The Development of the Confianza Scale-Spanish: A Culturally Responsive Tool for Latine Relationship Building

Latines are the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, making up nearly one-fifth of the population. Despite experiencing similar rates of mental health issues as the dominant culture, however, Latines are notably less likely to seek treatment. Prior research has linked this reluctance to cultural mistrust, and some scholars have underscored the significance of confianza, a cultural value, in promoting Latine mental health engagement. Using a survey research methodology with a sample of 278 Latines, this study examines the psychometric properties and factor structure of the newly developed Confianza Scale-Spanish (CS-S), an instrument designed to quantitatively assess for confianza between clients and their mental healthcare providers. Study results provided initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the CS-S and indicated that confianza may be a single-factor construct. Clinical and research implications within the counseling field are discussed.