1-OR: A Social Media-Based Intervention Improves Glycemic Control in a Low-Income Older Immigrant Population

BACKGROUND The Covid-19 pandemic had turned the world upside down, but not much is known about how people’s empathy might be affected by the pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study examined 1) how empathy towards others might be influenced by the social support people obtained by using social media; and 2) how the individual demographics (e.g., age, income) may affect empathy. METHODS A national survey (N = 943) was conducted in China in February 2020, in which the participants read three real scenarios about low-income urban workers (Scenario I), small business owners in cities (Scenario II), and farmers in rural areas (Scenario III) who underwent hardship due to COVID-19. After exposure to others’ difficulties in the scenarios, the participants’ empathy and anxiety levels were measured. We also measured the social support they had by using social media. RESULTS Results show that social support not only positively impacted empathy, β = .30, P < .001 for Scenario I, β = .30, P < .001 for Scenario II, and β = .29, P < .001 for Scenario III, but also interacted with anxiety in influencing the degree to which participants could maintain empathy towards others, β = .08, P = .010 for Scenario I, and β = .07, P = .033 for scenario II. Age negatively predicted empathy for Scenario I, β = -.08, P = .018 and Scenario III, β = -.08, P = .009, but not for Scenario II, β = -.03, P = .40. Income levels – low, medium, high – positively predicted empathy for Scenario III, F (2, 940) = 8.10, P < .001, but not for Scenario I, F (2, 940) = 2.14, P = .12, or Scenario II, F (2, 940) = 2.93, P = .06. Participants living in big cities expressed greater empathy towards others for Scenario III, F (2, 940) = 4.03, P =.018, but not for Scenario I, F (2, 940) = .81, P = .45, or Scenario II, F (2, 940) = 1.46, P =.23. CONCLUSIONS This study contributes to the literature by discovering the critical role empathy plays in people’s affective response to others during the pandemic. Anxiety did not decrease empathy. However, those gaining more social support on social media showed more empathy for others. Those who resided in cities with higher income levels were more empathetic during the COVID-19 outbreak. This study reveals that the social support people obtained helped maintain empathy to others, making them resilient in challenging times.

Download Full-text

Effects of a Multicomponent Life-Style Intervention on Weight, Glycemic Control, Depressive Symptoms, and Renal Function in Low-Income, Minority Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Psychosomatic Medicine ◽

10.1097/psy.0000000000000348 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 78 (7) ◽

pp. 851-860 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ashley E. Moncrieft ◽

Maria M. Llabre ◽

Judith Rey McCalla ◽

Miriam Gutt ◽

Armando J. Mendez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Renal Function ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Glycemic Control ◽

Low Income ◽

Life Style ◽

Life Style Intervention

Download Full-text

The impact of a multilevel childhood obesity prevention intervention on healthful food acquisition, preparation, and fruit and vegetable consumption on African-American adult caregivers

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980018003038 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Angela CB Trude ◽

Pamela J Surkan ◽

Elizabeth Anderson Steeves ◽

Keshia Pollack Porter ◽

Joel Gittelsohn

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Low Income ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Family Members ◽

Fruit Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Food Acquisition ◽

Multilevel Studies ◽

Adult Caregivers ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the secondary impact of a multilevel, child-focused, obesity intervention on food-related behaviours (acquisition, preparation, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption) on youths’ primary caregivers.DesignB’More Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK) group-randomized controlled trial promoted access to healthy foods and food-related behaviours through wholesaler and small store strategies, peer mentor-led nutrition education aimed at youths, and social media and text messaging targeting their adult caregivers. Measures included caregivers’ (n516) self-reported household food acquisition frequency for FV, snacks and grocery items over 30 d, and usual FV consumption in a sub-sample of 226 caregivers via the NCI FV Screener. Hierarchical models assessed average treatment effects (ATE). Treatment-on-the-treated-effect (TTE) analyses evaluated correlation between behavioural change and exposure to BHCK. Exposure scores at post-assessment were based on self-reported viewing of BHCK materials and participating in activities.SettingThirty Baltimore City low-income neighbourhoods, USA.ParticipantsAdult caregivers of youths aged 9–15 years.ResultsOf caregivers, 90·89 % were female; mean age 39·31 (sd9·31) years. Baseline mean (sd) intake (servings/d) was 1·30 (1·69) fruits and 1·35 (1·05) vegetables. In ATE, no significant intervention effect was found on caregivers’ food-related behaviours. In TTE, each point increase in BHCK exposure score (range: 0–6·9) increased caregivers’ daily fruit consumption by 0·2 servings (0·24 (se0·11); 95 % CI 0·04, 0·47). Caregivers reporting greater social media exposure tripled their daily fruit intake (3·16 (se0·92); 95 % CI 1·33, 4·99) and increased their frequency of unhealthy food purchasingv. baseline.ConclusionsChild-focused community-based nutrition interventions may also benefit family members’ fruit intake. Child-focused interventions should involve adult caregivers and intervention effects on family members should be assessed. Future multilevel studies should consider using social media to improve reach and engage caregiver participants.

Download Full-text

Poor glycemic control and associated factors among diabetic patients in Ethiopia; A Systemic review and meta-analysis

10.1101/19004986 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Berhane Fseha Teklehaimanot ◽

Abadi kidanemariam Berhe ◽

Gebrehiwot Gebremariam Welearegawi

Keyword(s):

Glycemic Control ◽

Low Income ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Poor Glycemic Control ◽

Systemic Review ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Optimum Level

AbstractIntroductionThe major global public health problems now days are diabetes especially the burden is high in low income countries including Ethiopia due to the limited resource for screening and early diagnosis of the diabetes. To prevent diabetic complications including organ damage and micro vascular complications blood glucose level should be maintained at an optimum level. However there was no pooled national picture on poor glycemic control and its associated factors.MethodsDifferent data base searching engine including PubMed, Google scholar, the Cochrane library, MEDLINE,, HINARY and African journal online (AJOL) were used. The Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Tools and Newcastle Ottawa scale for assessing the quality of cross sectional studies were used for quality assessment. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software. I2 statistic and egger weighted regression were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias.ResultsA total of 134 studies were identified from different database searching engines and other sources. After removing for duplication, absence of abstract and review of the full text 12 studies were including in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of poor glycemic control among diabetic patients in Ethiopia is 64.72% with 95% confidence interval 63.16-66.28%. The sub group analysis of poor glycemic control among diabetic patients in different region of the country shows consistent and high prevalence of poor glycemic control ranging from 62.5% in Tigray region to 65.6% in Oromia region of the country. Residence, dyslipidemia and diet adherence were significantly association with poor glycemic control among diabetic patients in Ethiopia.ConclusionThe prevalence of poor glycemic control among diabetic patients was high in Ethiopia and consistent across different regions of the country. The most important factors associated with poor glycemic factor among diabetic patients were being rural residence, having dyslipidemia and not adhering to dietary plan.

Download Full-text

Feasibility of Utilizing Social Media to Promote HPV Self-Collected Sampling among Medically Underserved Women in a Rural Southern City in the United States (U.S.)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010820 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10820

Author(s):

Matthew Asare ◽

Beth A. Lanning ◽

Sher Isada ◽

Tiffany Rose ◽

Hadii M. Mamudu

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Media ◽

Low Income ◽

Pap Smear ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

The United States ◽

Medically Underserved ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Underserved Women ◽

Support Cost

Background: Social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter) as communication channels have great potential to deliver Human papillomavirus self-test (HPVST) intervention to medically underserved women (MUW) such as women of low income. However, little is known about MUW’s willingness to participate in HPVST intervention delivered through social media. We evaluated factors that contribute to MUW’s intention to participate in the social media-related intervention for HPVST. Methods: A 21-item survey was administered among women receiving food from a local food pantry in a U.S. southern state. Independent variables were social media usage facilitators (including confidentiality, social support, cost, and convenience), and barriers (including misinformation, time-consuming, inefficient, and privacy concerns). Dependent variables included the likelihood of participating in social-driven intervention for HPVST. Both variables were measured on a 5-point scale. We used multinomial logistic regression to analyze the data. Results: A total of 254 women (mean age 48.9 ± 10.7 years) comprising Whites (40%), Hispanics (29%), Blacks (27%), and Other (4%) participated in the study. We found that over 44% of the women were overdue for their pap smears for the past three years, 12% had never had a pap smear, and 34% were not sure if they had had a pap smear. Over 82% reported frequent social media (e.g., Facebook) usage, and 52% reported willingness to participate in social media-driven intervention for HPVST. Women who reported that social media provide privacy (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 6.23, 95% CI: 3.56, 10.92), provide social support (AOR = 7.18, 95% CI: 4.03, 12.80), are less costly (AOR = 6.71, 95% CI: 3.80, 11.85), and are convenient (AOR = 6.17, 95% CI: 3.49, 10.92) had significantly increased odds of participating in social media intervention for HPVST. Conclusions: The findings underscore that the majority of the MUW are overdue for cervical cancer screening, regularly use social media, and are willing to participate in social media-driven intervention. Social media could be used to promote HPV self-testing among MUW.

Download Full-text

Inequality in access to information about college: how low-income first-year college students use social media for seeking and sharing information about college

10.4337/9781788116572.00018 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 165-181

Author(s):

Michael G. Brown

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Social Media ◽

Low Income ◽

First Year ◽

Access To Information ◽

First Year College ◽

First Year College Students

Download Full-text

A social media intervention to improve nutrition knowledge and behaviors of low income, pregnant adolescents and adult women

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0223120 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. e0223120

Author(s):

Kiley B. Vander Wyst ◽

Megan E. Vercelli ◽

Kimberly O. O’Brien ◽

Elizabeth M. Cooper ◽

Eva K. Pressman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Low Income ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Adult Women ◽

Pregnant Adolescents ◽

Media Intervention ◽

And Behaviors

Download Full-text

“Good Social Media?”: Underrepresented Youth Perspectives on the Ethical and Equitable Design of Social Media Platforms

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/2056305120928488 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 205630512092848

Author(s):

Melissa Brough ◽

Ioana Literat ◽

Amanda Ikin

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young People ◽

Low Income ◽

Negative Stereotypes ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Design Elements ◽

Underrepresented Groups ◽

Media Design ◽

Ethical Implications ◽

Underrepresented Youth

This study investigates underrepresented youths’ perspectives on social media design and how these may inform the development of more ethical and equitable social media apps. In contrast to the tradition of universal design in the field of human–computer interaction, this study centers difference to investigate how users’ perspectives and expectations, shaped by their identities, help determine the affordances of social media and their ethical implications. Twenty-five in-depth interviews and youth-guided “think aloud” social media tours were carried out with a diverse range of young people from underrepresented groups. Findings illustrate how young people perceive and experience empowering and disempowering aspects of social media design. Interviewees expressed a palpable sense of underrepresentation in the digital technology design sector and noted several ways in which design elements of social media can exacerbate a sense of inadequacy. The negative implications of user profile design and popularity rating systems that encourage conformity were found to be of particular concern for low-income youth, youth of color, and other underrepresented groups. However, our findings also illuminate youth perspectives on how social media can sometimes serve as a tool to counter negative stereotypes and build social capital. The analysis includes concrete suggestions from underrepresented youth for more ethical and equitable social media design.

Download Full-text

Effects of social media motivations on women’s psychological well-being in Pakistan

First Monday ◽

10.5210/fm.v26i1.10825 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Iffat Ali Aksar ◽

Mahmoud Danaee ◽

Huma Maqsood ◽

Amira Firdaus

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Low Income ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Media Use ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Well Being ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Psychological Well Being

Social media use has been increasing apace regardless of geographical and economic boundaries. In particular, its penetration has occurred more rapidly in developing and low-income countries with abounding health and psychological disadvantages. Given the understanding that women are more prone to psychological disorders than men, the current research is an effort to examine social media motives and subsequent effects on the psychological well-being of women social media users in Pakistan. The study is based on an online survey conducted to ascertain as to what extent social media use contributes to women’s psychological well-being or otherwise. The survey recorded responses of 240 women selected through purposive sampling technique. SEM-PLS analysis of the collected data revealed that social media usage plays a meaningful role in women’s psychological health. However, results exposed that Pakistani women, under the traditional patriarchal social pressure, not only have to observe cultural norms in online practices but are also forced to adhere to socially constructed gender roles in online spaces. The mixed results suggest conducting extensive research for a deeper insight into the role of social media in psychological well-being of women in other low-income countries.

Download Full-text