scholarly journals Improving the Living, Learning, and Thriving of Young Black Men: A Conceptual Framework for Reflection and Projection

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphne C. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Masculine Norms ◽  
Mental Health Challenges ◽  
And Gender

Black men experience disproportionate mental health challenges due to their exposure to severe psychosocial stressors. Yet, the mental health challenges of Black men have largely been left out of national conversations. Strong theoretical frameworks are important when generating dialogue about the mental health of Black men, as it helps to validate the work on a larger scale while also grounding the work for more practical use. This paper presents the conceptual framework for a five-year initiative aimed at improving the living, learning, and thriving of young Black men through a social media intervention that improves their mental health, expands their definitions of manhood, and helps them to engage in social support. The Young, Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) project is a social media-based, health promotion program that targets mental health (e.g., depressive symptoms), masculine norms (e.g., definitions of manhood), and social support for young Black men using culturally-sensitive, age-appropriate, and gender-specific popular culture. The YBMen project has been successfully implemented with over 150+ Black men since 2014; findings demonstrate improved mental health outcomes, progressive definitions of manhood, and stronger social relationships. Reflections from the past and projections for the future are discussed.

scholarly journals An Online Behavioral Health Intervention Promoting Mental Health, Manhood, and Social Support for Young Black Men: The YBMen Project

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 155798832093721
Author(s):  
Daphne C. Watkins ◽  
Janelle R. Goodwill ◽  
Natasha C. Johnson ◽  
Allura Casanova ◽  
Tao Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Behavioral Health Care ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Conformity To Masculine Norms ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
And Gender

Conventional definitions of mental health, manhood, and social support create barriers to accessing behavioral health care for Black men ages 18 to 30. Targeted behavioral health interventions sensitive to culture, social norms, and gender that circumvent these barriers are desperately needed to improve access and integrated care for this group. This article reports mixed methods findings from the 2017 iteration of the Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) project, a social media–based, psychoeducational program that promotes mental health, progressive definitions of manhood, and sustainable social support for Black men. Young Black men ( n = 350) across two universities in the Midwest completed baseline surveys on their mental health, definitions of manhood, and social support. Forty of the men participated in the YBMen intervention and at postintervention reported experiencing fewer depressive symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, Z = −2.05, p < .01) and the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS; Z = −1.76, p < .05). There were also changes on the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI) for Self-Reliance ( Z = −0.34, p = .26) and Heterosexual Self-Presentation ( Z = −0.18, p = .59), though these changes were not statistically significant. A qualitative review of postintervention interviews revealed participants’ appreciation of the YBMen project and its influence on their mental health, manhood, and social support. Programmatic efforts that support the behavioral health, positive development, and social relationships of Black men translate into positive families, communities, and experiences as they live, learn, love, and work over the life course.

Examining social media and hashtags as digital tools: A descriptive content analysis of #blackboyjoy and #theblackmancan on Instagram (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kofoworola DA Williams ◽  
Sharyn A Dougherty ◽  
Emily G Lattie ◽  
Jeanine PD Guidry ◽  
Kellie E Carlyle
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Mental Health Promotion ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Design Elements

BACKGROUND From a public health perspective, social media may be a viable avenue to promote mental health among Black men. As a digital tool, social media is widely accessible and increasingly used to challenge societal standards and misrepresentations of marginalized populations in the media. Social media users utilize hashtags and visual, text-based imagery to challenge misrepresentations, garner social support, and discuss a variety of health issues. OBJECTIVE This study presents a content analysis of hashtags about Black men and examines how visual and text-based social media messages can be used to present lived experiences of a marginalized population, as well as how the public engages with these posts. METHODS Posts containing #theblackmancan and #blackboyjoy hashtags were extracted from Instagram during Spring 2019. All posts were analyzed by two independent coders using a codebook. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and formative literature were used to guide analyses of how these posts related to attitudes, beliefs, and values associated with race, gender, and social support. RESULTS Of the 500 posts extracted, most were image-based (73.6%). 54.4% were posted by an individual and 27% by a community organization. 53.8% were posted by individuals from Black populations. 35.4% of posts contained images of only males. Posts depicted images of Black men as fathers (20%) and Black men being celebrated (20.2%) and expressing joy (43.4%). Posts (25.4%) also depicted Black men in relation to gender atypical behavior, such as caring for children. Variables related to education and restrictive affection showed up much less. Similarly, variables associated with SCT, such as self-efficacy (7.8%), collective efficacy (10%) and emotional support (10.2%) were rarely present in posts. Engagement via likes (Mdn = 1671, P<.001), comments (P<.001) and views (P<.001) for posts containing #theblackmancan were significantly higher compared to #blackboyjoy (Mdn = 140). Posts containing elements of celebrating Black men (P<.001) and gender atypical behavior (P<.001) had significantly higher engagement, as well. There were also significantly higher levels of engagement (P=.003) for posts containing informational support. CONCLUSIONS Hashtags #blackboyjoy and #theblackmancan promote positive user-generated visual and text-based content on Instagram and promote positive interactions among Black and diverse communities. Future research should examine the relevance of utilizing these, and other, hashtags in mental health promotion. Interventional efforts should investigate the potential for such imagery to serve as culturally relevant design elements for prevention efforts geared towards mental health promotion and prevention among minority men.

scholarly journals 1095 Use Of Mobile Devices At Night Associated With Mental Health In Young Adults

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A416-A417
Author(s):  
B Mason ◽  
A Tubbs ◽  
L Hale ◽  
C Branas ◽  
M Barrett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Short Sleep Duration ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Device Use ◽  
Healthy Activity

Abstract Introduction Mobile technology use in bed is becoming commonplace and associated with habitual short sleep duration. The present study examined whether device use at night was related to mental health. Methods Data from the Sleep and Healthy Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization (SHADES) study comes from a community-based sample, which was restricted to N=473 between the ages of 22-29. Device use was assessed as presence in the room at night, any use at night, texting, emailing, browsing the internet, making or receiving calls, and using social media. Participants were also asked how often they are woken by a call/alert from their phone (unplanned), how often they are woken by their phone alarm (planned), and how often they check their phone at night. These were recorded as never, rarely, some nights, almost every night, and every night, and were assessed as an ordinal outcome. Predictors included score on the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ9), GAD7 anxiety scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and income. Results Depression was associated with texting (oOR=1.03, p=0.025), email (oOR=1.03, p=0.022), internet (oOR=1.05, p=0.003), unplanned awakenings (oOR=1.05, p=0.001), and checking the phone (oOR=1.09, p&lt;0.0005). Anxiety was associated with texting (oOR=1.05, p=0.001), email (oOR=1.05, p=0.001), internet (oOR=1.05, p=0.002), social media (oOR=1.04, p=0.009), unplanned awakenings (oOR=1.06, p&lt;0.0005), planned awakenings (oOR=1.04, p=0.025), and checking the phone (oOR=1.10, p&lt;0.0005). Perceived stress was associated with internet (oOR=1.02, p=0.034), unplanned awakenings (oOR=1.02, p=0.045), and checking (oOR=1.04, p&lt;0.0005). Social support was associated with decreased checking (oOR=0.98, p=0.018). Conclusion Mobile device use at night itself is not associated with mental health, but specific activities may be. Also, those who report more disruptions from the device and more checking of the device also report worse mental health. Relationships might be bidirectional. Support Dr. Grandner is supported by R01MD011600 The SHADES study was funded by R21ES022931

Adherence to Masculine Norms and Depressive Symptoms in Young Black Men

Social Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-244
Author(s):  
Janelle R Goodwill ◽  
Natasha C Johnson ◽  
Daphne C Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Emotional Control ◽  
Conformity To Masculine Norms ◽  
Masculine Norms ◽  
Self Reliance ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Survey Responses

Abstract Recent reports have highlighted disparities in representation of Black men within research, calling for more work to be done with this group. The authors take up this call by exploring whether adherence to masculine norms influences mental health outcomes among young Black men. The sample included survey responses from 18- to 30-year-old Black men (N = 273) enrolled at five colleges and universities in the midwestern United States. Two theoretically relevant subscales from the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (that is, self-reliance and emotional control) were used to measure adherence to masculine norms, and depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicate that the model fit the data well. Furthermore, self-reliance was associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms (β = .358, p &lt; .001), but emotional control was not (β = .137, p = .099). Study findings suggest that depression treatment interventions should be tailored to incorporate aspects of masculinity that are most salient to young Black men. In addition, social work researchers, clinicians, and service providers are uniquely positioned to contribute to the promotion of mental wellness among this underserved population and should be prepared to attend to young Black men’s mental health needs.

scholarly journals The Effect of Social Media Use on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults with Self-Reported Hearing Impairment: An Empirical Study

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1403
Author(s):  
Yiming Ma ◽  
Changyong Liang ◽  
Xuejie Yang ◽  
Haitao Zhang ◽  
Shuping Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Older People ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Subjective Aging

Older people with hearing impairment are more likely to develop depressive symptoms due to physical disability and loss of social communication. This study investigated the effects of social media on social relations, subjective aging, and depressive symptoms in these older adults based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework. It provides new empirical evidence to support improving the mental health and rebuilding the social relations of older people. A formal questionnaire was designed using the Wenjuanxing platform and distributed online through WeChat; 643 valid questionnaires were received from older people with self-reported hearing impairments, and SmartPLS 3.28 was used to analyze the data. The results show that (1) social media significantly impacts the social relations of older people with hearing impairment (social networks, β = 0.132, T = 3.444; social support, β = 0.129, T = 2.95; social isolation, β = 0.107, T = 2.505). (2) For these older people, social isolation has the biggest impact on their psychosocial loss (β = 0.456, T = 10.458), followed by the impact of social support (β = 0.103, T = 2.014); a hypothesis about social network size was not confirmed (β = 0.007, T = 0.182). Both social media (β = 0.096, T = 2.249) and social support (β = 0.174, T = 4.434) significantly affect the self-efficacy of hearing-impaired older people. (3) Both subjective aging (psychosocial loss, β = 0.260, T = 6.036; self-efficacy, β = 0.106, T = 3.15) and social isolation (β = 0.268, T = 6.307) significantly affect depressive symptoms in older people with hearing impairment. This study expands the theories of social media aging cognition, social support, and social networks and can provide practical contributions to the social media use and mental health of special persons 60 years and older.

scholarly journals WOMEN’S RECEPTION ON SOCIAL SUPPORT IN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @gethappy.id

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Sari Monik Agustin ◽  
Agatha Josephine
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Female Group ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health Problems

Previous research also shows that social media has positive and negative roles related to interpersonal relationships and mental health. The social media used significantly increases social capital and mental well-being, which benefits people with low self-esteem and life satisfaction. Some psychotherapists even use an Instagram platform as their therapeutic medium. This preliminary study frameworks are Stuart Hall’s reception theory, the concept elaborations of social support and online social support, as well as a discussion of the character of social media, Instagram. This paper is based on a qualitative research with data from interviews with 3 female informants on 20-29 years old and gethappy.id account followers. This research succeeded in identifying 2 receptions that emerged from the female group of Instagram account followers gethappy.id. The dominant reader comes from informants who have severe physical health problems and mental health problems related to these physical health problems. Meanwhile, negotiating reader arise from informants who do not have personal physical and mental health problems, but who have a social environment with physical and mental health problems. Another important finding is that the main social support remains family and friends. Social media support is needed when the two main social supports are not present.

scholarly journals Effects of Social Support on the Stress-Health Relationship: Gender Comparison among Military Personnel

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Ming Hsieh ◽  
Bi-Kun Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Gender

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the role of workplace social support and gender affect the relationship between work stress and the physical and mental health of military personnel in Taiwan. The analysis results reveal that military personnel expressed significantly high perceptions of work-related stress. Social support from supervisors and colleagues is a crucial factor in buffering the effect of work-related stress on perceived health, and increasing the physical and mental health among military personnel. This study shows that male personnel who perceived higher stress and gained more social support from supervisors and colleagues than female personnel were less likely to have physical and mental issues than female personnel. Managerial implications and suggestions could serve as references in managing work-related stress, enhancing social support occurring in the military workplace, and reducing job dissatisfaction, which in turn improves the health and well-being of military personnel in Taiwan.

scholarly journals A Conceptual Framework Exploring Social Media, Eating Disorders, and Body Dissatisfaction Among Latina Adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-377
Author(s):  
Ijeoma Opara ◽  
Noemy Santos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Culturally Specific ◽  
Latina Adolescents ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Intersectionality Theory

The purpose of this review is to propose a conceptual framework using objectification theory and intersectionality theory to examine social media’s influence on body image and its effect on eating disorder predictors among Latina adolescents. To examine and explore how these effects from social media usage can result in mental health disparities that affect this group, emphasis was placed on how Latina ethnic identity mediates body image. Implications for clinicians and researchers include using strengths-based and culturally specific approaches as protective factors for Latina adolescents to strengthen ethnic identity.

School Nurses on the Front Lines of Healthcare: A Guide in the Recognition of and Response to Teen Dating Violence in Your Schools

2020 ◽  
pp. 1942602X2091996
Author(s):  
Christy Lucas ◽  
Jodi Brady ◽  
Robert P. Olympia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Gender Roles ◽  
Dating Violence ◽  
Teen Dating Violence ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Hollywood Films ◽  
Television Shows ◽  
Teen Dating ◽  
And Gender

Teen dating violence (TDV) has become more prevalent in our schools, exacerbated by the omnipotent presence of social media and portals of what dating and gender roles “should be” in Hollywood films and television shows. It is important to recognize that TDV is a threat to mental health, and potentially physical health, and school nurses should develop a framework for recognizing problematic social, physical, and emotional interactions between students. This article describes typical presentations of TDV through a case, providing a mnemonic for recognition and resources for prevention.

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