Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity beyond developmental expectations. It is highly prevalent, affecting 11.4% of youth within the United States (Danielson et al., 2024). However, despite its high prevalence, most studies on ADHD diagnosis have focused on WEIRD (western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic) perspectives, overlooking cultural differences as well as structural and systemic barriers that communities such as Latinos may face when seeking timely ADHD evaluations. Consequently, Latino children are diagnosed at far lower rates compared to white counterparts. The purpose of this literature review is to clarify how cultural perceptions of ADHD within Latino communities influence average age of diagnosis. While prior studies have identified structural biases and systemic barriers, less is known about cultural differences which may impact the recognition of ADHD in Latino communities. By uncovering these factors, this review highlights the need for more culturally responsive outreach and evaluations to allow for earlier ADHD diagnosis in the Latino community.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 31 children and is 3.4 times more common in boys than girls. Latino children show a higher prevalence (31.6 per 1,000) than non-Latino white children (24.3), yet are diagnosed less often and face delays in receiving a diagnosis (CDC, 2025). ASD research has historically focused on male populations, leading to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis in females. This gender bias has created gaps in our understanding of how autism manifests in women and girls. Brickhill et al. (2023) suggest that the tendency to associate autism with males contributes to structural inequalities in identification. Girls without intellectual or behavioral challenges are less likely to receive an ASD diagnosis (Dworxynski et al., 2012). Research such as Lai et al. (2011) highlights different symptom presentations between genders. Boys are more likely to display externalized behaviors—aggression, hyperactivity, or behavioral issues—whereas girls often present internalized symptoms like extreme shyness, anxiety, or depression (Hendrickx, 2024). These traits are frequently overlooked as they align with socially acceptable behavior, particularly in school or family settings (Dworxynski et al., 2012). This study explores potential gender bias in the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), a widely used tool for diagnosing ASD from 12 months of age through adulthood. Focusing on Latino participants, the goal is to examine how diagnostic tools may contribute to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of autistic girls in this population.

Structural barriers such as healthcare access, socioeconomic challenges, and neighborhood disadvantage, shape how low-income families raising children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDs) experience and manage stress. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Social-Ecological Model, this mixed-methods study with quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews seeks to understand the stressors, resilience, and support networks of low-income caregivers (≤200% of the Federal Poverty Level) of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants will complete the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and engage in semi-structured interviews exploring lived experiences with healthcare access, education, and social support. Quantitative analysis will identify stress patterns, while qualitative thematic analysis will uncover coping strategies and structural challenges. This study contributes to understanding the intersection of disability, socioeconomic status, and structural racism, offering insights for policy interventions aimed at reducing systemic stressors and promoting equitable and culturally-responsive healthcare and educational support for low-income Latino families.

Whereas previous work has shown that judgments of perceptually ambiguous social categories (e.g., sexual orientation) vary as an influence of perceptually clear social categories (e.g., race and sex), there is little research on how specifically Latinx identities vary as an influence on ambiguous social categories. The present research then examines how various perceptions and stereotypes overlap cognitively and shape judgments within the Latinx community. Study 1 showcases, through an implicit association task, when perceivers are thinking of Latino men they are more likely to closely associate them with straight/gender typed groups while for Latina women it was only for gender typed, with no difference in sexual orientation. Implying a new trajectory such that singular marginalized identities may be closely associated with other singular marginalized identities yet when combined create intersectional invisibility. Study 2 showcases through the visual perceptions of faces that when target faces were rated as more masculine, participants provided more straight categorizations for Latinx targets compared to white targets on average. However, the effect reversed when target faces were rated as gender atypical, such that participants provided more gay categorizations for Latinx targets compared to white targets. Collectively, these findings begin to unpack perceptions of intersectional identities to further understand the mechanisms by which perceivers make judgments about Latinx identities.