What are they saying? Approaches for social workers to address anxiety and self-esteem among female Mexican American adolescents

Summary: Female Mexican American adolescents are at an increased risk for experiencing anxiety symptoms and low self-esteem, which often go untreated. Research on effective interventions to treat anxiety symptoms and low self-esteem in this population is lacking. This study identified strategies social workers can implement when addressing the interplay between anxiety symptoms and self-esteem from the perspectives of female Mexican American adolescents and mental health therapists (MHTs) living in Arizona. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 adolescents (14–17 years), and qualitative focus groups were conducted with 17 MHTs via Zoom. Data were analyzed through grounded theory according to Charmaz. Findings: Participant perspectives on strategies to address anxiety symptoms and self-esteem were described through the main theme “connection and meaningful relationships” and were further broken down into five subthemes: informal and formal supports, enhancing relationships—informal and formal strategies, community and environmental supports, cultural experience, and the need for political action. Applications: Female Mexican American adolescents are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms than adolescents of other ethnic groups and are at greater risk for experiencing stressors related to socioeconomic status, acculturation, and family stress, yet tend not to receive services. To improve clinical outcomes, their perspectives should be prioritized to identify effective strategies to treat anxiety symptoms and low self-esteem. Social workers have a valuable role in enhancing relationships, supporting connection to peers and community resources, and addressing anxiety symptoms and low self-esteem among female Mexican American adolescents.