Racial/Ethnic Identity and Subjective Physical and Mental Health of Latino Americans: An Asset Within?

Second-generation adolescents experience identity conflict when trying to adapt to the United States. This identity conflict may be compounded for Asians, who experience racialization of their ethnicity. This intensity of identity conflict and racialization of ethnicity is reflected in different pairings of racial and ethnic identities (e.g., Hyphenated-Nationality, Hyphenated-Asian). We examine how these identity pairings are associated with mental health. Analysis used a sample of 1,308 second-generation Asian adolescents (aged 15–19) from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study Wave 2 (1995–1996). Although not all associations were significant, low levels of identity conflict tended to be associated with lower levels of depression and more problem behaviors. Perhaps these identity pairings help reduce depression by lowering identity conflict while increasing peer conflicts. The analysis also showed that among adolescents with the same type of ethnic identity, mental health varied across racial identity, highlighting the importance of examining identity pairings.

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Using Clinical Trials as Agents of Transformation in Populations Burdened by Disparities

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.491 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 128-128

Author(s):

Daniel Jimenez ◽

Giyeon Kim

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Physical Health ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Health Needs ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Racial Ethnic ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Older adults from racial/ethnic backgrounds as well as those from rural areas experience a disproportionate burden of physical and mental health risk factors. Given the prevalence of comorbid physical and mental health conditions in later life, the inadequacies of current treatment approaches for averting years living with disability, the disparities in access to the health care delivery system (including mental health care), and the workforce shortages to meet the mental and physical health needs of racial/ethnic and rural populations, development and testing of innovative strategies to address these disparities are of great public health significance and have the potential to change practice. This session will illustrate how four different interventions are being used to address mental and physical health needs in Latino and rural-dwelling older adults with the goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in these populations. Particular attention will be paid to the use of non-traditional interventions (e.g. social support, health promotion, technology). Results of clinical research studies will be presented alongside clinical case presentations. This integrated focus highlights the importance of adapting research interventions to real-world clinical settings.

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Investigating Longitudinal Associations Between Racial Microaggressions, Coping, Racial/Ethnic Identity, and Mental Health in Black Girls and Women

Journal of Research on Adolescence ◽

10.1111/jora.12710 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aerika Brittian Loyd ◽

Esra Kürüm ◽

Natasha Crooks ◽

Anabelle Maya ◽

Erin Emerson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Ethnic Identity ◽

Racial Microaggressions ◽

Black Girls ◽

Longitudinal Associations ◽

Racial Ethnic

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Exacerbating Inequalities: Social Networks, Racial/Ethnic Disparities, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa117 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gertrude R Gauthier ◽

Jeffrey A Smith ◽

Catherine García ◽

Marc A Garcia ◽

Patricia A Thomas

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Ethnic Disparities ◽

The United States ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Racial Ethnic

Abstract Objectives The disruption and contraction of older adults’ social networks are among the less discussed consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to provide an evidence-based commentary on racial/ethnic disparities in social network resources and draw attention to the ways in which disasters differentially affect social networks, with meaningful insight for the ongoing pandemic. Methods We draw upon prior research on social networks and past natural disasters to identify major areas of network inequality. Attention is given to how pre-pandemic racial/ethnic network disparities are exacerbated during the current crisis, with implications for physical and mental health outcomes. Results Evidence from the literature shows a robust association between strong social networks and physical and mental health outcomes. During times of crisis, access to social networks for older adults is disrupted, particularly for marginalized groups. We document pre-pandemic disparities in social networks resources and offer insight for examining the impact of COVID-19 on disrupting social networks among older adults. Discussion Importantly, racial/ethnic disparities in social networks both prior to and as a result of the pandemic intensify existing inequalities and demonstrate the necessity of better understanding social network inequalities for marginalized older adults, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis.

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