Brenda A. Wiens

Review: Community-based participatory research approach to address mental health in minority populations

In this review, a synthesis of studies employing community-based participatory research (CBPR) to address mental health problems of minorities, strengths and challenges of the CBPR approach with minority populations are highlighted. Despite the fact that minority community members voiced a need for innovative approaches to address culturally unique issues, findings revealed that most researchers continued to use the traditional methods in which they were trained. Moreover, researchers continued to view mental health treatment from a health service perspective.

Bystander Involvement in Peer Victimization: The Value of Looking Beyond Aggressors and Victims

Peer victimization has been a focus of both research and prevention program development. This construct is typically measured from the victim and aggressor perspectives. However, prevention programming often includes an additional bystander perspective. The present study evaluated whether questions regarding witnessing peer victimization constitute a unique perspective. Sixth graders receiving a bullying prevention program were surveyed regarding peer victimization from the victim, aggressor, and bystander perspectives. Factor analyses showed that items from the bystander perspective constituted a unique factor. Given the potential role of bystanders in addressing peer victimization, the bystander perspective should be included in future research and evaluation.

Relational and Overt Victimization in Middle and High Schools: Associations With Self-Reported Suicidality

Overt and relational victimization are associated with psychosocial adjustment problems, though there is a dearth of research to establish the relation between types of victimization and suicidality among middle and high school students. To further understand this association, the current study sought to differentially establish relations between overt and relational victimization and suicidality. The moderating effect of gender on these relations was also investigated. Participants were middle and high school students (N = 1,352) who completed a survey assessing overt and relational victimization and suicidal ideation and attempts as part of a district evaluation of a prevention and intervention program. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that among middle and high school students, overt, but not relational victimization, was associated with increased suicidal ideation and attempts. Gender did not moderate this association. Possible mechanisms to explain this association should be the target of further research.

The Impact of Peer Aggression and Victimization on Substance Use in Rural Adolescents

Prior research has shown relations between peer victimization, aggression, and adolescent substance use. However, there is a need for further research in this area, especially among rural populations, as rural youth have high rates of substance use but less access to mental health resources in their communities. The present study examined relations between peer victimization, aggression, and substance use in a rural sample of 6th–12th graders. Older, nonminority students who endorsed aggression were more likely to have used alcohol only and alcohol plus marijuana, and also had the highest rates of alcohol use. Results highlight the need for multifaceted intervention and prevention programs and further research into the causal relations between peer aggression and substance use.

I Didn’t Ask to Come to this Country…I was a Child: The Mental Health Implications of Growing Up Undocumented

Growing up as an undocumented immigrant and transitioning to “illegal” adulthood can expose the person to adverse social determinants, which can detrimentally affect mental health by acting as chronic stressors. Although there have been several attempts to reform immigration, none have been entirely successful. Recently, the Dream Act and the path toward citizenship may be important steps for reducing mental health disparities among the undocumented, immigrant population. This case report will describe the experiences of one Latino “dreamer”, reveal the effects of an undocumented status on mental health, and posit future directions for mental health promotion in this vulnerable population.

Rural Latinos’ Mental Wellbeing: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of Family, Environment and Social Isolation Factors

Upon immigration to the rural areas in the US, Latino families may experience cultural, geographic, linguistic and social isolation, which can detrimentally affect their wellbeing by acting as chronic stressors. Using a community engagement approach, this is a pilot mixed-method study with an embedded design using concurrent qualitative and quantitative data. The purpose of this study is to evaluate family and social environments in terms of protective factors and modifiable risks associated with mental well-being in Latino immigrants living in rural areas of Florida. Latino immigrant mother and adolescent dyads were interviewed by using in-depth ethnographic semistructured interviews and subsequent quantitative assessments, including a demographic questionnaire and three structured instruments: the Family Environment Scale Real Form, the SF-12v2™ Health Survey and the short version (eight items) of PROMIS Health Organization Social Isolation. This mixed-method pilot study highlighted how family, rural, and social environments can protect or impair wellbeing in rural Latino immigrant mother and adolescent dyads.

CBPR: Building Partnerships with Latinos in a Rural Area for a Wellness Approach to Mental Health

Using Community-Based Participatory Research, this study describes the ongoing collaboration between Latino community leaders and academic partners to develop a mental health promotion intervention for rural Latinos in Florida. Two strategies were used: (1) Community Advisory Board (CAB) members completed a Latino Community Partners Survey (LCPS) and (2) scribe notes were taken during CAB meetings. The LCPS demonstrated not only the CABs knowledge about the community but the readiness of leaders to get involved in the community-academic partnership. Thematic analysis of scribe notes revealed four main categories: caring, knowledges, interpersonal dynamics, and future impact in the community. CAB members greatly enhanced academic partners’ understanding of the communitys needs as well as of their own culturally-specific knowledge.

Domain-Specific Self-Concept in Relation to Traditional and Cyber Peer Aggression

Individuals who aggress against others have been described both as having overall low self-concept and as having high, inflated self-concept. The conceptualization of self-concept as domain specific provides an alternate means to resolving this controversy. In this study, 223 middle school students completed self-report measures assessing self-concept across six domains as well as engagement in peer aggression, including cyber aggression. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that individuals who reported engaging in higher levels of traditional and cyber peer aggression reported significantly lower self-concept in the domains of behavioral adjustment, intellectual and school status, and happiness and satisfaction. Higher levels of traditional and cyber peer aggression were not significantly related to self-concept in the domains of popularity, physical appearance and attributes, and freedom from anxiety. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Ethnic Differences in Adolescent Perceptions of and Attitudes Toward Substance Use

The current study identified ethnic differences in beliefs about substance use and assessed their impact on frequency of use of various substances. Participants were 1,398 Caucasian and African-American rural secondary school students. Only tobacco or cigarettes had significant differences for both cognitive and frequency of use variables. Results revealed that Caucasian students reported higher past 12-month tobacco use compared to African-American students. Congruently, African-American students reported perceiving significantly greater wrongness in tobacco use. In contrast, Caucasian students had a significantly greater perception of harm of tobacco use compared to African-American students. When these cognitive variables were entered as mediators of the ethnicity–cigarette use relationship, only the attitude of wrongness variable served as a significant partial mediator. These data highlight the importance of addressing attitudes as part of substance use prevention.

PTSD and substance use: unrecognized sequelae of bioterrorism in primary care providers.

Background: Psychological casualties following public health emergencies are likely to significantly outnumber physical casualties. However, postevent psychological disorders may be under-recognized by primary care providers (PCPs). Methods: Rural PCPs in northern and central Florida were interviewed using a series of open-ended questions to assess knowledge of likely mental disorders, their risk factors, and preferred treatment options following such events (n = 21). Results: PTSD was identified by 14% and substance abuse by 10% of the sample. Physicians were significantly more likely to identify posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an expected postevent psychological disorder than nonphysician providers. PCPs were significantly more likely to endorse counseling (86%) than medications (43%) as a preferred treatment option. Conclusions: Our findings support the need for increased education and training regarding the mental health consequences of bioterrorism in rural PCPs, particularly for nursing-level and other nonphysician providers. Improvements in knowledge may enhance preparedness for such emergencies.