Culturally informed family interventions can address health disparities among Hispanic adolescents. This literature review presents the current research base for Hispanic parent-adolescent physical and mental health interventions. We performed a multi-database search and included articles that described a Hispanic parent-adolescent dyadic intervention that targeted physical or mental health outcomes. Eighteen studies included interventions such as Familias Unidas, Families Talking Together, and Bridges. Across the trials, physical health outcomes were largely unchanged, mental health outcomes were positively changed, and interventions that targeted substance use and sexual health behavior produced mixed results. Familias Unidas targeted high-risk adolescents and demonstrated the most efficacy regarding mental health and substance use outcomes. Parent-adolescent dyadic interventions show efficacy in improving mental health outcomes and reducing adolescent risk-taking behaviors. However, they have limits regarding physical health outcomes. This supports the need for more interventions that can target both physical and mental health disparities among Hispanic adolescents.
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