Recent uclaspa_socwel_oapdeposits items

Encampment geographies: Refuge, return, and refusal

Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thinking from Los Angeles, amid the expanding criminalization of homelessness, we advance a conceptual framework of encampment geographies. We argue that the homeless encampment must be understood in relation to state power, specifically the state as landlord. As residents of state spaces—sidewalks, shelters, interim housing—encampment dwellers are institutionalized. This includes interpellation in humanitarian exchange, notably through forms of mutual aid that emerge in the interstices of state violence. Drawing on ethnographic research and movement histories at Aetna Street, we present three encampment geographies: return, refuge, and refusal. We conceptualize the encampment as a site of enforced return and a space of refuge whose residents are akin to refugees. In doing so, we situate the homeless encampment in a global geography of camps, drawing on literatures that are attentive to expulsion, containment, and asylum. Yet encampment residents refuse enclosure, in particular,...

Pushing the Limits of Child Participation in Research: Reflections from a Youth-Driven Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Initiative in Uganda

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Violence against children (VAC) in Uganda is recognized as an urgent dilemma; however, most research has been quantitatively oriented and has seldom involved children in the research process. Objective: We discuss what we learned about child participation in the research process as a means of informing ethical praxis in future child- and youth-led research initiatives. As an overarching aim of this paper, we utilize our engagement with YPAR as a springboard to reflect on methodological best practices for VAC research that involve children themselves as part of a movement to democratize the research process. Participants and Setting: The study includes street-connected children (40), sexually exploited children (19) and domestic workers (34) in Kampala. Methods: The YPAR team led participant observation, 52 semi-structured life history interviews, 31 auto-photographic exercises, and 4 focus groups. All data collection, analysis and dissemination activities were...

Public health research and health equity threatened by new US policies: impact and opportunities for Latin America

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Public health research and health equity threatened by new US policies: impact and opportunities for Latin America

‘I feel safer in the streets than at home’: Rethinking harm reduction for women in the urban margins

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Through qualitative data collected with women affected by drug use and drug-related violence in Bogotá, this article explores the convergence of harm reduction rationales and violence prevention programming in the urban margins to advocate for women's health empowerment and health rights as victims of intergenerational trauma and violence. We propose a methodological shift of public health praxis from street-based outreach models to intimate spaces of intervention for health outcomes embodiment ¹ as we continue to develop our community health model to work with marginalised communities in the urban global South. Through this work committed to social justice in marginalised urban communities, we seek to support women's health needs through harm reduction in historically marginalised communities in urban settings. Our results expose how multi-level gender-based violence affects women's health in their living spaces in the urban margins. Drawing from women's voices and...

Newark’s Implementation of a Lower Voting Age: Research Brief

Tue, 5 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Newark, New Jersey implemented a voting age of 16 for school board elections in April of 2025. This research brief presents findings from a multi-method implementation study. We interviewed 11 stakeholders about implementation successes and challenges. Qualitative insights were supplemented by survey findings from 334 11th and 12th graders in Newark. Implementation successes included high registration numbers and strong coalition building across organizations. However, Newark faced challenges to implementation, including limited accessibility, voter education, and time. These findings can inform Newark and other cities interested in implementing a lower voting age.

A Multidimensional Conceptualization and Measure of Youth Civic Agency

Mon, 4 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Scholars of youth civic development have assessed agency using a wide range of constructs, including motivation, efficacy, empowerment, and sociopolitical control. We propose a multidimensional framework and describe the development and validation of a measure of civic agency, conceptualized as competence, drive, individual power, and collective power. In Study 1, we developed a set of items and employed exploratory factor analysis with a pilot sample of adolescents (N = 295, M_age = 17.1, 65.4% youth of color, 47.9% female, 15.8% nonbinary), which supported our hypothesized four-factor model of civic agency. In Study 2, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis of our final items with a separate adolescent sample (N = 1120, M_age = 16.2, 73.0% youth of color, 55.7% female, 23.3% nonbinary), which demonstrated measurement invariance on race/ethnicity, gender, and age. In Study 3, we validated our scale in a sample of young activists (N = 342, M_age = 19.1,...

COMMON SENSE LAW: Making Right/s in the Liberal City

Fri, 1 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract This article, co‐authored by encampment and university scholars, is concerned with how homeless persons challenge rightlessness. We do so by advancing a conceptual framework of common sense law, arguing that such contestations take place not only in courtrooms but also in the lived spaces of homelessness. Drawing on five years of ethnography, we foreground how homeless persons become proficient in the law as well as in self‐advocacy, navigating and resisting state power, be it the edicts of criminalization or the labyrinth of bureaucratization. In doing so, we seek to understand housing justice as rights from below as well as a process of making right, a form of redress for perceived injuries. Our conceptual framework of common sense law derives from the specificity of the North American context where homeless personhood is constituted both within and against liberal arrangements of property. Often deployed in spaces such as the street, where property arrangements are...

Understanding suicide risk among LGBTQ+ youth in Peru: Findings from a nationwide mental health survey

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

LGBTQ+ youth globally face increased suicide risk, yet evidence from Latin America, particularly Peru, is limited. Understanding factors influencing suicidality among LGBTQ+ youth in Peru is essential for developing culturally relevant interventions. This study analyzed data from The Trevor Project's 2024 Peru National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People (N = 4,643; age 14-24, mean age = 17.34). Logistic regression models examined associations between suicide-related outcomes (lifetime and past-year suicidal ideation, past-year suicide attempts), and positive screens for depressive and anxiety symptoms, mental healthcare desire, sexual orientation "outness" and perceived community acceptance. Approximately 73.5% reported lifetime suicidal ideation, 55.0% past-year ideation and 37.1% past-year attempts. Positive screens for depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with higher odds of suicidality (aOR range: 1.80-2.88). Compared to youth...

System mapping to strengthen youth crisis response: findings from a multi-county California pilot

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Youth suicide is a pressing public health concern requiring coordinated, cross-sector responses. This research presents findings from a pilot initiative involving ten California counties that used a multi-site participatory system mapping design to assess and strengthen youth crisis reporting and response systems. Funded through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and supported by the California Department of Public Health, the pilot used visual tools to identify gaps, clarify roles, and promote shared understanding across sectors. System maps focused on six key components of crisis systems, supporting communities in developing targeted action plans and promoting system accountability. Results demonstrated that the mapping process catalyzed improvements in follow-up care, school and hospital coordination, and postvention practices. Challenges included navigating structural differences among partners and sustaining engagement. Findings suggest that system mapping...

Californians' Views on Lowering the Voting Age

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This research brief presents findings from a statewide poll of Californians to document the level of support or opposition to lowering the voting age to 16 for school board, local, and national elections. Poll results showed the highest level of support for lowering the voting age for local elections. There was greater support among those aged 55 and younger and across certain regions of California.

Today's Young People and Their Political Gloom

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We surveyed young people in the two weeks following the 2024 election to take their pulse on the current state of U.S. politics. This research brief charts the most frequent terms youth use to describe politics today, highlighting their overall dissatisfaction and political gloom.

Navigating silence: cultural, familial, and immigration influences on the sexual violence experiences of Asian female college students in the university of California system

Wed, 8 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundSexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SVSH) on college campuses disproportionately affect racially minoritized groups, including Asian female students. These individuals face unique cultural and familial challenges impacting their experiences and help-seeking behaviors. Existing literature highlights barriers such as cultural stigma and the model minority myth, but research specific to this population is limited.ObjectivesThis study explores the SVSH experiences of Asian female college students and examines how cultural norms, family dynamics, and immigration background influence their responses and access to support services.MethodsData were collected from all 10 University of California campuses as part of the Double Jeopardy (DJ) project. Fifty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted. A grounded-theory-guided thematic analysis identified key themes, with reflective memos used to capture insights and minimize bias.ResultsFindings reveal that cultural norms and...

When WE See Us: Commentary on Black Adolescent Research by Black Male Youth Activists

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Research viewed exclusively through the lenses of adults, even good-meaning adults, in some respects can strip young people of their agency to create knowledge about their world and their conditions. Given this reality, this commentary departs from traditional forms of research about adolescents to make spaces for Black male adolescents and young men to make sense of, and highlight their own connection to, research. It is our hope that scholars and practitioners who are interested in supporting Black youth will gather insights from our experiences, and hopefully use them to elevate the agency of Black youth in their schools and communities.

Towards Community Rooted Research and Praxis: Reflections on the BSS Safety and Youth Justice Project

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article focuses on the Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS) Safety and Youth Justice project to describe what we refer to as a Community Rooted and Research Praxis (CRRP) approach. BSS is an organizing coalition for boys, young men, and masculine-identifying youth of color that works to decriminalize communities of color. In 2018, BSS developed a survey to capture how safety and justice is experienced by youth of color across multiple contexts and institutions in Los Angeles County. With over 3000 surveys collected, the findings have now been used to promote racial equity and decriminalize youth at the local and state level. Building on a Black Radical Tradition, including abolitionists struggles against the carceral state, in this paper, we name CRRP as a framework to describe BSS’s community engaged scholarship. In other words, we contend that the CRRP approach is a mode of community engaged scholarship that brings together youth, university affiliated adults, and community organizations...

The (good) trouble with Black boys: Organizing with Black boys and young men in George Floyd’s America

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The (good) trouble with Black boys: Organizing with Black boys and young men in George Floyd’s America

Violence Directed Against Teachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Social–Ecological Analysis of Safety and Well-Being

Tue, 8 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Violence against teachers is a public health crisis that has devastating effects on school personnel well-being, health, and retention, as well as students' educational outcomes. In collaboration with national organizations, the American Psychological Association Task Force on Violence against Educators conducted the first national survey on educator victimization that included 4,136 pre-K through 12th-grade teachers from all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico during the pandemic. In the current study, 43.7% of teachers reported experiencing at least one verbal threat, physical assault, and/or property damage, with verbal threats being the most prevalent form of victimization during the pandemic. Using a social-ecological framework and logistic regression analyses, characteristics of teachers, school climate, and school organizational and community factors were examined as predictors of teacher victimization (i.e., verbal threats, physical, property violence) during the pandemic....

Violence and Aggression Against Educators and School Personnel, Retention, Stress, and Training Needs: National Survey Results

Mon, 7 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Aggression and violence against educators and school personnel have raised public health concerns that require attention from researchers, policymakers, and training providers in U.S. schools. School aggression and violence have negative effects on school personnel health and retention and on student achievement and development. In partnership with several national organizations, the American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel administered two national, multi-informant, cross-sectional surveys. Time 1 data were collected in 2020-2021 from 14,966 respondents; participants reflected on their experiences of violence and aggression before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 restrictions in this survey. One year later, in 2022, 11,814 respondents completed the Time 2 survey after COVID-19 restrictions ended. Participants included teachers, school psychologists, social workers, counselors, staff members, and administrators from all...

Psychological and Social Predictors of Poverty: Differences Between Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Mon, 7 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE: Research has demonstrated that sexual minority populations are more likely to experience poverty than sexual majority populations and that many of these disparities are driven by specific sexual minority subgroups, including cisgender bisexual women. Yet, little is known about the factors associated with economic insecurity that explain the intragroup differences in economic outcomes among sexual minorities, particularly among those of the same gender (i.e., cisgender bisexual vs. lesbian women). METHODS: We used a U.S. national probability sample of non-transgender sexual minority adults to assess the relationship between poverty and demographic (age, race/ethnicity, education), psychological (psychological distress, self-acceptance, felt stigma, and experienced discrimination), and social (outness, partnership and parental status, partner gender, and gender expression) characteristics for each subgroup of women, lesbian/gay (n = 324) and bisexual (n = 355)....

School Safety Concerns and Solutions: A Qualitative Analysis of U.S. School Psychologists’ Perspectives

Wed, 2 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the present study, we analyzed qualitative survey data from 538 school psychologists across schools in the United States regarding their perceptions of school safety issues and potential strategies to address school safety. There are only a few studies exploring the experiences and perspectives of school psychologists that have been based on large-scale qualitative data. Using inductive coding, three themes for safety concerns emerged: (a) aggressive behaviors from students, (b) mental and behavioral needs, and (c) limited staffing. Three themes also emerged for potential solutions: (a) professional development/training, (b) school-family-community relationships, and (c) threat assessments. These findings from school psychologists have implications for addressing structural issues to prevent school violence in research and practice. Policy recommendations to inform resource allocation and improve school safety are discussed.

How school policies, strategies, and relational factors contribute to teacher victimization and school safety

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, we examined how school policies and strategies (i.e., positive discipline, hardening strategies, and positive behavioral strategies) affect teacher relational factors and teacher reports of victimization and safety. Specifically, we examined the mediational roles of teacher support of student learning, maltreatment of students by teachers, and teachers' differential treatment of students in schools. Using a sample of 6643 pre-K-12th-grade teachers, path analysis results revealed that positive behavior strategies, hardening strategies, and positive discipline were indirectly associated with teacher victimization and sense of safety. Additionally, teachers' perceptions of other teachers maltreating students had the greatest contributions to their sense of safety and victimization by students. Positive discipline was directly and indirectly associated with teacher victimization and safety. Implications and directions for future studies are discussed.

Student Knowledge of University Confidential Resources and Title IX Training Effectiveness

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Though many universities offer resources to student survivors of sexual violence, student survivors who do not know about these resources cannot utilize their services. Students who are unaware of the confidentiality status of these services may seek assistance from an on-campus service without realizing the potential consequences. Under the theory of institutional betrayal, knowledge of confidential resources may prevent experiences of institutional betrayal for students who have experienced sexual violence. This research examines predictors of student knowledge regarding the confidentiality status of university resources for student survivors. Several variables were found to be associated with student knowledge of confidential on-campus resources. Implications for Title IX training and student resource availability are discussed, including the need for additional support for specific student populations.

Addressing Violence Against Educators: What Do Teachers Say Works?

Fri, 7 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

School personnel safety and well-being have received increased attention via national outlets; however, research is limited. The current investigation is the first to examine the reported use and perceived effectiveness of commonly used school-based intervention approaches for addressing school violence, specifically violence against teachers in U.S. schools. A sample of 4,471 prekindergarten-12th grade teachers was asked to rate the use and perceived effectiveness of common school-based approaches, namely exclusionary discipline (e.g., suspensions), school hardening (e.g., metal detectors, school police), prevention (e.g., school climate improvement, social-emotional learning, classroom management), and crisis intervention practices (e.g., de-escalation, physical restraint) to address verbal/threatening, physical, and property violence against teachers. Findings revealed that teachers rated prevention practices as most effective in reducing violence against teachers. The use...

Teacher-Directed Violence and Anxiety and Stress: Predicting Intentions to Transfer and Quit

Mon, 3 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Teacher well-being and experiences of violence have become issues of national concern, and teacher shortages have increased since the onset of COVID-19. In this national study, we examined verbal and physical violence against teachers from multiple aggressors and the role of anxiety and stress in predicting intentions to transfer positions or quit the profession. The majority of the sample of 9,370 pre-Kindergarten-12th grade teachers was White (79%) and female (79%). Descriptive analyses revealed that 25% of teachers reported intentions to transfer schools and 43% of teachers reported intentions to quit teaching. Structural equation model results indicated pre-COVID-19 verbal and threatening violence from students, parents, colleagues, and administrators predicted teacher anxiety and stress and intentions to transfer schools (R² ranged from .18 to .23) and quit the profession during COVID-19 (R² ranged from .34 to .36). Anxiety and stress significantly mediated...

Health and Care Needs of Young Adults Exiting Jail

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Reentry is a difficult juncture for young adults (ages 18-24 years), who simultaneously face challenges of emerging adulthood. Although their health-related needs may be substantial, little is reported on young adults' reentry health care and social service needs. Furthermore, empirical measurements of factors affecting their engagement in reentry services after jail are lacking. We sought to describe health needs and predictors of linkages to reentry services for the 2,525 young adult participants in the Whole Person Care-LA Reentry program (WPC Reentry). Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square tests, t tests, and logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with linkage to WPC Reentry postrelease compared with only engaging with WPC Reentry prerelease. Most participants (72.6%) were male, 80.2% were Hispanic or Black, and 60.9% had been unhoused. Mental health (57.2%) and substance use disorders (45.8%) were common, physical health was...

Administrator Turnover: The Roles of District Support, Safety, Anxiety, and Violence from Students

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Researchers have examined the importance of school administrative support for teacher safety, victimization, anxiety, and retention; however, studies to date have rarely focused on school administrators' perceptions of support by their district leaders, and its relation to administrators' anxiety/stress, safety, and their intentions to transfer or quit their jobs. In the current study of 457 PreK-12th grade school administrators in the United States, structural equation modeling was used to examine relations between administrators' perceptions of support from their district leaders and their anxiety/stress, safety, and intentions to transfer or quit their jobs. Administrator experiences of violence by student offenders served as a moderator. Results indicated that administrators' perceptions of district leaders' support were associated with lower intentions to transfer or quit their positions both directly and indirectly as a function of decreased anxiety/stress. District support...

Social class group identity, intergroup attitudes, and views on social mobility and inequality in the U.K. and the U.S.

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Drawing on social identity theory (SIT), this study explored social class group identity, intergroup attitudes, and views about social mobility and inequality among socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse adults in the U.K. (n = 457) and the U.S. (n = 595). U.K. participants evidenced greater consensus about the social class groups present in their society than did U.S. participants, but lower, working, middle, and upper class were commonly perceived in both contexts, and many participants self-identified as working class (38% U.K., 17% U.S.) or middle class (45% U.K., 47% U.S.) Consistent with SIT, participants in both contexts identified with their social class ingroup (e.g., felt they belonged) and stereotyped it less harshly on dimensions (warmth or competence) on which it was generally negatively stereotyped. Importantly, middle and upper class participants tended to feel more positively (e.g., proud) about their ingroup, and believed society...

The impact of poverty-reduction intervention on child mental health mediated by family relations: Findings from a cluster-randomized trial in Uganda

Tue, 5 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Reviews that synthesize global evidence on the impact of poverty reduction interventions on child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) report inconclusive results and highlight the need to unpack the mechanisms that connect poverty-reduction to CAMH. To address this gap, we examine the proposition that family relations is an important relational factor transmitting effect of poverty on CAMH, and test whether family relations mediate the effect of poverty-reduction intervention on depression, hopelessness, and self-concept among AIDS orphans in Uganda. We use longitudinal data collected over the course of 48 months in a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted among N = 1410 AIDS orphans from n = 48 schools in Uganda. To examine the relationship between intervention, latent mediator (family relations and support) and CAMH outcomes (Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), and Depression), we ran structural equation models adjusting...

Racial/Ethnic differences in the association between parental wealth and child behavior problems

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Racial/Ethnic differences in the association between parental wealth and child behavior problems

A Minimum Age for California's Juvenile Legal System: Lessons on Collaborative Research to Drive Legislative Change.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

THE PROBLEM: Most U.S. states lack a minimum age of juvenile legal jurisdiction, which leaves young children vulnerable to a harsh, punitive system that causes lifelong adverse health and social outcomes. However, partnership between academics, advocates, and policymakers can catalyze legislative change to set minimum ages. PURPOSE OF ARTICLE: We, an academic pediatrician and social worker, describe our stakeholder-policymaker-academic partnered research that led to the passage of California Senate Bill 439, which excludes children under age 12 from eligibility for juvenile legal prosecution. To stimulate future efforts, we also describe how the initial partnership led to a national coalition through which we are partnering with stakeholders across the United States to influence minimum age laws nationwide. KEY POINTS: Stakeholder-policymaker-academic partners can contribute synergistically in the research-to-policymaking process. CONCLUSIONS: Through a stakeholder-policymaker-academic...

“They Don’t See Us”: Asian Students’ Perceptions of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment on Three California Public University Campuses

Mon, 5 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) are prevalent among college and university students; however, the experiences of ethnic minority students, especially Asians, are understudied. This study aimed to reduce this gap by exploring Asian students' perceptions of SVSH on three public university campuses in Southern California. We examined their perceptions about the campus environment related to SVSH, attitudes, and behaviors toward help seeking, and utilization of on-campus resources. A total of 23 in-depth interviews were conducted with Asian students enrolled at the three University of California campuses. Thematic coding was conducted to generate main themes and subthemes. Five main themes emerged: (a) SVSH is considered a "taboo" topic in Asian culture and family systems, and Asian student survivors are often reluctant to disclose incidents or seek support services. (b) Students did not feel their campus environments were tailored to understand or meet the sociocultural...

The Psychoactive Effects of Psychiatric Medication: The Elephant in the Room

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The psychoactive effects of psychiatric medications have been obscured by the presumption that these medications have disease-specific actions. Exploiting the parallels with the psychoactive effects and uses of recreational substances helps to highlight the psychoactive properties of psychiatric medications and their impact on people with psychiatric problems. We discuss how psychoactive effects produced by different drugs prescribed in psychiatric practice might modify various disturbing and distressing symptoms, and we also consider the costs of these psychoactive effects on the mental well-being of the user. We examine the issue of dependence, and the need for support for people wishing to withdraw from psychiatric medication. We consider how the reality of psychoactive effects undermines the idea that psychiatric drugs work by targeting underlying disease processes, since psychoactive effects can themselves directly modify mental and behavioral symptoms and thus affect the...

Community Members’ Perceptions of a Resource-Rich Well-Being Website in California During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: To address needs for emotional well-being resources for Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Together for Wellness/Juntos por Nuestro Bienestar (T4W/Juntos) website was developed in collaboration with multiple community partners across California, funded by the California Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Division federal emergency response. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study was designed to explore and describe the perspectives of participants affiliated with California organizations on the T4W/Juntos website, understand their needs for web-based emotional health resources, and inform iterative website development. METHODS: After providing informed consent and reviewing the website, telephone interviews were conducted with 29 participants (n=21, 72% in English and n=8, 28% in Spanish) recruited by partnering community agencies (October 2021-February 2022). A 6-phase thematic analysis was conducted, enhanced using grounded theory techniques....

The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV

Wed, 3 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

PurposeWith the advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a manageable illness, similar to other chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between HIV stigma and patient-reported outcomes including mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV.MethodsWe analyzed baseline data from a randomized comparison trial of a mobile app intervention aimed to address the social work and legal needs of Black sexual minority men with HIV in Los Angeles County. We used validated scales including the Berger HIV stigma scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 & the General Anxiety Disorder-7, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Ladder Scale to assess HIV stigma, depressive symptoms, anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life, and we conducted multivariable linear regression to examine their associations.ResultsParticipants experienced HIV stigma especially about disclosure concerns (e.g.,...

Social exclusion at the intersections of immigration, employment, and healthcare policy: A qualitative study of Mexican and Chinese immigrants in California

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

While immigrants in the US suffer poor access to healthcare in general, access within immigrant populations varies notably by legal status and employment. Intersections between immigration, employment, and healthcare policy have shaped immigrants' access or exclusion from healthcare; however, little research has examined how immigrants experience and navigate these intersections. Drawing on social exclusion theory and the theory of bounded agency, we aimed to investigate Mexican and Chinese immigrants' experiences of exclusion from healthcare as one key dimension of social exclusion-and how this was shaped by interactions with the institutions of immigration and employment. The examination of two ethnic immigrant groups who live under the same set of policies allows for a focus on the common impacts of policy. We selected Mexican and Chinese immigrants as the two largest subgroups in California's Latinx and Asian immigrant population. We use a policy lens to analyze qualitative...

Sexual Orientation Enumeration in State Antibullying Statutes in the United States: Associations with Bullying, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide Attempts Among Youth

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE: The aim was to assess the associations of antibullying U.S. state statutes that enumerate sexual orientation with exposure to bullying and other stressors and with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in sexual minority and non sexual minority youth. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2015 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey, representative of 9th through 12th grade students attending public and private schools in the United States. We reviewed each state's antibullying statutes and classified them on enumeration. RESULTS: Antibullying state laws that enumerate sexual orientation were associated with lower risk for suicide attempts and serious attempts requiring medical attention and lower risk for forced sexual intercourse. They were also associated with feeling safe at school or on the way to or from school. Results did not differ by sexual orientation. CONCLUSIONS: Enumeration of sexual orientation was associated with reduced stressors and suicide attempts,...

Combining Asset Accumulation and Multifamily Group Intervention to Improve Mental Health for Adolescent Girls: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Uganda

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to expand the current knowledge on the relationship between poverty, family functioning, and the mental health of adolescent girls in families affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS in southern Uganda. The study investigates the association between family functioning and mental health and examines whether family functioning moderates the intervention effect on adolescent mental health. METHODS: Longitudinal data were collected over the course of 24 months in a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted among N=1,260 girls aged 14-17 years in Uganda. Participants were randomized into control group (n=408 girls from n=16 schools), matched youth development accounts treatment, YDA (n=471 girls from n=16 schools), and integrated intervention combining YDA with multiple family group component (n=381 girls from n=15 schools). RESULTS: We found a significant positive association between family functioning and mental health of adolescent girls in our sample....

Income is not an equalizer: health development inequities by ethnoracial backgrounds in California kindergartners

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundEarly childhood health development is positively associated with income, but the strength of this relationship with ethnoracial background remains unclear. This study examined the extent of health development inequities among California kindergarteners based on ethnoracial backgrounds and neighborhood-level income.MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed health development inequities by analyzing neighborhood-level income, ethnoracial background, and health development data for California kindergarteners. Student-level data (n = 106,574) were collected through teacher report between 2010–2020 across 52 school districts and 964 schools. Student addresses were geocoded and linked to American Community Survey neighborhood income levels. Health development was measured using the Early Development Instrument, a population-level measure which includes physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication...

Credible messenger mentoring to promote the health of youth involved in the juvenile legal system: A narrative review

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This narrative review examines the literature on credible messenger mentoring (CMM) as an intervention to promote the health and well-being of youth involved in the juvenile legal system. In the CMM model, individuals with shared life experiences (e.g., from the same neighborhoods or marginalized communities, with former gang or incarceration history) serve as mentors, leveraging their own history of transformation to engage youth involved in the juvenile legal system and promote individual and community change. CMM is an increasingly popular approach for working with youth involved in the juvenile legal system, yet the state of the research on this intervention is unclear. This article provides a narrative review of existing research on CMM to understand what is known, and unknown, about the intervention. Results find an emerging, but incomplete body of evidence supporting the impact of CMM for youth involved in the juvenile legal system, and for adult mentors. Qualitative and...

The mediating role of neighborhood social cohesion and trust in the relationship between childhood material hardship and adolescent depression

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between childhood material hardship and adolescent depression and how the relationship is mediated by neighborhood social cohesion and trust. Previous studies on childhood material hardship and adolescent depression have consistently pointed to the importance of social and environmental contexts in explaining health inequalities among children in socially disadvantaged families. However, little is known about the extent to which neighborhood social context contributes to increasing or decreasing the strength of the association between childhood material hardship and adolescent depression. METHOD: Using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) waves 3 and 6, this study conducted Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis to examine whether levels of neighborhood social cohesion and trust mediates the association between childhood material hardship and adolescent depression. The study sample...

Mpox on Reddit: a Thematic Analysis of Online Posts on Mpox on a Social Media Platform among Key Populations

Tue, 2 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak has disproportionately impacted gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). The US CDC recommended individuals to explore safer sexual practices that minimize the potential risk of exposure and also strongly encouraged for eligible individuals to prioritize vaccination. This study aimed to analyze social media data related to mpox on Reddit since the mpox outbreak and identify themes associated with the impact on social behaviors and social processes among targeted population. Publicly available data were collected from the social media Reddit. We extracted the summarized mpox-related posts since the beginning of May 2022 from popular subreddits that were popular among GBMSM. We thematically analyzed the content to identify the overall themes related to the GBMSM’s responses to the outbreak. There is an overall increase in the number of daily mpox-related posts, with three upticks in late May, late July, and early August 2022, which...

Minority and low-SES families’ experiences during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative study

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: To explore minority and low-SES families' general experiences with the stay-at-home mandate initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 31) were conducted in May 2020 - six to nine weeks after the stay-at-home mandate was initiated in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Participants were randomly selected from the parent Chicago Heights Early Childhood Center (CHECC) study (N = 2,185). Thematic content analysis of transcribed semi-structured interviews were employed. Results: During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, ethnic minority and low-SES families were generally comfortable in their homes, but both children and their parents experienced poor wellbeing, such as elevated stress. Families reportedly avoided social resources, despite low-SES. Upon reflection, parents expressed that the pandemic had changed them and, in some ways, the changes were positive. Conclusion: Readily...

Prevalence and factors associated with multidimensional child deprivation: Findings from the Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the growing importance of the multidimensional methods of assessing child poverty, few studies in the U.S. have applied a rights-based approach to examining child deprivation. This study examines multidimensional child deprivation using eight dimensions and twelve indicators based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Using a sample of children at age nine from the fifth wave of the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study, this study applied the multiple overlapping deprivation analysis (MODA), a comprehensive analytic method to assess the multidimensionality of child deprivation and to provide a detailed picture of material and social forms of deprivation among the U.S. children. This study found that the overall child deprivation rate was 8.89%; environmental safety (20.36%), information (15.94%), and housing security (14.23%) dimensions contributed the highest to the overall child deprivation; the overlap between deprivation and income poverty was...

Bridging the gap: a qualitative study of providers' perceptions of a partnered crisis follow-up program for suicidal patients post-emergency department discharge

Thu, 7 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundEffective interventions are needed to address suicide risk following discharge from the hospital emergency department or inpatient setting. Studies that examine follow-up contact methods show promise, but little is known about how follow-up programs are implemented in the real world and who is benefitting. The purpose of this formative evaluation and analysis was to gain insight about the usefulness and value of a partnered suicide prevention follow-up program (academic medical center emergency department partnered with a regional suicide prevention center) from the standpoint of psychiatry resident physicians providing direct care and suicide prevention center crisis counselors making follow-up outreach telephone calls to patients.MethodsA qualitative thematic analysis was conducted with focus group data from a convenience sample of psychiatry residents who performed consultations in the emergency department setting and counselors at the suicide prevention center crisis...

Youth civic development amid the pandemic

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

During the COVID-19 pandemic, youth experienced abrupt closures of in-person spaces that were vital for their civic development, like schools and community organizations. Social media became the primary context for youth to make their voices heard and mobilize around important sociopolitical issues like anti-Asian racism, police violence, and elections. However, youth experienced civic development in different ways during the pandemic. Some youth gained a critical awareness of societal inequities, while others were radicalized into far-right ideologies. Racially minoritized youth experienced vicarious trauma and racism while civically engaging in 2020, and their civic development must be viewed in the context of the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism.

“It was there when I came home”: young adults and jail reentry in the context of COVID-19

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, the authors explore how young adults navigated the dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and jail reentry in a large urban environment. Fifteen young adults (aged 18–25) participated in up to nine monthly semi-structured interviews to discuss their experiences of reentry during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., spring and summer 2020). Participants held mixed attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19. Several participants viewed the pandemic as a hoax, while others took the pandemic more seriously, particularly if their friends and family members had contracted the virus. Yet nearly all participants viewed the pandemic as having a relatively minimal impact on their lives compared to the weight of their reentry challenges and probation requirements. Young adults described COVID-19 stay-at-home orders as limiting their exposure to negative influences and facilitating compliance with probation requirements. However, resource closures due to COVID-19, including...

Health needs of youth in detention with limited justice involvement

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Although incarcerated youth (i.e., youth sentenced to secure custody) have high health needs, the health of detained youth with limited justice involvement remains poorly understood. Between September 2018 and February 2019, social workers from the Los Angeles County Whole Person Care Juvenile Reentry Aftercare Program (WPC) assessed the health and social needs of youth in pre-trial detention. We partnered with the WPC team to analyze assessments completed by 83 youth participants. Youth were on average 16 years old, most (83%) identified as male, and all were from racial or ethnic minority groups. Participants reported high behavioral health needs, including a high prevalence of prior suicide attempts (16%) and history of substance use (81%). Participants demonstrated a pattern of crisis healthcare utilization. Youth also indicated areas of strength, including personal positive traits, engagement in extracurricular activities, educational achievements, and having multiple sources...

Applying a Health Development Lens to Canada's Youth Justice Minimum Age Law.

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: We applied a Life Course Health Development (LCHD) framework to examine experts' views on Canada's youth justice minimum age law of 12, which excludes children aged 11 and under from the youth justice system. METHODS: We interviewed 21 experts across Canada to understand their views on Canada's youth justice minimum age of 12. The 7 principles of the LCHD model (health development, unfolding, complexity, timing, plasticity, thriving, harmony) were used as a guiding framework for qualitative data analysis to understand the extent to which Canada's approach aligns with developmental science. RESULTS: Although the LCHD framework was not directly discussed in the interviews, the 7 LCHD framework concepts emerged in the analyses and correlated with 7 justice principles, which we refer to as "LCHD Child Justice Principles." Child involvement in the youth justice system was considered to be developmentally inappropriate, with alternative systems and approaches regarded as...

Setting a minimum age for juvenile justice jurisdiction in California

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose Despite the existence of minimum age laws for juvenile justice jurisdiction in 18 US states, California has no explicit law that protects children (i.e. youth less than 12 years old) from being processed in the juvenile justice system. In the absence of a minimum age law, California lags behind other states and international practice and standards. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In this policy brief, academics across the University of California campuses examine current evidence, theory, and policy related to the minimum age of juvenile justice jurisdiction. Findings Existing evidence suggests that children lack the cognitive maturity to comprehend or benefit from formal juvenile justice processing, and diverting children from the system altogether is likely to be more beneficial for the child and for public safety. Research limitations/implications Based on current evidence and theory, the authors argue that minimum age legislation...

Current and Future PrEP Medications and Modalities: On-demand, Injectables, and Topicals

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose of ReviewPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a potent HIV prevention strategy, but uptake of daily oral PrEP remains low. This review covers PrEP agents currently available and agents and modalities under investigation.Recent FindingsInjectable ARV preparations have high acceptability among users but are likely to require adherence to 8-week interval injections. Topical microbicide gels and vaginal rings have underperformed by intention-to-treat analyses in efficacy studies, at least in large part due to challenges with adherence and/or sustained use. However, daily oral TDF-FTC also underperformed in randomized, placebo-controlled trials compared to expectations and subsequent real-world pragmatic use.SummaryOn-demand (2-1-1 dosing strategy for MSM) and injectable PrEP appear to be acceptable among participants in clinical trials. These modalities are particularly compelling alternatives for individuals who either do not want to take a daily medication (both on-demand...

Use of Technology to Address Substance Use in the Context of HIV: A Systematic Review

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Substance users are at elevated risk for HIV. HIV researchers, particularly at the intersection of HIV and substance use, have requested new methods to better understand and address this important area. New technologies, such as social media and mobile applications, are increasingly being used as research tools in studies on HIV and substance use. These technologies have the potential to build on existing recruitment methods, provide new and improved intervention methods, and introduce novel ways of monitoring and predicting new HIV cases. However, little work has been done to review and broadly explore the types of studies being conducted on the use of technologies to address HIV and substance use. This systematic literature review identified studies on this topic between 2005 and 2015. We identified 33 studies on this topic after excluding studies that did not fit inclusion criteria. Studies were either observational (n = 24) or interventional (n = 9), with the majority being...

Incorporating guidelines for use of mobile technologies in health research and practice

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This commentary aims to create initial recommendations to guide researchers' decisions on the development and use of mobile technologies for public health research. We recommend that mobile technologies for public health research should be scalable and sustainable; draw on social, psychological and/or behavioral theoretical models; be able to be integrated with multiple communication devices; incorporate social network and/or geographic metrics and take a community-based participatory approach to development and implementation. All of these approaches are discussed.

A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis of the Interrelations among Exclusionary Immigration Policy, Ethnic Identity, and Self-Esteem of Latinx Early Adolescents.

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Little is known about how exclusionary immigration laws affect ethnic identity and self-esteem among Latinx middle school students. Arizonas SB 1070, which required local officers to verify the legal status of detained individuals, garnered national attention for its impact on immigrant and Latinx communities. This study tested a longitudinal parallel multiple mediation model where perceptions of the effects of an exclusionary immigration law (Arizonas SB 1070) on self-esteem were mediated by dimensions of ethnic identity (ethnic centrality, ethnic private regard, ethnic public regard). Data were collected from a two-wave survey of 891 early adolescents ranging in age from 10 to 14 years (M = 12.09 years; SD = 0.99), a majority (71%) of whom were of Mexican descent. Analyses revealed an indirect effect of T1 perceptions of this law on T2 self-esteem (7 months later), holding T1 measures constant, with T2 ethnic centrality, private regard, and public regard acting as mediators....

An eighteen-year longitudinal examination of school victimization and weapon use in California secondary schools

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundSchool safety has been a major public health issue in the United States and internationally for more than three decades. Many policies and programs have been developed and implemented to prevent school violence, improve the school climate, and increase safety. There are only a few peer-reviewed studies of changes in school violence over time. The study examined changes over time in school victimization, weapon involvement and school climate, comparing change trajectories by gender and race and different change trajectories among schools. MethodsA longitudinal study of the biennial California Healthy Kids Survey in secondary schools from 2001 to 2019. The representative sample included 6,219,166 students in grades 7, 9, and 11 (48.8% male) from 3253 schools (66% high schools). ResultsAll victimization and weapon involvement items had significant and substantial linear reductions. The largest reduction involved being in a physical fight (from 25.4% to 11.0%). There were...

Implementing Triple P during the COVID-19 pandemic with families at risk for substance use

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Many studies have examined the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), yet few have considered its effectiveness during the twin challenges of the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the implementation of, and parenting outcomes associated with the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) in 13 counties in central Ohio. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The program was provided to parents who were at heightened risk for substance use. From July 2020 through June 2021, 890 parents received services from Triple P. METHODS: Parents completed pre- and post-test assessments of protective factors within their families and parenting behaviors. Parents also participated in qualitative interviews regarding their experiences in the program. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results were promising, with improvements seen in family functioning/resilience, nurturing and attachment, parental laxness, and parental over-reactivity. Parents reported positive experiences...

Characterizing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on HIV PrEP care: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The global COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have caused disruptions to sexual health services and created additional barriers to the continuity of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among key populations. This review provides an examination of the influences of the pandemic on engagement in the PrEP care continuum. Using the PRISMA guideline, 46 studies were included in this review and the synthesis. Most of the studies were conducted in high-income settings through quantitative analysis. A majority of studies examining the changes in PrEP use suggested a decline or discontinuation in PrEP uptake during the pandemic. The most common reasons for stopping using PrEP were perceived barriers to PrEP-related care, having reduced sexual behaviors and fewer sexual partners, and reduced perceived risk of HIV infection. Limited studies documenting an increase in PrEP uptake were all in specific PrEP optimizing programs. During the pandemic, there is also an emerging...

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in China: Difference by HIV status

Thu, 6 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Population-based measures and public health response to stem the spread of the coronavirus may have caused unintended isolation and increased the risk of psychiatric illnesses. The objective of this study is to assess psychological distress among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in China during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine whether these mental health outcomes differ by HIV status. Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey on the impact of COVID-19 on users of Blued, the largest gay social networking app in July 2020. All active users on Blued were invited to complete a survey regarding sexual behaviors, HIV prevention and treatment service utilization, and various health and mental health outcomes. Among all participants (n = 1205), over half (53.2%) of the participants screened mild to severe psychological distress: 34.9% screened mild, 11.6% screened moderate, and 6.6% screened severe psychological distress. Of all participants, 20.9%...

United States Youth Arrest and Health Across the Life Course: A Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study

Tue, 4 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Youth are arrested at high rates in the United States; however, long-term health effects of arrest remain unmeasured. We sought to describe the sociodemographic characteristics and health of adults who were arrested at various ages among a nationally representative sample. METHODS: Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we describe sociodemographics and health status in adolescence (Wave I, ages 12-21) and adulthood (Wave V, ages 32-42) for people first arrested at age younger than 14 years, 14 to 17 years, and 18 to 24 years, compared to never arrested adults. Health measures included physical health (general health, mobility/functional limitations, death), mental health (depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts), and clinical biomarkers (hypertension, diabetes). We estimate associations between age of first arrest and health using covariate adjusted regressions. RESULTS: Among the sample of 10,641 adults, 28.5% had experienced arrest before...

What kind of “poverty” predicts CPS contact: Income, material hardship, and differences among racialized groups

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background and Purpose Child protective services (CPS) contact is consistently linked with poverty in the US, and empirical evidence is mounting to indicate that disparate exposure to income poverty explains a substantial portion of racial inequities in CPS involvement. Evidence about the different distributions of income poverty and material hardship also suggests that income poverty may not sufficiently capture economic wellbeing among families. This paper assessed whether differences in exposure to income poverty and/or material hardship explain racial inequities in CPS contact and further examined whether income poverty and material hardship predict CPS contact differently within racialized groups. Methods We used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), an urban cohort representative of births in large US cities in 1998–2000. The FFCWS data are ideal for this study in capturing each of the key constructs: racialized group membership, income, material...

Critical Consciousness and Wellbeing in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Youth experiencing systemic oppression(s) face heightened challenges to wellbeing. Critical consciousness, comprised of reflection, motivation, and action against oppression, may protect wellbeing. Wellbeing here refers to mental, socioemotional, and physical health. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize research on the relationship between critical consciousness and wellbeing among adolescents and young adults (ages 12–29). Five databases (PsycInfo, PsychArticles, ERIC, Sociological Abstracts, and PubMed) were searched systematically using keyword searches and inclusion/exclusion criteria; 29 eligible studies were included. Results demonstrated that the critical consciousness and wellbeing relationship varied by critical consciousness dimension and age. The studies of adolescents most often focused on racial/ethnic marginalization and found critical motivation most strongly associated with better wellbeing. The studies of young adults focused on young adult college...

Inequities in Child Protective Services Contact Between Black and White Children

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Child protective services (CPS) contact occurs at substantially higher rates among Black than White families. The present study considers systemic racism as a central driver of this disparity and emphasizes racialized poverty as a possible mechanism. We used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and logistic regression analyses to assess the associations between income poverty, a racialized experience, and CPS contact, separately among Black and White families. Results indicated that income poverty was a significant predictor of CPS contact among White families, who were protected by higher income. In contrast, income per se was not a significant predictor of CPS contact among Black families, who were instead impacted by racialized family regulation and consequences of poverty, such as poor health and depression. Refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) policies were protective for Black families, and more expansive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families...

Partnership Status and Mental Health in a Nationally Representative Sample of Sexual Minorities

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Research has consistently shown mental health differences between sexual minority subgroups with bisexual people often reporting higher levels of psychological distress than lesbians and gay men. Relationship status has been suggested, but not well studied, as a potential factor contributing to subgroup differences in mental health. Using a national probability sample of non-transgender sexual minority adults across 3 age cohorts (18-25, 34-41, 52-59 years), we assessed group differences in psychological distress (Kessler 6) between lesbian/gay (N = 505), bisexual (N = 272), and queer/pansexual (N=75) respondents. We examined whether relationship status (single/partnered) moderated the relationship between sexual identity and psychological distress. Among those that were partnered, we tested whether key partner characteristics related to sexual identity - gender of partner (cisgender same-sex/transgender or cisgender different-sex) and partner sexual identity (same or mixed sexual...

Effect of home environment on academic achievement in child protective service-involved children: Results from the second national survey of child and adolescent well-being study

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background

Children involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) have been shown to have lower academic achievement. It is unclear whether certain qualities of the home environment can optimize academic achievement in this vulnerable population.

Objective

This study sought to determine whether home environments with higher levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation predict later academic achievement and whether this relationship is moderated by placement type (i.e. biological/adoptive parent care, kinship care, or non-kinship foster care).

Participants and setting

This study included 1,206 children from the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW-II) who were involved with CPS between 2-7 years of age.

Methods

Multivariate analyses were completed to examine the effect of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score on later Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ-ACH) scores. Moderation...

Narratives of Gender, Sexuality, and Community in Three Generations of Genderqueer Sexual Minorities

Fri, 9 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Genderqueer identities-those that challenge a strict binary between woman and man-are increasingly visible within mainstream culture and psychological research. However, little is known about generational differences in the lived experience of genderqueer people. Inductive thematic analysis of interviews with 30 genderqueer sexual minorities of 3 distinct generations living the United States revealed 3 major themes: (a) unintelligibility: genderqueer people face challenges in identifying, naming, and expressing their gender due to the constraints of everyday language and material culture; (b) managing stigma through challenging oppression: genderqueer people manage stigma by naming and challenging the gender binary, often in relation to other forms of oppression; and (c) connection beyond mainstream LGBTQ communities: genderqueer people often find connection outside of mainstream LGBTQ spaces, such as through ethnicity-based or sexual subcommunities (e.g.,...

Fierce Autonomy: How Girls and Young Women Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation Perceive Health and Exercise Agency in Health Care Decision-Making

Thu, 8 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Prior research has examined the high health care needs and vulnerabilities faced by survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), yet their perspectives are frequently absent. We sought to understand the narratives and views of individuals affected by CSE on their bodies, health, and motivations to seek health care treatment. Twenty-one girls and young women ages 15 to 19 years with self-identified histories of CSE participated in the study. All participants had current or prior involvement in the juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems. Data collection included brief questionnaires, followed by semi-structured individual interviews. The interviews took place between March and July 2017 and were analyzed using iterative and inductive techniques, using the shared decision-making model as a guide. "Fierce Autonomy" emerged as a core theme, depicting how past traumas and absence of control led the girls and young women to exercise agency and reclaim autonomy over decisions...

Insurance- and medical provider-related barriers and facilitators to staying on PrEP: results from a qualitative study

Wed, 7 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biobehavioral strategy for preventing HIV acquisition. Although PrEP uptake has increased steadily, discontinuation rates are high among members of key populations like gay and bisexual men (GBM). Understanding the challenges that arise for PrEP users is key to better PrEP implementation and sustained use over time. We report on barriers that arose for PrEP-using GBM, as well as facilitating factors that aided PrEP persistence, with the goal of informing PrEP implementation efforts. In 2015-2016, 103 PrEP-using GBM in NYC completed qualitative interviews about their engagement with PrEP, including their experiences navigating PrEP-related medical care. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed thematically. Over half of participants (53%) received their PrEP-related care from their primary care provider (PCP), one-third (33%) from a community-based health clinic, and 13% from multiple medical providers. Emergent...

Support for Transgender Military Service from Active Duty United States Military Personnel

Wed, 7 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

IntroductionMost transgender individuals are banned from serving in and joining the U.S. military. Historically, exclusions and limits have been placed on women, people of color, and sexual minority people seeking to serve and advance within the U.S. military. However, both history and prior research demonstrate that diversity contributes to social and institutional advancement within both U.S. and international militaries.MethodsWe used an adapted respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach to recruit transgender and cisgender heterosexual and LGB active duty military members in a first-of-its-kind study funded by the Department of Defense. We recruited 540 active duty service members serving one of the four major branches of the U.S. military between August 2017 and March 2018. We examined data from 486 heterosexual cisgender and LGB cisgender service members to understand their support for transgender people serving in the U.S. military.ResultsFindings indicate broad support...

Behavioral health treatment “Buy-in” among adolescent females with histories of commercial sexual exploitation

Wed, 7 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Adolescent females with histories of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) have high mental health and substance use treatment needs, yet little is known about their perspectives regarding behavioral health and behavioral health treatment. OBJECTIVE: We sought to understand the attitudes of adolescent females with histories of CSE regarding behavioral health to identify factors influencing "buy-in" to behavioral healthcare. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants included 21 adolescent females, affiliated with our partner organizations (two group homes, a service agency, and a juvenile specialty court), who reported having exchanged sex for something of value. METHODS: In-depth qualitative interviews explored participants' perspectives towards behavioral health. We conducted thematic analysis to identify themes concerning behavioral health. RESULTS: Participants provided insightful definitions of "mental health" that included positive and negative aspects of emotional...

Physical Health, Medical Care Access, and Medical Insurance Coverage of Youth Returning Home After Incarceration: A Systematic Review

Wed, 7 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Youth reentry following incarceration is a subject of active health care policy innovation and debate. We systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for research articles on physical health status or medical care access related to youth reentry (i.e., children and adolescents under 18 years of age). A total of 2,187 articles were identified in the search. After applying exclusion criteria, 10 articles remained. Those included covered general physical health (four articles), medical insurance coverage (five), noninsurance barriers to care and care utilization (five), and reentry youths' prioritization of needs (four). Despite vulnerable health status, the literature on youths' physical health status and medical care access during reentry is sparse, signifying a disconnect in research priorities. The findings suggest that intervention trials on youth reentry and health are needed and that that policy makers should be concerned with Medicaid policy...

Understanding Commercially Sexually Exploited Young Women's Access to, Utilization of, and Engagement in Health Care: “Work Around What I Need”

Sat, 3 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE: We sought to understand the perspectives of commercially sexually exploited (CSE) young women regarding their health care needs, access, and use patterns. METHODS: Twenty-one CSE young women participated in this mixed methods study. Data collection included brief surveys measuring health care use, followed by in-depth, semistructured interviews to gain insight into CSE young women's health care needs, barriers and facilitators to health care, use patterns, and recommendations for improving care. Data analysis techniques included descriptive statistics for the quantitative survey data and thematic analysis for the qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Survey data demonstrated relatively high health care use across health care types, especially for reproductive and mental health treatment services. Barriers to care included being "on the run," fear of bad diagnoses, and trafficker control. The fierce autonomy conceptual model emerged from the analyses to describe participants'...

Development of a measure to assess vaccine confidence among men who have sex with men

Sat, 3 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Recent serogroup C meningococcal disease outbreaks led to meningococcal vaccine recommendations for Southern California men who have sex with men (MSM). Assessment of vaccine confidence is critical to improving vaccine coverage in the context of disease outbreaks wherein immunization(s) are recommended. METHODS: We surveyed MSM using venue-based sampling and began development of the vaccine confidence index (VCI) with 30 survey items corresponding to trust- and safety-related perceptions. We performed exploratory factor analyses and computed the Cronbach's alpha coefficient to assess internal consistency of the VCI. We created a categorical confidence variable (low, medium, and high confidence) and conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate associations with reported confidence and immunization uptake. RESULTS: Ten survey items were included in the final VCI and formed the confidence measure. Participants with low confidence had the lowest levels of...

Reproductive health needs of recently incarcerated youth during community reentry: a systematic review

Fri, 2 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Youth involved in the juvenile justice system have high reproductive health needs and, on exiting detention, face the challenging transition of reentry. We conducted a systematic literature review to describe what is known about youths' reproductive health needs during community reentry after incarceration. METHODS: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for articles containing key words with the concepts 'child or adolescent', 'incarcerated' and 'reentry'. In the search, we defined the concept of 'reentry' as within 1 month prior to release (to include interventions involving pre-release planning) and up to 18 months after release from incarceration. RESULTS: Our search yielded 2187 articles. After applying all exclusion criteria, 14 articles on reproductive health remained for extraction. The articles provided data on the following aspects of youths' reproductive health: frequency of condom use (eight articles), sexual risk behaviours other...

Concomitant Utilization of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY) Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Los Angeles County, California

Fri, 2 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Recent outbreaks of serogroup C meningococcal disease in Southern California have led the California Department of Public Health to recommend the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Southern California. High-risk GBMSM have also been advised to utilize pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. Data collected from a community-based sample of HIV-negative GBMSM in Los Angeles County (N = 476) were used in a multinomial logit regression analysis to identify patterns in MenACWY and PrEP usage and evaluate factors associated with use of both, one, or neither of these prevention methods. More than half (56%) of participants had neither been vaccinated nor used PrEP. A smaller percentage (34%) had either been vaccinated or were PrEP users, leaving 10% who had concomitant PrEP and MenACWY use. Higher education, more recent sex partners, illicit drug use, and recent receptive condomless anal sex (CAS)...

The Impact of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis on Sexual Communication and Sexual Behavior of Urban Gay and Bisexual Men

Fri, 2 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has altered the public health landscape for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) by significantly increasing protection against HIV infection. Early epidemiologic data showed GBM generally used PrEP as prescribed, i.e., as an additional protective tool over and above barrier protection, although subsequent reports have been equivocal. Irrespective of population-level trends, some GBM appear to have reevaluated their HIV risk tolerance and changed their interactions with sex partners. Scant published data have focused on factors that influence PrEP-using GBM’s decisions about sexual behavior—including condom use as well as sex with HIV-positive partners—and sexual communication practices. Thus, in this study, we investigated those research concerns qualitatively via content analysis of individual interviews conducted with 103 GBM in New York City (M age 32.5 years, 50% White, 64% on PrEP > 6 months). Emergent themes reflect...

The Role of Parent Engagement in Overcoming Barriers to Care for Youth Returning Home After Incarceration

Thu, 1 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We sought to understand the role of parent engagement in overcoming barriers to care for youth re-entering the community following incarceration. For this mixed methods study, we conducted quantitative surveys on healthcare needs and access with youth (n = 50) at 1-month post-incarceration, and semi-structured interviews with a subset of these youth (n = 27) and their parents (n = 34) at 1, 3, and 6-months post-incarceration (total 94 interviews). Differences by race/ethnicity and gender were assessed using Chi square test of proportions. We performed thematic analysis of interview transcripts to examine the role of parent engagement in influencing youths’ access to healthcare during reentry. Most youth were from racial/ethnic minority groups and reported multiple ACEs. Girls, compared to boys, had higher ACE scores (p = 0.03), lower family connectedness (p = 0.03), and worse general health (p = 0.02). Youth-identified barriers to care were often parent-dependent and included...

What Motivates Gay and Bisexual Men to Participate in PrEP-Related Research?

Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been demonstrated effective at preventing HIV among key populations like gay and bisexual men (GBM). Yet, there remains a continued need to engage GBM in PrEP behavioral and clinical research (e.g., to monitor adherence and retention in the PrEP treatment cascade). We report on the factors motivating GBM to participate in a PrEP behavioral study, with the aim of our results to inform future recruitment efforts for future PrEP research. In 2015-2016, 103 PrEP-using GBM in NYC completed qualitative interviews about their experiences on PrEP. Participants were also asked about factors that motivated them to join the study. Thematic analysis was used analyze the data. We identified five salient themes as rationale for joining the study: 58.3% cited altruistic reasons, 32% reported intellectual curiosity in the subject matter, 30.1% indicated that remuneration inspired them, 18.4% indicated that familiarity or referral to the research institute influenced...

Perspectives on Academic Mentorship From Sexual and Gender Minority Students Pursuing Careers in the Health Sciences

Mon, 29 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

High-quality academic mentorship is key to the success of students pursuing careers in the health sciences. Mentorship may take on additional importance for sexual and gender minority (SGM) students, who often face stressors related to stigmatized identities. We conducted an anonymous online survey to assess the mentorship experiences of SGM students pursuing careers in the health sciences and to elicit their perspectives on what makes an effective mentor. Students (N = 166) were pursuing a variety of health-related careers, including medicine (12.7%), nursing (7.8%), public health (21.1%), and social work (19.3%). Overall, students rated the quality of their mentorship experiences as (very) good: 83.8% among participants who reported having had an academic mentor that openly identified as SGM and 79.5% among participants who had a non-SGM identified mentor (ns). Participants recommended individual, dyadic and structural level activities that could be undertaken by academic mentors...

Poverty, economic strengthening, and mental health among AIDS orphaned children in Uganda: Mediation model in a randomized clinical trial

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Some evidence points to the positive effects of asset accumulation programs on mental health of children living in low-resource contexts. However, no evidence exists as to why and how such impact occurs. Our study aims to understand whether child poverty, child work, and household wealth serve as pathways through which the economic strengthening intervention affects the mental health of AIDS-orphaned children. The study employed a cluster-randomized experimental design with a family-based economic strengthening intervention conducted among 1410 school-going AIDS-orphaned children ages 10 and 16 years old in 48 primary schools in South Western Uganda. To test the hypothesized relationships between the intervention, mediators (household wealth, child poverty, and child's work) and mental health, we ran structural equation models that adjust for clustering of individuals within schools and account for potential correlation among the mediators. We found significant unmediated effect...

Gay and Bisexual Men’s Strategies to Maintain Daily Adherence to Their HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Medication: Results from a Qualitative Study

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Since FDA approval in 2012, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been adopted by key populations, including gay and bisexual men (GBM), to reduce their HIV transmission risk. Given that PrEP is optimally effective when taken as prescribed, it is critical to understand the adherence strategies GBM use. We conducted one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with GBM taking PrEP in 2015–2016 (n = 103). Using thematic analysis, we identified six adherence strategies, with most participants (84.3%) utilizing multiple strategies to maintain adequate adherence: (1) integrating PrEP into part of a daily routine, (2) using a pillbox, (3) cognitive strategies/visual cues, (4) setting recurring smartphone alarms or reminders, (5) keeping medication on oneself at all times, and (6) partner or peer support for reminders and/or pill sharing. Overall, participants reported high PrEP adherence (M = 1.6 missed doses in the prior 30 days), though nearly all described missing at least one dose...

Understanding Commercially Sexually Exploited Youths' Facilitators and Barriers toward Contraceptive Use: I Didn't Really Have a Choice

Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Because of the high reproductive health risks that commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY) face, we sought to understand facilitators and barriers related to their use of condoms and hormonal contraception. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We conducted semistructured interviews with 21 female CSEY. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for emergent themes. Participants were enrolled through group homes and a juvenile specialty court serving CSEY. RESULTS: Overall, CSEY reported relatively easy access to hormonal contraception and condoms, expressing a strong preference for condoms as their primary form of contraception. Most respondents described an aversion toward hormonal birth control, attributed to personal experiences and peer accounts of side effects. Many also shared a common belief that hormonal methods are "unnatural," cause infertility, and have low efficacy. Although youth expressed a preference...

How Do Gay and Bisexual Men Make Up for Missed PrEP Doses, and What Impact Does Missing a Dose Have on Their Subsequent Sexual Behavior?

Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is being adopted by members of key populations, such as gay and bisexual men (GBM). Since adherence to a daily PrEP regimen ensures a maximum protection, it is critical to understand GBM's behavioral responses to having missed PrEP doses. We report on qualitative interviews with GBM taking PrEP. We identified three behavioral responses: (1) 59% continued with their next scheduled dose; (2) 49% described "making up" for a missed dose by taking medication as soon as possible; and (3) 11% reported "doubling" the next PrEP dose. Participants provided potentially contradictory narratives about their sexual behavior after a missed dose: (1) 54% described making no changes; (2) 49% described adjusting their sexual behavior to reduce HIV risk; and (3) 10% said their decision would be contingent upon how many doses were missed. For PrEP prescribers, our data provide a useful lens to understand patients' lived experiences with PrEP.

What Is the Relationship Between Incarceration of Children and Adult Health Outcomes?

Sat, 20 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: We sought to quantify the association between child incarceration in the United States and subsequent adult health outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health data from 1727 adult (Wave IV) participants first incarcerated at age <25 years. Using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models, we compared adult health outcomes (ie, mobility limitations, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts) among those first incarcerated at age ≤14 years, 15 to 17 years, and 18 to 20 years, with those first incarcerated at 21 to 24 years as the reference group. RESULTS: Of the 1727 participants, 105 (6.7%) were first incarcerated at age ≤14 years ("child incarceration category"), 315 (19.3%) were first incarcerated at 15 to 17 years, 696 (38.5%) were first incarcerated at 18 to 20 years, and 611 (35.6%) were first incarcerated at 21 to 24 years. Those first incarcerated as children (age ≤14 years) were disproportionately...

Child incarceration and long-term adult health outcomes: a longitudinal study

Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose Although incarceration may have life-long negative health effects, little is known about associations between child incarceration and subsequent adult health outcomes. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed data from 14,689 adult participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to compare adult health outcomes among those first incarcerated between 7 and 13 years of age (child incarceration); first incarcerated at>or=14 years of age; and never incarcerated. Findings Compared to the other two groups, those with a history of child incarceration were disproportionately black or Hispanic, male, and from lower socio-economic strata. Additionally, individuals incarcerated as children had worse adult health outcomes, including general health, functional limitations (climbing stairs), depressive symptoms, and suicidality, than those first incarcerated at older ages or never incarcerated....

Alcohol Use and HIV Risk Within Social Networks of MSM Sex Workers in the Dominican Republic

Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

To examine how alcohol-related HIV risk behaviors within MSM sex workers’ social networks (SN) may be associated with individual risk behaviors, respondent-driven and venue-based sampling were used to collect demographic, behavioral and SN characteristics among MSM sex workers in Santo Domingo and Boca Chica (N = 220). The majority of participants reported problem drinking (71.0%) or alcohol use at their last sexual encounter (71.4%). Self-reported problem drinking was associated with SN characteristics (at least one member who recently got drunk aOR = 7.5, no religious/spiritual adviser aOR = 3.0, non-sexual network density aOR = 0.9), while self-reported alcohol use at last sex was associated with individual (drug use at last sex aOR = 4.4) and SN characteristics (at least one member with previous HIV/STI testing aOR = 4.7). Dominican MSM sex workers reported high alcohol use, which may increase their risk for HIV....

An Integrated Approach to Increasing Women’s Empowerment Status and Reducing Domestic Violence: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in a West African Country

Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: This is the first experimental study testing the effects of an economic intervention alone and in combination with a family-focused component, on women's empowerment status and family violence in Burkina Faso. METHOD: The three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial with baseline and one-year follow-up included 360 ultra-poor married women from 12 villages. Villages were randomized to the three study arms: economic intervention for women (Trickle Up/TU), a combination of economic intervention and family coaching (Trickle Up Plus), and waitlist (Control arm). Analysis utilized repeated-measures mixed effects regressions. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, there was a significant improvement in both the TU arm and the TU Plus arm in women's financial autonomy and in quality of marital relationships. In addition, women in both intervention arms reported a significant reduction in emotional spousal violence in the past year, with the effect size greater...

A Mixed Methods Approach to Network Data Collection

Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There is a growing interest in examining network processes with a mix of qualitative and quantitative network data. Research has consistently shown that free recall name generators entail recall bias and result in missing data that affects the quality of social network data. This study describes a mixed methods approach for collecting social network data, combining a free recall name generator in the context of an online survey with network relations data coded from transcripts of semi-structured qualitative interviews. The combined network provides substantially more information about the network space, both quantitatively and qualitatively. While network density was relatively stable across networks generated from different data collection methodologies, there were noticeable differences in centrality and component structure across networks. The approach presented here involved limited participant burden and generated more complete data than either technique alone could provide....

Sexual and Gender Diversity Within the Black Men Who Have Sex with Men HIV Epidemiological Category

Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Epidemiological categories not only reflect existing frameworks for public health, but also reify how subpopulations are defined, understood, and targeted for interventions. The sweeping categorization of Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) used in HIV research and intervention work is one such example. The current paper builds upon previous critiques of the “MSM” nomenclature by delineating the sexual and gender diversity embedded in the term as it pertains specifically to Black peoples. The emphasis is on developing greater specificity about the sociocultural and structural factors that may be shared among these subgroups, such as racism and poverty, and the factors that are likely to distinguish the groups, such as levels of sexual minority identification; access to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) services and community; and experiences with anti-bisexual or anti-transgender bias. The aim then is to provide a framework for HIV health policy work for Black...

Early life predictors of alcohol-related attitudes among 11-year-old never drinkers

Sat, 6 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Alcohol-related attitudes are evident before children have personal experience drinking alcohol and represent key proximal predictors of alcohol use, but relatively little is known about how early life characteristics predict these attitudes. Among late childhood lifetime alcohol abstainers (M_age=10.67years; 51% girls), we examine predictors of positive alcohol expectancies and perceived risk of alcohol use. Data from the Millennium Cohort Study, an ongoing nationally representative longitudinal study of children born in the UK, were available from 11,097 children who completed the self-report survey at modal age 11 and reported never drinking alcohol. A sequential structural model suggested that sociodemographic factors were distal predictors of age 11 alcohol attitudes that operated, in part, through family and child risk factors (measured at ages 3 to 7). Alcohol attitudes varied by sociodemographics; for example, boys had higher positive expectancies than girls...

Measuring Use of Research Evidence

Fri, 5 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the Standard Interview for Evidence Use (SIEU), a measure to assess the level of engagement in acquiring, evaluating, and applying research evidence in health and social service settings. METHOD: Three scales measuring input, process, and output of research evidence and eight subscales were identified using principal axis factor analysis and parallel analysis of data collected from 202 state and county child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems leaders. RESULTS: The SIEU scales and subscales demonstrate strong internal consistency as well as convergent and discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The SIEU is easy to use and can be administered as a complete scale or as three smaller scales to separately examine evidence in acquisition, evaluation, or application. The measure demonstrates potential in understanding the role of research evidence in service settings and in monitoring the process of evidence-based practice and application...

The Effects of Collaborative Care Training on Case Managers’ Perceived Depression-Related Services Delivery

Fri, 5 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of a depression care quality improvement (QI) intervention implemented by using Community Engagement and Planning (CEP), which supports collaboration across health and community-based agencies, or Resources for Services (RS), which provides technical assistance, on training participation and service delivery by primarily unlicensed, racially and ethnically diverse case managers in two low-income communities in Los Angeles. METHODS: The study was a cluster-randomized trial with program-level assignment to CEP or RS for implementation of a QI initiative for providing training for depression care. Staff with patient contact in 84 health and community-based programs that were eligible for the provider outcomes substudy were invited to participate in training and to complete baseline and one-year follow-up surveys; 117 case managers (N=59, RS; N=58, CEP) from 52 programs completed follow-up. Primary outcomes were time spent providing services...

Where are the Beds? Housing Locations for Transition Age Youth Exiting Public Systems

Wed, 3 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Transition age youth (TAY) from the child welfare and juvenile justice systems experience high rates of homelessness, but little is known about the neighborhoods to which they return after they exit these systems. This exploratory study investigates whether housing options are located in areas where TAY exit public systems and if the characteristics of areas surrounding these facilities support their transition to adulthood. Results show that housing is not related to areas where TAY exit public systems. Further, supportive housing and shelter density is related to low-income areas. Implications for practice and policy on housing locations for TAY are discussed.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Early Childhood Obesity: Growth Trajectories in Body Mass Index

Tue, 2 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

ObjectiveThe aims of this study are to describe growth trajectories in the body mass index (BMI) among the major racial and ethnic groups of US children and to identify predictors of children’s BMI trajectories.MethodsThe Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) was used to identify predictors of BMI growth trajectories, including child characteristics, maternal attributes, home practices related to diet and social behaviors, and family sociodemographic factors. Growth models, spanning 48 to 72 months of age, were estimated with hierarchical linear modeling via STATA/Xtmixed methods.ResultsApproximately one-third of 4-year-old females and males were overweight and/or obese. African-American and Latino children displayed higher predicted mean BMI scores and differing mean BMI trajectories, compared with White children, adjusting for time-independent and time-dependent predictors. Several factors were significantly associated with lower mean BMI trajectories,...

Bills, babies, and (language) barriers: Associations among economic strain, parenting, and primary language during the newborn period

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine associations among economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, parenting satisfaction, and parent primary language in a universally low-income sample of parents with newborns. Background: Previous research links increased economic strain to lower levels of parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction among socioeconomically diverse parents with older children. Little research has examined whether primary language shapes the associations among economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting satisfaction. Method: Parents (n = 194, M _age = 30.91) completed self-report surveys measuring economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting satisfaction. Parents' ethnic self-identification and primary language were used to stratify parents into three groups: Latinx Spanish speakers, Latinx English speakers, and non-Latinx English speakers. Results: Regression analyses revealed that economic...

Substance Use Homophily Among Geosocial Networking Application Using Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Geosocial networking applications (GSN apps) represent important virtual contexts in which gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) seek affiliation. These apps allow users to create and view public profiles, send photos, and text messages, and connect with other users based on shared interests and geographic proximity. The present study examined substance use homophily among a sample of 295 MSM recruited via a popular GSN app. Comparisons of social network members met via GSN app versus elsewhere and associations between both individual and network characteristics and recent binge drinking, marijuana use, and illicit substance use were explored using bivariate tests of association and multivariate logistic regression analyses. High rates of recent binge drinking (59 %), marijuana use (37 %), and illicit substance use (27 %) were observed among participants. GSN app use greater than 1 year and showing naked chest or abs in a profile picture...

Use of alcohol before suicide in the United States

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE: Few studies have compared acute use of alcohol in suicide decedents with that in a nonsuicide group. This study provides the first national analysis of acute use of alcohol before suicide compared with an estimate of acute use of alcohol in a living sample. METHODS: Pooled 2003-2011 National Violent Death Reporting System data were used to estimate the prevalence of postmortem blood alcohol content positivity (blood alcohol content >0.0 g/dL) and intoxication (blood alcohol content ≥0.08 g/dL). Population estimates of comparable use of alcohol (within the past 48 hours) were based on the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. RESULTS: Compared with the living sample, male and female suicide decedents showed, respectively, a 1.83-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.73-1.93) and 2.40-fold (95% CI, 2.24-2.57) increased risk of alcohol ingestion before their death after age, race/ethnicity, and chronic alcohol problems were controlled. Furthermore,...

Network Influences on the Sexual Risk Behaviors of Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Using Geosocial Networking Applications

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Geosocial networking applications (GSN apps) have become increasingly popular among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Our study sought to understand whether inclusion of individuals met via GSN apps in participants’ social networks was associated with increased HIV risk behaviors among a probability sample of GSN app using MSM (N = 295) recruited in Los Angeles, California. Approximately 20 % of participants included a GSN app-met individual as one of their top five closest social network members. Those with a GSN app-met network member had more recent (past 30-day) sexual partners (B = 1.21, p < 0.05), were nearly twice as likely to have engaged in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with their last sexual partner (AOR = 2.02, p < 0.05), and were nearly four times as likely to have engaged in UAI with their last GSN app-met sexual partner (AOR = 3.98, p < 0.001). Network-based...

Cell Phone Internet Access, Online Sexual Solicitation, Partner Seeking, and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Adolescents

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Online partner seeking is associated with sexual risk behavior among young adults (specifically men who have sex with men), but this association has yet to be explored among a probability sample of adolescents. Moreover, cell phone internet access and sexual risk taking online and offline have not been explored. A probability sample (N = 1,831) of Los Angeles Unified School District high school students was collected in 2011. Logistic regression models assessed relationships between specific sexual risk behaviors (online sexual solicitation, seeking partners online, sex with internet-met partners, condom use) and frequency of internet use, internet access points, and demographics. Students with cell phone internet access were more likely to report being solicited online for sex, being sexually active, and having sex with an internet-met partner. Bisexual-identifying students reported higher rates of being approached online for sex, being sexually active, and not using...

Effects of Minority Stress Processes on the Mental Health of Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women: A Qualitative Study

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Emerging literature on minority stress among sexual minority populations has described the negative consequences that multiple minority statuses may exert on mental health and well-being. This literature has tended to focus on individuals whose self-identifications reflect sexual minority sexual categories, such as gay or bisexual, and has explored the intersection of these definitions with ethnic, racial, and class statuses. Few such studies have explored mental health among men who actively deny a sexual minority sexual identity label while engaging in same-sex sexual behaviors. The present study used ethnographic interview data from 20 non-gay-identified bisexually behaving Dominican and Puerto Rican men in New York City. Participants described discovery of same sex sexual behavior as a threat to their intimate relationships, community affiliation, and counter to expectations of Latino masculinity. Recounting a wide range of information management strategies...

Trends in Child Protection and Out-of-Home Care

Thu, 6 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Over the past decades, increased knowledge about childhood abuse and trauma have prompted changes in child welfare policy, and practice that may have affected the out-of-home (OOH) care population. However, little is known about recent national trends in child maltreatment, OOH placement, or characteristics of children in OOH care. The objective of this study was to examine trends in child maltreatment and characteristics of children in OOH care. METHODS: We analyzed 2 federal administrative databases to identify and characterize US children who were maltreated (National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System) or in OOH care (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System). We assessed trends between 2000 and 2010. RESULTS: The number of suspected maltreatment cases increased 17% from 2000 to 2010, yet the number of substantiated cases decreased 7% and the number of children in OOH care decreased 25%. Despite the decrease in OOH placements, we found a 19% increase...

Network correlates of sexual health advice seeking and substance use among members of the Los Angeles House and Ball communities

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

House and Ball communities (HBCs), represent a prime context for human immunodeficiency virus prevention with African American young men who have sex with men and transgender persons. This study sought to understand the composition and function of social support and sexual networks of HBC members in Los Angeles, California (N = 263). Participants were recruited using venue-based sampling and asked to report on sexual health advice seeking, alcohol use and illicit substance use. Participants were more likely to seek sexual health advice from social support network members compared with sexual network members [odds ratio (OR): 2.50, P < 0.001]. HBC members were more likely to get drunk (OR: 1.57; P < 0.05) and use illicit substances (OR: 1.87; P < 0.10) with House members and sexual network members compared with non-House members and social support network members. Health promotion programs tailored for the HBC should encourage open communication regarding sexual health;...

Acceptability of Smartphone Application-Based HIV Prevention Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are increasingly using mobile smartphone applications (“apps”), such as Grindr, to meet sex partners. A probability sample of 195 Grindr-using YMSM in Southern California were administered an anonymous online survey to assess patterns of and motivations for Grindr use in order to inform development and tailoring of smartphone-based HIV prevention for YMSM. The number one reason for using Grindr (29 %) was to meet “hook ups.” Among those participants who used both Grindr and online dating sites, a statistically significantly greater percentage used online dating sites for “hook ups” (42 %) compared to Grindr (30 %). Seventy percent of YMSM expressed a willingness to participate in a smartphone app-based HIV prevention program. Development and testing of smartphone apps for HIV prevention delivery has the potential to engage YMSM in HIV prevention programming, which can be tailored based on use patterns and motivations for use.