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Communication of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS serostatus can motivate people to get tested and receive care, while also risk being stigmatized. ...

This study examined the extent, source, and individual, microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem-level (Heise's Ecological Model) predictors of help-seeking behaviors among women of different age groups in Colombia. Data on 12,915 married or cohabitating women who had experienced diverse forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) were obtained from the Colombia Demographic Health Survey 2015. More than half of the Colombian women who reported some form of IPV experience did not seek any help. Women aged 25–39 were less likely to seek help. Type of violence and experience of IPV and education were the strongest predictors of help-seeking among women in all age groups. Implications for research and programming are discussed.

Applying life course theory, this study examined the direct and indirect effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), mediated by early sexual activity (first sexual experience before age 15), number of lifetime sex partners, and mental health problems. The link between ACEs and mental health on college students' sexual risk is still understudied. Using cross-sectional data from a sample of 327 college students in Sierra Leone, this study tested the hypothesized mediation model using structural equation modeling analysis. The results showed that ACEs significantly increased sexual risks. Specifically, ACEs increased the risk of early initiation of sexual activity and the number of lifetime sex partners, which in turn increased the risk of STDs. Furthermore, ACEs significantly predicted negative mental health and were significantly associated with an increased risk of STDs. Effective future intervention strategies should include health education programs to address the lifelong effects of ACEs and mental health treatment.

Stigma and discrimination negatively impact the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV. The COVID-19 pandemic increased this complexity and created a cluster of synergistic health contexts, wherein the physiological aspects of HIV and the social and environmental conditions increased the vulnerability in health outcomes for youth living with HIV (YPLHIV) in Kampala, Uganda. We used interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) and the syndemics framework to understand the lived experiences of YPLHIV. From December 2020 to May 2021, six qualitative focus groups were held with 31 youth living with HIV to understand the lived experiences of YPLHIV. The guided questions used were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded for thematic analysis. Findings highlight the complexity of intersecting stigma of HIV and COVID-19 that have worsened antiretroviral treatment adherence and mental health issues due to lack of access to critical needs such as fears of food insecurity, health-related worries, the fear of perishing due to COVID-19, and human rights concerns related to gender and sexual identity. The study recommends addressing human rights-related concerns in addition to health-related concerns to comprehensively mitigate the syndemics of HIV and COVID-19 for YPLHIV in Uganda.

PURPOSE: Research with survivors of domestic violence (DV) suggests that most do not seek supportive services from formal organizations. The purpose of this study is to understand the structural and legal barriers that prevent survivors of DV from seeking help in Kyrgyzstan from the perspectives of professionals within the areas of law enforcement, judicial system, social, health, and educational sectors working directly with survivors. METHODS: We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews and 8 focus groups with 83 professionals who are employed as domestic violence or legal advocates, psychologists, healthcare providers, educators, and law enforcement officials who had worked with the survivors of DV in their current positions. We analyzed the data using a multistep strategy derived from grounded theory methods. RESULTS: The findings of the study highlighted six structural barriers: (1) financial dependence on the abuser, (2) stigma and shame of seeking help, (3) few crisis centers and rigid acceptance criteria for temporary protection, (4) the normalization and societal acceptance of abuse, (5) a lack of property rights for women, and (6) distrust of formal services. The participants indicated five legal barriers, including the following: (1) insufficient sanctions for abusers, (2) unclear provisions and inadequate enforcement of law, (3) a low likelihood of prosecution, (4) poor procedures, stereotypes of survivors, and revictimization during investigations, and (5) protection for abusers who work in positions of power. CONCLUSIONS: The structural and legal barriers that survivors face when seeking help are formidable challenges that will require extensive support from professionals working in the fields of criminal justice, social work, and public health. Findings suggest that both short-term and longer-term interventions that require sustainability of prevention efforts are necessary to address barriers to help-seeking identified in the study.

This cross-sectional study employed a syndemic framework to investigate the relationships between face-to-face and cyberbullying victimization, depressive symptoms, academic performance, and gender (female and male) in a nationally representative sample of adolescents who completed the United States 2015 Youth Risk Behavior System Survey. Path analysis results showed that both face-to-face and cyberbullying victimization are associated with low academic performance. Further, depressive symptoms may facilitate declining academic performance for both female and male students. After using a syndemic framework to analyze the joint risk presented by bullying victimization and depression, structural equation modeling showed two different pathways for students who experienced both face-to-face and cyberbullying: (1) for female students, depression fully mediated the relationship between bullying victimization and low academic performance; (2) for male students, depression partially mediated the relationship between bullying victimization and low academic performance. These study findings highlight the need for innovative interventions to address bullying victimization, depression, and low academic performance. Specifically, school health educators, counselors, social workers, and school administrators should work together to initiate programs that address the synergistic nature of bullying through gender-sensitive multicomponent interventions, such as concurrently implementing comprehensive screening protocols and a bullying reporting system in their school system.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of treatment supporter interventions (TSI) in improving ART adherence and viral suppression among adults living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa. This review included ten randomized controlled trials (RCT) and six cohort studies comparing treatment support interventions to the standard of care (SOC). Primary outcomes include pill count ART adherence and viral load suppression (VLS). Pooled relative risk ratios (PRR) with 95% confidence intervals were generated using random-effects models. Stratified analyses and meta-regressions were conducted to determine the effect of study type, follow-upperiod, and patient treatment supporters on ART adherence. Treatment supporters included partners, friends, family members, trained community health workers, and HIV positive peers. TSIs were associated with a 7.6% higher ART adherence compared to the SOC group (PRR = 1.076, [95% CI = 1.005, 1.151]). VLS was 5% higher in the treatment group compared to the SOC group (PRR = 1.05, [95% CI = 1.061, 1.207]). There was a significant, positive association between TSIs and VLS in community-based delivery settings but not in facility-based settings. TSIs were statistically significant for VLS in cohort study designs (RR = 1.073, [95% CI = 1.028, 1.121]) but not in RCTs. Findings suggest that TSIs critical in facilitating optimal ART adherence and VLS among PLWHs.

With over 1.4 million refugees, Uganda is Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest refugee-hosting nation. Bidi Bidi, Uganda’s largest refugee settlement, hosts over 230,000 residents. There is a dearth of evidence-based sexual violence prevention and post-rape clinical care interventions in low- and middle-income humanitarian contexts tailored for refugee youth. Graphic medicine refers to juxtaposing images and narratives, often through using comics, to convey health promotion messaging. Comics can offer youth-friendly, low-cost, scalable approaches for sexual violence prevention and care. Yet there is limited empirical evaluation of comic interventions for sexual violence prevention and post-rape clinical care. This paper details the study design used to develop and pilot test a participatory comic intervention focused on sexual violence prevention through increasing bystander practices, reducing sexual violence stigma, and increasing post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) knowledge with youth aged 16–24 and healthcare providers in Bidi Bidi. Participants took part in a single-session peer-facilitated workshop that explored social, sexual, and psychological dimensions of sexual violence, bystander interventions, and post-rape clinical care. In the workshop, participants completed a participatory comic book based on narratives from qualitative data conducted with refugee youth sexual violence survivors. This pilot study employed a one-group pre-test/post-test design to assess feasibility outcomes and preliminary evidence of the intervention’s efficacy. Challenges included community lockdowns due to COVID-19 which resulted in study implementation delays, political instability, and attrition of participants during follow-up surveys. Lessons learned included the important role of youth facilitation in youth-centred interventions and the promise of participatory comics for youth and healthcare provider engagement for developing solutions and reducing stigma regarding SGBV. The Ngutulu Kagwero (Agents of change) project produced a contextually and age-tailored comic intervention that can be implemented in future fully powered randomized controlled trials to determine effectiveness in advancing sexual violence prevention and care with youth in humanitarian contexts.

Although studies have investigated and found physical teen dating violence (TDV) has a significant negative impact on mental health outcomes, few studies are yet to investigate the effect of physical TDV on suicidal behaviors among adolescents. The objectives of this study are to examine the prevalence of physical TDV, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt among adolescents aged 14 to 18 years and the association between physical TDV and these suicidal behaviors. Data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A sample of 9,693 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (50.4% males) was analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt as outcome variables and physical TDV as the main explanatory variable. About 17% of the adolescent students experienced suicidal ideation, 13.7% made a suicide plan, and 7.6% attempted suicide during the past 12 months. Among those who were dating, 9.9% experienced physical TDV. In the multivariate logistic regression, adolescent students who experienced physical TDV were 1.92 times more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation, 1.67 times more likely to have made a suicide plan, and 2.42 times more likely to have attempted suicide during the past 12 months when compared with their counterparts who were dating but experienced no physical TDV. Other significant predictors of suicidal behaviors include being a sexual minority, experiencing forced sex, bullying, feeling sad or hopeless, and binge drinking. Having sufficient sleep lowered the odds of suicidal ideation and suicide plan. The topic of physical TDV and its association with suicidal behaviors among adolescents is such an important issue for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the United States and around the world. Prevention and intervention efforts should be culturally tailored to reflect the unique experiences with physical TDV and suicide among minority populations such as sexual minority adolescents.

Background Although various studies have investigated and found a significant link between age at first alcohol use and health risk behaviors, few studies have investigated the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation. Methods Data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance system. A sample of 10,745 adolescents aged 14–18 years (50.9% males) were analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation as the outcome variable and age at first alcohol use as the main explanatory variable. Results About 17% of adolescents experienced suicidal ideation during the past 12 months and 15.6% started having alcohol before age 13. Adolescents who started having alcohol before age 13 had 1.60 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and adolescents who started having alcohol by age 13 or over had 1.47 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation. Other significant factors associated with suicidal ideation include experience of forced sex, physical teen dating violence, bullying, and feeling sad or hopeless. Having sufficient sleep lowered the odds of suicidal ideation. Limitations The use of cross-sectional data limits the extent to which we can make causal claims regarding age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation. Conclusions Younger age at first alcohol use was associated with increased likelihood of suicidal ideation. Public health initiatives that seek to address the co-occurring problems of alcohol use and mental health illness, sexual violence, and victimization among sexual minority youth could help in reducing suicidal ideation.

Aims: This paper highlights how the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has amplified economic instability and health risks for disconnected youth and young adults (YYA). We offer a brief review of governmental policy responses in four OECD countries and how they may impact the disconnect YYA within those countries. Methods: Literature was reviewed utilizing Cochrane Library, ERIC, PsychINFO, PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science to outline existing inequities among disconnected YYA and COVID-19 economic and health impacts. Government responses to COVID-19 from four OECD countries were reviewed. Using the social protection model, we highlighted significant policy changes and developments that influence the protection of vulnerable populations and evaluated the potential effect of long-term economic dislocations prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Disconnected YYA suffered significant financial and health burdens with no social protection floor in place. Lessons learned prior to and during the pandemic indicate that initiatives aimed at improving health and well-being among vulnerable YYA and their communities must be adequately funded, flexible, and comprehensive. Attempts to connect or reconnect YYA who were disconnected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic will require a re-envisioning of policy. Conclusions: Globally, governments must invest in social safety net programs that focus on supporting those most at-risk. A concentrated focus on job creation, education and training, and paid work experience, investments in early childhood care and education, housing, health and mental health care is necessary to not only offset the pandemic’s effects but also support thriving in the future for YYA.

HIV stigma is a public health problem. It refers to irrational judgments and attitudes towards people living with or at risk of HIV. Among adolescents and young adults living with HIV, stigma can negatively influence help-seeking decisions and impede HIV prevention efforts. The present study aimed to explore social-ecological factors associated with HIV-related stigma using a cross-sectional study design. Data used were from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey [UDHS] of young men (

Background: Sexting is an increasingly common phenomenon among adolescents and young adults. Some studies have investigated the role of personality traits in different sexting behaviors within mainstream personality taxonomies like Big Five and HEXACO. However, very few studies have investigated the role of maladaptive personality factors in sexting. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between Dark Triad Personality Traits and experimental (i.e., sharing own sexts), risky (i.e., sexting under substance use and with strangers), and aggravated sexting (i.e., non-consensual sexting and sexting under pressure) across 11 countries. Methods: An online survey was completed by 6093 participants (Mage = 20.35, SDage = 3.63) from 11 different countries which covered four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and America). Participants completed the Sexting Behaviors Questionnaire and the 12-item Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses showed that sharing own sexts was positively predicted by Machiavellianism and Narcissism. Both risky and aggravated sexting were positively predicted by Machiavellianism and Psychopathy. Conclusions: The present study provided empirical evidence that different sexting behaviors were predicted by Dark Triad Personality Traits, showing a relevant role of Machiavellianism in all kinds of investigated sexting behaviors. Research, clinical, and education implications for prevention programs are discussed.

As interest in youth financial inclusion continues to grow substantially, emerging research points to positive associations between students’savings and their educational outcomes. However, there is no definitive data on how assets alter student engagement, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study contributes knowledge by assessing the causal effects of education savings accounts on student engagement. We evaluate causal effects by using instrumental variable methods and data from a pilot study that assessed the viability of different education funding mechanisms for junior high-school students in Ghana. Results show that the offering of an education savings account to young people with an opt-out option has great promise for improving education account ownership. Results also show that simply having an account is not strongly predictive of school engagement. Instead, it is when people begin to save into the account that it positively shapes their school engagement. The finding speaks to the value of policies that support young people to cultivate a savings habit and to build their financial knowledge and skills. Efforts should be made to understand better how social workers and teachers could be adequately trained to provide financial counseling and financial education assistance to students within the community or school settings.

This study focuses on trends in STEM performance and inclusiveness. We examine performance trajectories in STEM subjects, the predictive role of social support and psychological well-being of students, and variations across student gender and school locality (rural vs urban). We used three waves of data from 135 junior high school students in Ghana. Multilevel growth curve modeling was used to assess the trajectories and the socio-environmental predictors of STEM performance, and posthoc power calculation was used to confirm the adequacy of the sample size. Results show that overall, students’ STEM performance improves over time. Minimal gender differences exist but depend on the subject area and evolve with time. We observed a nuanced “urban advantage,” with rural students starting well but declining over time. Among various indicators of social support and psychological well-being, teacher support was the strongest positive predictor of STEM performance. The study highlights the need to focus on the structural and cultural impediments to STEM education at the lower levels of education in order not to risk excluding marginalized groups early in the education system. Further, STEM interventions may do well to incorporate long-term measures to sustain girls’ interest, motivation, and efforts in STEM.

This study assessed the practical value of HIV/AIDS education among at-risk adolescents in the United States. Data were drawn from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System spanning students in grades 9-12 who have engaged in sexual intercourse. A multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analysis was employed to test: (1) the individual effects of school-based HIV/AIDS education and risky sexual behaviors on the probability of HIV testing and (2) the interaction effects to estimate the degree to which the education effect varied by specific risky sexual behavior. The results indicated that students who engaged in risky sexual activities and received HIV/AIDS education were more likely to test for HIV compared to those who did not receive HIV/AIDS education. The relationship between education and HIV testing also varied according to the number of recent sexual partners. The findings have policy and practice implications. Specifically, HIV/AIDS education that promotes HIV testing should be encouraged particularly with the high-risk student population.

Refugees frequently experience histories of trauma and stress of acculturation, which place them at a high risk for mental health and substance use problems. Although recently arrived forei...

Guided by the ecological framework, this study explored 1) the effect of antisocial attitude as a risk factor on aggressive behavior and 2) how a maternal- or paternal-child relationship buffers th...

This review investigates gender-informed intervention studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa that measure an outcome related to HIV. The review included 20,340 abstracts published between January 1990 and July 2015, 84 of which met our inclusion criteria for full review, resulting in 17 articles that are the current analysis. The findings demonstrate a wide variation in the types of interventions, from low-intensity educational content to multicomponent interventions. The review groups study outcomes into biological, HIV risk interventions, behavioral, violence, and risk reduction. Most interventions showed positive effects, and although research methodologies varied considerably, longer interventions appeared to be more effective. Cultural and behavioral practices require a multidimensional interventional approach to prevent the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies of sexual violence, oppressive cultural norms, and cultural acceptance of men having multiple partners may contribute to dis...

BACKGROUND Teen dating violence (TDV), bullying, and HIV risk behaviors are public health concerns that impact adolescents in the United States. National estimates reveal high rates of these risk behaviors among high school students. Based on theoretical and empirical evidence, we hypothesized that experiencing teen dating violence (sexual and physical) would mediate the impact of bullying on HIV risk. METHODS Data were from the 2013 National Youth Behavior Risk Surveillance Survey (YRBSS) among students who answered questions on bullying, TDV, and HIV risk (N = 13,571). The YRBSS is conducted biennially among 9th- to 12th-grade students nationally. We used multiple regression analysis and Hayes' SPSS process macro to examine the 2 study hypotheses. RESULTS Findings from bivariate analysis suggest an association between bullying and HIV risk. The study also found associations between physical, sexual teen dating violence and HIV risk. Results also indicate that both physical and sexual teen dating violence mediate the association between bullying and HIV risk. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that multidimensional interventions should be developed to reduce the rate of teen dating violence and combat bullying as a preventative method for HIV risk among high school students.

Introduction: Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a public health problem. Approximately three million women and girls undergo FGM/C every year, worldwide. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of education on hegemonic masculinity attitudes between male and female students and whether parental education differentiated the groups. Method: A cross-section design was used. Data were collected through a survey response from 338 students in May 2017. The data were analyzed using chi-square and correlational tests. Results: Education did not change the attitudes of students toward FGM/C (χ2= 3.64, p = .16); however, parental education had an influence on both male and female students’ attitudes toward FGM/C. Discussion: The study suggests that education alone may not be sufficient to end FGM/C practice. A comprehensive community-led strategy incorporating culturally congruent health care to involve multiple parties of health professionals, religious leaders, government, and policy makers may be needed to address the problem.

Background: The present study aims to (1) identify classes of psychosocial syndemics among adolescents in the U.S. based on psychological factors, such as depression and suicidal ideation, and social factors, such as binge drinking, alcohol use, and drug use; (2) identify correlates of psychosocial syndemics; and (3) examine the independent associations between psychosocial syndemic factors and sexual risk practices. Method: We used latent class analysis and a sample of 14,762 U.S. high school students who participated in the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to examine youth population profiles based on shared characteristics of syndemics. Adjusting for sociodemographic factors, we conducted logistic regression to explore the connections between psychosocial syndemic factors and three sexual risk practices, namely, early initiation of sexual intercourse, condom use, and sex with multiple partners. Results: The study results indicate that three classes of risk exist among the sample: substance misuse (class 1, n = 3872, 26.2%), normative (class 2, n = 8791, 59.6%), and mental health problems (class 3, n = 2099, 14.2%). Class membership of psychosocial syndemics was significantly different by gender, age group, and race. The odds of initiating sexual intercourse before age 13 were positively associated with participants belonging in the substance misuse class and the mental health problem class. The odds of using condoms during the last sexual intercourse for currently sexually active adolescents were lower for participants classified in the substance misuse class. The likelihood of reporting having sex with four or more partners in a lifetime was higher among participants belonging to the substance misuse class. Conclusion: The study advances our understanding of the heterogeneity of class membership associated with psychosocial syndemic risk factors among adolescents and extends our understanding of syndemics in the area of adolescent health. Thus, practitioners and policymakers can design multicomponent and multilevel school-based HIV/STI prevention programs that meet the needs of adolescents.

This study used Uganda Demographic Health Survey data (2011) to examine the role of women’s empowerment in reducing HIV risk among married women who experienced sexual violence in Uganda. The sample size was 8,674 ever-married women aged 15–49 years. Significant differences were revealed for marital rape, women’s empowerment variables, and reducing HIV risk according to sociodemographic characteristics. Women’s labor force participation partially mediated the relationship between sexual violence and reducing HIV risk, but decision making did not. Findings highlight the need for the development and implementation of policies and programs to address marital rape and reduce HIV risk within institutions of marriage.

Understanding the dynamics of mental health of recently resettled refugees is an essential component of any comprehensive resettlement program, yet establishing the components of a successful and acceptable mental health intervention is an elusive task. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 resettled refugees from five countries who had received treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, or anxiety. Themes generated from the interviews emphasized the need for strong group-based social support as well as a focus on practical needs such as acquiring and maintaining employment, language and literacy training, and access to care.

Ignoring the means of financing out-of-pocket health expenditures may bring a misleading impression of their short and long-term impacts on households’ wellbeing. Small amounts of health spending may seriously affect households’ living standards. When households reduce their current consumption of basic needs in order to finance their health spending they seriously endanger their current wellbeing. Also, drawing on financial coping strategies conditions future consumption and income. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the use and incidence of means of financing out-of-pocket expenditures in Mexico in 2008, 2010, and 2012. We found that a large number of households in Mexico finance their medical expenditures through the reduction of their essential consumption and the use of financial coping strategies. According to conventional measures, many of these households may not experience catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditures, but we found them to be vulnerable to poverty.

Existent research reveals that inequitable gender-based power in relationships and intimate partner violence contribute to HIV rates among women in the developing world. This study uses a multi-country analysis to examine women’s autonomy in negotiating safe sex practices such as having sex with a partner with no other concurrent partner to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, and Nepal. The Demographic Health Survey data for Nigeria (2013), Kenya (2008–2009), Malawi (2010), and Nepal (2011) provide geographical variability as well as HIV risk variables. The sample included 16,540 women aged 15–49 years who self-identified as ever married. Factor analysis for women’s autonomy was conducted based on socio-cultural theory. Logistic regression was conducted and results identified decision-making, labor force participation, and individual autonomy as women autonomy factors significantly reduced the risk for HIV infection by having one sex partner who has only one sex partner. Other women autonomy factors related to lower risk for HIV include education, place of residence, and religion. Our study indicates that effective management of HIV transmission requires addressing women autonomy factors within the context of culture.

Background and objectives Research has shown an increased prevalence of substance use among adolescents in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Peer affiliation, bullying, and psychological stress are significantly associated with substance use. This study empirically tested theoretical frameworks linking peer affiliation, bullying victimization, loneliness and substance use (specifically tobacco or alcohol use) among adolescents. Materials and methods Data were obtained from the 2009 Malawi Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) with a representative sample of 2359 students aged 13–17 years in Malawi, Sub-Saharan Africa. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. The study conducted path analyses using Mplus to test the conceptual models of tobacco use and alcohol use. Results The results showed that loneliness partially mediated the association between bullying victimization and tobacco use in the first model, as well as the relationship between bullying victimization and alcohol use in the second model. Results indicated statistically significant indirect paths from bullying victimization to tobacco use and alcohol use through the mediation of loneliness. However, peer affiliation did not directly predict bullying victimization in the two path models; it directly predicted tobacco use only. Conclusions These findings have important implications in early intervention for health practitioners in school and mental health settings to prevent feelings of loneliness and substance use among adolescents who have experience with bullying victimization but no experience with depression, alcohol use or tobacco use.

Many variables explain the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and its impact on women’s mental health. This proposition is mostly from samples drawn from battered women’s shelters, batterer intervention programs (BIPs), emergency rooms, and medical clinics. We know little about the psychological well-being of women who report abuse to police departments. This study used data from case records of women who experience IPV and sought help from a city police station located in the southwest United States. These case records were examined to identify how sociodemographic characteristics of age, ethnicity, marital status, financial dependence, resources of social support, and coping strategies related with type and number of IPV incidents as well as mental health symptoms. The sample consisted of 154 women, majority of whom experienced physical violence (70.1%), sexual violence (9.1%), emotional violence/stalking (14.9%), and combined, that is, reporting more than one (5.8%). Approximately 67.5% of the women reported some mental health symptoms. Social support and coping strategies significantly distinguished women’s experience of mental health symptoms. Unexpectedly, the current data indicate that women who scored higher in perceived social support significantly reported more mental health symptoms. Coping strategies mediated the relationship between IPV and mental health symptoms. The findings suggest that availability of coping resources may mitigate repeated IPV and modify the impact of mental health. In discussing prevention and intervention efforts with women who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing IPV, practitioners can help women employ empowering coping strategies that are built on their resilience. In addition, mental health professionals working with the police, especially in community policing setting, can achieve promising outcomes for women experiencing violence.

Support from research assistants (RAs) is often framed as a resource to facilitate faculty research productivity, yet most assistant professors have received minimal training on how to effectively make use of this resource. This study collected data from a national sample of assistant professors to examine tasks RAs are asked to perform, satisfaction with RA work, challenges in working with RAs, and lessons learned to be successful. Authors used a sequential mixed-methods design, first conducting a Web-based survey with 109 assistant professors in social work schools with doctoral programs, then qualitative interviews with a subset of 13 respondents who volunteered to talk more about their experiences. Evidence indicated low levels of satisfaction regarding the preparation of students for RA work, particularly among those assistant professors working with first-year doctoral students. Primary challenges included lack of student skills and commitment and sufficient time to supervise and train students. Recommendations include careful assessment of student skills at the start of the relationship and setting clear expectations. Social work programs can improve faculty-RA relationships by training new assistant professors on how to support and manage RAs and training incoming students on basic research skills for their work as RAs.

In 2010, approximately one out of four youths in the United States were immigrant children. Hispanics and Asians comprised the largest groups (58% and 16%), respectively. Today, the Hispanic population is the largest ethnic minority in the United States (15%) and is a majority of the U.S. foreign-born population (47%). While immigration is a positive process for most immigrants, resettlement into a new country has challenges, including acculturation adjustments. Youth engage in risky behaviors such as substance use and antisocial behaviors. For immigrant youth with limited supportive opportunities, however, the acculturation process can be difficult. Stress, alienation, and stigma often manifest and cause behavioral problems, including aggression. This pilot study examines the mediating effect of antisocial attitudes using sociocultural, developmental, and environmental factors to understand Hispanic youth problem behaviors. We sampled 136 youths, ages 6-12, from predominantly Hispanic elementary schools in the southwestern United States to ascertain the role of aggression and antisocial behavior in substance use attitudes. The results show significant differences in aggression, antisocial attitudes, and substance use according to (1) age, (2) years in the United States, (3) English level, and (4) relationship with mother. Aggression significantly predicted antisocial attitudes and substance use, with antisocial attitudes having a mediating effect on the relationship between aggression and substance use. In developing social service programs to prevent substance use among children from immigrant families, social work educators and practitioners may consider addressing the role of aggression in Hispanic adolescents' future behavior.

Mental health concerns are a major factor in the overall wellness and stability of resettled refugees. While the need for mental health treatment for this population has been well-documented, less is known about the effectiveness of various treatment modalities on mental health outcomes. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the impact of three different mental health interventions among refugees from Burundi, Burma, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Bhutan. The effects of eight weeks of randomly assigned office-based counseling (treatment as usual [TAU]), home-based counseling (HBC), and a community-based psycho-educational group (CPG) on posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, somatization, and social support were evaluated using a pre–post design. Results indicate merit in each of the treatment modalities, with varying efficacy across intervention according to mental health symptoms. In general, however, participants in HBC and CPG demonstrated great...

Young adults are especially vulnerable to HIV and engage in sexual activities that expose them to the HIV virus. Although into a third decade of HIV/AIDS epidemic, few studies have examined the heterogeneity in the population of young adults at risk for HIV in Malawi. This study utilizes a Latent Class Analysis method to identify profiles of young adults at most risk for contracting HIV/AIDS to include: High Risk and At-Risk. A Chi squared test was used to determine whether class membership was associated with reported changes in sexual behavior to avoid HIV. The results indicate that of young adults who report to change their behaviors, 61.4 % were in the At-Risk Group, whereas 38.6 % were in the High Risk Group. We conclude that practice and policy measures that involve High Risk Group would be beneficial. This group would benefit from additional interventions encouraging them to change their sexual behaviors. Results from this study highlight the importance of identifying profiles of culturally formed attitudes, beliefs, and norms as a step towards targeting interventions that may decrease the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young adults.

This study was designed to investigate the pathways that lead to HIV exposure, based on Malawi Demographic Health Survey data (2010). It examines the factors that correlate to gender violence in Malawi, including cultural attitudes towards violence, spousal violence factors, and HIV risk factors. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identifies associations among these constructs. A perfect model fit was achieved to build a simultaneous model that includes attitudes towards violence, violence factors, and HIV risk (GFI = .998). Education attainment (.039) and number of partners (.120) had a weaker association with HIV risk than condom use (.418) and HIV testing (.412). We hypothesized that gender attitudes and incidents of violence would be related to greater risks for HIV infection among women. SEM affirmed a robust association between attitudes towards violence and how women in Malawi perceive gender violence. We conclude that policy and practice design should acknowledge the impact of cultural, educational, and familial characteristics on the populations in order to achieve robust change to reduce HIV transmissions especially among women in Malawi.

International social work (ISW) has gained traction across the USA with a number of schools taking the lead in promoting the values of social work through exchange programs, service learning, and volunteerism. The internalization of campus through the proactive action of institutions to incorporate global perspectives into teaching, learning, and research in order to build intercultural competence among students, faculty, and staff has received little attention. This paper assesses the level of interest of social work students at a large urban university in the southwestern USA in embracing ISW and how they conceptualized their learning needs. Using a self-administered web-based survey offered to a total of 1,500 social work students with 18% respondent rate, the research determined through a chi-square test that students in Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, and PhD programs had a significant difference in preferences in areas of interests (χ2 = 153, p ≤ 0.000). Overall, students demonstrate...

Objectives To examine the association between colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods Data were derived from a sample of 26,704 persons aged 50 to 75 years from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2010. The HRQOL factor and CRC screenings factor were developed in the NHIS cancer file. By using the Andersen model, confirmatory factor analysis with a multiple indicators, multiple causes model comprised data analysis. Results CRC screening rates were negatively associated with HRQOL. Identifying oneself as an African American was associated with better HRQOL but lower cancer screening rates. Conclusions HRQOL may capture several confounding factors. Thus, CRC screening rates alone may not be a strong predictor of HRQOL in population-based studies.

Sexual minority women are at an elevated risk for depression compared to heterosexual women, yet less is known about how gender roles affect the mental health of sexual minority women. Existing studies examining the role of self-esteem in the relationship between gender roles and depression are scarce and have predominantly focused on heterosexual populations. Using a cross-sectional survey of Chinese lesbians in Hong Kong (N = 438), the study tested the direct and indirect effects of different types of gender roles (masculine, feminine, and androgynous) on depression through the mediating factor of self-esteem. We found that masculinity and androgyny were positively associated with self-esteem, while femininity was negatively associated with self-esteem. More importantly, self-esteem fully mediated the inverse relationship between masculinity and depression and that between androgyny and depression. The positive relationship between femininity and depression was also fully mediated by self-esteem. By examining different types of gender roles and incorporating gender roles, self-esteem, and depression into a unified framework, the research highlighted the particularly protective effect of androgyny, which had the strongest positive direct effect on self-esteem and indirect effect on depression through the mediation of self-esteem compared to the effects of other types of gender roles. Our results illuminate the importance of understanding how individual differences in gender roles relate to the mental health of sexual minority women in future research and interventions. Implications for interventions that help Chinese lesbians cope with gender expectations and improve their mental health are discussed.

This study explores the impact of family structure and parental education on adolescents' substance use using a racially diverse sample of 14,268, 12th-grade high school adolescents. Findings reveal that family structure affects adolescents' substance use. In addition, racial differences are noted. African American adolescents report a relatively lower rate of substance use compared to White and Hispanic adolescents, yet they are gravely affected by substance use outcomes. The study lends further support that family structure and parental education variables may buffer adolescents from substance abuse influences. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Gender is a critical component of HIV and sexual risk interventions. Examining the range, effectiveness and methodological rigor of studies that include a gender based component can inform current interventions and future directions for intervention research. This review investigated gender informed intervention studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa that measured an outcome related to HIV. We reviewed 311 articles, 41 of which met our inclusion criteria, resulting in 11 articles that described eight different studies used in the analyses. The findings demonstrated wide variations in the types of interventions from low intensity educational content to multi-component interventions. Study outcomes were categorized into biological outcomes, HIV risk, behavioral, violence and risk reduction. Most interventions showed positive effects, and although research methodologies varied considerably, longer interventions appeared to be more effective. More research, however, is needed to build the evidence base for effectiveness of gender-based programs in reducing HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

Being bullied is a well-recognized trauma for adolescents. Bullying can best be understood through an ecological framework since bullying or being bullied involves risk factors at multiple contextual levels. The purpose of the study was to identify the risk and protective factors that best differentiate groups along with the outcome variable of interest (being bullied) using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. The study used the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) data collected from a nationally representative sample of students in grades six through ten during the 2005–2006 school years. This study identified that for adolescents 12 and younger, lower parental support is a critical risk factor associated with bullying and among those 13 to 14 with lower parent support, adolescent with higher academic pressure reported experiencing more bullying. For the older group of adolescents (aged 15 and older), school related factors were identified to increase the risk level of being bullied. There was a critical age (15 years old) for implementing victimization interventions to reduce the damage from being bullied. Service providers working with adolescents aged 14 and less should focus more on family-oriented intervention and those working with adolescents aged 15 and more should offer peer- or school-related interventions.