Stress, Social Support, and Mental Health Among Young Adult Hispanics
National health goals include assessing and improving mental health in understudied US populations. We surveyed 274 individuals (18-35 years old) of Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin residing in the United States. Participants reported poor general mental health compared with Healthy People goals. Stress was negatively associated and perceived supportive communication was positively associated with mental health. A 3-way interaction showed perceived supportive communication mitigated the negative effect of stress on mental health, and perceptions of tangible support without supportive communication degraded overall mental hea...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Family and Child Characteristics Associated With Caregiver Challenges for Medically Complex Children
Children with medical complexity, comprising 3% of US children, face elevated risk of adverse medical, developmental, psychosocial, and family outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between family and child characteristics and caregiver challenges via a retrospective cohort study using data from 2009/2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Results revealed that most children with medical complexity have 2 or more conditions; region of residence, insurance, and health conditions significantly predict caregiver challenges; and race, ethnicity, and coinsurance status are as...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Food Sources of Shortfall Nutrients Among US Adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014
To identify food sources of shortfall nutrients consumed by adolescents (n = 3156), data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2011-2014) were used. Some of the food groups commonly consumed by adolescents made a significant contribution to shortfall nutrient intakes in the diet. Many food sources that provided significant amounts of shortfall nutrients were from foods that also provided nutrients to limit. Awareness of nutrient intakes and food sources is essential to establish dietary guidance in a practical context. Efforts to continue monitoring the food sources of nutrients consumed by ad...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Community-Based Parenting Support Intervention for Refugee Parents From Burma
Refugee families negotiate stressors as they adjust to communities of resettlement, which can result in shifting family dynamics. The purpose of this community-engaged, explanatory, mixed-methods pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally oriented, community-based parenting curriculum. Through a partnership with a prominent refugee-serving organization, the curriculum was delivered to 50 Karen refugee mothers and fathers of adolescent youth resettled in the United States. Results demonstrated the potential for impact on key constructs of family adaptability and cohesion, as well as parent...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Who Are the Undiagnosed? Disparities in Hypertension Diagnoses in Vulnerable Populations
This study builds upon a project that developed clinical criteria to identify undiagnosed hypertension patients “hiding in plain sight” (HIPS) by examining patient characteristics to understand whether there are disparities in hypertension diagnosis. We examined electronic health record demographic data for patients identified by the HIPS criteria and subgroups at 3 Missouri health centers. Identified patients who returned for a follow-up visit and were subsequently diagnosed with hypertension tended to be older, black/African American, uninsured, and classified as having obesity. Younger, white, healthy weight females...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Perceived Family Social Support for Healthy Eating Is Related to Healthy Dietary Patterns for Native Americans: A Cross-sectional Examination
Native Americans continue to suffer health disparities ameliorated by healthy dietary patterns. The study objective was to determine moderating effects of perceived family social support on the relationship between ethnicity and diet behaviors. Dependent variables included dietary variables, and independent variable was family social support for healthy eating. Analyses included Pearson χ2 and correlation, one-way analysis of variance, and regression tests. Higher social support was related to lower consumption of added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages, and red/processed meats for Native Americans. More research is neede...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Family Weight Teasing, LGBTQ Attitudes, and Well-being Among LGBTQ Adolescents
This study explored weight-based victimization by family members, accepting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) attitudes, and family connectedness, and how these experiences are associated with health, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms among LGBTQ adolescents. Data came from the LGBTQ National Teen Survey (N = 9261, mean age = 15.6 years). The 3 key variables were significantly associated with poorer self-rated health, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. For example, weight-based victimization was associated with approximately 2 more points on the depressive symptoms scale (β = 1.81, P...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Medicaid Instability and Mental Health of Teen Parent Families
This study examines the effect of inconsistent Medicaid coverage on parenting stress, maternal depression, and child behavior in a sample of teen mothers and their children. The majority (54%) of mothers experienced inconsistent coverage. After 24 months, mothers experiencing inconsistent coverage had significantly higher parenting stress and depressive symptoms, and their children had more internalizing behaviors than families with consistent Medicaid. These differences existed despite no initial differences and controlling for numerous covariates. Policies and practices that stabilize Medicaid coverage for teen parent fa...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Physical Activity and Pain in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease
Study objectives were to examine the relationships between physical activity, pain, and psychological distress in youth 8 to 17 years of age with sickle cell disease. Participants were 206 youth with sickle cell disease (M = 11.73 years, 54.9% female, 99.5% African American). Caregivers and youth completed a clinical psychosocial screening battery. Results revealed frequent pain (37.6%), moderate median pain intensity, and elevated median pain interference in youth. Lower caregiver-reported physical activity was associated with worse pain outcomes. Increased anxiety was also associated with worse pain outcomes. A better un...
Source: Family and Community Health - November 26, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Families in Context: Food Insecurity Among Hispanic Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Households With Children
Using restricted, geo-coded Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-2011 data (N = 2700) linked with 3 sources of contextual data, we examine whether a comprehensive set of individual, household, and county-level characteristics explains disparities in household food insecurity between Hispanic children of foreign- and US-born parents. Adjusting for individual, household, and county-level characteristics does not eliminate the higher odds of household food insecurity among Hispanic children in immigrant families, especially of Mexican origin. Moreover, growth in the noncitizen population at the count...
Source: Family and Community Health - August 21, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Central American Immigrant Mothers' Mental Health in the Context of Illegality: Structural Stress, Parental Concern, and Trauma
Using a community-based participatory research approach, we surveyed 134 undocumented Central American immigrant mothers to examine correlates of maternal mental health. Drawing upon an ecosystemic framework, predictors of depression included structural and familial stressors, parental concerns, and maternal health factors. Mothers' perceptions of child affect, traumatic stress, and general health ratings were among the most salient predictors. However, structural and familial stressors, such as food insecurity and single parenting, also accounted for significant variance in depression scores. Findings informed community a...
Source: Family and Community Health - August 21, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Home Food Environment Factors Associated With Hispanic Preschoolers' Intake of Fruits and Vegetables
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of home fruit and vegetable (F&V) availability and maternal feeding practices with Hispanic preschoolers' F&V intake (N = 238). “Availability' of total fruit” (P (Source: Family and Community Health)
Source: Family and Community Health - August 21, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Understanding Complex Roles of Family for Latina Health: Evaluating Family Obligation Stress
We developed a measure of family obligation stress and compared its relationship to health and unmet health care needs relative to social support among a sample of US-based Latinas. Data come from a randomized controlled trial within 4 clinics to increase mammography among Latinas (n = 539). The 1-factor measure had acceptable reliability and construct validity. Family obligation stress was associated with worse health and greater unmet health care needs. Family obligation stress varied by years in the United States and country of origin. Our measure of family obligation stress contributes new venues to family research amo...
Source: Family and Community Health - August 21, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Activating Communal Coping Related to Diabetes Risk in Mexican-Heritage Families
We investigate how interpersonal ties influence communication about type 2 diabetes risk and encouragement to maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle between family members of Mexican heritage, after a family history-based risk assessment intervention. Results suggest that individuals are more likely to initiate risk communication with another family member if they are close to, already seek advice from, or discuss health with him or her. Risk communication precedes encouragement, which is initiated by the older generation of the family. Understanding the role of interpersonal relationships in Mexican-heritage families can h...
Source: Family and Community Health - August 21, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Concordance and Discordance of the Knowledge, Understanding, and Description of Children's Experience of Food Insecurity Among Hispanic Adults and Children
Food insecurity is highly detrimental for children, who experience food insecurity differently than do adults. We aimed to understand concordance and discordance of adults' and children's knowledge, understanding, and description of children's experience of food insecurity. In-depth interviews were conducted with the primary caregiver, another caregiver, and a child 9 to 16 years of age in 16 Hispanic families at risk of food insecurity in South Carolina. Adults often lacked knowledge of the food insecurity experiences of their children, which presents challenges for adults with roles as caregivers, educators, or policy ma...
Source: Family and Community Health - August 21, 2019 Category: Primary Care Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
