Understanding Neighborhoods’ Impact on Youth Substance Use and Mental Health Outcomes in Paterson, New Jersey: Protocol for a Community-Based Participatory Research Study

Background Substance use among youth is a major public health concern. Of note, substance use among youth is increasing in prevalence, and the incidence of substance use at earlier ages is rising. Given the long-term consequences of early substance use, it is important to identify factors that increase youth vulnerability to drug use, as they may be important targets for future interventions. Objective This study aims to use innovative methods, such as venue-based sampling, to recruit youth who are disconnected from school and use community-based participatory research to gain a better understanding of the prevalence of substance use and important correlates among youth aged between 13 and 21 years in Paterson, New Jersey, a low-income, urban community. The study will use a convergent, mixed methods design involving multiple data collection components and the analysis of a ministrative data source, designed with the strengths of complex intervention frameworks in mind. The overall aims of the study are to identify the prevalence of substance use among youth who are engaged in school and not engaged in school; to understand important antecedents and correlates of substance use; and to use this information to inform social, environmental, and culturally appropriate interventions to address substance use and its correlates among youths in a lower-resourced urban community. Methods This study will use both qualitative and quantitative methods to address important questions. Specifically, semistructured interviews using focus group and interview methodologies will be used to assess youths’ lived experiences and will account for specific details that quantitative methods may not be able to attain. In addition, quantitative methods will be used to examine direct and multilevel associations between neighborhood factors and youth substance use and mental health outcomes. Results A previous analysis from a substance use initiative in Paterson, New Jersey found that youth who use substances such as marijuana and alcohol are more likely to have higher rates of depression and anxiety. On the basis of the research questions, this study will examine the association between neighborhood characteristics, substance use, and mental health symptoms among youth in Paterson by using quantitative and qualitative methods and will use these findings to inform the adaptation of a community- and evidence-based substance use prevention intervention for these youths. Conclusions The findings of this study will provide an important contribution to understanding the role of socioecological factors in predicting substance use and mental health outcomes among youth in a lower-resourced, urban community. Furthermore, these findings will serve as evidence for the development of a culturally informed, community-based prevention program to address substance use disparities for youth, including those who are truant in Paterson, New Jersey. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/29427

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Understanding Neighborhoods’ Impact on Youth Substance Use and Mental Health Outcomes in Paterson, New Jersey: Protocol for a Community-Based Participatory Research Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.29427 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ijeoma Opara ◽

Noelle R Leonard ◽

Daneele Thorpe ◽

Trace Kershaw

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

New Jersey ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Urban Community ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Community Based

BACKGROUND Substance use among youth is a major public health concern. Of note, substance use among youth is increasing in prevalence, and the incidence of substance use at earlier ages is rising. Given the long-term consequences of early substance use, it is important to identify factors that increase youth vulnerability to drug use, as they may be important targets for future interventions. OBJECTIVE This study aims to use innovative methods, such as venue-based sampling, to recruit youth who are disconnected from school and use community-based participatory research to gain a better understanding of the prevalence of substance use and important correlates among youth aged between 13 and 21 years in Paterson, New Jersey, a low-income, urban community. The study will use a convergent, mixed methods design involving multiple data collection components and the analysis of a ministrative data source, designed with the strengths of complex intervention frameworks in mind. The overall aims of the study are to identify the prevalence of substance use among youth who are engaged in school and not engaged in school; to understand important antecedents and correlates of substance use; and to use this information to inform social, environmental, and culturally appropriate interventions to address substance use and its correlates among youths in a lower-resourced urban community. METHODS This study will use both qualitative and quantitative methods to address important questions. Specifically, semistructured interviews using focus group and interview methodologies will be used to assess youths’ lived experiences and will account for specific details that quantitative methods may not be able to attain. In addition, quantitative methods will be used to examine direct and multilevel associations between neighborhood factors and youth substance use and mental health outcomes. RESULTS A previous analysis from a substance use initiative in Paterson, New Jersey found that youth who use substances such as marijuana and alcohol are more likely to have higher rates of depression and anxiety. On the basis of the research questions, this study will examine the association between neighborhood characteristics, substance use, and mental health symptoms among youth in Paterson by using quantitative and qualitative methods and will use these findings to inform the adaptation of a community- and evidence-based substance use prevention intervention for these youths. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study will provide an important contribution to understanding the role of socioecological factors in predicting substance use and mental health outcomes among youth in a lower-resourced, urban community. Furthermore, these findings will serve as evidence for the development of a culturally informed, community-based prevention program to address substance use disparities for youth, including those who are truant in Paterson, New Jersey. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/29427

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Community Based Participatory Research as a Tool for Promoting Mental Health among Homeless in Brazil

10.26226/morressier.5d1a035e57558b317a13f80d ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Carmen Santana

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Community Based

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Effectiveness of a Community-based Group Mindfulness Program tailored for Arabic and Bangla-speaking Migrants

International Journal of Mental Health Systems ◽

10.1186/s13033-021-00456-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ilse Blignault ◽

Hend Saab ◽

Lisa Woodland ◽

Haider Mannan ◽

Arshdeep Kaur

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Home Practice ◽

Community Based ◽

Mindfulness Skills ◽

Arabic Speakers ◽

Language Groups

Abstract Background Migrant communities are often underserved by mainstream mental health services resulting in high rates of untreated psychological distress. This collaborative study built on evidence that mindfulness-based interventions delivered in-language and culturally tailored were acceptable and clinically effective for Arabic speakers in Australia. It aimed to establish whether a group mindfulness program produced expected outcomes under normal operational conditions, and to test its scalability and its transferability to Bangla speakers. Methods A 5-week mindfulness program was delivered to 15 Arabic-speaking and 8 Bangla-speaking groups in community settings. The mixed-methods evaluation incorporated a pre-post study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the socio-demographic data, group attendance and home practice. Differences in DASS 21 and K10 scores from pre to post-intervention were tested using the nonparametric sign test for paired samples (two-sided). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of selected sociodemographic variables, group attendance and home practice on clinical outcomes, based on intention to treat. Content analysis was used to examine the qualitative data. Results The program attracted 168 Arabic speakers and 103 Bangla speakers aged 16 years and over, mostly women. Cultural acceptability was evident in the overall 80% completion rate, with 78% of Arabic speakers and 84% of Bangla speakers retained. Both language groups showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in mental health outcomes on the DASS21 and K10. Thirty new referrals were made to mental health services. Participant feedback emphasised the benefits for their everyday lives. All but one participant reported sharing the mindfulness skills with others. Conclusions Across multiple and diverse groups of Arabic and Bangla speakers in Sydney, the community-based group mindfulness program was shown to have high levels of cultural acceptability and relevance. It resulted in clinically and statistically significant improvements in mental health outcomes, facilitated access to mental health care and boosted mental health literacy. This innovative, low-intensity, in-language mental health intervention that was originally developed for Arabic speakers is scalable. It is also transferable—with cultural tailoring—to Bangla speakers.

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Community-Based Participatory Intervention Research with American Indian Communities: What is the State of the Science?

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz008 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 39-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jordan B Hearod ◽

Marianna S Wetherill ◽

Alicia L Salvatore ◽

Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Community Participation ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Community Based ◽

Observational Study Design ◽

Study Characteristics ◽

Community Outcomes ◽

State Of The Science ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT We conducted a 2-phase systematic review of the literature to examine the nature and outcomes of health research using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach with AI communities to assess both the value and the impact of CBPR, identify gaps in knowledge, and guide recommendations for AI research agendas. Using PRISMA guidelines, we searched the peer-reviewed literature published from 1995 to 2016 and identified and reviewed 42 unique intervention studies. We identified and catalogued key study characteristics, and using the Reliability-Tested Guidelines for Assessing Participatory Research Projects, we quantified adherence to participatory research principles across its four domains. Finally, we examined any association between community participation score and health outcomes. The majority of studies (76.7%) used an observational study design with diabetes, cancer, substance abuse, and tobacco being the most common topics. Half of the articles reported an increase in knowledge as the primary outcome. Our findings suggest that a CBPR orientation yields improved community outcomes. However, we could not conclude that community participation was directly associated with an improvement in health outcomes.

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Developing a Community-Based Participatory Research Model to Engage Transition Age Youth Using Mental Health Service in Research

Family & Community Health ◽

10.1097/fch.0000000000000054 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 87-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Alisa K. Lincoln ◽

Ryan Borg ◽

Jonathan Delman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Service ◽

Health Service ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Research Model ◽

Community Based ◽

Transition Age Youth ◽

Transition Age

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Community-Based Participatory Research for Improved Mental Health

Ethics & Behavior ◽

10.1080/10508420903274971 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 461-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jane Smikowski ◽

Sarah Dewane ◽

Mark E. Johnson ◽

Christiane Brems ◽

Catherine Bruss ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Community Based

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The Creation of “We Are Neighbours”: Participatory Research and Recovery

Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health ◽

10.7870/cjcmh-2009-0023 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 61-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alice de Wolff ◽

Pedro Cabezas ◽

Linda Chamberlain ◽

Aldo Cianfarani ◽

Phillip Dufresne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Property Values ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Participatory Approach ◽

Supportive Housing ◽

Mental Health Recovery ◽

Health Issues ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Community Based

Community-based participatory research is an enabling and empowering practice that is based in principles that overlap with those of mental health recovery. Using a participatory approach, an advocacy group called the Dream Team, whose members have mental health issues and live in supportive housing, planned and conducted a study of the neighbourhood impact of two supportive housing buildings in Toronto. The study found that tenants do not harm neighbourhood property values and crime rates, and that they do make important contributions to the strength of their neighbourhoods. This article demonstrates the strength of a self-directed collective of individuals who are prepared to challenge stigma and discrimination, and documents their use of participatory action research as a proactive strategy to contribute their knowledge to discussions that shape the communities, services, and politics that involve them.

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