Northington Daniel J. (2015). Attributions and Emotions Regarding Health Care Mistreatment Impact Continuity of Care Among Latino and Anglo American Women. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21(4), 593-603. Ethnic minority and lower socioeconomic status (SES) populations report less positive health care encounters and lower continuity of health care compared with higher SES and non-Latino White (Anglo) Americans. This study examined similarities and differences concerning the influence of patients' causal attributions for health care mistreatment and related emotions on continuity of health care among 335 Latin American (Latinas) and Anglo American women in Southern California. A mixed methods research approach was implemented to identify and assess perceptions of health care mistreatment, causal attributions for mistreatment, negative emotions, and continuity of cancer screening care. Multigroup structural equation modeling revealed that causal attributions for health care mistreatment and related emotions explained continuity of care above and beyond what was explained by patients' exposure to health care mistreatment alone, for both ethnic groups. Still, the improvement in variance accounted for by including attributions and emotions was considerably more for Latinas (194%) than Anglo women (109%). Compared with attributions having to do with the health care environment (e.g., time constraints), attributions to the health care professional (e.g., uncompassionate) were related to higher levels of negative emotions for both Latinas and Anglo women and lower continuity of care, particularly for Anglo women. Results also suggest that for Latinas continuity of care was more a function of the attribution-emotion process, particularly the negative emotions associated with attributions concerning mistreatment, whereas for Anglo women it was more a function of mistreatment and the attribution itself. Interventions designed to improve professionals' communication and interpersonal skills may help enhance continuity of health care and reduce health disparities. (10/2015) (link)
  • Flynn, P.M., Betancourt, H., Garberoglio, C., Regts, G., Kinworthy, K., & Northington, D. (2015).  Attributions and emotions regarding health care mistreatment impact continuity of care among Latino and Anglo American women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21, 4, 593-603 (dx.doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000019). (2015)
  • Herbozo, S. M., Flynn, P. M., Stevens, S. D., & Betancourt, H. (2015). Dietary adherence, glycemic control and psychological factors associated with binge eating among indigenous and nonindigenous Chileans with type 2 diabetes. International Journal of  Behavioral Medicine, 22, 792-798. (doi: 10.1007/s12529-015-9478-y). (2015)
  • Amador, J., Flynn, P, and Betancourt, H. (2015). Cultural beliefs and perceived professional empathy influence continuity of care following a negative healthcare encounter. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,38,5 798-808.  (doi: 10.1007/s10865-015-9646-1). (2015)
  • Betancourt, H. (2015). Psychological research on culture and diversity: A view from the perspective of the integrative model. Psykhe (Chile), 24, 1-4. (2015)
  • Herbozo Sylvia, Flynn Patricia M, Stevens Serena D, & Betancourt Hector. (2015). Dietary adherence, glycemic control, and psychological factors associated with binge eating among indigenous and non-indigenous chileans with type 2 diabetes. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, , . Background: Despite the strong association between obesity and binge eating, limited research has examined the implications of binge eating on dietary adherence and psychological factors in ethnically diverse type 2 diabetes patients.Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence of binge eating and its association with dietary adherence, glycemic control, and psychological factors among indigenous and non-indigenous type 2 diabetes patients in Chile.Method: Participants were 387 indigenous (Mapuche) and non-indigenous (non-Mapuche) adults with type 2 diabetes. Self-report measures of binge eating, dietary adherence, diet self-efficacy, body image dissatisfaction, and psychological well-being were administered. Participantsâ?? weight, height, and glycemic control (HbA1c) were also obtained.Results: Approximately 8 % of the type 2 diabetes patients reported binge eating. The prevalence among Mapuche patients was 4.9 %, and among non-Mapuche patients, it was 9.9 %. Compared to non-binge eaters, binge eating diabetes patients had greater body mass index values, consumed more high-fat foods, were less likely to adhere to their eating plan, and reported poorer body image and emotional well-being.Conclusion: Results of this study extend previous research by examining the co-occurrence of binge eating and type 2 diabetes as well as the associated dietary behaviors, glycemic control, and psychological factors among indigenous and non-indigenous patients in Chile. These findings may increase our understanding of the health challenges faced by indigenous populations from other countries and highlight the need for additional research that may inform interventions addressing binge eating in diverse patients with type 2 diabetes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract) (2015) (link)
  • Amador Jael A, Flynn Patricia M, & Betancourt Hector. (2015). Cultural beliefs about health professionals and perceived empathy influence continuity of cancer screening following a negative encounter. J Behav Med, , . Negative health care encounters have implications for preventive medical services and continuity of health care. This study examined cultural and interpersonal psychological factors involved in health care interactions that may ameliorate the detrimental effects of negative encounters. A mixed-methods approach was implemented to examine the relations among positive cultural beliefs about health professionals, perceived professional empathy, interpersonal emotions, and continuity of cancer screening among 237 Latin American (Latino) and non-Latino White (Anglo) American women who reported a negative health care encounter. Multi-group structural equation modeling revealed that for Latino and Anglo women, positive cultural beliefs about health professionals in general were associated with higher perceptions of empathy regarding a professional involved in a negative encounter. In addition, for Latino women, perceptions of higher professional empathy and less negative emotions were associated with better continuity of cancer screening. Interventions designed to improve professionalsâ?? empathy skills and diverse patientsâ?? perceptions of professionals could improve patientâ??professional relations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract) (2015) (link)
  • Flynn, P., Betancourt, H., & Ormseth, S. (2011). Culture, emotion, and cancer screening: an integrative framework for investigating health behavior. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 42, 79-90. (11/2011)
  • Betancourt, H., Flynn, P.M., & Ormseth, S. (2011). Healthcare mistreatment and continuity of cancer screening among Latino and Anglo American women in Southern California. Women & Health, 51, 1, 1-24. 01/2011 (11/2011)

Abstract

  • (PEER REVIEWED) Flynn, P., Betancourt, H., & Ormseth, S. (2011). Culture, emotion, and cancer screening: an integrative framework for investigating health behavior. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 42, 79-90. if(typeof(dstb)!= "undefined"){ dstb();} (08/2011)
  • (PEER REVIEWED) Betancourt, H., Flynn, P.M., & Ormseth, S. (2011). Healthcare mistreatment and continuity of cancer screening among Latino and Anglo American women in Southern California. Women & Health, 51, 1, 1-24. (01/2011)
  • (PEER REVIEWED) Betancourt, H., Flynn, P.M., Riggs, M., & Garberoglio, C. (2010). A cultural research approach to instrument development: The case of breast and cervical cancer screening among Latino and Anglo women. Health Education Research, 25, 6, 991-1007. (12/2010)