Social Drivers of Mental Health: A U.S. Study Using Machine Learning.

Introduction: Social drivers of mental health can be compared on an aggregated level. This study employed a machine learning approach to identify and rank social drivers of mental health across census tracts in the U.S.

Commentary: An Equitable Approach to Serving Structurally Marginalized Communities.

As the United States grapples with social injustices, greater attention is being placed on the historical lack of equity practices among health and social service organizations that serve marginalized and predominantly racially minoritized communities. We describe strategies health and social service organizations that partner with community-led organizations must take to ensure actionable equitable changes. The opportunity and promise are upon us to resolve health inequities and promote equity-oriented practices, policies, systems, and social-environmental changes.

Reconsidering Community-Engaged Research Through a Syndemic Theoretical Framework: Lessons from COVID-19.

Background: Community-engaged research is a well-established approach to tackling health disparities in communities of color. However, the devastation caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) calls for a reexamination of the practice of community-engaged research. Syndemic framework characterizes the clustering and synergistic interactions between two or more diseases amid an underlay of social and environmental threats.

Mediating role of self-esteem: Black Caribbean and African American adolescents' initiation of sex.

To determine how self-esteem mediates the relationship between family support and initiation of sex for US-born Black Caribbean compared to African American adolescents. Secondary data analyses were performed on responses from 1170 adolescents from the National Survey of American Life-Adolescents supplement (2003-2004). Weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine whether initiation of sex on perceived family support is mediated by self-esteem.

Relationship between Religious Support and Major Depressive Episode for Adult Non-Medical Prescription Opioid Users and Non-Users.

Non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) is linked with poor mental health outcomes. Previous research has shown that religious support is protective for mental health. To fill the gap in knowledge about how to assist NMPOU users decrease or prevent depression symptoms by incorporating religious support and to identify whether the suppressor model or the health effects model reflects the relationship between religious support and major depressive episode (MDE) for NMPOU users.

Religion, spirituality, coping, and resilience among African Americans with diabetes.

Study aims were to explore how religion and spirituality impacted attitudes about self-management practices among African Americans with homelessness histories and to understand resilience in diabetes care practices. Qualitative semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 42 African Americans older than 18 years. All audio-taped interviews lasted between 1-1.

Comparing the Self-Rated Health Effects of Obesity on the Health of African Americans and Caribbean Blacks.

The Black population is more likely to experience obesity and to be debilitated by associated illnesses. Much evidence exists linking obesity to many chronic diseases, but the relationship with self-reported health is not clear. The study aims were to examine the relationship between obesity and self-reported health across four race- and gender-specific groups of Black Americans and to assess whether health disparities are race or gender driven.

African Americans and Caribbean Blacks: Perceived neighborhood disadvantage and depression.

The purpose of this study was to advance a theoretical understanding of the effects of impoverished neighborhoods on mental health and to inform policy measures encouraging residents to leave such neighborhoods. To do this, we investigated whether individuals' perceived neighborhood disadvantage served as a risk factor for clinical depression in a nationally representative sample of African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. We performed logistic regression analysis on stratified socioeconomic status (SES) subsamples from the National Survey of American Life sample of 5,019 African Americans and Caribbean Blacks.

Mental health treatment and work among African American and Caribbean Black welfare recipients.

Objective: Untreated depression among Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants greatly reduces chances of securing and holding gainful employment.

Method: Logistic regression models were estimated on data describing 1,000 African American and Caribbean Black TANF recipients and 2,123 African American and Caribbean Black non-TANF recipients obtained from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL).

Results: Black TANF participants were more likely than Black non-TANF participants to be depressed and treated.

Mental health care treatment seeking among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks: what is the role of religiosity/spirituality?

Objectives: As adults increase in age, the likelihood for using mental health care services decrease. Underutilization, expecially among racial/ethnic minorities such as African American and Caribbean Blacks, can result in a decrease in quality of life, as well as significant costs to families, employers, and health systems.

Methods: The study explored the differences in relationships between mental health care usage and strength of religious/spiritual beliefs between African American and Caribbean Black older adults (54 years or older) and adults (18-53 years) using data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL).

Diabetes and Tooth Loss among Working-Age African Americans: A National Perspective.

Natural teeth are still lost in adults despite improvements in dental care and access to treatment across the life span. The study examined whether tooth loss can be mitigated in adults experiencing diabetes. National online survey data from the Service Utilization among African Americans with Co-morbid Depression and Diabetes (n = 275) were analyzed using logistic regression analyses.

Veggie Rx: an outcome evaluation of a healthy food incentive programme.

Objective: One challenge to healthy nutrition, especially among low-income individuals, is access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. To address this problem, Veggie Rx, a healthy food incentive programme, was established within a community clinic to increase access to fresh produce for low-income patients diagnosed with obesity, hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes. The current research aimed to evaluate Veggie Rx programme effectiveness.

Building Mobile Apps for Underrepresented Mental Health care Consumers: A Grounded Theory Approach.

Cell phone mobile application ("app") use has risen dramatically within the past several years. Many individuals access apps to address mental health issues. Unlike individuals from privileged backgrounds, individuals from oppressed backgrounds may rely on apps rather than costly mental health treatment.

Determinants of usual source of care disparities among African American and Caribbean Black men: findings from the National Survey of American Life.

Purpose: The Aday-Andersen model was used as a framework for investigating the contribution of immigration status (i.e., nativity and acculturation), socioeconomic factors, health care access, health status, and health insurance to usual source of health care (USOC) in a nationally representative sample of African American (n=551) and Caribbean Black men (n=1,217).

Overrepresentation of black Americans in psychiatric inpatient care.

Objective: Numerous studies have documented overrepresentation of the black population in psychiatric inpatient settings, but none have included certain important covariates or examined heterogeneity within the black population. After controlling for key social, demographic, and clinical factors, the investigators sought to determine whether blacks are overrepresented in inpatient psychiatric settings; they examined differences within the black population by separately examining the prevalence of inpatient treatment of African Americans and U.S.

Health insurance and diabetes among multiracial men: the mediation effects of usual source of care.

Background: Health insurance and having a usual source of care is important in diabetes management for multiethnic men. Few studies focus on determining whether usual source of care mediates the association between health insurance and diabetes among men.

Methods: Using data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey, responses from 17,472 men were analyzed to examine the extent to which a usual source of health care mediates the relationship between health insurance and diabetes.

Heterogeneity in comorbidity between major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and its clinical consequences.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are highly comorbid and, as diagnoses, problematic because they are heterogeneous, may impair functioning even in subclinical manifestations, and may not predict important external criteria as well as empirically-derived classifications. The present study employed a latent class analysis using data from National Comorbidity Survey (1990-1992) and focused on respondents who endorsed at least 1 screening question for MDD and 1 for GAD (N = 1009). Results revealed 4 symptom domains (somatic anxiety, somatic depression, psychological anxiety, and psychological depression) reflecting the heterogeneity of MDD and GAD, and 7 respondent classes.

Increasing body weight and the transition from welfare to work: findings from the National Survey of American Life.

Objective: Few studies focus on employment outcomes for overweight and obese low-income women. We describe the relationship between body mass index and employment status among African American, Caribbean Black and White women who receive assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family program.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from the National Survey of American Life dataset.

The status of low-income families in the post-welfare reform environment: mapping the relationships between poverty and family.

Low-income families face an enormous burden to achieve economic security since the deterioration of a guaranteed safety net. Health insurance coverage is uneven, affordable childcare falls short of demand, and wage earnings insufficiently support family needs. This analysis focuses on recent trends in family formation, the impact of policy changes on families of color and of immigrant status, and explores the daily challenges and coping strategies low-income families use to survive despite insufficient resources.