The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health. Identifying risk factors and susceptible subgroups will guide efforts to address mental health concerns during the pandemic and long-term management and monitoring after the pandemic. Read More
Societal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic may affect children's health behaviors and exacerbate disparities. This study aimed to describe children's health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, how they vary by sociodemographic characteristics, and the extent to which parent coping strategies mitigate the impact of pandemic-related financial strain on these behaviors. Read More
This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income, Latinx mothers in Southern California with a history of depression, including undocumented mothers and members of mixed status families. Read More
The focus of childhood obesity disparities has been mainly on macro-level disparities, such as, between lower versus higher socioeconomic groups. But, less is known about micro-level disparities, that is disparities within minority and low-income populations. The present study examines individual and family level predictors of micro-level obesity disparities. Read More
This study aimed to estimate the effects of the built, social, and economic environments on adolescent obesity and related behaviors. Read More
The Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC: 0-5) was developed to provide a framework for diagnosis of infants and young children, and a training curriculum supports implementation of the manual in clinical practice. This study surveyed 100 mental health clinicians (93% female and 53% Latinx/Hispanic) who had completed training in the DC: 0-5 classification system and worked with infants/young children and their families primarily in urban, public insurance-funded, community mental health settings in the United States. Read More
Informal caregivers are the backbone of the long-term healthcare system in the United States and crucial in supporting the rapidly increasing aging population. Previous studies have illustrated the negative effects that the caregiving role can have on caregiver mental health, but few studies have examined the singular role of experiencing financial difficulty on caregiver mental health. Read More
As commissioned by the Society for Prevention Research, this paper describes and illustrates strategic approaches for reducing health inequities and advancing health equity when adopting an equity-focused approach for applying prevention science evidence-based theory, methodologies, and practices. We introduce an ecosystemic framework as a guide for analyzing, designing, and planning innovative equity-focused evidence-based preventive interventions designed to attain intended health equity outcomes. Read More
Public housing residents, who tend to be predominantly female and racial/ethnic minorities, are at a particularly high risk for chronic health conditions. Prior studies have suggested that a lack of access to healthy and affordable food may be an important barrier in public housing communities, but evidence is mixed on the association between the neighborhood food environment and dietary quality, suggesting the need to examine food access patterns in low-income, minority communities more deeply. The purpose of this study was to examine the variability in grocery shopping patterns, and the factors that predict them, among low-income minority women in public housing. Read More
Findings highlight an immediate need to deepen understanding of the factors that contribute to these trends and identify mechanisms to support the frontline social work workforce most impacted. Read More
