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This study systematically reviewed the methodology and findings of 19 peer-reviewed studies on the experience of bereavement among widowed Latinos, including risk and protective factors to the health of this vulnerable population. Of these studies, 10 included quantitative data, 3 were qualitative studies, and 6 were narrative reviews. Results emphasized the relevance of cultural beliefs about death, rituals, religion, and Latino values (i.e., familismo, respeto, simpatía, personalismo) as common themes in the included studies, along with expressions of grief (e.g., Ataque de nervios, somatization) that vary by gender and acculturation. Risk factors associated with diminished well-being in this population included being a male, financial strain, cultural stressors, having an undocumented legal status, experiencing widowhood at a younger age, and having poor physical health. Effective coping strategies identified included having adequate social support primarily from family, religion and religious practices, the use of folk medicine, volunteering, and the use of emotional release strategies. Moreover, the results highlight that researches informing the health needs of widowed Latinos in the US is limited, and studies with enhanced methodological rigor are needed to better understand the complex needs of this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the association between transnational death and psychological distress among undocumented Mexican immigrants. The Minority Stress Model and a disenfranchised grief perspective were used as frameworks for this study. Method: Respondent driven sampling (RDS) was used to collect data from clinical interviews with 248 undocumented Mexican immigrants residing near the US–Mexico border. Results: After controlling for relevant covariates, experiencing transnational death was a significant predictor of clinically significant distress in this at-risk population. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the need to contextualize transnational death among undocumented immigrants from a perspective of disenfranchised grief that requires the development of contextually and culturally sensitive interventions aimed at addressing the high prevalence of transnational death and its associated distress in this marginalized population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inhibition is the ability to stop one's self from responding, or paying attention, to tempting/distracting stimuli or thoughts. Those with poor inhibition are at greater risk of depression and a variety of diseases of older adulthood than those with better inhibition. Inflammation may be a mechanism underlying these links. A total of 840 participants from the Midlife in the United States study completed a neuropsychological measure of inhibition, a self‐report measure of depressive symptoms, and a blood draw. Results indicated that poor inhibition was associated with high interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Inhibition was indirectly associated with metabolic syndrome incidence and depressive symptoms through IL‐6. Findings suggest that IL‐6 may be a mechanism linking inhibition with metabolic syndrome and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and sleep through psychological distress and body mass index (BMI), and determined whether the aforementioned associations vary between U.S. and foreign-born Latinxs. Participants were 1332 Latinx adults enrolled in the Texas City Stress and Health Study. Multistage sampling methods were used to select participants. A model linking racial/ethnic discrimination with sleep disturbances through direct and indirect (i.e., psychological distress and BMI) paths demonstrated good fit. Greater racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with greater psychological distress and higher BMI. Psychological distress and BMI were also significant predictors of sleep disturbances. The indirect path from racial/ethnic discrimination to sleep disturbances via psychological distress was significant. A model with parameters constrained to be equal between U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinxs suggested associations were comparable between these groups. Our study demonstrated the relevance of racial/ethnic discrimination to sleep disturbances, particularly its association via psychological distress among Latinxs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: This study aimed to: (a) provide population-based estimates for the prevalence of mental disorders, including substance use, among undocumented Mexican immigrants; (b) assess for relevant comorbidities; and (c) identify sociodemographic, immigration and contextual vulnerabilities associated with meeting criteria for a disorder. Method: This cross-sectional study used Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) to collect and analyze data from clinical interviews with 248 undocumented Mexican immigrants residing near the California-Mexico border. The M.I.N.I. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used as the primary outcome of interest. For all analyses, inferential statistics accounted for design effects and sample weights to produce weighted estimates. Logistic regression was used in multivariate analyses. Results: Overall, 23% of participants met criteria for a disorder (95% CI = 17.1; 29.0). The most prevalent disorders were Major Depressive Disorder (14%, 95% CI = 10.2; 18.6), Panic Disorder (8%, 95% CI = 5.0; 11.9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (7%, 95% CI = 3.4; 9.8). Approximately 4% of participants met criteria for a substance use disorder (95% CI = 1.2; 6.1). After controlling for covariates, being 18 to 25 years and experiencing distress from postmigration living difficulties were significantly associated with meeting criteria for a disorder. Conclusion: Undocumented Mexican immigrants are an at-risk population for mental disorders, particularly depression and anxiety disorders. Given that distress from postmigration living difficulties is associated with meeting criteria for a disorder, revisiting policies and developing new alternatives to facilitate access and provision of context-sensitive mental health services for this population is necessary to protect the human rights of these immigrants and that of their U.S. families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of mental health issues in the children of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Details of the U.S. government program titled Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) along with public debates to aspects of the DREAM program and efforts towards addressing mental health issues are discussed.

Normal aging is marked by dysregulated immune function or immunosenescence. However, there is considerable variation in the degree to which adults are susceptible or resilient to immune dysregulation and disease. Stress is an important factor that can further alter the aging immune system. In this chapter, we review research that shows how stress can enhance age-related immune dysregulation in a variety of clinically relevant ways. We then explore what factors promote resilience to the negative immunological consequences of stress and aging. Finally, we take a lifespan perspective to examine evidence to suggest that some of the most important factors that augment or assuage an older adult's capacity for resilience to age and stress-related immune dysregulation develop long before he or she reaches older adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diversion programs are considered alternatives to the arrest and incarceration of non-violent drug offenders, including those found in possession of smaller amounts of cannabis in states with prohibitive laws. Despite the progressive nature of such programs, the inability to complete diversion program requirements can often result in greater involvement with the criminal justice system than traditional case adjudication. Few studies have evaluated racial group differences in cannabis diversion program completion.Methods: The current study examined a sample of 8323 adult participants in Harris County, Texas' Marijuana Misdemeanor Diversion Program (MMDP) between March 2017 and July 2019. Gender, age, and race/ethnicity were examined as predictors of program completion and time to completion using Chi square, Kruskal Wallis tests, and Cox proportional hazard regression models.Results: Both males and African Americans were over-represented (80 % and 50 %, respectively) among participants of Harris County's MMDP. African American (HR = 0.782, 95 % CI [.735-.832], p < .001) and Latino American MMDP participants (HR = .822, 95 % CI [.720-.937], p = .003) had significantly lower odds of MMDP completion and a longer interval to program completion as compared to non-Latino White participants.Conclusions: The current study identified racial/ethnic and gender disparities in a large county's cannabis diversion program. These findings may be related to law enforcement disparities which disproportionately target males and people of color. Findings may serve to inform the continued reform of the criminal justice system, particularly laws relating to cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Undocumented immigration is often accompanied by multiple and complex stressors, which over time may increase the risk for chronic pain., Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of chronic pain and its association with psychological distress among undocumented Latinx immigrants in the USA., Design/participants: We used respondent-driven sampling to collect and analyze data from clinical interviews with 254 undocumented Latinx immigrants, enabling inference to a population of 22,000., Main Measures: Chronic pain was assessed using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Chronic Conditions Module. For all analyses, inferential statistics accounted for design effects and sample weights to produce weighted estimates. We conducted logistic regression analyses to assess the association between chronic pain and psychological distress after controlling for age, years in the USA, and history of trauma., Results: A total of 28% of undocumented Latinx immigrants reported having chronic pain, and 20% of those had clinically significant psychological distress. Significant differences in the prevalence of chronic pain were reported across age groups, years in the USA, and trauma history. After controlling for relevant covariates, chronic pain was significantly associated with psychological distress (OR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.02, 1.09]), age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI [1.02; 1.09]), and history of trauma (OR = 1.10 per additional traumatic event, 95% CI [1.02; 1.19]; C-statistic = 0.79)., Conclusion: Among undocumented Latinx immigrants, chronic pain is significantly associated with psychological distress, older age, and trauma history. Given that undocumented immigrants have restricted access to healthcare and are at high risk for chronic pain, developing alternatives to facilitate access to chronic pain interventions and risk-reduction prevention are needed.

Background: Higher level of social support is known to mitigate the effect of ethnic discrimination on depression symptoms, yet little is known as to which type of social support may be most effective for ameliorating the negative health effects of perceived ethnic discrimination among Latinxs varying in nativity status. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between perceived ethnic discrimination and depression among US- and foreign-born Latinxs, and to identify specific types of social support that may buffer the aforementioned association in this population., Methods: Data from 1340 Latinx respondents (70% US-born; 30% foreign-born) collected from the Texas City Stress and Health Study (TCSHS) was used in this study. The primary outcome was depression, and it was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R)., Results: Findings showed that higher perceived ethnic discrimination were associated with higher depressive symptoms for both foreign-born and US-born Latinxs, with higher levels of social support, specifically positive interaction support, being associated with lower depressive symptoms for both groups. Importantly, results also showed that regardless of nativity status, higher levels of affectionate support mitigated the adverse association between ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms., Conclusion: This study provides evidence that higher levels of positive interactions and affective support may be significant factors in helping Latinxs cope with ethnic discrimination. This information is essential to inform the development of interventions aimed at building resilience in the face of discrimination among the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the USA.

Inhibition is the ability to stop one's self from responding, or paying attention, to tempting/distracting stimuli or thoughts. Those with poor inhibition are at greater risk of depression and a variety of diseases of older adulthood than those with better inhibition. Inflammation may be a mechanism underlying these links. A total of 840 participants from the Midlife in the United States study completed a neuropsychological measure of inhibition, a self-report measure of depressive symptoms, and a blood draw. Results indicated that poor inhibition was associated with high interleukin-6 (IL-6). Inhibition was indirectly associated with metabolic syndrome incidence and depressive symptoms through IL-6. Findings suggest that IL-6 may be a mechanism linking inhibition with metabolic syndrome and depression., (Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Losing a close relationship is highly stressful and a robust predictor of major depression in adolescents. The current study examined relationships between attachment insecurity, parasympathetic nervous system activity, indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and adolescent adjustment to the loss of a close social partner. Adolescents with more attachment anxiety to their mother at age 14 were more likely to report poorer adjustment to a subsequent loss than adolescents with less attachment anxiety. Attachment avoidance interacted with stress-induced changes in RSA to predict loss adjustment. Among adolescents with higher RSA in response to the stressor, those with more attachment avoidance reported better loss adjustment, whereas among adolescents with lower RSA in response to the stressor, those with more attachment avoidance reported poorer loss adjustment. In sum, the combination of attachment insecurity and stress-induced changes in RSA predicted how well adolescents adjusted to a loss.