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Hispanics are disproportionately affected by substance use and related health harms yet remain underrepresented across scientific disciplines focused on researching and addressing these issues. An interdisciplinary network of scientists committed to fostering the development of social and biomedical researchers focused on Hispanic substance use and health disparities developed innovative mentoring and career development activities. We conducted a formative evaluation study using anonymous membership and conference feedback data to describe specific mentoring and career development activities developed within the national network. Successful mentoring initiatives and career development activities were infused with cultural and community values supportive of professional integration and persistence. Mentoring initially occurred within an annual national conference and was then sustained throughout the year through formal training programs and informal mentoring networks. Although rigorous evaluation is needed to determine the success of these strategies in fostering long-term career development among scientists conducting Hispanic health and substance use research, this innovative model may hold promise for other groups committed to promoting career development and professional integration and persistence for minority (and non-minority) scientists committed to addressing health disparities.

In the United States, smoking rates increase with greater acculturation among Mexican-origin women, but not among men. Conversely, greater acculturation is associated with higher likelihood of quitting among Mexican-origin men who smoke, but not among women who smoke. Long-standing speculation is that adoption of smoking social norms in the U.S. that are less restrictive for women and more restrictive for men compared to smoking social norms in Mexico may account for these patterns. However, it is unknown whether persons who smoke actually perceive such differential norms. The current study characterized smoking social norms in the U.S. and Mexico among Spanish-speaking Mexican-origin persons who smoke. Two hundred and ninety Mexican-origin persons who smoke were surveyed on descriptive and injunctive norms for men and women in the U.S. and Mexico. Estimated means for smoking social norms in the U.S. and Mexico were compared separately among men and women. Among men, mean descriptive and injunctive norms in Mexico were significantly higher than those for the U.S. Among women, neither mean descriptive nor injunctive norms were significantly different between the U.S. and Mexico. Mexican-origin women who smoke perceive smoking among women as equally common and similarly unacceptable in the U.S. and Mexico. Findings do not support speculation that differential social norms may explain the acculturation-smoking relationship among Mexican-origin women. Mexican-origin men who smoke perceive smoking among men both less common and less acceptable in the U.S. compared to Mexico. Social norms should be investigated as a mechanism of the acculturation-cessation relationship among Mexican-origin men. Understanding direct and indirect influences of social norms on cessation among Mexican-origin men stands to inform tailoring of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 60% of cancer-related deaths in the United States are attributable to tobacco use, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity, and these risk factors tend to cluster together. Thus, strategies for cancer risk reduction would benefit from addressing multiple health risk behaviors. We adapted an evidence-based intervention grounded in social cognitive theory and principles of motivational interviewing originally developed for smoking cessation to also address physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption among Latinos exhibiting multiple health risk behaviors. Literature reviews, focus groups, expert consultation, pretesting, and pilot testing were used to inform adaptation decisions. We identified common mechanisms underlying change in smoking, physical activity, and diet used as treatment targets; identified practical models of patient-centered cross-cultural service provision; and identified that family preferences and support as particularly strong concerns among the priority population. Adaptations made to the original intervention are described. The current study is a practical example of how an intervention can be adapted to maximize relevance and acceptability and also maintain the core elements of the original evidence-based intervention. The intervention has significant potential to influence cancer prevention efforts among Latinos in the United States and is being evaluated in a sample of 400 Latino overweight/obese smokers.

One in six individuals in the world are disabled; yet, modern survey science lacks a framework of inclusion for individuals with disabilities. For this reason, the behavioral health knowledge base is limited in generalizability and exacerbates health disparities. The purpose of this article is to report the iterative and community-engaged process underwent to facilitate an accessible research participation experience for Blind or low vision (BLV) participants. The authors highlight tips for engaging the community learned throughout the project. Pilot research, focus group discussions (Study 1), and a survey (Study 2) engaged BLV adults and solicited their feedback on the format and accessibility of the research procedures of a healthcare quality scale development project. The focus group discussion participants reported benefits from participation, including enjoyment from participation and knowledge sharing. The survey participants commented on the degree that study measures reflected community members' experiences and provided feedback on study materials and format. Methods from our studies easily can be adopted into most research designs, can increase the participation of disabled persons, can improve validity and generalizability, and can reduce health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined associations of intragroup marginalization and cultural incongruity with acculturative stress and depressive symptoms among 155 undergraduate U.S. college students of Mexican heritage. Findings indicate that perceived interpersonal distancing by the family (intragroup marginalization) and perceived lack of cultural fit between the respondent and academic institution (cultural incongruity) had statistically significant direct and indirect effects on depressive symptoms via acculturative stress. Results also show that 39.7% of the variance corresponding with depressive symptoms was accounted for by intragroup marginalization, cultural incongruity, acculturative stress, and other exogenous variables.

Objective: Based on conceptual models of addiction and affect regulation, this study examined the mechanisms linking current major depressive syndrome (MDS) and anxiety syndrome (AS) to postpartum smoking relapse. Method: Data were collected in a randomized clinical trial from 251 women who quit smoking during pregnancy. Simple and multiple mediation models of the relations of MDS and AS with postpartum relapse were examined using linear regression, continuation ratio logit models, and a bootstrapping procedure to test the indirect effects. Results: Both MDS and AS significantly predicted postpartum smoking relapse. After adjusting for MDS, AS significantly predicted relapse. However, after adjusting for AS, MDS no longer predicted relapse. Situationally based self-efficacy, expectancies of controlling negative affect by means other than smoking, and various dimensions of primary and secondary tobacco dependence individually mediated the effect of both MDS and AS on relapse. In multiple mediation models, self-efficacy in negative/affective situations significantly mediated the effect of MDS and AS on relapse. Conclusions: The findings underscore the negative impact of depression and anxiety on postpartum smoking relapse and suggest that the effects of MDS on postpartum relapse may be largely explained by comorbid AS. The current investigation provided mixed support for affect regulation models of addiction. Cognitive and tobacco dependence-related aspects of negative and positive reinforcement significantly mediated the relationship of depression and anxiety with relapse, whereas affect and stress did not. The findings emphasize the unique role of low agency with respect to abstaining from smoking in negative affective situations as a key predictor of postpartum smoking relapse. (Contains 1 figure and 4 tables.)

The current study examined the possibility of differential predictive accuracy of selected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition (MMPI-2) clinical and Restructured Clinical (RC) scales in a group of Black and White mental health center clients. Results indicate that Black clients scored higher than White clients on one non-K-corrected clinical scale and 4 RC scales. All these differences produced medium effect sizes and were clinically significant according to Greene's (1987) criterion. These differences, however, were not accompanied by differential predictive accuracy of the scales in Black versus White clients. Although additional research is needed, especially on the RC scales, this study indicates that the MMPI-2 is not a biased predictor of symptomatology for Black versus White test takers. (Contains 5 tables and 1 note.)

This study examined reasons and obstacles for changing risky alcohol use behavior among Latina adults at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Using qualitative methods, data from CHOICES Plus intervention sessions of Latinas (N = 59) were analyzed. Reasons for wanting to change risky alcohol use centered on health, parenting, interpersonal conflict, control, and risk of harm. Obstacles included social obstacles, belief that drinking was not risky, and drinking to manage mood. Differences were found across level of acculturation. Knowledge about salient motives and obstacles is critical to addressing the needs and strengths of Latinas at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the perceived impact of three pre-conference workshops hosted by the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Health Equity Network (HEN) on attendees' professional development. The workshops aimed to provide researchers with support and knowledge to address tobacco-related disparities. Feedback from workshop attendees highlighted the workshops' instrumental role in professional development, providing support for tobacco-related scholarship, and fostering collaborations. However, there is a need to increase awareness and attendance at these workshops, particularly among underrepresented researchers. The article suggests targeted efforts and funding to support attendance and create additional opportunities for collaboration. [Extracted from the article]

Data from 1,248 Latina mothers who participated in the Geographic Research on Wellbeing (GROW) study were used to examine associations between SES, neighborhood-level Latinx concentration, neighborhood-level poverty and having two or more modifiable behavioral risk factors (e.g., smoking, drinking) for chronic disease. Logistic regression models were estimated stratified by nativity and adjusted for age and marital status. Among immigrants, low SES was associated with higher odds of multiple risk factors (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.66, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.17–2.38). Among US-born women, low neighborhood-level Latinx concentration was associated with lower odds of multiple risk factors (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.22–0.84), and high neighborhood-level poverty (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.61–4.99) and low SES (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.02–2.92) were associated with higher odds, respectively. Heterogeneous effects between nativity and social factors may produce risk for chronic disease among Latinas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We evaluated the influence of financial strain on smoking cessation among Latino, African American, and Caucasian smokers of predominantly low socioeconomic status. Methods. Smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation study (N=424) were followed from 1 week prequit through 26 weeks postquit. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between baseline financial strain and smoking abstinence at 26 weeks postquit after control for age, gender, race/ ethnicity, educational level, annual household income, marital status, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and time to first cigarette of the day. Results. Greater financial strain at baseline was significantly associated with reduced odds of abstinence at 26 weeks postquit among those who completed the study (odds ratio [OR]=0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.62, 0.94; P=.01). There was a significant association as well in analyses that included those who completed the study in addition to those lost to follow-up who were categorized as smokers (OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.64, 0.96; P=.02). Conclusions. Greater financial strain predicted lower cessation rates among racially/ethnically diverse smokers. Our findings highlight the impact of economic concerns on smoking cessation and the need to address financial strain in smoking cessation interventions. (Am J Public Health. 2010;100:702-706. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.172676)

The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (Joiner, 2005) proposes that the need to belong is fundamental; when met it can prevent suicide and when thwarted it can substantially increase the risk for suicide. We investigate one source of group-wide variation in belongingness among college students--changes in the social composition of college campuses across academic semesters-as an explanation for variation in suicidal ideation across the academic year. Our results indicate that in a sample of college students at a large southern state university (n = 309), suicidal ideation varied across academic semesters, with highest levels in summer compared to both spring and fall. Differences in suicidal ideation between summer and spring were, in large part, accounted for by belongingness. Theoretical, as well as practical, implications are discussed regarding mechanisms for seasonal variation in suicidal ideation.