Search

Objective: Interpersonal partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive social and public health problem worldwide. In the context of the response by the World Health Organization to this issue, proposals were developed to improve the usefulness of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) descriptions for helping clinicians to reliably identify relational problems and maltreatment (RPM), including IPV, as part of clinical practice. This study focuses on factors associated with the accuracy of diagnostic decisions made by mental health professionals (MHPs) around the world when using the proposed ICD descriptions for RPM with standardized clinical vignettes in an ICD-11 internet-based field trial study. Method: A total of 1,221 MHPs from ninety countries evaluated randomly assigned vignettes, which described patients presenting with or without RPM and with or without a co-occurring depressive or anxiety disorder. Results: Findings showed that increased diagnostic accuracy for RPM was associated with MHPs being female or having greater knowledge/experience of RPM, as well as with the absence of a mental disorder in the patient. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of providing IPV-related training programs for MHPs to (a) better identify and address IPV in mental health settings and (b) improve knowledge and understanding of the consequences of IPV for physical and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite evidence that Black individuals are confronted with various types of racial discrimination that put them at risk for alcohol and substance use disorders, no study in Canada has assessed the frequency and factors related to substance use in Black communities. This study thus aims to examine the frequency and factors related to substance use in Black communities in Canada. Method: A total of 845 Black individuals in Canada (76.6% female) completed questionnaires assessing substance use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs), everyday racial discrimination, resilience, religious involvement, and sociodemographic information. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine factors related to substance use among Black individuals. Results: The findings showed that 14.8% (95% CI [8.60, 20.94]) of participants reported using any substance (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs) in the past 12 months. Men reported a significantly higher frequency of substance use than women (25.7% vs. 11.1%; x2 = 27.67, p < .001). Everyday racial discrimination (ß = .27, p < .001) and place of birth (born in Canada, ß=.14, p < .001) were positively associated with substance use, whereas it was negatively associated with religiosity, resilience, and gender (being a female; ß = -.08, p < .05; ß = -.21, p < .001; ß = -.12, p < .001). Conclusions: Racial discrimination is associated with substance use among Black individuals in Canada. The study findings inform potential prevention and intervention strategies by examining protective factors related to substance use (e.g., religiosity, resilience, gender) among Black individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Black Canadians report experiencing various forms of racial discrimination disproportionately. This study aimed to: (a) examine the association between everyday racial discrimination and self-esteem; (b) test the mediating role of internalized racism and social support in the association between racial discrimination and self-esteem, and (c) test the moderating role of gender and age in this same relationship. Method: A total of 860 participants (76.60% female) aged 15–40 (Mage = 24.96, SD = 6.31) completed questionnaires assessing racial discrimination, self-esteem, internalized racism, and social support. Descriptive and moderated mediation analyses were performed. Results: A total of 65.33% of participants were categorized as endorsing low self-esteem, with no significant difference between males and females (66.67% and 62.20%, respectively; χ2 = 1.56, p =.47). Participants aged 25–40 exhibited a higher prevalence of low self-esteem compared to those aged 15–24 (89.91% and 58.54%, respectively, χ2 = 37.31, p <.001). The results showed a progressive increase in the prevalence of low self-esteem commensurate with increasing levels of reported racial discrimination. Internalized racism (β = −.09, SE =.01, p <.001) and social support (β =.10, SE =.01, p <.001) mediated the association between everyday racial discrimination and self-esteem; whereas gender moderated the latter association (β =.17, SE =.04, p <.001; being a woman). Conclusions: Results indicate a strong association between racial discrimination and low self-esteem. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of self-esteem problems among Black individuals in Canada. They also have important relevance for the development of educational and clinical programs for prevention and intervention. Public Significance Statement: The findings of this study reveal that in our sample two out of three Black Canadians experience low self-esteem. This study also shows that low self-esteem among Black Canadians is strongly related to everyday racial discrimination experiences. Results also indicate that internalized racism is a significant risk factor for low self-esteem, whereas social support is a protective factor. Being a woman amplifies the risk of experiencing low self-esteem among Black Canadians who have experienced racial discrimination. These findings are relevant to the development of prevention and intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]