Interrelationships of Economic Stressors, Mental Health Problems, Substance Use, and Intimate Partner Violence among Hispanic Emergency Department Patients: The Role of Language-Based Acculturation

We analyzed the interrelationships of economic stressors, mental health problems, substance use, and intimate partner violence (IPV) among a sample of Hispanic emergency department patients and probed if Spanish language preference, which may represent low acculturation and/or immigrant status, had a protective effect, in accordance with the Hispanic health paradox. Study participants (n = 520; 50% female; 71% Spanish speakers) provided cross-sectional survey data. Gender-stratified logistic regression models were estimated for mental health problems (PTSD, anxiety, depression), substance use (risky drinking, cannabis, illicit drug use), and IPV. Results showed that economic stressors were linked with mental health problems among men and women. Among men, PTSD was associated with greater odds of cannabis and illicit drug use. Men who used cannabis and illicit drugs were more likely to report IPV. Male Spanish speakers had lower odds of anxiety and cannabis use than English speakers. Female Spanish speakers had lower odds of substance use and IPV than English speakers. The protective effect of Spanish language preference on some mental health, substance use, and IPV outcomes was more pronounced among women. Future research should identify the mechanisms that underlie the protective effect of Spanish language preference and explore factors that contribute to the observed gender differences.

Faktor-faktor yang Berperan terhadap Terjadinya Kecemasan Orang Tua Anak Sekolah Dasar di Desa Maumbi pada Masa Pandemi Covid -19

The 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the learning pattern to distance learning, which is an online system. Besides their other activities, parents play a more important role in accompaning and guiding their children during online learning than that of the teachers. Therefore, the parents endure uncomfortable feelings such as anxiety due to increased burden. Moreover, there are various factors that can play a role in the occurrence of parental anxiety. During this pandemic, online learning has also penetrated into the countryside. Maumbi village is one of the areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was aimed to analyze the factors that contribute to the anxiety of parents of elementary school children at Maumbi village during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a descriptive and analytical study with a cross sectional design. Data of this study were obtained by using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) questionnaire. Samples of this study were 107 parents of elementary school children who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The multivariate analysis showed that the factors that contributed to the anxiety level of parents were economic stressors (p=0.021, t count=-2.347, and β=-0.224) and occupational stressors (p=0.042, t count=-2.055, and β=-0.197). In conclusion, factors contributing to the anxiety of parents of elementary school children at Maumbi village during the COVID-19 pandemic were economic stressors and occupational stressors.Keywords: parents’ anxiety; level of anxiety; online learning; COVID-19 pandemic Abstrak: Pandemi coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) membuat pola pembelajaran berubah menjadi pembelajaran jarak jauh. Disamping kesibukan lainnya, orang tua berperan untuk mendampingi dan membimbing anak ketika berlajar online yang jauh lebih besar daripada guru. Orang tua merasa tidak nyaman seperti kecemasan akibat beban yang bertambah. Berbagai macam faktor dapat berperan terhadap terjadinya kecemasan orang tua anak. Dalam masa pandemi ini untuk pembelajaran daring atau online juga sudah merambah sampai ke pedesaan. Desa Maumbi merupakan salah satu daerah yang tekena dampak pandemi COVID-19. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang berperan terhadap terjadinya kecemasan orang tua anak sekolah dasar di Desa Maumbi pada masa pandemi COVID-19. Jenis penelitian ialah deskriptif analitik dengan desain potong lintang. Pengumpulan data penelitian diambil dengan kuesioner Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). Sampel penelitian ini ialah 107 orang tua anak sekolah dasar yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi. Hasil analisis multivariat menunjukkan bahwa faktor-faktor yang berperan terhadap terjadinya tingkat kecemasan orang tua anak SD di Desa Maumbi pada masa pandemi COVID-19 ialah stresor ekonomi (p=0,021, t hitung = -2.347, dan β=-0,224) dan stresor pekerjaan (p=0,042, t hitung =-2,055, dan β=-0,197). Simpulan penelitian ini ialah faktor-faktor yang berperan terhadap terjadinya kecemasan orang tua anak sekolah dasar di Desa Maumbi pada masa pandemi COVID-19 ialah stresor ekonomi dan stresor pekerjaan.Kata kunci: kecemasan orang tua; tingkat kecemasan; pembelajaran jarak jauh; pandemi COVID-19

Economic Stressors, COVID-19 Attitudes, Worry, and Behaviors among U.S. Working Adults: A Mixture Analysis

Since the unfolding of the novel coronavirus global pandemic, public health research has increasingly suggested that certain groups of individuals may be more exposed to the virus. The aim of this contribution was to investigate whether workers grouped into several latent classes, based on two perceived economic stressors, would report different levels of enactment of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended behaviors to prevent the spread of such virus. We also tested propositions regarding the potential differential predictors of compliance behavior, differentiating between cognitive (i.e., attitudes toward the CDC guidelines) and affective (i.e., COVID-specific worry) predictors. Using a longitudinal dataset of 419 U.S. workers, we did not find significant differences among the levels of CDC guidelines enactment across three latent classes, representing a range of economic vulnerability. We found that cognitive attitudes were a significantly stronger predictor of compliance with CDC guidelines for workers in the most economically secure class, whereas worry was a significantly stronger predictor of compliance for the most vulnerable counterpart. We discuss these findings in light of the Conservation of Resources theory and other health behavior theories, being mindful of the need to further understand the differential impact of this health and economic crisis on employees facing economic stressors.

Pushed Together or Pulled Apart? Economic Stressors and Romantic Relationship Quality

Previous research indicates that romantic partners’ relationship quality is associated with poverty and material hardship. Few studies have used longitudinal data to incorporate changing economic circumstances over time, included a range of economic factors, or investigated the role of social support in this association, however. Using five waves of data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we extend prior work by evaluating the association between multiple economic stressors and romantic relationship quality over time, and whether social support explains or alters this association. Changes in economic stressors are associated with changes in romantic relationship quality over time, particularly nonstandard work and material hardship. Social support neither explains nor moderates this association in most cases. This study confirms the stress process perspective, showing how economic and work-related stress can proliferate into family life, but does not support the contention that social support buffers families against stress proliferation.