Factors Contributing to West Indian American Depression

This study explored factors that mediate the relationship between subjective wellbeing and depression in a sample of West Indian American immigrants. An intersectional theoretical framework was used to identify the relative contribution of psychological stressors-perceived discrimination, financial strain and acculturative stress-that mediate the relationship between subjective wellbeing and depression. A geographically diverse sample was recruited by an online survey (N = 255), consisting of 138 men, 115 women, 173 Indo-West Indians and 82 Afro-West Indians. Path analysis was used to identify the relative contribution of psychological stressors. Acculturative stress and financial strain were both statistically significant predictors of depression. Financial strain was identified as the major mediator between subjective wellbeing and depression in West Indian Americans. West Indian Americans are vulnerable to financial strain and acculturative stress. These sources of psychological stress are important contributors to depression in the community. More research is needed to clarify these relationships.

Differences in psychosocial factors of mental health in an ethnically diverse Black adult population

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis in a convenient sample of Black adults in the United States (n = 269, ages 18-65) from diverse ethnic backgrounds (African-Americans, African immigrants, Afro-Caribbean immigrants). We examined mean differences in self-reported medical mistrust, use of mental health services, depression symptom severity, mental health knowledge and stigma behavior (or a desire for separation away from people living with a mental illness) according to ethnicity, citizenship status, age group, and gender. African Americans with moderate to severe depression symptoms had greater stigma behavior (mean = 12.2, SD = 3.2) than African Americans who screened in the minimal to mild depression range (mean = 13.1, SD = 3.5). Across the spectrum of depression, immigrants showed greater stigma than African Americans (p = 0.037). This is a pilot study that explores heterogeneity in the Black population in depression symptom severity and psychosocial factors related to mental health. Understanding these differences may contribute to how we approach needs and health system practices and policies at the individual, systemic, and structural level of mental health care.

In This Together? Exploring Moderating and Mediating Effects of Shared Racal Fate on the Predictive Role of Racial Socialization and Discrimination on Black Activism

This study examined the predictive role of reported racial socialization (i.e., preparation for bias and promotion of mistrust), racial discrimination, and shared racial fate on sociopolitical activism in a sample of 353 Black Americans. In addition, we examined the moderating and mediating role of shared racial fate as a variable by which the other contextual factors predict sociopolitical activism. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that preparation for bias and racial discrimination were the only unique predictors of sociopolitical activism. Results also indicated that shared racial fate significantly moderated the relationship between reported racial discrimination and sociopolitical activism. Finally, shared racial fate significantly mediated the relationship between promotion of mistrust and sociopolitical activism. These findings are timely as we are at a critical point in U.S. history where there are widespread calls for social justice. We provide insight into factors that may contribute to sociopolitical engagement. Implications for culturally responsive pedagogy, curricula, and interventions are discussed.

“AmeriKenyan”: Lived Acculturation and Ethnic Identification of Kenyan Natives During Their Youth

This qualitative study investigated the immigration, acculturation process, and ethnic identity experiences of six Kenyan emerging adults who immigrated to the United States during their adolescent years. Themes emerged from the data to describe their (a) immigration experience, (b) acculturation process into an individualistic culture with more of a Western worldview, (c) ethnic and racial identity, and (d) emotional response and coping. Subthemes and additional factors illustrated their experience as it relates to social life, academics, cultural context, family values, and more. Implications for multicultural psychology research and practice are addressed.

The effect of sociodemographic factors on the risk of poor mental health in Akron (Ohio): A Bayesian hierarchical spatial analysis

We examined the association of sociodemographic factors on mental health risk within the city of Akron (Ohio). A Spatial Bayesian Hierarchical model was used in this study. We found that the risk of poor mental health was positively associated with the proportion of people lacking sufficient sleep (RR = 0.42, 95% CI:0.22-0.62), the percentage of people below poverty (RR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.16), and the percentage of married couples (RR = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.05, 0.08). On the contrary, the percentage of female population (RR = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.13, 0.01), the percentage of the black population (RR = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.08, -0.02), and the college-educated population (RR = -0.03, 95% CI: -0.09, 0.04) was negatively associated with the risk of poor mental health. We also found that the sociodemographic variables have spatially varying effects across different neighborhoods. Future studies will examine the joint spatial effect of poor mental health risk and suicide ideation in the study area.

All-cause mortality and three aspects of social relationships: an eight-year follow-up of older adults from one entire Korean village

Various aspects of social relationships have been examined as risk factors for mortality. In particular, most research has focused on either loneliness or social disengagement. We aimed to extend the current research by adding a group-level segregation measure utilizing the whole social network of one entire village in South Korea. The analyses were based on the Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project data collected over eight years across five waves. Of the 679 old adults who participated throughout the entire project (to wave 5), 63 were confirmed as deceased. All three aspects of social relationships examined, loneliness, social disengagement, and group-level segregation, were associated with mortality in the traditional Cox proportional hazard model without considering health-related time-varying covariates. However, a Cox marginal structural model, a counterfactual statistical measure that is designed to control for censoring bias due to sample attrition over the eight years and time-varying confounding variables, revealed that only group-level segregation was associated with mortality. Our results strongly suggest that more attention is needed on group-level segregation for mortality studies, as well as on well-known individual-level risk factors, including social disengagement and loneliness. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.