Neighborhood Belonging and Thoughts of Death Among Hispanics in the United States

The four stages of neighborhood trust: Classic grounded theory

INTRODUCTION

Neighborhoods are often overlooked as a determinant of health. Among recent research, the focus on "place-based effects," due to prolonged residential environmental exposure, has been of particular interest. These studies' purpose is to identify and examine how a healthy neighborhood is intentionally created to describe a transferable process-driven theory.

METHOD

A classic grounded theory approach was used in these studies. Data sources include individual in-depth interviews, historical documents, and a member-checking focus group, collected over 3-years.

RESULTS

Analysis generated the Four Stages of Neighborhood Trust Model, which is nested within the context of perceived neighborhood safety. The theory outlines a social process of four stages of neighborhood trust: (a) rules-based agreements, (b) shared values, (c) cooperation, and (d) neighborhood belonging.

CONCLUSIONS

We present the development of a process-driven theory that may be useful for public health nurses as they engage neighborhoods in health promotion activities. The stage of trust development will aid the nurse in identifying what is needed to move to the next stage in a healthy neighborhood process.

Childhood Adversity and Passive Suicidal Ideation in Later Life in the United States: Does Religious Attendance Matter?

This study examines whether adverse childhood experiences are associated with passive suicidal ideation in later life and whether religious attendance moderates this association among U.S. older adults. To this end, logistic regression analyses were conducted using data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. The results show that poor childhood health, lack of parental affection, and childhood trauma are all positively associated with passive suicidal ideation in later life. However, religious attendance modifies the association between childhood health and passive suicidal ideation. For instance, poor childhood health is associated with greater odds of passive suicidal ideation only for older adults who never attend religious services, while this is not the case for those who attend religious services. Yet, the associations of parental affection and childhood trauma with passive suicidal ideation do not appear to differ by religious attendance. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings for views about childhood adversity, religion, and suicide risk in later life.

Self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and perceived likelihood of suicide attempt among Latinx individuals who experience acculturative stress

The impact of COVID-19 has led to a substantial economic and psychosocial burden on the Latinx population. However, few studies have evaluated how COVID-19 symptoms may exacerbate suicide risk indicators among Latinx persons, or the particular social determinants of health facilitating such detrimental effects. The present study examined the association between self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and suicide likelihood (i.e., self-reported perceived likelihood that one will attempt suicide in the future) among Latinx individuals within a timeframe involving high COVID-19 contagion before the onset of vaccine dissemination. Further, the possible moderating role of acculturative stress in the association between COVID-19 symptoms and suicide likelihood was examined. The sample included 200 Latinx participants (67.5% male, Mage = 34.67 years, SD = 9.15) who completed self-report measures on COVID-19 symptoms, suicide likelihood, acculturative stress, depressive symptoms, trauma symptoms, somatic symptoms, and general COVID-19 emotional impact. Findings indicated that self-reported COVID-19 symptoms were positively associated with suicide likelihood. Further, the association between COVID-19 symptoms and suicide likelihood was moderated by acculturative stress, such that the association was only statistically significant at mean or higher levels of acculturative stress but was not significant among participants with lower acculturative stress. The moderation effect was statistically significant after controlling for sociodemographic factors, depressive symptoms, trauma symptoms, somatic symptoms, and the general emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current findings indicate that, among Latinx individuals, acculturative stress is a key social determinant of health for marked psychological distress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of Neighborhood Disconnection on Psychological Distress and Suicide Risk Associated with Interpersonal Violence Within Racial Groups

Negative mental health outcomes have been associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV); however, few studies have identified risk and protective factors across levels of the social ecology that mitigate the onset of psychological distress and suicide risk associated with trauma. This study examines the relationship between ACEs, IPV, and mental health (i.e., psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts) within racial sub-populations of Black American, Latinx, and White adults. An online, cross-section survey was administered to a general population sample of adults in Baltimore and New York City. ACEs, IPV, and mental health outcomes were assessed within racial sub-populations of Black American (N = 390), Latinx (N = 178), and White (N = 339) adults, while accounting for within-group demographic differences. Moderating effects of social support and neighborhood disconnection on the relationship between ACEs, IPV, and mental health outcomes were also assessed. IPV was associated with psychological distress and suicidal ideation for Black and Latinx adults, but not for White adults. ACEs were associated with increased psychological distress for all three groups, and increased odds for suicidal ideation among Black and Latinx adults.. A significant negative interaction effect for neighborhood disconnection was found in the relationship between ACEs and psychological distress for Black adults. Findings highlight the significant mental health burdens of ACEs and IPV within racial and ethnic groups. Neighborhood disconnection may exacerbate psychological distress associated with ACEs among populations most impacted by interpersonal violence and mental health inequalities.

Belongingness challenged: Exploring the impact on older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES

The sense of belonging is a fundamental human need. Enacting it through face-to-face social activities was no longer possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigate how the sense of belonging, and how it is enacted, changed longitudinally amongst older adults in the UK. In addition, we examine the interplay of the sense of belonging and resilience over time.

METHODS

We employed a longitudinal qualitative research design to explore the experiences of older adults during one year of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020-April 2021). The analysis was undertaken with constructivist grounded theory.

FINDINGS

Before the pandemic older adults were free to engage in social relationships with family and friends, often enacted within social activity groups where they felt valued and gained positive experiences. During the pandemic face to face enactment of belongingness was reduced; adjustments needed to be made to maintain the sense of belonging. The experience of older adults was heterogeneous. We examine three themes. First, how belongingness was enacted prior to the pandemic. Examples include: family holidays, visiting each other, sports activities, eating with friends and family, and visiting cultural events. Second, how participants adapted and maintained their social involvement. Examples include: distanced face-to-face activities; and learning new technology. Third, for some, a belongingness gap emerged and persisted. There was an irretrievable loss of family members or friends, the closure of social groups, or withdrawal from groups as priorities changed. As a consequence, of challenged belongingness, participants expressed increased loneliness, anxiety, social isolation, frustration and, feelings of depression. For many, the disrupted sense of belonging no longer fostered resilience, and some previously resilient participants were no longer resilient.