"The solitude absorbs and it oppresses": 'Illegality' and its implications on Latino immigrant day laborers' social isolation, loneliness and health

Loneliness and global cognitive functioning in racially and ethnically diverse US midlife and older adults

Introduction

Few studies have examined the association of loneliness and cognitive functioning in the US. We used two common measures of loneliness and examined their association in a large sample of US Black, Latino, and White adults (ages ≥ 50).

Methods

We analyzed Wave 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 2,757). We examined loneliness using one item from the CES-D and the Felt Loneliness Measure (NFLM); cognitive functioning was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool, where higher scores indicated better functioning. We used weighted ordinary least squares regressions to examine the effects of loneliness (CES-D loneliness and NFLM in separate models) on MoCA scores. In exploratory analyses, we examined if these relationships varied by race and ethnicity. We adjusted all models for sociodemographic and other salient factors (e.g., chronic disease, depressive symptoms, living alone).

Results

Mean age was 63.49 years, 52% were female, and 9% were Black and 6% Latino persons. Approximately 54% endorsed feeling lonely on at least one measure; 31% (CES-D) and 46% (NFLM). The relationship between loneliness measures was positive and significant, X 2 (1, N = 2,757) = 435.493 p < 0.001. However, only 40% of lonely individuals were identified as lonely on both assessments. CES-D loneliness was inversely (βˆ = -0.274, p = 0.032) associated with MoCA scores and this association did not vary by race and ethnicity. Greater NFLM loneliness was positively associated (βˆ = 0.445, p < 0.001) with higher MoCA scores for Latino participants only.

Discussion

Loneliness appears to be an important predictor of cognitive functioning. However, the association of loneliness and cognitive functioning varied when using the CES-D loneliness item or the NFLM. Future work is needed to understand how loneliness and its clinically relevant dimensions (social, emotional, existential, chronicity) relate to global and individual cognitive domains. Research is needed with racially and ethnically diverse midlife and older adults, particularly to understand our counterintuitive finding for Latino participants. Finally, findings also support the need for research on interventions to prevent cognitive decline targeting loneliness.

Hazard and Injury Experiences of Latino Day Laborers in Houston, Texas

Latino day laborers in the United States provide skilled labor to businesses and homeowners through informal work arrangements. We conducted exploratory qualitative research with Latino day laborers in Houston, Texas, to investigate their perceptions of safety risks and circumstances related to work-related injuries. We conducted focus groups with 34 participants and used risk mapping and body mapping activities to elicit greater engagement by the Latino day laborers in the conversations. Participants described physical, occupational, and psychosocial hazards that affected their risk for workplace injuries. They indicated a significant risk for injury was employers failing to provide proper tools or equipment for the job being done. The themes that emerged from the analysis were lack of control over employment conditions and the risk of performing unsafe work in order to meet financial needs. This formative qualitative research informed a pilot test and subsequent clinical trial of injury risk reduction strategies for Latino day laborers. Interventions to protect day laborers from work-related injuries should be informed by recognizing the employment and social dilemmas they confront.

Patterns of Polydrug Use Classes Among a Subset of Latino Male Seasonal Workers in South Florida: A Latent Class Analysis

BACKGROUND

Little is known about polydrug use among Latino seasonal farmworkers. This cross-sectional study with male Latino seasonal workers (LSWs) living in South Florida categorized distinct classes of drug use and then characterized each drug use typology by demographic, structural, and psychological factors.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-five male LSWs were recruited during community events using convenience sampling between July 2019-March 2020. Latent class analysis was conducted by leveraging measures of self-reported use of nine drugs in the past year (sedatives, cannabis, stimulants, heroin, opioids, cocaine, PCP, hallucinogens, and inhalants). Correlates of latent class membership were examined using 3-step categorical latent variable logistic regression. Analyses were performed using Mplus version 8 and SAS 9.4.

RESULTS

Four drug use classes were identified, male LSWs who exhibited: 1) use of illegal opioids only (n = 32); 2) concurrent cannabis and cocaine use (n = 75); 3) concurrent sedative and cannabis use (n = 13); and 4) high concurrent drug use (n = 5). About 84.7% of the sample reported use of at least one drug in the past 12 months. LSWs who identified as White and were married or in a stable relationship were likely to only use illegal opioids. LSWs with less than high school education and self-reported good to excellent health were more likely to use cannabis and cocaine. Men with moderate to severe anxiety and self-reported bad health were classified as engaging in sedative and cannabis co-use. Survivors of physical abuse were more commonly classified as people using high concurrent substances relative to non-abused men among the four classes.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study suggests the presence of heterogeneity in polydrug use classes among LSWs in South Florida.

The opioid epidemic among the Latino population in California

Background

The opioid epidemic in the United States has manifested differently across geographic regions and populations, with recent increases among racial/ethnic minorities and in the Western region of the U.S. This study provides an overview of the opioid overdose epidemic among Latinos in California and highlights high-risk areas in the state.

Methods

Using publicly available data from California, we examined trends in opioid-related deaths (e.g., overdose) and opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits among Latinos at the county-level, as well as changes in opioid outcomes overtime.

Results

Opioid-related death rates among Latinos (mostly Mexican-origin) in California remained relatively stable from 2006-2016, but started to increase in 2017 peaking at an age-adjusted opioid mortality rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 Latino residents in 2019. Prescription opioid-related deaths, compared to heroin and fentanyl, have remained the highest over time. However, fentanyl-related deaths began to increase dramatically in 2015. Lassen, Lake, and San Francisco counties had the highest 2019 opioid-related death rates among Latinos. Opioid-related ED visits among Latinos have steadily increased since 2006 with a sharp increase in rates in 2019. San Francisco, Amador, and Imperial counties had the highest 2019 rates of ED visits.

Conclusions

Latinos are facing detrimental consequences associated with recent increasing trends in opioid overdoses. The identified high-risk counties may have vulnerable sub-populations of Latinos, such as those in northern rural regions, that have gone underrepresented in conventional surveillance health databases. Time sensitive policies and interventions are needed to curtail health consequences especially among "hidden" Latino populations.