scholarly journals Attachment to Home and Community in Older Rural African Americans in Mississippi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 328-328
Author(s):  
Carolyn Adams-Price ◽  
Muhammed Riaz ◽  
Margaret Ralston ◽  
Antonio Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Family History ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Original Text ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sense Of Ownership ◽  
Attachment To Place

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine qualitatively attachment to home and community in older rural African Americans in the Deep South. Sixty adults aged 52-79 (mean age 64.7, 24 males and 36 females) were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Participants lived in two micropolitan counties in Mississippi, with most living in one of two mostly African American communities with fewer than 1000 residents. Interviewees were asked about their attachment to their house, the land the house is on, and the community in which they live. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and transcriptions were analyzed for themes by two qualitative researchers using phenomenological analysis. The two researchers uncovered similar themes; discrepancies were discussed and integrated, and checked for consistency with the original text. The most prominent themes for attachment to home were sense of ownership/having built or made home their own, legacy/generational/historical attachment, sense of peace and safety, solitude and privacy, and attachment to specific features. Interviewees felt that their homes were a part of who they are and a part of their personal and family history; they also reported that their homes were safe and comfortable havens. When participants were asked about their attachment to their community, four themes emerged: socialization/friendly visiting, family and close ties, religious/spiritual, and solitude/quiet community. These results will be discussed in the context of Wahl’s 2012 model, which asserts that older adults’ attachment to place is a function of agency and belonging; belonging was a more prominent theme in this group.

scholarly journals THE MEANINGS OF TRUST IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PARTICIPATION IN DEMENTIA RESEARCH

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S421-S421
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Sahru Keiser ◽  
Leah Vest ◽  
Marsha Maloof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Total N ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African American /Black American older adults’ low participation in research reduces the generalizability of research findings and hinders understanding of dementia mechanisms, further widening health disparities. Both the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institutes of Health have identified recruitment of African Americans with cognitive impairment into dementia research as an area of high priority. Distrust of research and medical institutions is often cited as a barrier to participation of African Americans in dementia research. Therefore, the goal of this study is to better understand African American community members’ expectations associated with trust. We used focus groups and semi-structured interviews to examine the expectations associated with overall trust. We conducted 6 focus groups: 4 with African American older adults and 2 with caregivers of African American older adults with cognitive impairment. We also interviewed 5 African American older adults with cognitive impairment (total n=59). Data were analyzed with content analysis. Five themes emerged: 1) Importance of providing truthful help/information leading to trust; 2) Long relationships leading to trust; 3) Acting efficiently and consistently (e.g., “not fooling around”) leading to trust; 4) Transference of trust (e.g., I can likely trust someone trusted by a trusted person); 5) Difficult to trust because of a harsh social environment. To conclude, trust is a complex belief associated with multiple expectations and relationships. It is critical that researchers understand these expectations related to trust in order to increase recruitment of African American older adults into dementia research.

scholarly journals Perceptions from Latino and African American Older Adults about Biological Markers in Research

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Moreno, MD, MSHS ◽  
Carol M. Mangione, MD, MSPH ◽  
Carlos E. Meza, BS ◽  
Ivy Kwon, MPH ◽  
Teresa Seeman, PhD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Biological Markers ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
And Storage

<p>Although older adult minorities face disparities in health and health care, they continue to be underrepresented in health research. Studies with biological markers of health often lack representation of older minority adults. The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions of biomarkers among ethnic minority seniors who might participate in studies of biological markers of health and to document barriers and facilitators to acceptance of biomarkers. Six focus groups (3 of Spanish-speaking Latinos and 3 of African Americans) were con­ducted in three community senior service organizations (two senior centers and one church). Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted to support and augment focus group data. Seventy-two community-dwelling minority older adults aged 62 years and older and 10 community stakeholders participated. A community-based partnered research approach was used and two com­munity partners participated in the analysis and interpretation of results. Standard quali­tative content-analysis methods were used to identify and organize themes in domains. Focus group participants were 49% Latino and 51% African American. Results included barriers: 1) mistrust, 2) fear of specimen collection/storage, 3) perceived harms, 4) competing demands, and 5) costs. Older Latinos cited issues of language as barriers to awareness and acceptance of biomarkers. African Americans had concerns over per­ceived harms of biomarkers. Facilitators to acceptance of biomarkers were community engagement through church and communi­ty leaders. Older Latino and African Ameri­cans identified many barriers and facilitators to the collection and storage of biomarkers. Participants identified community-partnered recommendations to overcome barriers to the acceptance, collection, and storage of biomarkers. <em>Ethn Dis.</em>2015;25(3):355-362.</p>

scholarly journals The Health and Well-Being of African-American Older Adults With a History of Incarceration

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 506-506
Author(s):  
Rodlescia Sneed
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Health Related ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African-Americans are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Longer prison stays and release programs for older prisoners may result in an increased number of community-dwelling older adults with a history of incarceration. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in research on health-related outcomes for currently incarcerated older adults; however, there has been little inquiry into outcomes for formerly incarcerated African-American older adults following community re-entry. In this study, we used secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study to describe employment, economic, and health-related outcomes in this population. Twelve percent of the 2238 African-Americans in our sample had been previously incarcerated. Those who had been previously incarcerated had higher rates of lung disease, arthritis, back problems, mobility problems, and mental health issues than their counterparts. They also had higher rates of hospitalization and lower use of dental health services. Further, while they did not experience lower employment rates than those with no criminal history, those who had been incarcerated had more physically demanding jobs and reported greater economic strain. Given the disproportionate incarceration rates among African-Americans, the aging of the prison population, and the increase in community re-entry for older prisoners, research that explores factors that impact the health and well-being of formerly incarcerated individuals has broad impact. Future work should focus on addressing the needs of this vulnerable population of African-American older adults.

“Because There’s Just Something About That Menthol”: Exploring African American Smokers’ Perspectives on Menthol Smoking and Local Menthol Sales Restrictions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne D’Silva ◽  
Erin O’Gara ◽  
Craig S Fryer ◽  
Raymond G Boyle
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Quit Attempt ◽  
Menthol Cigarettes ◽  
Smoking Behaviors ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Introduction Local governments are pursuing policies to limit the availability of menthol cigarettes at the point-of-sale. Although African Americans are disproportionately impacted by menthol cigarettes, little is known about African American smokers’ perspectives on emerging menthol policy. The purpose of this study was to fill a gap in the literature by exploring African American adult (25+) smoker perspectives on menthol and a local menthol sales restriction. Methods In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with African American smokers (n = 27) in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area June–September 2017. Interviews explored smoking behaviors, harm perceptions, perspectives of menthol in the community and reactions to local menthol sales restrictions. The framework method guided identification of key themes and synthesis of findings. Results Almost all (96%) participants smoked Newport cigarettes. The majority of participants indicated that menthol cigarettes were more harmful than non-menthol cigarettes, citing strength and additives and because they were targeted to African Americans. Some participants were receptive to policy change while others viewed the policy as inconvenient and unfair. Overall, there was a lack of understanding of the policy’s intended public health impact. Some participants indicated that the policy would have no impact on their purchasing or smoking behaviors while others who were contemplating quitting noted that a menthol restriction was encouragement to prompt a quit attempt. Conclusions Sales restrictions can provide a unique opportunity to persuade menthol smokers to quit. Efforts are needed to increase awareness and support of these policies as well as to support African American menthol smokers achieve cessation. Implications There is growing momentum to restrict local menthol tobacco sales; however, little is known about perceptions among populations most impacted. In Minneapolis–St. Paul, where menthol restrictions were passed in 2017, African American smokers expressed limited awareness and uneven policy support. While some participants were unconvinced the restriction would impact smoking, others indicated it would encourage decreased consumption and prompt quit attempts. There is a need for public education to increase awareness of menthol’s harms, to help menthol smokers quit, and to increase support for menthol policies.

scholarly journals Binge Drinking among Economically Disadvantaged African American Older Adults with Diabetes

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
James L. Smith ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
African American Older Adults

Purpose. This study investigated the effect of demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors as well as the role of health determinants on alcohol consumption and binge drinking among economically disadvantaged African American older adults with type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM). Methods. This survey recruited 231 African Americans who were older adults (age 65+ years) and had T2DM. Participants were selected from economically disadvantaged areas of South Los Angeles. A structured face-to-face interview was conducted to collect data on demographic factors, objective and subjective socioeconomic status (SES) including education and financial difficulty, living arrangement, marital status, health, and drinking behaviors (drinking and binge drinking). Results. Age, gender, living alone, pain, comorbid conditions, and smoking were associated with drinking/binge drinking. Male gender, pain, and being a smoker were associated with higher odds of drinking/binge drinking, while individuals with more comorbid medical conditions had lower odds of binge drinking. Conclusion. In economically constrained urban environments, gender, pain, and smoking but not age, SES, depression, and health may predict binge drinking for African American older adults with T2DM. African Americans older adult men with T2DM with comorbid pain should be screened for binge drinking.

scholarly journals THE ASSOCIATION OF LONELINESS AND CHRONIC CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT PAIN AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN AND WHITE OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S613-S613
Author(s):  
David Camacho ◽  
Denise Burnette ◽  
Maria P Aranda ◽  
Ellen Lukens
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Social Life ◽  
White Women ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Biopsychosocial Model Of Pain

Abstract Loneliness and pain are significant public health problems in later life, yet limited research has examined how these factors interact among racially diverse older adults. Guided by the Biopsychosocial Model of Pain, we used data from Waves 2 and 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project to investigate the relationship between loneliness and chronic pain among 1,102 African-American and White adults aged 50 and over. Using logistic regression analyses, our final models considered demographics, physical and mental health, functioning, medication, health behaviors and social factors. Approximately 32% of African Americans and 28% of Whites reported chronic loneliness. Compared to Whites African-Americans were 2.5 times more likely to experience chronic pain. Among White participants, loneliness was not associated with chronic pain; however, the interaction of being African-American and lonely was associated with decreased odds of chronic pain in main and gendered analyses. African American women were 4 times more likely than White women to report chronic pain. Our results address the objectives of the National Pain Strategy (2016) to elucidate the experiences of chronic pain among diverse elders in the US. Future work should seek a deeper understanding of loneliness and chronic pain among African Americans elders and how cultural dynamics may help explain our counter intuitive findings (e.g., “Superwoman Schema”).

scholarly journals Social Relationships and Salivary Telomere Length Among Middle-Aged and Older African American and White Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D Lincoln ◽  
Donald A Lloyd ◽  
Ann W Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Negative Interaction

Abstract Objectives A common mechanism underlying premature morbidity may be accelerated biological aging as reflected by salivary telomere length (STL). This study examined the extent to which social relationships, both positive and negative, can be protective or confer risk relative to biological aging. Method Data from the Health and Retirement Study and multiple regression were used to examine cross-sectional associations between STL, self-reported social support, and negative interaction (e.g., conflict, criticism) with family in a nationally representative sample of African American and non-Hispanic White middle-aged and older adults (N = 4,080). Results Social support from family was associated with shorter STL. Negative interaction with family had no main effect on STL but interactions characterized by high social support and more frequent negative interactions were associated with longer STL. Negative interaction with family was negatively associated with STL for African Americans and Whites but the magnitude of the effect was greater for African Americans. Discussion Study findings highlight the role of social relationships in physiological deterioration among middle-aged and older adults and identify a potential mechanism whereby race is linked to accelerated biological aging. Findings highlight the importance of considering positive and negative aspects of social relationships to understand the consequences of social connections for cellular aging in diverse populations.

scholarly journals Disparities Research at the Deep South Alzheimer’s Disease Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 100-100
Author(s):  
Maria Pisu ◽  
David Geldmacher
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
University Of Alabama ◽  
The Us ◽  
The University

Abstract Residents of the US Deep South (Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina) have a 20–30% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia (ADRD). Moreover, &gt;20% of African Americans, who are at higher ADRD risk than whites, live in this region. Therefore, one important goals of the Deep South Alzheimer’s Disease Center (DS-ADC) of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is to spearhead research to address these disparities. This panel presents current DS-ADC research, with two presentations focusing on the local patient population and the last two on the Deep South population compared to the rest of the nation. Addressing the challenge of recruiting representative samples in clinical research, the first paper is part of a research program to understand difference that may exist between African American and white research participants. The second paper examines patients with multiple conditions, in particular dementia and cancer, showing a marked disadvantage in cognition outcomes for African Americans. The next two papers take a broader perspective to better understand the population of older adults with ADRD in the Deep South and in the rest of the US. The third paper examines socioeconomic and medical contexts of African American and white older Medicare beneficiaries with ADRD, and the fourth paper examines differences in utilization of specialists, ADRD drugs, and hospitalizations in the two regions taking these contexts into account. The discussant will close the session by placing these studies in the larger context of the disparities research at the DS-ADC.

scholarly journals LIFETIME EXPERIENCES OF GRIEF AMONG RECENTLY BEREAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S514-S514
Author(s):  
Danielle L McDuffie ◽  
Rebecca S Allen ◽  
Sheila Black ◽  
Martha R Crowther ◽  
Ryan Whitlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
African American ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
African Americans ◽  
African American Men ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Normal Life

Abstract This study sought to investigate the ways recently bereaved African American middle to older aged adults conceptualized both prior and present loss. Fourteen African American men and women aged 46 years and older (M=62.6) completed one time, in-person semi-structured interviews detailing their grief experiences. Interview transcripts were then coded using a content analysis. Four themes were reported during prior loss (Continuing on with Normal Life/ Time, Faith/ Religion, Reminiscing/ Reminiscence, Social Support) along with present loss (Faith/ Religion, Keeping Busy, Reminiscence, Social Support). Men and women in the sample were found to cope in relatively consistent manners despite the timing of the loss, and in manners consistent with literature detailing African American grief outcomes. This information could help inform both bereaved African Americans and those seeking to aid African Americans during times of bereavement in proactively having knowledge of coping mechanisms that have been used historically and found to be beneficial.

Children, and Black Children

Gone Home ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 76-100
Author(s):  
Karida L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Oral History ◽  
Jim Crow ◽  
Black Children ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Reconstruction Era ◽  
The Us ◽  
American Children ◽  
Racial Lines

This chapter analyzes the emergence of the racial self among this migrant group of “Black Appalachians.” How does a child come to learn that they are a black child? What are the institutions and practices that inform and reinforce one’s understanding of his or her own racialization? What are the ways in which this generation of African Americans affirmed and valued their own lives within the dehumanizing context of Jim Crow? Drawing on the oral history testimony of Brown’s research participants, this chapter offers a phenomenological analysis of the ways in which African American children of that generation experienced, perceived, and made sense of racism, prejudice, and segregation. The chapter argues that while the racial landscape was much different from that of their parents who grew up in post-Reconstruction era Alabama, the structure of feeling that articulates the ‘us and them’ along racial lines is the same.

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