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Aim: To examine the intergenerational impact of systemic racism on mental health, depicting the evolution and patterns of anxiety symptoms and the application of the Bowenian family therapy to understand the interrelatedness and long‐standing impact of intergenerational trauma in African American families. This article highlights interventions that increase awareness of and promotes physical and mental health for African American populations. Design: Discursive Paper. Method: Searching literature published between 2012 and 2022 in PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO Host and Google Scholar, we explored factors associated with systemic racism and generational anxiety. Discussion: Evidence‐based literature supports the application of the Bowenian family therapy theoretical framework to understand the intergenerational impact of systemic racism and to address the transmission of anxiety symptoms in African American populations. Conclusion: Culturally appropriate interventions are needed to decrease anxiety symptoms in an attempt to heal intergenerational trauma and to improve family dynamics in African American populations. Impact to Nursing Practice: Nurses play an integral role in providing holistic quality patient‐centred care for African American populations who have experienced racial trauma. It is critical for nurses to implement culturally responsive and racially informed care with patients that focuses on self‐awareness, health promotion, prevention and healing in efforts to address racial trauma. Application of Bowenian family therapy can aid in the reduction of both intergenerational transmission of racial trauma and generational anxiety. No Patient or Public Contribution: There was no patient or public involvement in the design or drafting of this discursive paper. The authors reviewed the literature to develop a discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disease (SCD) complications place patients at risk for poor psychosocial adaptation, including depression and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to test a mediator model based on the Risk and Resistance model to explore the role of intrapersonal characteristics and stress processing variables in psychosocial functioning. Participants were 44 adolescents with SCD, 15 healthy siblings, and 43 primary caregivers, recruited from an East Coast comprehensive sickle cell center. The participants completed paper and pencil measures of resilience factors (attributional style, hope, coping) and internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety). Internalizing symptoms among adolescents with SCD and healthy siblings did not differ and were within non-clinical ranges. Self-esteem of adolescents with SCD was correlated with less depression and anxiety and sense of inadequacy was associated with poorer functioning. There were no findings to support the role of coping in psychosocial adjustment. Although the mediation hypothesis was not supported, findings highlighted the resilience of this sample of adolescents with SCD. Determining how these resilience factors protect adolescents with SCD may aid in the development of psychosocial interventions. In particular, interventions should focus on improving intrapersonal skills and coping with stress and investigate ways to tailor these interventions to African-American populations.

Few studies examine the effectiveness of panic control treatment across diverse ethnic groups. In this paper we present data on 40 patients (African American, n = 24; Caucasian, n = 16) with panic disorder and comorbid agoraphobia who presented at an anxiety disorder clinic in an inner-city area. On initial assessment both groups were similar on psychometric measures, and both groups moderately improved with treatment though significant residual symptoms remained. We illustrate, through case examples, a variety of clinical issues that need to be addressed when providing treatment to multiethnic African American clients with panic disorder and agoraphobia. (Contains 2 tables.)

Several abstracts of research studies presented at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback held in April 2009 in are presented, including "Novel Approach to Adolescent Physical Activity: Mood-Booster Acute Exercise," "Wellness Programming for First Year Medical Students" and "Repetitive TMS Affects EEG Gamma and ERP During Perceptual Processing in Autism."

Mental health challenges have been recognized as one of the most prevalent issues impacting children and families within the United States. Children and families of color are disproportionately affected by this due to lack of access to preventative and ongoing supports, and programs that can help address their overall well-being. These issues are even more severe for those that are at risk or interact with the child welfare system. Social workers use various clinical modalities to assess and support them. In the recent years, child welfare agencies have turned to Evidence based programs (EBPs) as a best practice to meet the needs of children and families. The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, established by the Administration of Children and Families is a landmark effort to review and promote such EBP's that prevents foster care placements, including mental health programs. While the Clearinghouse has reviewed 141 programs and services, out of which 71 have been rated as promising, supported, or well-supported, there is a dearth of culturally responsive programs that have met the Clearinghouse criteria. Given the overrepresentation of African American and Native American Families in the child welfare system, and the critical role of the Clearinghouse in reviewing and promoting EBPs, this paper highlights the philosophical, administrative, cultural and logistical barriers for culturally relevant programs to be accepted into the Clearinghouse. It also provides specific recommendations on how the Clearinghouse and researchers can build EBPs that account for the intersection between mental health, social location and cultural identities of the children and families that social workers serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2020 was a challenging and traumatic year for Americans, especially Black Americans. Many Black people quickly succumbed to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This paper describes systemic trauma as a lens to conceptualize the effects of COVID‐19, racial stress and trauma, and grief. A recount of the events during the year 2020 is reviewed. Racism towards Black people was at an all‐time high. Complicated and collective grief was ever‐present. As a by‐product of COVID‐19, economic and health disparities resurfaced to further complicate Black people's well‐being. Systemic trauma is described as a comprehensive and inclusive framework that captures the intensity and depth of the trauma Black Americans experienced. We argue that culturally appropriate interventions are needed to help Black people continue to heal from the distress of 2020. Race‐informed trauma treatment is a culturally appropriate intervention that facilitates healing, improves the quality of life, and fosters posttraumatic growth for Black Americans. We offer race‐informed treatment as a theoretical orientation that can facilitate healing and posttraumatic growth for Black people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe in January of 2020 causing mass panic and extreme hysteria. While pandemics are not new, COVID-19 is emerging as a public health crisis in nearly every household in America. In this paper, I discuss how COVID-19 has ravaged one of the wealthiest African American counties in the United States. Using Public Health Critical Race Praxis (PHCR) I seek to examine how disparities exist in health care and public funding is not equally distributed regardless of wealth and status for minoritized communities. Using PCHR's framework I highlight many of the disparities that exist in health care for people of color during this global health crisis and provide implications for improvement in federal, state, and local funding in communities of color. This article advances scholarship on the intersection between public health and social work particularly alluding to the need for increased advocacy for marginalized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, sing-along radio programmes became common in the 1930s. These programmes aired locally, regionally, and nationally, and they took various approaches to audience participation. Although categorized as radio participation shows, sing-along programmes were unique in that they prompted scripted musical participation by home listeners during the course of the broadcast. This article examines the most successful sing-along programme, Gillette Original Community Sing , which broadcast on the CBS network in 1936 and 1937. Participants were encouraged to imagine themselves as part of a numberless mediated community that included both audible singers in the studio audience and unheard singers spread across the continent. This community, however, was clearly bounded in terms of race. A detailed analysis of the Community Sing repertory reveals that the African American experience—as imagined primarily by white songwriters and often using blackface dialect—was the third most common song topic. By singing these songs, especially in the proximity of minstrel sketches, home listeners participated in mediated blackface performances that addressed racial anxieties and constructed white identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive assessment of older adults typically includes symptom reports and objective evaluations. However, there is often poor agreement between these measures. Cultural norms, stress, and anxiety may also influence cognitive self-appraisal and performance. Little research describes how other factors affect the self-report/objective test discrepancies noted in the literature. Objective: This study investigated whether the disparity between subjective cognitive concerns and objective cognitive performance is related to measures of anxiety and stress in older Black and African American adults. Methods: Telephone screenings were administered to 206 older adults (ages 64–94) during the first year of the pandemic. Demographic data, objective memory (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status [TICS-m]), an adaptation of the subjective memory measure, the Cognitive Change Questionnaire, emphasizing executive functioning in everyday life [CCQ-e]), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS4) were measured. Metacognition Discrepancy Index (MDI) was calculated from the standardized residual after regressing TICS-m on CCQ-e scores to quantify the discrepancy between cognitive self-appraisal and objective cognitive functioning. Results: Neither GAD-7 nor PSS-4 moderated the relationship between TICS-m and CCQ-e, and TICS-m scores weakly predicted subjective CCQ-e scores (F(1, 197)=4.37, p = 0.038, R2 = 0.022). The MDI correlated with stress and anxiety (rs = 0.294, 0.396, ps < 0.001). Conclusion: Discrepancies exist between objectively measured and self-evaluated cognition. Elevations in stress and anxiety are associated with greater overestimation of cognitive difficulties relative to objective performance. Pandemic-related stressors may have worsened anxiety and diminished self-appraisal of cognitive abilities for some individuals, while others may remain reluctant to acknowledge impairments. Social and emotional factors are meaningful considerations in assessing cognitive difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross-sectional study, examining the mediation effects of depression and anxiety on the association between discrimination and readiness to quit cigarette smoking among African American adult cigarette smokers experiencing homelessness. Using a convenience sample, participants were recruited from a homeless shelter in Southern California. Scores of discrimination, depressive, and anxiety symptoms, and readiness to quit smoking were analyzed using linear regression modeling. We enrolled 100 participants; 58 participants were male. In the final model, discrimination had no association with readiness to quit (b = 0.02; 95% CI [−0.04, 0.08]; p = 0.47). The indirect effects of depression (b = 0.04, [0.01, 0.07]; p = 0.02) and anxiety (b = 0.03; [0.01, 0.05]; p = 0.04) reached statistical significance; the direct effects of depression (b = −0.01; [−0.09, 0.04]; p = 0.70) and anxiety (b = −0.00; [−0.09, 0.06]; p = 0.86) did not. Future studies should explore these associations to enhance smoking cessation programs for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Racial/ethnic differences in mental health outcomes after a traumatic event have been reported. Less is known about factors that explain these differences. We examined whether pre-, peri-, and post-trauma risk factors explained racial/ethnic differences in acute and longer-term posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms in patients hospitalized following traumatic injury or illness. Methods: PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms were assessed during hospitalization and 2 and 6 months later among 1310 adult patients (6.95% Asian, 14.96% Latinx, 23.66% Black, 4.58% multiracial, and 49.85% White). Individual growth curve models examined racial/ethnic differences in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms at each time point and in their rate of change over time, and whether pre-, peri-, and post-trauma risk factors explained these differences. Results: Latinx, Black, and multiracial patients had higher acute PTSD symptoms than White patients, which remained higher 2 and 6 months post-hospitalization for Black and multiracial patients. PTSD symptoms were also found to improve faster among Latinx than White patients. Risk factors accounted for most racial/ethnic differences, although Latinx patients showed lower 6-month PTSD symptoms and Black patients lower acute and 2-month depression and anxiety symptoms after accounting for risk factors. Everyday discrimination, financial stress, past mental health problems, and social constraints were related to these differences. Conclusion: Racial/ethnic differences in risk factors explained most differences in acute and longer-term PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Understanding how these risk factors relate to posttraumatic symptoms could help reduce disparities by facilitating early identification of patients at risk for mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disease (SCD) complications place patients at risk for poor psychosocial adaptation, including depression and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to test a mediator model based on the Risk and Resistance model to explore the role of intrapersonal characteristics and stress processing variables in psychosocial functioning. Participants were 44 adolescents with SCD, 15 healthy siblings, and 43 primary caregivers, recruited from an East Coast comprehensive sickle cell center. The participants completed paper and pencil measures of resilience factors (attributional style, hope, coping) and internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety). Internalizing symptoms among adolescents␣with SCD and healthy siblings did not differ and were within non-clinical ranges. Self-esteem of adolescents with SCD was correlated with less depression and anxiety and sense of inadequacy was associated with poorer functioning. There were no findings to support the role of coping in psychosocial adjustment. Although the mediation hypothesis was not supported, findings highlighted the resilience of this sample of adolescents with SCD. Determining how these resilience factors protect adolescents with SCD may aid in the development of psychosocial interventions. In particular, interventions should focus on improving intrapersonal skills and coping with stress and investigate ways to tailor these interventions to African-American populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Study: Medical students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) regularly experience mistreatment and discrimination. This study sought to understand these student experiences during rotations in rural and urban underserved community teaching sites. Methods: Self‐identified BIPOC medical students who completed the University of Washington School of Medicine's Rural Underserved Opportunities Program from 2019 through 2021 were invited to participate in a 60‐ to 90‐minute focus group discussion via Zoom. From August to September 2021, 4 focus groups and 1 individual interview were conducted with a total of 12 participants. A current BIPOC medical student facilitated the sessions utilizing questions developed by the research team. Four study team members coded transcripts for key themes related to experiences of microaggressions. Findings: All participants reported having an overall positive experience, but everyone also witnessed and/or experienced at least 1 microaggression. Unlike those in urban placements, participants placed in rural sites expressed anxiety about being in predominantly White communities and experienced feelings of racial and/or ethnic isolation during the rotation. Participants recommended that rural preceptors identify themselves as trusted advocates and the program should prioritize placing BIPOC students at diverse clinical sites. Conclusions: Medical schools must take action to address the mistreatment of BIPOC medical students in the clinical environment. Schools and rural training sites need to consider how to best support students to create an equitable learning environment and recruit more BIPOC physicians to rural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature suggests that a significant number of patients with sickle cell disease experience social and psychiatric impairment. Recently, a few investigators have focused on the role of depression in sickle cell disease. A review of this literature indicates that patients with sickle cell disease have a higher incidence of depression when compared to physically healthy controls. This relationship appears to be true even when the investigator controls for illness-related physical symptoms. This paper critically reviews the literature on the relationship between depression and sickle cell disease in African American patients, with particular emphasis on how depressive symptomatology affects treatment outcome (e.g., compliance, hospitalizations, etc.). The paper critically reviews this literature on both theoretical and methodological issues. Recommendations are also made with regards to both treatment and future research directions in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Racial and ethnic groups in the USA differ in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research however has not observed consistent racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic stress in the early aftermath of trauma, suggesting that such differences in chronic PTSD rates may be related to differences in recovery over time. Methods: As part of the multisite, longitudinal AURORA study, we investigated racial/ethnic differences in PTSD and related outcomes within 3 months after trauma. Participants (n = 930) were recruited from emergency departments across the USA and provided periodic (2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months after trauma) self-report assessments of PTSD, depression, dissociation, anxiety, and resilience. Linear models were completed to investigate racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic dysfunction with subsequent follow-up models assessing potential effects of prior life stressors. Results: Racial/ethnic groups did not differ in symptoms over time; however, Black participants showed reduced posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms overall compared to Hispanic participants and White participants. Racial/ethnic differences were not attenuated after accounting for differences in sociodemographic factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in depression and anxiety were no longer significant after accounting for greater prior trauma exposure and childhood emotional abuse in White participants. Conclusions: The present findings suggest prior differences in previous trauma exposure partially mediate the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms following a recent trauma. Our findings further demonstrate that racial/ethnic groups show similar rates of symptom recovery over time. Future work utilizing longer time-scale data is needed to elucidate potential racial/ethnic differences in long-term symptom trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary evidence indicates there may be differences in the prevalence and severity of anxiety in African Americans and European Americans. A number of sociocultural risk and protective factors have been suggested to contribute to these group differences, such as salience of physical illnesses, discrimination, stigma toward mental illness, religiosity, and ethnic identity. In this paper, the literature concerning each of these factors is reviewed. Overall, the strongest evidence was found for ethnic identity and stigma toward mental illness as factors underlying group differences in anxiety. Ethnic identity and stigma toward mental illness consistently differed by racial group and were associated with anxiety in African Americans. Ethnic identity may buffer against the negative consequences of anxiety, reducing prevalence rates in African Americans. Stigma toward mental illness may decrease African Americans willingness to report anxiety symptoms, reducing overall prevalence rates but increasing the severity of treated cases. The research regarding discrimination, salience of physical illnesses, and religiosity was less clear. Much more research is required, but the findings of this review suggest that future studies should put particular emphasis on stigma toward mental illness and ethnic identity as important factors in understanding African American anxiety outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being will likely be long-lasting. Efforts directed towards monitoring the onset and progression of distress and mental health disorders are needed to identify and prioritize at-risk populations. This study assesses the psychological well-being of the United States (US) general population during the early phase of the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic using validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Adults (18 years or older) who could read and write in English were recruited through Prolific in May 2020. Participants completed a REDCap survey including demographic and health-related questions and three PROMs measuring global health (PROMIS-10 Global Health), anxiety [Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7)], and depression [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)]. A multivariable linear regression was used to identify key factors associated with worse psychological well-being. Results: Mean age of the 2023 participants was 31.92 ± 11.57 years (range, 18–82). Participants were mainly White (64.7%, n = 1309), female (52.2%, n = 1057), working full-time before the pandemic (43.5%, n = 879), and completed a college, trade, or university degree (40.7%, n = 823). Most participants reported mild to severe anxiety (57.3%, n = 1158) and depression (60%, n = 1276) on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively. Patient characteristics associated with worse psychological well-being included: age ≤ 39 years, non-White, female or gender diverse, BMI ≥ 30, uninsured, annual income ≤ $49,999 (USD), lower educational attainment, and belief that COVID-19 is deadlier than flu. Conclusion: PROMs can be used to assess and monitor psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and to inform the planning and delivery of targeted public health interventions to support at-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the depression and anxiety among men of color (primarily African American and Latinx) who have sex with men after the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes included 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and a 10-item COVID-related anxiety measure using a modified H1N1-related anxiety question. Independent variables were food insecurity and belief in government efficiency. Data were analyzed by Regression models with random cluster effects. Food insecurity experiences were significantly associated with higher depression (p < 0.001), higher anxiety (p < 0.001), and higher pandemic-related anxiety (p < 0.001). Higher levels of belief in government efficiency were significantly associated with lower depression (p < 0.05), less anxiety (p < 0.05), and less pandemic-related anxiety (p-value < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of establishing trust between government and at-risk communities when issuing public health policies, especially during unforeseen circumstances, as well as to ensure basic human rights, such as food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study utilised the social determinants of health (SDH) framework to see whether indicators of the framework have an impact on anxiety and depression of people living in rural Black Belt communities in Alabama. Data from a convenient sample of 159 African-Americans aged 18 or older were from two sites in rural Alabama. The levels of anxiety and depression were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9). Multiple linear regression model was used to examine the association between SDH and anxiety and depression level of participants. The mean PHQ9 score of participants was 5.57 out of twenty-seven. Four SDH were significantly related to PHQ9 levels amongst participants: participants with higher food insecurity scores, higher transportation needs and higher threats to interpersonal safety tended to have higher scores in PHQ9. Moreover, health literacy levels were negatively associated with PHQ9 scores amongst participants. Our study highlights understanding SDH specifically for residents in rural communities that are socially and culturally isolated is important for developing preventive approaches that enhance access to mental health treatments. A comprehensive public health policy that incorporates our study findings is needed for the rural areas of the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans develop hypertension earlier in life than Whites and the racial/ethnic disparities in blood pressure level can appear as early as adolescence. Violence victimization, a prevalent environmental stressor among inner-city youth, may play a role in such disparities. In a sample of inner-city youth in the United States, the current study examines the relationship between violence victimization and hypertension while investigating the role of social support in moderating that relationship. We analyzed eight waves of data from a longitudinal study of African American youth (n = 353, 56.7% female) from mid-adolescence (9th grade, mean age = 14.9 years old) to emerging adulthood (mean age = 23.1 years old) using probit regression. Higher levels of self-reported violence victimization during ages 14–18 was associated with more reports of hypertension during ages 20–23, after adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, substance use, and mental distress. The relationship of violence victimization with hypertension was moderated by friends' support, but not parental support. The association between victimization and hypertension was weaker and non-significant among individuals with more peer support compared to those with less support. Researchers have reported many instances of associations of early violence exposure to later risk for hypertension; however, most have focused on childhood maltreatment or intimate partner violence. We extend these findings to violence victimization in an African American sample of youth from adolescence to early adulthood, while examining social support modifiers. The disparity in African American hypertension rates relative to Whites may partly be explained by differential exposure to violence. Our findings also suggest that having supportive friends when faced with violence can be beneficial for young adulthood health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Blacks have the highest incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer (PCa) in the U.S. Black PCa patients (PCaP) also report high psychological distress. Identifying culturally specific coping strategies that lower distress among Black PCaP could help improve psychological interventions for this group. African‐centered coping (strategies unique to the structure of Black personality and the African‐centered worldview) have been identified. We hypothesized that these coping strategies and resilience would be associated with lower psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in Black PCaP. Methods: Black PCaP (N = 95) completed a survey assessing African‐centered coping strategies, resilience, anxiety, and depression. Multiple regression was employed to examine African‐centered coping strategies and resilience as predictors of psychological distress. Results: Participants were aged M = 67 ± 9 years and 52% had late‐stage PCa. Twenty percent met criteria for clinically significant anxiety, and 17% for depression. African‐centered coping strategies were not associated with lower anxiety or depression, while resilience was associated with decreased anxiety (r = −0.45, p < 0.001) and depression (r = −0.54, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses did not support an indirect association among African‐centered coping strategies, resilience, and anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Contrary to hypotheses, African‐centered coping strategies were not associated with psychological distress. However, as predicted, greater resilience was associated with lower anxiety and depression. These findings support the relevancy of resilience in Blacks' psychological adjustment to PCa. It might be worthwhile to explore African‐centered coping strategies that help Black PCaP cope with distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Prolonged experiences of discrimination can be a major source of physical and health-related stress, particularly in older Black Americans. However, there is limited information on the relation between discrimination and anxiety, particularly within the context of other constructs that influence the manifestation of anxiety symptoms. For example, several studies have suggested that ethnic identification may provide psychological and social resources to deal with the effects of discrimination. This study aims to further understand these processes. Method: This study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine predictors of anxiety symptom severity in a sample of African American and Afro-Caribbean adults aged 55 and older from the National Survey of American Life (N = 1,032). Results: The final structural regression model revealed acceptable fit indices, and was successful in measuring latent anxiety symptom severity, showing that more experienced discrimination was related to higher anxiety and anxiety was directly related to mental health rating. While higher experience of discrimination was associated with higher anxiety, it was not directly related to mental health rating. However, contrary to expectation, ethnic identification did not serve as a protective factor between experienced discrimination and anxiety. As individuals aged, they experienced less discrimination and reported poorer self-rated mental health. Conclusions: While age served as a protective factor for perceived discrimination and anxiety symptom severity, ethnic identification did not. Implications for those working to reduce anxiety symptoms among Black Americans are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the association of racism in oral healthcare settings and dental care-related fear/anxiety with dental utilization among Black/African American women in Appalachia.Methods: We analyzed self-report measures of racism in oral healthcare settings, dental care-related anxiety and fear, recency of a dental visit, and demographic information from 268 pregnant women participating in the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia (COHRA) SMILE cohort. All participants self-identified as African American or Black and resided in Appalachia (i.e., either West Virginia or Pittsburgh, PA).Results: Over one-third of the participants reported at least one instance of racism in oral healthcare settings, with "not being listened to" due to their race or color as the most frequent issue (24.4%). Clinically significant levels of dental care-related anxiety and fear were reported by 14.3% of the sample. A mediational model demonstrated that the experience of racism in oral healthcare settings was a significant predictor of dental fear/anxiety, and that dental fear/anxiety was a significant predictor of dental utilization. There was a significant relationship between racism in oral healthcare settings and dental utilization only when mediated by the presence of dental care-related fear and anxiety.Conclusions: Together, experiences of racism in oral healthcare settings and dental care-related fear/anxiety are predictive of decreased dental utilization for Black/African American women living in Appalachia. This study provides insight into racism in oral healthcare settings as a social determinant of dental anxiety/fear and inequities in dental utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over half of HIV infections in the U.S. are among young gay, bisexual, and other same-gender-loving men (SGLM). Symptoms affecting these individuals must be clarified in order to be detected and addressed by health care providers. This report describes the symptom prevalence in young SGLM living with HIV. Study participants in an urban context experienced high symptom burden with a median of 6.2 symptoms despite antiretroviral treatment with viral suppression. Most common symptoms included fatigue (57%), depression (54%), insomnia (53%), anxiety (44%), dizziness (33%), and headache (33%). This study showed that young SGLM with HIV experience a high number of symptoms given their age. Health care providers should work to alleviate this symptom burden that affects patients' quality of life and may influence engagement in care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: African Americans have a higher incidence rate of heart failure (HF) and an earlier age of HF onset compared to those of other racial and ethnic groups. Scientific literature suggests that by 2030, African Americans will have a 30% increased prevalence rate of HF coupled with depression. In addition to depression, anxiety is a predictor of worsening functional capacity, decreased quality of life, and increased hospital readmission rates. There is no consensus on the best way to treat patients with HF, depression, and anxiety. One promising type of treatment--cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)--has been shown to significantly improve patients' quality of life and treatment compliance, but CBT has not been used with SMS text messaging reminders to enhance the effect of reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in racial and ethnic minority patients with HF. Objective: The objectives of our study are to (1) adapt and modify the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) curriculum for delivery to patients with HF by using an SMS text messaging component to improve depression and anxiety symptoms, (2) administer the adapted intervention to 10 patients to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the approach and modify it as needed, and (3) examine trends in depression and anxiety symptoms postintervention. We hypothesize that patients will show an improvement in depression scores and anxiety symptoms postintervention. Methods: The study will comprise a mixed methods approach. We will use the eight steps of the ADAPT-ITT (assessment, decision, administration, production, topical expert, integration, training, and testing) model to adapt the intervention. The first step in this feasibility study will involve assembling individuals from the target population (n=10) to discuss questions on a specific topic. In phase 2, we will examine the feasibility and acceptability of the enhanced SMS text messaging intervention (TXT COPE-HF [Texting With COPE for Patients With HF]) and its preliminary effects with 10 participants. The Beck Depression Inventory will be used to assess depression, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory will be used to assess anxiety, and the Healthy Beliefs and Lifestyle Behavior surveys will be used to assess participants' lifestyle beliefs and behavior changes. Changes will be compared from baseline to end point by using paired 2-tailed t tests. An exit focus group (n=10) will be held to examine facilitators and barriers to the SMS text messaging protocol. Results: The pilot feasibility study was funded by the Academy for Clinical Research and Scholarship. Institutional review board approval was obtained in April 2021. Data collection and analysis are expected to conclude by November 2021 and April 2022, respectively. Conclusions: The study results will add to the literature on the effectiveness of an SMS text messaging CBT-enhanced intervention in reducing depression and anxiety among African American patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An emerging body of literature shows that allergies and infections are associated with psychiatric disorders, though there is little research to confirm these associations among Black Americans in the United States. Design: We analyzed data from the National Survey of American Life, and used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the associations between past 12-month allergies/infections and past 12-month psychiatric disorders, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, tobacco use, lifetime diabetes, and body mass index. Results: We found that allergies/infections were associated with mood, anxiety, and eating disorders, but not alcohol or substance use disorders. We detected effect modification by ethnicity, with stronger odds for mood, anxiety disorders, and alcohol use disorders, with no significant associations for substance use or eating disorders among Caribbean Blacks. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of screening for psychiatric disorders among Black individuals complaining of allergies/infections, and the need to also treat allergies/infections among people with psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the performance of racial identity in the events surrounding the 1969 exhibition Harlem On My Mind held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This racial performativity reflected widespread anxiety about the inclusion of African Americans in American art museums, where they had typically been excluded, and the ambiguous role of whites in addressing demands for representation. Faced with such demands, white curators, directors, and other museum professionals did not easily cede their authority. Instead they tried to demonstrate that they were no longer impediments to African American access, but rather facilitators of that access. Using the exhibition Harlem On My Mind as a case study, this article aims to shed light on the instrumental uses of race identity in the field of museums in the 1960s and today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Studies comparing racial/ethnic differences on measures of psychological and physical well-being for dementia caregivers have reported differences between minority and white caregivers. Recruitment methods often differ for minority and white participants due to enrollment targets and may lead to biased comparisons, especially in convenience samples. We aimed to examine racial/ethnic differences in dementia caregiver outcomes and to determine whether differences vary between studies with population-based or convenience samples. Research Design and Methods We systematically reviewed articles with primary data from PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO. We included studies comparing African American or Hispanic/Latino to white dementia caregivers on measures of psychological well-being or physical well-being. Reviewers screened titles and abstracts, reviewed full texts and conducted risk-of-bias assessments. Meta-analyses were conducted to assess effects by race/ethnicity and study bias. Results A total of 159 effects were extracted from 38 studies, 2 of which were population based. Random-effects models revealed small but statistically significant effects with better psychological well-being in African American caregivers compared with white caregivers in both population-based (d = −0.22) and convenience sample studies (d = −0.21). Hispanics/Latino caregivers reported lower levels of physical well-being than white caregivers (d = 0.12), though these effects varied by level of rated study bias. Discussion and Implications Consistency across study methods raises confidence in the validity of previous reports of better psychological well-being in African American caregivers. Future studies should use population-based samples with subgroups of Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and American Indian caregivers that are culturally distinct on factors such as country of origin and tribe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health conditions among African American women. Despite the need for mental health care, African American women significantly underuse mental health services. Previous mobile health studies revealed significant improvements in anxiety or depressive symptoms after intervention. The use of mobile apps offers the potential to eliminate or mitigate barriers for African American women who are seeking access to mental health services and resources. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the usability of the prototype of an app that is designed for supporting the self-management of anxiety and depression in African American women. Methods: Individual usability testing sessions were conducted with 15 participants in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Cognitive walkthrough and think-aloud protocols were used to evaluate the user interface. Eye-tracking glasses were used to record participants' visual focus and gaze path as they performed the tasks. The Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction was administered after each session to assess the participants' acceptance of the app. Results: Participants rated the usability of the prototype positively and provided recommendations for improvement. The average of the mean scores for usability assessments (ie, overall reactions to the software, screen, terminology and app information, learning, and app capabilities) ranged from 7.2 to 8.8 on a scale of 0-9 (low to high rating) for user tasks. Most participants were able to complete each task with limited or no assistance. Design recommendations included improving the user interface by adding graphics and color, adding a tutorial for first-time users, curating a list of Black women therapists within the app, adding details about tracking anxiety and depression in the checkup graphs, informing users that they can use the talk-to-text feature for journal entries to reduce burden, relabeling the mental health information icon, monitoring for crisis support, and improving clickthrough sequencing. Conclusions: This study provides a better understanding of user experience with an app tailored to support the management of anxiety and depression for African American women, which is an underserved group. As African American women have high rates of smartphone ownership, there is a great opportunity to use mobile technology to provide access to needed mental health services and resources. Future work will include incorporating feedback from usability testing and focus group sessions to refine and develop the app further. The updated app will undergo iterative usability testing before launching the pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorism has been propagated across the globe, and skin tone discrimination may partly explain social stratification and health disparities within the Black American population. Using data from a large probability sample of Black American adults (National Survey of American Life; 2001–2003), we examined the relations between perceived colorism and psychiatric disorders. In multivariable logistic regression models, in-group colorism was associated with greater odds of having any lifetime psychiatric disorder (aOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.08–1.32; p = 0.00); however, out-group colorism was not significantly associated, net of sociodemographic characteristics and in-group colorism (aOR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.99–1.18; p = 0.08). When looking at specific disorders, in-group colorism was significantly associated with greater odds of alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, anxiety disorder, and eating disorder, but was not associated with post-traumatic stress disorder or mood disorder. Out-group colorism was not significantly associated with any psychiatric disorder except anxiety disorder. Our findings show that colorism predicts psychiatric disorders, though more research is needed to understand why the effects of in-group and out-group colorism are related to certain psychiatric disorders but not others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, populations can experience worsening mental health. Prior reports have suggested that Black Americans experienced lower rates of anxiety and depression than White Americans before the pandemic; however, during the pandemic, outcomes may be different as Black Americans have been disproportionately affected in terms of mortality, hospitalization, COVID-19 infection, and job loss. We documented the differential mental health impact of COVID-19 on Black and Non-Black Americans. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative longitudinal data from the Understanding America Study COVID-19 Tracking Survey spanning March through November of 2020 to assess differences over time in prevalence of anxiety and depression between Black and non-Black Americans. Results: We found that Black Americans were significantly less likely to report symptoms for anxiety, depression, or both during the pandemic. In a given month between March through November of 2020, the odds of Black Americans reporting such symptoms was on average about half that of Non-Black Americans. We also found that in September 2020, the gap in reporting symptoms for depression began to widen gradually. Specifically, since that time, prevalence of depression remained stable among non-Black Americans while it declined gradually among Black Americans. Our main results were robust to adjusting for demographics, risk perceptions, and baseline pre-pandemic mental health status. Conclusions: Black Americans maintained significantly better mental health than Non-Black Americans despite their struggle against economic, health, and racial inequalities during the pandemic. We discuss the significance and implications of our results and identify opportunities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bullying experiences in adolescence has become a nationwide problem as 28% of the children report being bullied over the past school year. Adolescents who report being bullied have been found to have higher rates of anxiety and depression. Although several studies have examined family support and school connectedness as protective factors that buffer the link between being bullied and mental health, little is known about racial/ethnic differences in bullying victimization. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory proposes that a child's environment (e.g., family cohesion, school connectedness) is a potential protective factor between bullying experiences and mental health. Adolescent data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study were used to analyze a structural model, postulating frequency of being bullied on the adolescents reports of perceived health, directly and as mediated by anxiety symptoms, was assessed among adolescents who were Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, White, Multiracial, and other races not specified in the assessment. Additionally, we examined whether reports of family cohesion and/or school connectedness moderate the link between frequency of being bullied and anxiety. Modest, yet significant results indicated that there were group differences for the model, and school connectedness was linked with lower rates of anxiety symptoms and better reports of perceived health for most groups. These findings provided insight into the importance of considering contextual factors such as race when examining bullying victimization as well as provides insight for school and helping professionals such as family therapists striving to stymie the effects of being bullied among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior literature on Black women's body image heavily relies on comparative studies to confirm Black women's greater body satisfaction relative to white women. Collectively, these studies argue that "cultural buffers" exempt Black women from the thin ideal and instead, encourage women to embrace thickness as a mark of racial pride. And while the literature largely establishes Black women's preference for a curvaceous figure, I take a different approach by examining women who describe failing to embody thickness and how they reconcile this conflict. Thus, this article asks how women negotiate body dissatisfaction when violating racialized bodily ideals. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 31 Black American women of diverse body sizes and shapes, I demonstrate how women rely on discursive frameworks such as healthism and the "strong Black woman" ideology to reconcile their self-image. While these discourses enable women to defend criticisms of violating thickness, they also participate in stigmatizing other forms of embodiment in their attempts to assuage body dissatisfaction. Overall, these findings reveal Black women's agency to challenge idealized–and essentialized–notions of thickness that weighed heavily on their body image. Lastly, I discuss the broader implications of my findings within the literature of body politics and offer suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prior studies have found heightened negative affect following tobacco abstinence in women compared to men. However, experimental work addressing whether these findings generalize across racial groups is scarce. This study investigated whether race (non-Hispanic White vs. non-Hispanic African American) moderated gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect and smoking behavior.Methods: Data were collected from 2010 to 2017 from two separate laboratory studies investigating experimentally manipulated tobacco abstinence. Following a baseline session, adult daily smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day; women: n = 297, 83.8% non-Hispanic African American; men: n = 492, 86.2% non-Hispanic African American) attended two counterbalanced lab sessions (16 hours abstinent vs. non-abstinent) and completed self-report measures of negative affect followed by a laboratory analogue smoking reinstatement task.Results: We found a gender × race interaction for several negative affect states and composite negative affect (βs = -.12 to -.16, Ps < .05). Analyses stratified by race showed that non-Hispanic White women compared to non-Hispanic White men exhibited greater abstinence-induced increases in anger, anxiety, and composite negative affect (βs = -.20 to -.29, Ps < .05). No significant gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect were found for non-Hispanic African American smokers (βs = .00 to - .04, Ps > .05).Conclusion: These findings suggest that negative affect during acute tobacco abstinence may be a clinically important and intervenable factor that can inform cessation interventions specifically for non-Hispanic White women smokers. Further empirical exploration of mechanisms underlying interactions of gender and race in tobacco addiction may benefit smoking cessation efforts in non-Hispanic African American women smokers.Implications: This study contributes to a scant body of research examining the intersectional influence of race and gender on abstinence-induced negative affect-a central, motivationally prepotent feature of tobacco withdrawal. Using a laboratory-based design to experimentally manipulate abstinence, we provide evidence of a gender × race interaction on negative affect-related withdrawal. Our findings suggest that gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect observed among non-Hispanic White smokers may not generalize to non-Hispanic African American smokers, highlighting the need for future work to address potential mechanisms underlying the racially discrepant impact of gender on affective tobacco withdrawal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safety behaviors are subtle avoidance strategies for minimizing distress within social situations (e.g., avoidance of eye contact). These behaviors factor prominently in the development and maintenance of social anxiety concerns, and when patients use these behaviors within psychosocial treatments for social anxiety, this may impede treatment response. Prior work supports the need to include measures of safety behaviors within evidence-based assessments of social anxiety. Along these lines, researchers developed the Subtle Avoidance Frequency Examination (SAFE) to assess safety behaviors among adults. However, we know relatively little about the SAFE’s psychometric properties when administered to adolescents. We tested the SAFE’s psychometric properties using adolescent self-reports and parallel parent reports in a mixed-clinical/community sample of 96 14 to 15 year-old adolescents and their parents (33 clinic-referred; 63 community control; 59.4% African American). Adolescent and parent SAFE reports displayed moderate correspondence with each other. Both adolescent and parent SAFE reports related positively to well-established measures of adolescent social anxiety and depressive symptoms. Both reports distinguished adolescents on referral status as well as cut scores on well-established measures of adolescent social anxiety. Further, both adolescent and parent SAFE reports displayed incremental validity in relation to survey reports of adolescent social anxiety, over-and-above survey reports of adolescent depressive symptoms, which commonly co-occur with social anxiety. However, adolescent (but not parent) SAFE reports predicted adolescents’ social anxiety and state arousal as displayed within social interactions with unfamiliar peer confederates. These findings have important implications for leveraging multi-informant approaches to assessing safety behaviors among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, I used a top-down approach to examine perfectionism and loneliness as additive predictors of depressive and anxious symptoms in a sample of 168 African American college students. Consistent with expectations, I found perfectionism and loneliness to be associated with both depressive and anxious symptoms. In addition, results of conducting hierarchical regression analyses indicated that certain dimensions of perfectionism, especially doubts about actions, accounted for significant variance in both depressive and anxious symptoms. Moreover, the inclusion of loneliness as a predictor was found to account for additional unique variance in both depressive and anxious symptoms, beyond what was accounted for by perfectionism. Implications of the present findings for future research on negative affective conditions in African American adults are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale (WSWS) is a valid and reliable scale among non-Latino Whites but has not been validated for use among other racial/ethnic groups despite increasing use with these populations. The current study examined the structural invariance and predictive equivalency of the WSWS across three racial/ethnic groups. Methods: The WSWS scores of 424 African American, Latino, and White smokers receiving smoking cessation treatment were analyzed in a series of factor analyses and multiple-group analyses. Additionally, hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether WSWS scores differentially predicted smoking relapse across racial/ethnic groups. These analyses were consistent with a step-down hierarchical regression procedure for examination of test bias. Results: The 7-factor structure of the WSWS was largely confirmed in the current study, with the exception of the removal of two offending items. Evidence of full invariance across race/ethnicity was found in multiple-group analyses. The WSWS total score and subscales measuring anger, anxiety, concentration, and sadness predicted relapse, whereas the hunger, craving, and sleep subscales did not. None of these scales displayed differential predictive ability across race/ethnicity. The WSWS sleep subscale showed a significant interaction with race/ethnicity such that it was a significant predictor of relapse among Whites but not African Americans or Latinos. Conclusions: Overall, the WSWS is similar in structure and predictive of relapse across racial/ethnic groups. Caution should be exercised when using the WSWS sleep subscale with African Americans and Latinos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence and impact of anxious depression (i.e. major depressive disorder, MDD, occurring concomitant with generalized anxiety symptoms) among older adults. Method: Interviews were conducted with 218 Puerto Rican and 206 African American older (age ≥60) urban senior housing residents. Data were collected on diagnostic status, depression severity and psychosocial functioning. Results: Results indicated a higher prevalence of MDD and anxious depression among Puerto Rican participants. Anxious depression was associated with more severe ratings of distress and suicidality compared with MDD alone, and the impact of depression and anxiety was most pronounced for the Puerto Rican participants. Puerto Rican participants also reported poorer subjective health and more substantial disability; however, these effects were independent of depression or anxiety status. Conclusions: Anxious depression is common among older ethnic minority adults and the impact of these symptoms differs by race/ethnicity. These results highlight the importance of conducting culturally sensitive assessments of depression and anxiety among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited research regarding the nature and prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among various racial and ethnic subpopulations within the United States, including African Americans and blacks of Caribbean descent. Although heterogeneity within the black population in the United States has largely been ignored, notable differences exist between blacks of Caribbean descent and African Americans with respect to ethnicity, national heritage, and living circumstances. This is the first comprehensive examination of OCD among African Americans and blacks of Caribbean descent. Methods: Data from the National Survey of American Life, a national household probability sample of African Americans and Caribbean blacks in the United States, were used to examine rates of OCD among these groups. Results: Lifetime and 12-month OCD prevalence estimates were very similar for African Americans and Caribbean blacks. Persistence of OCD and rates of co-occurring psychiatric disorders were very high and also similar between African American and Caribbean black respondents. Both groups had high levels of overall mental illness severity and functional impairment. Use of services was low for both groups, particularly in specialty mental health settings. Use of anti-obsessional medications was also rare, especially among the Caribbean black OCD population. Conclusions: OCD among African Americans and Caribbean blacks is very persistent, often accompanied by other psychiatric disorders, and is associated with high overall mental illness severity and functional impairment. It is also likely that very few blacks in the United States with OCD are receiving evidence-based treatment and thus considerable effort is needed to bring treatment to these groups. Depression and Anxiety, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans have a higher risk of almost all diet and fitness-related diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, obesity, and cancer (Thomas et al., 2005; Ward et al., 2004; Young, Maynard, & Boyko, 2003). While these risks can be reduced with diet and exercise, private facilities may be inaccessible to African Americans, who as a population, average significantly lower salaries than Whites ("State and County Quick Facts", 2004). Since the relationship of physical activity participation and beneficial health outcomes is well understood, this study investigated the potential of free, accessible parks to reduce the incidence of chronic disease through the facilitation of healthful physical activity. The current study uses an ecological model of human behavior to investigate African American park visitation behavior and activity outcomes at four park sites. The purpose of the current study was twofold. First, we describe the outcomes of African American park visits. Then, we investigate the association of controllable site components, activity supervision, and organized activity to the type and intensity of recreation activities undertaken at four community park sites. The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) (McKenzie, Cohen, & Sehgal, 2005) was used to evaluate physical activity undertaken at four parks in a mid-sized community in the eastern United States. Observations were made by two trained researchers during four time intervals (morning, lunch, afternoon, and evening) across all seven days of the week. Momentary sampling scans allowed observation of 2,113 park visitors, 811 (38%) of whom were African American. This was slightly higher than the proportion of African Americans in the local population (34%). Similar to the majority of park visitors who were White, the most frequently observed activities for African Americans were sitting, tennis, climbing/sliding, and picnicking. Participation by African Americans in moderate/vigorous activity (61.2%) was also equal to that of Whites. Regression analysis further indicated that 64.2% of the variance in physical activity intensity could be explained by the presence of site components including activity supervision, activity organization, provision of sport courts/fields, trails/paths, play structures, and (negatively) picnic shelters and grills. The current study provides empirical evidence to support the belief that many practitioners have had for many years: Parks may be an ideal place for health promotion and lifestyle disease prevention to the extent that they support active visits. Findings also indicate that built features and structured recreation settings were associated with increased intensity of physical activity for all park visitors. In particular, site improvements were linked to physically active recreation among all African American visitors and youth, most notably. Findings from this and future studies could facilitate interventions in park design and park placement by government officials. For government officials who are mandated to meet resident needs, the provision of well-equipped parks is essential to the well being of racially and economically diverse communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic group differences in affective, behavioral, and cognitive measures of anxiety were examined to better characterize the unique triggers and modes of anxious responding across different groups. Using an ethnically diverse sample (N = 112; 39 African Americans, 34 Asian Americans, and 39 European Americans), the study examined differences in anxious responding following three anxiety provocations (physical, social interpersonal, and social performance), each hypothesized to be a primary anxiety trigger for one of the groups. African Americans and European Americans demonstrated greater behavioral avoidance during a physical provocation designed to elicit shortness of breath sensations relative to Asian Americans. Asian Americans reported a higher number of anxious cognitions than African Americans during a social provocation designed to trigger performance concerns. These findings suggest ethnicity should be carefully considered when assessing the predominant triggers of anxiety and modes of anxious responding. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Daily emotional and attentional factors may be associated with the development of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in youth. This study obtained information about the varied daily psychological and emotional experiences of 224 urban African American sixth grade students in low-income communities in Chicago. Data were collected using the Experience Sampling Method. PTS symptoms predicted daily reports of aggression, anxiety, and difficulty paying attention as well as the variability in daily reports of aggression, anxiety, difficulty paying attention, support, and safety among youth. The effects of the PTS subscales (numbing, avoidance, dissociation, intrusion, and hyperarousal) on the daily psychological and emotional experiences of the youth were also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controversy continues on the extent to which depressive personality disorder (DPD) and dysthymic disorder (DYST) may be differentiated. Although affective disorders often are accompanied by changes in functional health status, to date no study has examined how functional health associated with affective disorders may assist in differentiating the two disorders. In this study, we hypothesized that measures of DPD would have fewer correlations with functional health status than would measures of DYST and major depressive disorder (MDD). African American women (n=110) completed questionnaires that assessed for depressive disorders, somatic concerns, and physical health. Measures of DPD, DYST, and MDD were all significantly correlated with functional health status. When symptoms of MDD were controlled, DYST was more associated with functional health status than was a DSM-IV measure of DPD, although a self-report measure of DPD—the Depressive Personality Disorder Inventory [DPDI; Huprich et al., 1996: J Clin Psychol 52:152–159]—remained significantly correlated with functional health status. When symptoms of DYST were controlled, DSM-IV symptoms of DPD were not strongly associated with functional health status, although measures of MDD and the DPDI were correlated with functional health status. We concluded that despite the overlap in depressive symptoms and functional health status, DPD may be less associated with functional health status in a primary care population than DYST and MDD. Implications for the assessment of DPD are provided. Depression and Anxiety 22:168–176, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]