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Family caregivers experience health, financial, and social burdens related to caregiving responsibilities. North Carolina has an estimated 1.3 million caregivers, equating to a value of $13.1 billion per year. Caregiving demands warrant additional understanding of the caregiver lived experiences. Our objective was to document these North Carolina caregiver experiences during the era of COVID-19 through focus groups. Participants were recruited through diverse community organizations. All 44 caregivers who completed interest solicitation surveys were invited to participate; 29 caregivers participated across 11 groups. Thematic analysis was used to code and synthesize transcripts from each participant using Dedoose software and guided by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Themes included: caregiver routines (caregiving as an all-encompassing role; dimensions of support); most challenging parts (exhaustion and defeat; lacking support; evolving relationships); most rewarding parts (care recipient resilience; quality time; sense of purpose); social service and healthcare system interactions (positive interactions; negative interactions; inaccessible services); COVID-19 impacts on caregiving (opportunities; challenges); and caregiver suggestions for system improvements (increasing financial support; improved coordination; ideological shifts). Caregivers shared unmet needs, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Examining these needs and experience-informed recommendations can help advance additional caregiving research, policy-making, and program development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 global pandemic drastically changed the lives of so many, including creating a sense of mass bereavement in the United States because of the million plus lives lost. As obituaries provide public documentation of personal legacies as well as serve to create a generational memory, this study sought to determine how obituaries, published in the United States during a public health crisis with excess deaths, discuss living and dying. We analysed 82 obituaries published in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine their functions during this time. These U.S. obituaries documented how the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the life stories of so many. Several key themes emerged in the obituaries – cause of death, COVID-19 changing lives, resilience/positivity, political statements, and thanking healthcare workers. These COVID-19 obituaries shared many of the known functions of obituaries, but they also served as public service death announcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational burnout is a growing concern among practicing psychologists but is understudied among psychology doctoral students. There is a need to identify possible protective factors mitigating burnout and the present study examined the interrelationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, and burnout in a national sample of health service psychology doctoral trainees (N = 234) using structural equation modeling. Two a priori models were developed and results suggested that mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude may each function as important internal resources in mitigating burnout in health service psychology trainees. Mindfulness showed direct positive effects on self-compassion and gratitude and direct negative effects on burnout. Self-compassion and gratitude each also showed direct negative effects on burnout. Mindfulness also showed significant indirect effects on burnout through the partial mediating variables of self-compassion and gratitude. These results can inform researchers examining burnout by further understanding how the aforementioned cognitive factors may account for the differences in burnout. The findings can also be used to inform changes at the organizational level for doctoral training programs and can be used at an individual level as tools for empowering trainees to increase internal cognitive resources that may help them to engage in more sustainable practice. Additional research and practice implications for professional psychologists and limitations are discussed. Public Significance Statement: There is an essential need to identify protective factors mitigating burnout among doctoral trainees engaged in clinical work. The present study examined the interrelationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, and burnout in a national sample of health service psychology doctoral trainees. The findings indicated mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude may each function as important internal resources in mitigating burnout in health service psychology trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camp-based reunification is a developmentally informed approach to strengthen the relationships of siblings in out-of-home care. Little is known about the collective impact of these programs, or if there is a benefit to multiple camp experiences. To address this, data were collected from 2,260 youth who were campers at one of 16 sibling reunification programs in the U.S. or Australia between 2013-2019. Increases in resilience, decreases in sibling support, and decreases in sibling conflict were observed among first-time campers. For repeat campers, changes to resilience were greatest during youths' first year of camp. Recommendations for research and practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this research was to test an extension of the incentive motivation model of alcohol by examining effects of personality traits on drinking motives and contexts, as mediated by social isolation. Methods: Participants were 1269 adults who resided in the United States (n = 618) or United Kingdom (n = 651) and completed an online questionnaire measuring the traits of negative emotionality and resilience, along with social isolation, drinking motives (coping, social) and drinking contexts (alone, at a party, at a bar/club). Six months later, 70% of the participants returned to complete a similar online questionnaire. Results: Path analysis was used to test the hypothesized models and revealed that negative emotionality had a prospective indirect effect on drinking to cope and drinking alone through increased social isolation over the 6-month period of observation. In contrast, the trait of resilience had a prospective indirect effect on reductions in the drinking to cope motive and reductions in drinking alone, through decreased social isolation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that personality traits that contribute to social isolation may be risk factors for dysfunctional drinking motives and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following we introduce a special issue of the journal Woman & Therapy, titled Women in Their 80s and 90s: Positively Vital. Our intent has been to provide a balance to the prevailing literature on older women which tends to present a negative view of the trials and tribulations of old age. We believe that this information is vital not just for old women but also for feminist psychologists who work with this population and for the world at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major aim of this study was to understand the experience of resilience in adolescents and young adults within the context of a unitary caring science and to generate insights into ways to cultivate resilience in adolescents and young adults who have experienced adversity. Four major essences emerged and were synthesized into one statement. Maintaining hope and optimism for a promising future is acknowledging awareness and acceptance and experiencing connectedness while embracing power in the situation. The essences were interpreted within a theory of unitary caring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social isolation and loneliness are pervasive issues among older adults in the United States, carrying significant health risks. Low‐income older adults are particularly vulnerable to these challenges compared with their higher‐income counterparts due to their limited access to resources and social networks. Many low‐income older adults live in subsidized housing, which has the potential to offer unique support tailored to their needs. The intersection of aging and the unique social circumstances faced by low‐income older adults significantly influences how they navigate crises. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 24 older adults aged 63–86 residing in subsidized housing communities in the United States. The data were collected from August 2021 to November 2022 and subsequently analyzed using a thematic constant comparison analysis approach. Results: Many participants felt connected to their housing community. Participants reported that their lives changed substantially due to the pandemic: communal activities ceased leading to isolation and feelings of loneliness. Amid this challenge, participants were resourceful and found creative ways to manage. Many emphasized the crucial role of technology in maintaining emotional support despite physical separation. Conclusions: Participants in subsidized housing shared their experiences before and during this unique crisis highlighting the challenges they face, as well as their resilience and adaptability when facing challenges. Our findings underscore the significance of community activation, demonstrating that activities motivated older adults to improve their well‐being. Additionally, the role of technology in maintaining connections proved to be crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researchers analyzed articles from two flagship counseling psychology journals (i.e., Journal of Counseling Psychology and The Counseling Psychologist) to examine current understandings of resilience. There were 54 articles included in the final analysis that spanned the years 1997–2022. The researchers conducted a content analysis to identify, analyze, and report patterns across counseling psychology journals with regard to how resilience has been defined, the racial/ethnic groups that were of focus, and the forms of oppression that were studied or addressed. Five themes were generated that are a direct representation of the topics within previous literature on resilience in the field of counseling psychology. Those topics included: (a) ways of coping, (b) ethnic and racial identity, (c) advocacy/collective action, (d) personality factors, and (e) ability to endure stress and thrive. Implications for future research, clinical applications, mentoring, and advocacy are discussed. Public Significance Statement: Resilience is often understood as an individual's ability to cope with and adapt to adverse situations. When working with people of color in the United States, applying resilience in this way harmfully places the responsibility on the person to overcome oppression. This deters us from recognizing systemic barriers that hinder marginalized people from thriving, while sending the message that dealing with oppression must be an individual-level act. We argue for the need to shift our understanding of resilience away from individual processes to focus on group and communal ways of healing, as a means of aligning with our values as counseling psychologists and working to disrupt systems of oppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a leading cause of death among Black emerging adults. The concurrent effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial discrimination were projected to exacerbate suicide vulnerability for Black Americans. The purpose of the present study was to utilize a risk-resilience model to examine the effects of racial discrimination and COVID-related stress on suicide risk for Black emerging adults, as well as the moderating effect of three central components of radical healing: critical consciousness, resilience, and cultural authenticity. Study participants included 521 Black emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 29 (51.6% male; Mage = 24.6, SD = 2.6) who completed measures evaluating symptoms of racial discrimination, COVID-related stress, suicide risk, and psychological well-being. After controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and general stress, structural equation modeling analyses revealed unique and interactive effects of racial discrimination, COVID-related stress, and culturally relevant protective factors on suicide risk for Black emerging adults. These findings provide preliminary insight into novel risk and protective factors that influence suicide risk for Black emerging adults. Public Significance Statement: Overall, findings suggest that the synergistic effects of COVID-related stress and racial discrimination play a role in suicide vulnerability for Black emerging adults. The present study's contributions are important in the context of providing empirical evidence for the role of social marginalization and culturally relevant buffers in suicide risk for Black Americans, highlighting the need for culturally informed models of suicide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives This study explores resilience factors among sexual and gender minority (SGM) midlife and older adults, identifying historical/environmental, psychological, social, and behavioral predictors, and examining variations across racial/ethnic subgroups. By adopting a resilience-focused perspective, this research contributes to understanding strengths in the SGM community in the context of aging. Research Design and Methods Using weighted survey data from Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study, this research investigates distinct risk and protective factors associated with resilience among SGM midlife and older adults. Subgroup variations were assessed using regression models. Factors moderated by race/ethnicity were integrated into final interaction models. Results Hispanic and Black individuals showed significantly higher resilience than non-Hispanic Whites. Lifetime victimization and day-to-day discrimination were negatively associated with resilience. Positive associations were found for higher income, identity affirmation, larger network size, greater social participation, increased physical activity, and sufficient food intake. Interaction models revealed nuanced patterns by subgroups; education negatively impacted resilience among Black individuals, while income positively influenced Hispanic individuals' resilience. The Other racial/ethnic group demonstrated unique associations between optimal sleep and resilience. Discussion and Implications This study shifts from a deficit-based to a resilience-focused approach among SGM midlife and older adults, revealing key strengths within diverse subgroups. Results underscore the significance of recognizing racial/ethnic differences in factors promoting resilience and posing risks for SGM midlife and older adults. Tailoring interventions to address the intersectional needs of SGM aging populations is essential for enhancing their abilities to bounce back from adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operation Allies Refuge started in July 2021 with implications for critical care nurses, both military and civilian, serving at the US Army's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Cultural and logistical concerns and complications were at the forefront of care provided to Afghan evacuees during the operation and were exacerbated by a mass casualty event on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bomber attacked the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. This article discusses the issues that affected care, including language barriers, supply shortages, cultural differences, mass evacuation during a pandemic, and management of the mass casualty event by the critical care team. The information is compiled into a summary of lessons learned to assist in future management of emergency evacuee care within our military and civilian health care systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the incredible challenges of caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, many dementia family caregivers exhibit resilience. Framed by the communication theory of resilience, this study examines how resilience processes unfold within dementia caregivers' relationships with their family member, and dementia caregivers' experiences of resilience. Analysis of 27 interviews with adult children and spousal caregivers revealed acknowledging dementia as an actor in the relationship as a central facilitating mechanism that enabled caregivers to enact other communicative resilience processes within their relationship. Resilience processes were enacted through shifting blame to dementia, accommodating dementia, and relying on memories. Caregivers experienced resilience through personal growth, enhanced relational closeness, and ambivalent resilience. We discuss implications for dementia caregiver resilience and forward facilitating mechanisms as an extension of communication resilience theorizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Farming is a high-risk, physically challenging occupation. Considering farmers report high stress and barriers to seeking healthcare, it is important to understand factors influencing alcohol use to tailor interventions and healthcare resources for alcohol use in rural areas.Methods: An online survey was distributed to the agricultural community in the United States (n = 1045). Data was collected through QualtricsXM, and SPSS 28.0 was used for data analysis.Results: Both formal healthcare challenges (β = 0.112, p =.004) and stigma (β = 0.328, p <.001) were identified as predictors of increased perceived stress, while resilience (β = -0.137, p <.001) was identified as a protective factor against perceived stress. Higher perceived stress was identified as a predictor of binge drinking behavior (β = 0.151, p <.001), and formal healthcare challenges were associated with higher drinking volume (β = 0.174, p <.001), and engaging in more frequent alcohol consumption (β = 0.123, p =.004) over the last three months. Resilience was identified as a protective factor against increased alcohol consumption (β = -0.084, p =.032). Stigmatization of help-seeking for mental health challenges was associated with fewer instances of alcohol consumption over the last three months (β = -0.169, p <.001).Conclusion: Interventions to address stress and alcohol consumption should focus on promoting resilience, reducing stigma, and encouraging peer support to address cultural norms around mental health and alcohol use. Rural practitioners should develop cultural competence to better serve agricultural communities to prevent alcohol use disorders. To discuss ways to reduce stigma and encourage peer support to address alcohol and mental health disorders in rural farming populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research demonstrates that stigma and resilience influence transgender peoples' healthcare use. Less is known about transgender Latinas in the U.S. South who face multilevel barriers to healthcare access. We used baseline data from the ChiCAS intervention study. Using logistic regression, we examined how stigma (perceived discrimination related to gender identity, race/ethnicity, sexual behavior and perceived documentation status and internalized transphobia), and resilience (ethnic group pride and social support) are associated with two healthcare outcomes (use of routine medical care and medically supervised gender-affirming hormones). We also explored barriers to accessing both types of care. After removing 13 participants with missing data, our sample size was 131 transgender Latinas in the U.S. South. Most participants (74.8%, n = 98) received routine medical care in the past year and 57.3% (n = 75) had ever received medically supervised gender-affirming hormones. Reports of discrimination were highest for gender identity and documentation status. Race/ethnicity-based discrimination was positively associated with accessing routine medical care in the past year (OR = 1.94, p = 0.048). Having more social support was positively associated with care (routine care: OR = 3.48, p = 0.002 and gender-affirming hormones: OR = 2.33, p = 0.003). The most commonly reported barriers to accessing both types of care included cost, insurance, and not knowing where to go. Findings highlight the importance of social support for healthcare use among transgender Latinas. Social support may be especially important when considering the unique experiences of discrimination faced by transgender Latinas in the U.S. South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who experience symptoms of autoimmune diseases often have to struggle for illness recognition. Women experiencing such symptoms face additional challenges as their accounts of pain are frequently treated with skepticism. This study examines experiences of people living with Sjögren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is primarily diagnosed in women, by conducting an analysis of individual vlogs posted on YouTube using the themes of gender, chronic illness and neoliberal governmentality. Sjögren's Syndrome is the second most common rheumatic disease after rheumatoid arthritis and affects nearly 4 million people in the United States alone. An analysis of 70 vlogs posted by people living with the disease revealed the challenges faced by them including diagnostic delays and perceived attitudinal biases amongst medical professionals, especially in the context of the gender of the patients. Apart from highlighting the impact of the disease on their gendered roles, the vloggers urged viewers to conduct their own research on the disease and advocate for themselves during interactions with physicians. The study illuminates how dissatisfaction with healthcare services reinforces neoliberal rationalities such as individual advocacy, resilience and self-labor. The findings of the study delineate the role of neoliberal governmentality in making self-management of chronic illnesses such as Sjögren's Syndrome an internalized ideal for women living with the disease. Additionally, the study provides empirical evidence of the need for addressing the medical and socio-cultural factors that contribute to delays in the diagnosis and management of Sjögren's Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) are peoples diverse in culture and history who are too often represented as a monolithic entity, a tendency that undermines efforts to ameliorate health inequities. The current study represents a partnership between academic researchers and a community organization serving NHPIs, in which space was held for five multigenerational NHPI families (N = 15 family members) to share their experiences with educational and healthcare systems, including issues of discrimination and barriers to accessing services. Qualitative analysis of the interviews identified four themes: Cultural Values and Strengths; Mental Health—Past, Present, and Future Directions; Systemic Racism and Discrimination; and Need for Culturally Informed and Linguistically Accessible Healthcare. These results, including the importance of family systems within NHPI cultures, positive intergenerational shifts in mental health, and the pervasive impacts of colonization on health, are discussed in terms of implications for the health of NHPI communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how mental health and intimate partner violence (IPV) relate to women's beliefs about their ability to communicate with partners about sexual history and risk (i.e., sex behavior self-efficacy). Participants were composed of 148 women (M age = 34.6; 69% non-Hispanic Black; 74% income <$20,000/year) recruited from community organizations in the US Mid-South. A hierarchical linear regression was used to examine associations among sex behavior self-efficacy and depressive symptoms, resilience (Model 1) and physical IPV, psychological IPV, sexual IPV, negotiation, and IPV perpetration (Model 2). The final model was significant with variability in sex behavior self-efficacy explained by depressive symptoms, partner negotiation frequency, and IPV perpetration. Findings highlight novel areas to consider when assessing barriers and facilitators of partner communication and when developing culturally responsive interventions for women experiencing relationship-based adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are increasingly focused on building resilience. The literature on urban resilience governance emphasizes the importance of breaking down organizational silos and fostering collaboration between diverse actors. Yet few studies empirically examine whether existing resilience governance networks possess these theorized characteristics. This paper addresses this gap by focusing on flood resilience governance in four major U.S. cities and uses social network analysis to analyze the collaboration structures of organizations involved in resilience building efforts. Drawing on original survey data, results suggest that resilience governance is multi-level, with city, regional, state, and federal government organizations present in all city networks. The networks are also diverse, with nonprofit organizations, private firms, and educational or research institutions prominently featured. While these results are promising in terms of the potential for resilience to diversify participation in decision-making, we also find low levels of network density, meaning that the networks are generally sparsely connected. This suggests that the network is susceptible to fragmentation if organizations defect from the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black and African American men who have sex with men (Black MSM) experience the greatest proportion of new HIV infections in the United States. To address this challenge, a better understanding of the HIV environment riskscape including both risk and resilience factors is warranted among Black MSM. Research indicates that stress is associated with increased HIV sexual risk behaviors. Further, behavioral factors such as serosorting and community level factors including social support and community connection are resilience factors that protect against risk behaviors. The present study examines whether everyday stress is associated with HIV sexual risk behavior, as well as the role of risk and resilience factors among 125 Black MSM recruited in the Real Talk study. The Real Talk project examined the relationships between resilience, HIV risk behaviors, and HIV prevention strategy among a sample of Black MSM. Using generalized estimating equations, our results indicate a positive association between everyday stress and engaging in condomless anal intercourse only after adjusting for risk, resilience, and correlate variables. Similarly, having multiple sex partners and using substances during sex also show positive associations with condomless anal intercourse. Resilience factors of engaging in serosorting and being connected to both the Black and gay communities were negatively associated with condomless anal intercourse. Future prevention research and programming should focus on both risk and resilience factors to mitigate new HIV infections among Black MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) face adversities associated with lower HIV medication adherence, viral non-suppression, and mental health symptoms (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) such as trauma/violence, racism, HIV-related discrimination/stigma, and gender-related stressors. We developed the first intervention based in cognitive behavioral therapy and culturally congruent coping for BWLWH to increase medication adherence and decrease PTSD symptoms by enhancing resilience, self-care, engagement in care, and coping for trauma, racism, HIV-related discrimination/stigma, and gender-related stressors. A pilot randomized control trial was conducted with BWLWH and histories of trauma who were at risk for their HIV viral load remaining or becoming detectable (i.e., below 80% medication adherence, detectable viral load in the past year, and/or missed HIV-related appointments). 119 BWLWH were assessed at baseline and 70 met inclusion criteria, completed one session of Life-Steps adherence counseling, and were randomized to either nine sessions of STEP-AD (Striving Towards EmPowerment and Medication Adherence) or ETAU (enhanced treatment as usual consisting of biweekly check-ins). Women completed a post intervention follow up assessment (3 months post baseline) and 3-month post intervention follow-up (6 months post baseline). Via STATA the difference-in-difference methodology with mixed models compared STEP-AD to ETAU on changes in outcomes over time. BWLWH in STEP-AD compared to E-TAU had significantly higher ART adherence (estimate = 9.36 p = 0.045) and lower likelihood of being clinically diagnosed with PTSD (OR =.07, estimate = − 2.66, p = 0.03) as well as borderline significance on higher CD4 count (estimate = 161.26, p = 0.05). Our findings suggest preliminary efficacy of STEP-AD in improving ART adherence, mental health, and immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Students must cultivate resilience and emotional intelligence to thrive in nursing school. Resilience enables one to endure and function normally amid tough situations, and emotional intelligence heightens empathy, understanding, and regard for others. Research indicates that nursing students are better equipped to successfully navigate academic and clinical rigor when both traits are present. Therefore, this review aims to identify interventions in the literature that enhance resilience and emotional intelligence in nursing students. Method: Using PRISMA guidelines, a search was conducted to explore research on resilience and emotional intelligence in nursing and health science students in the United States within the past five years. Results: Levels of resilience and emotional intelligence increase most when interventions are employed. Increases in resilience and emotional intelligence did not occur naturally; instead, in some cases, both characteristics decreased. Conclusion: Non-optional environmental changes and mindfulness interventions embedded in nursing curriculums enhance resilience and emotional intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood trauma is associated with poor health outcomes in adulthood, largely due to the impact of chronic stress on the body. Fortunately, there are certain protective characteristics, such as constraint (i.e., impulse control, inhibition, and avoidance of unconventional behavior and risk) and cognitive reappraisal (i.e., reframing circumstances in a more positive light). In the present study, we investigated the interaction between childhood trauma, resilience, and neural correlates of emotion processing. Participants responded to survey questions regarding childhood trauma and resilient characteristics. They were later invited to passively view neutral, unpleasant, and pleasant images while their brain activity was recorded via electroencephalography (EEG). We analyzed two event-related potential (ERP) components of interest: the Early Posterior Negativity (EPN) and Late Positive Potential (LPP). We found that childhood trauma was associated with decreased constraint and reduced sensitivity to unpleasant images (i.e., decreased LPP amplitude differences between neutral and unpleasant images as compared to controls). Further, constraint predicted increased sensitivity to pleasant images. In a hierarchical linear regression analysis, we found that constraint moderated the relation between childhood trauma and emotion processing, such that it predicted increased sensitivity to unpleasant images for adults with childhood trauma in particular. Childhood trauma and cognitive reappraisal independently predicted decreased sensitivity to unpleasant images, (i.e., decreased LPP amplitude differences between neutral and unpleasant images). Our findings suggest that childhood trauma and resilient characteristics independently and interactively influence emotion processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods study evaluated early implementation outcomes of Resilience Alliance (RA), an intervention delivered to child welfare professionals. RA included 12 sessions that were held for 60–90 minutes. Sessions focused on teaching participants skills to cope with secondary traumatic stress and increase resilience such as emotion regulation, cognitive reframing, and mindfulness. Findings indicated high adoption and moderate feasibility. Most participants (83.6%) completed RA. Findings from semi-structured focus groups identified three themes that highlighted supports and barriers that occurred individually, organizationally, and systemically and influenced the adoption and feasibility of the intervention. Additionally, results demonstrated that participants' experiences differed by job role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that there are 65 million people globally – 19 million U.S. adults alone – who have long COVID, or persistent symptoms and conditions that continue or develop after an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. Amidst their suffering and the ambiguity surrounding their health, people with long COVID engage processes of reintegrating from disruptions brought upon by their COVID-19 infection and its fallout, as well as the pandemic writ large. This process is communicative resilience (Buzzanell, 2010, 2017, 2019), and the purpose of this study is to document the experiences of people with long COVID as they sensemake, adapt, and transform their lives through communication. We employed longitudinal interviewing during the middle stages of the pandemic (Summer 2021 to Summer 2022), talking to 19 people with long COVID over the course of one year (five interviews each; 89 total interviews). Grounded in the six processes of communicative resilience, findings center the temporal and dialectic nature of resilience, with throughlines of grief, patience, and hope set against a tumultuous sociopolitical backdrop. Findings of this study have implications for how resilience is studied across time; how people learn to live with chronic illnesses; and how to support people living with long COVID and those who provide them care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Despite historical and contemporary trauma, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN; Indigenous) communities responded with resilience to the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, AIANs experienced disproportionate rates of infection, hospitalization, death, and reduced life expectancy. School closures exacerbated disparities, leading to learning loss, economic instability, and mental health challenges among AIAN youth. METHODS: The Project SafeSchools cohort study employed a comprehensive longitudinal convergent mixed‐methods approach, integrating community‐based participatory research principles. The study enrolled Navajo Nation caregivers whose children were eligible to attend local reservation‐based schools. We conducted an analysis of caregiver self‐report baseline data collected between August 2021 and May 2022. RESULTS: A total of 242 caregivers completed at least part of the baseline assessment and were included in data analysis. Caregivers were primarily female (88.7%), non‐Hispanic (97%), and Indigenous (97%). Most caregivers were in their late 30s (mean age 38), with varying educational backgrounds and employment statuses. Children were evenly split between males and females and distributed across different age groups. Most children attended school at baseline in various formats, including in‐person, hybrid, and online‐only settings. Caregivers reported a range of psychosocial and behavioral risks, including general mental distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety for themselves and their children. Furthermore, caregivers and children exhibited various protective factors, such as strong cultural identity, resilience, and academic self‐efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the higher rates of mental health distress among participating caregivers and children compared to national averages. Despite these challenges, cultural protective factors remained strong and should guide future crisis response efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapy has historically focused on symptom reduction. However, there are calls for increasing our understanding of how psychotherapy impacts clients' flourishing. In this study, licensed mental health professionals and trainees across different clinical settings with diverse therapeutic orientations were interviewed about their perspectives on the cultivation of flourishing in psychotherapy, as well as their own personal experiences with flourishing. We were interested in understanding how therapists define flourishing, how they integrate flourishing into their work with clients, and any barriers or catalysts for engaging in this process. To do so, we conducted eight focus groups, and interviews were analyzed using grounded theory to form a hierarchy of categories. The results were used to create a three-part grounded theory. Results suggested that flourishing is a distinct concept from well-being that involves active engagement, emotional connection and meaning making. Our three-part grounded theory of flourishing elucidates how flourishing can be pursued by guiding clients towards their experiences of suffering in order to engage in meaning making and to identify their values, as well how systemic barriers can be navigated. Themes emerged related to the training of psychotherapists to promote flourishing, and the associated clinical and training implications are discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pervasiveness of racism in the U.S. and its negative relations with key development outcomes has led researchers to uncover mediators, of which this article argues efficacy should be considered. Self‐efficacy, one's belief in their capability to accomplish a task or goal, can be measured in multiple domains of functioning and contexts to predict behaviour. The current study examines possible specificity in the relation between discrimination (general discrimination and school discrimination) and efficacy (academic efficacy and efficacy to combat discrimination), whether resilience moderates these associations, and if these processes differ by gender. A total of 879 Black youth (47% female; mean age = 12, SD = 0.58) were included in the analyses. Findings suggest that school discrimination experiences are differentially associated with domains of efficacy. Resilience was associated with increased efficacy, but no significant moderation effects were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To understand perceived facilitators and barriers older adults experienced in accessing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Method: An electronic survey was distributed to older adults and those familiar with experiences of older adults accessing COVID-19 vaccines. Analysis included descriptive statistics and directed content analysis of open-ended responses, guided by the National Institute on Aging Health Disparities Research Framework. Results: Most participants (n = 294) identified as White (79.5%), 33.8% identified as Hispanic, 8.1% identified as Black, and 12.4% identified as Other. Two thirds of respondents were male (68.6%), and the median age was 67 years. Five key themes emerged: Availability and Accessibility, Information, Cost, Safety and Side Effects, and Sense of Security. Conclusion: Barriers and facilitators to accessing COVID-19 vaccines for older populations paralleled those seen in other demographics. Similar needs likely exist for access to other vaccines and health care in general. Vaccine rollouts, particularly in public health emergencies, must be carried out with care and an awareness of the barriers faced by vulnerable groups. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(9), 12–17.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of adolescents worldwide, especially those living with chronic diseases. This study aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives of adolescents with chronic diseases. Methods: This is a scoping review that follows the guidelines proposed by JBI. Eligibility criteria include articles focusing on adolescents aged 10 to 19 during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of chronic diseases. Searches were performed in PUBMED, LILACS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, grey literature, and manual searches in March 2024. Results: This review is composed of 35 articles. The analysis revealed two main categories: (1) Adolescents facing social isolation, school closure, and new family interactions, striving to reinvent themselves, and (2) Chasing the best decision: following up the chronic disease while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. These categories encompass subcategories highlighting changes in social and family interactions and lifestyle habits. The findings suggest a multifaceted interaction of factors influencing adolescents' well-being, including improved family bonding, heightened disease management, and increased stress and strains on resources. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the importance of long-term follow-up and social inclusion efforts for adolescents with chronic diseases and their families, addressing their unique needs during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media is widely used globally by patients, families of patients, health professionals, scientists, and other stakeholders who seek and share information related to cancer. Despite many benefits of social media for cancer care and research, there is also a substantial risk of exposure to misinformation, or inaccurate information about cancer. Types of misinformation vary from inaccurate information about cancer risk factors or unproven treatment options to conspiracy theories and public relations articles or advertisements appearing as reliable medical content. Many characteristics of social media networks—such as their extensive use and the relative ease it allows to share information quickly—facilitate the spread of misinformation. Research shows that inaccurate and misleading health‐related posts on social media often get more views and engagement (e.g., likes, shares) from users compared with accurate information. Exposure to misinformation can have downstream implications for health‐related attitudes and behaviors. However, combatting misinformation is a complex process that requires engagement from media platforms, scientific and health experts, governmental organizations, and the general public. Cancer experts, for example, should actively combat misinformation in real time and should disseminate evidence‐based content on social media. Health professionals should give information prescriptions to patients and families and support health literacy. Patients and families should vet the quality of cancer information before acting upon it (e.g., by using publicly available checklists) and seek recommended resources from health care providers and trusted organizations. Future multidisciplinary research is needed to identify optimal ways of building resilience and combating misinformation across social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinx children with cancer in the United States (US) are more than 50% more likely to die of their cancer compared to non-Latinx White children. Despite this disproportionate likelihood, little is known about the grief experiences of Latinx populations in the US related to the loss of a child including the sociocultural context of this loss experience. We used a meta-ethnographic approach to analyze and synthesize qualitative data across 9 studies related to bereavement and grief in US-based Latinx families following the death of a child. Four key concepts emerged that shape the environment of loss, influence the experience of grief, and affect the related resiliency capacities of Latinx families in the US: (1) immigration context, (2) Latinx cultural influences, (3) social support/familismo, and (4) healthcare inequities. These findings can inform future research and the development of culturally responsive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: College students experience high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress during the academic year as they juggle the competing demands of young adulthood and their studies. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened this experience. Healthful diets and sleep patterns are associated with improved physical and mental well-being. Purpose: The goal of this study was to identify if there was a relationship between changes in sleep and diet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A group of college students was surveyed online using Qualtrics software during the first two months of lockdown restrictions at a large, midwestern university in the United States. Results: More participants reported no changes in diet and increased hours of sleep than reported declines or improvements in diet, or reductions or retained sleep patterns. Participants who maintained their diet were likely to maintain their current sleep pattern. Conclusion: College students demonstrated resilience in healthful behaviors during the first two months of COVID-19 lockdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) live at the intersection of marginalized identities, resulting in unique experiences of exclusion within their various communities. Despite experiences of community exclusion, LGBTQIA+–BIPOC find ways to resist such structures to thrive in the face of adversity and strive for transformative change. The present study uses an intersectional framework to explore LGBTQIA+–BIPOC's experiences with community exclusion and acts of resistance. Fourteen LGBTQIA+–BIPOC participated in semistructured interviews to explore their experiences of exclusion and acts of resistance. Findings supported two broad categories with subthemes: (a) "on the fringes" (i.e., invalidation of LGBTQIA+–BIPOC experiences; White supremacy, colonization, and Western imperialism; "out and proud" dynamics) and (b) resistance: "we're here, and I'm gonna let you know" (i.e., resisting intersectional oppression; intersectional identity cohesion; coalition building). Utilizing an intersectional framework, we critique larger oppressive structures that disenfranchise LGBTQIA+–BIPOC while offering implications for social justice interventions and transformational change to best serve LGBTQIA+–BIPOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Impact Wellbeing campaign and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence Framework for elevating professional well-being in healthcare. Topics discussed include evidence-informed actions for improving hospital operations, proactive organizational assessments by hospital leaders and importance of interprofessional approach to addressing burnout and promoting professional well--being.

Past research suggests that resilience to health hazards increases with age, potentially because less resilient individuals die at earlier ages, leaving behind their more resilient peers. Using lifetime cigarette smoking as a model health hazard, we examined whether accelerated epigenetic aging (indicating differences in the speed of individuals' underlying aging process) helps explain age-related resilience in a nationally representative sample of 3,783 older U.S. adults from the Health and Retirement Study. Results of mediation moderation analyses indicated that participants aged 86 or older showed a weaker association between lifetime cigarette smoking and mortality relative to participants aged 76–85 and a weaker association between smoking and multimorbidity relative to all younger cohorts. This moderation effect was mediated by a reduced association between smoking pack-years and epigenetic aging. This research helps identify subpopulations of particularly resilient individuals and identifies epigenetic aging as a potential mechanism explaining this process. Interventions in younger adults could utilize epigenetic aging estimates to identify the most vulnerable individuals and intervene before adverse health outcomes, such as chronic disease morbidity or mortality, manifest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based, in-person programs are effective at reducing stress and enhancing resilience in military and civilian samples, yet few studies have examined or compared training offered via real-time, interactive social media. Such a program would have a wider-reach and could include those unable to attend in-person. There is also interest in resolving ambiguity about the effects of mindfulness training on individual difference variables, such as self-compassion. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to compare pre/post self-compassion for three interventions; Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction delivered in-person (IP), mindfulness meditation training delivered via a Virtual World (VW), and a wait-list Control Group (CG) among active duty and veteran U.S. military. METHODS: A 2 (pre/post)×3 (group) factorial design was conducted with 250 active duty and veteran U.S. Military service members, with self-compassion measures as dependent variables. RESULTS: Self Compassion improved 10% for the IP group and 14% for the VW group, while the CG group did not improve. Combined treatment groups yielded a 10.3% improvement in self-compassion compared with no change in the CG and with a group×time interaction effect (p < 0.01). Participants with lower initial self-compassion experienced greater benefits than those with higher baseline self-compassion (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IP and VW Mindfulness Meditation training were equally effective in increasing self-compassion. Adding effective on-line mindfulness delivery will promote self-compassion among a more extensive audience, likely yielding improved coping, confidence, connectedness, cheerfulness, steadiness, and self-satisfaction, while lessening anxiety, fear-of-failure, and stress among participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Resilience-based clinical supervision (RBCS) is a program that reduces occupational stress and burnout symptoms in health care professionals. Research has not yet evaluated the program with medical speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or with an online delivery model. This investigation used virtual RBCS to address burnout in medical SLPs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Six medical SLPs participated in this combination quasi-experimental study with a baseline and intervention phase single-subject and pretest-posttest design. RBCS was held over Zoom twice a week for eight total sessions. Exercises included brief mindfulness meditations, emotional labeling, and reflective discussions on the underlying sources of stress. An adapted four-question version of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) collected repeated measures of burnout twice a week across all study phases. Pre-intervention and post-intervention data were collected with full OLBI assessments to further evaluate intervention effects. Results: All participants showed a decrease in burnout at the end of the study. Five of the six medical SLPs experienced statistically significant reductions in burnout. This investigation contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting RBCS for reducing health care burnout, offering a means to increase convenience and accessibility through virtual delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Gender minority (GM) stress, resulting from distal (i.e., external) and proximal (i.e., internal) stigma-based stressors, is thought to drive mental health disparities among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. We tested the gender minority stress and resilience (GMSR) model hypotheses that distal GM stress effects on mental health are partially mediated by proximal GM stress and moderated by GM-specific resilience (i.e., community connectedness, identity pride) among a U.S. national sample of TGD youth. Methods: As part of an HIV prevention study (NCT03185975), 159 TGD youth (ages 15–24) completed an online survey that included the GMSR measure, assessing distal and proximal GM stress and GM resilience, and the 18-item Brief Symptom Inventory, assessing past-7-day psychological distress. Three models linking GMSR constructs to psychological distress were tested using PROCESS v4.0: (1) simple partial mediation, (2) moderated partial mediation, and (3) serial partial mediation. Results: A direct effect of distal GM stress was observed in all models. An indirect effect through proximal GM stress alone was observed in model 1, but not models 2 or 3. In model 2, resilience did not moderate the effects of distal or proximal GM stress. In model 3, indirect effects were observed through proximal GM stress and GM resilience serially as well as GM resilience alone. Conclusion: Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm the role of GM resilience as a mediator, rather than moderator, of GM stress effects on mental health and a critical, rather than supplementary, target for mental health intervention among TGD youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study aimed to pilot test a well-being curriculum for KL2 scholars to be used across the Clinical and Translational Science Award consortium. Methods: Between November 2022, and May 2023, 36 KL2 scholars from 25 hubs participated in the program. The General Well-Being Index for U.S. Workers and the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) were completed by scholars before and after the program. Results: Postparticipation, there was a trend of improvement in the domains of well-being, sleep, anxiety, and fatigue. Conclusion: Implementing a virtual synchronous well-being curriculum allowed the scholars to connect across the consortium and improve their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review demonstrates the impact of The DAISY Award and how meaningful recognition (MR) through gratitude affects nurse engagement, healthy work environments (HWEs), and patient/families' (PFs) experiences.MR has mutual benefits for nurses and PFs, promoting therapeutic healing and resiliency. MR in HWEs can impact organizations' care quality, fiscal health and influence public perceptions. Nurse leaders should create an environment where MR is a core strategic imperative that impacts nurse, patient, and organizational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to understand the unique experiences and perspectives of older adults who were required to incorporate critical adaptive behaviors during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was administered online through Qualtrics Survey Software in June 2020 to 1405 adults between the ages of 18 and 86. Differences in adaptability between older adults and young/middle-aged adults were analyzed. This study found that older adults (n = 132) utilized different sources of information than young/middle-aged adults; they were more likely to read the newspaper or listen to the radio, and less likely to rely on social media for information. Older respondents in this study reported coping with the COVID-19 outbreak better than young/middle-aged respondents, were less likely to report that they were personally affected by the virus, and were less likely to feel overwhelmed by the amount of information about COVID-19. The findings of this study highlight adaptability and resilience in older adults not found in young/middle-aged adults and provide an important step in identifying policy and practice suggestions to reduce negative repercussions for older adults experiencing the current crisis, as well as future generations of older adults who might experience similar events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants comprise a sizable proportion (15%) of the population living in the United States (U.S.). Given these proportions, it is imperative that we understand immigrant experiences of well-being and stress toward improved well-being and integration. To examine the experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants using a comparative approach, we utilized data from two surveys collected under Trump (n = 490) and Biden (n = 306) administrations. Both studies employed non-probability quota and convenience sampling techniques. Questions about experiences of stress (PSS-4), discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale), border stress (Border Community and Immigration Stress Scale), immigration policies (general questions) were included in the surveys. Each study sample included diverse racial groups across both immigrant generations. We report frequencies, descriptive statistics, and ANOVAs/post hoc test results. Findings highlight that levels of both stress and discrimination among non-White participants under the Trump administration were significantly higher than those of White participants, though neither relationship was significant under the Biden administration. Further, White participants exhibited higher resilience under the Trump administration, but not under the Biden administration. To our knowledge, this is the first study to comparatively examine immigrant experiences under the two most recent federal administrations. This study is seminal in highlighting discussions and making policy recommendations to limit immigrant exclusion, curtail exclusionary policies regarding travel bans, and improve pathways to citizenship, enhancing immigrant integration in the U.S. Roles of social workers in supporting immigrant communities and pathways for future research with immigrants are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital-based chaplains provide crucial spiritual and emotional care to patients, families, and staff during times of intense life changes and crises. Chaplains are regularly exposed to suffering and their work may result in personal mental and emotional health challenges. To understand chaplains' perceptions of the impact of their work and methods to cope, a secondary analysis of a mixed-methods study on chaplain well-being was undertaken. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine hospital-based chaplains and data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results revealed that participants perceive their work as offering both trials and rewards, and their efforts to cope with trials include interpersonal support, intrapersonal resources, and spiritual resilience. Personal insights into chaplains' experiences may help inform organizational interventions to support these essential members of the care team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers in the United States (U.S.) are exposed to myriad stressors and experience their negative effects, including higher rates of suicide than individuals in some other occupations. However, interventions to address mental health amongst farmers have faced barriers, such as farmers' perceived stigma regarding mental health, time constraints, and geographical isolation. Using text-messaging for intervention delivery may help to address some barriers, as text messages are private, delivered directly to one's phone, and require no travel. Our objective was to develop and assess the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a text-messaging mental health literacy intervention tailored to U.S. farmers: Growing Resiliency in Tough Times (GRITT). U.S. farmers (N = 134) were randomly assigned to an intervention group, who received 12 weeks of text messages regarding mental health literacy, or a control group, who received no treatment. Online pre-test and post-test surveys assessed mental health knowledge, familiarity with relevant mental health resources, self-efficacy to manage stress, and perceived stress. Feasibility was assessed via recruitment and retention data, and intervention group participants completed post-test measures to assess acceptability. Results indicate that intervention group participants were highly satisfied with the intervention and had higher post-test scores on multiple facets of mental health literacy and self-efficacy to manage farm stress than control group participants. The intervention group experienced a significant drop in perceived stress from pre-test to post-test. Participant retention was relatively high (84%). However, recruitment difficulties call into question intervention feasibility. Though the intervention was efficacious in enhancing mental health literacy, improving stress management self-efficacy, and reducing stress, difficulties with participant recruitment indicate the need for continued intervention research in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the training process, procedures, measures and recruitment strategies necessary for a future investigation to test the reliability and validity of using positivity resonance measures in health care encounters. Background: Although the measurement of positivity resonance is promising, and non‐participant observation is considered effective, their approaches to studying nurse–patient relationships have not been fully explored. Design: A mixed‐methods observational study. Methods: Video recordings of 30 nurse–patient dyads completing telehealth video visit encounters were edited and coded using behavioural indicators of positivity resonance. A post‐visit survey gathered data on the participants' perceptions of positivity resonance and the study procedures. The research team completed memos and procedural logs to provide narrative data on the study's training, coding, recruitment and operational procedures. The study included 33 persons with cancer and 13 oncology nurses engaging in telehealth video visit encounters at an academic oncology ambulatory care center located in the southeastern United States. Results: Study procedures were found to be feasible and acceptable to participants. An adequate sample of participants (N = 46) were enrolled and retained in the study. Interrater reliability, as evidenced by Cohen's weighted kappa, ranged from.575 to.752 and interclass correlation coefficients >.8 were attainable within a reasonable amount of time and with adequate training. Behavioural indicators of positivity resonance were observed in all telehealth visits and reported by the participants in the perceived positivity resonance survey. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist guided reporting. Conclusions: Designing research around the concept of positivity resonance is an innovative and feasible approach to exploring how rapport is cultivated within nurse–patient relationships. Relevance to Professional Practice: Measuring positivity resonance may hold promise for exploring patient and nurse outcomes including trust, responsiveness, health‐related behaviours, well‐being, resilience and satisfaction. Reporting Method: The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist guided the reporting of results to ensure that adequate details of the study were provided to ensure an accurate and complete report. Patient or Public Contribution: Planning of the research design and study procedures was done in consultation with nurse clinicians with experience with telehealth and managers responsible within the practice setting where the study was conducted. This ensured the study procedures were ethical, safe, secure and did not create unnecessary burden to the study participants. The study included collecting data from nurse and patient participants about the acceptability of the study procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the acceptability and effectiveness of the Eat Breathe Thrive (EBT) program as an eating disorder prevention intervention among women collegiate athletes. Change over time in eating disorder risk and competencies of positive embodiment were examined in 94 women (n = 48 EBT participants and n = 46 matched-controls) from one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-classified university in the United States. Eating disorder risk factors were measured using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Aspects of positive embodiment were measured using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) and The Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS). Data were collected through participants' completion of online surveys across three time-points. Repeated measures ANOVAS revealed EBT participants reported experiencing significantly less state anxiety and greater interoceptive body trusting over time relative to matched-controls. No other significant interactions were found. Respondents found the EBT program acceptable. Acceptability and partial support for integrative, yoga-based, interventions targeting Division I student-athletes is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study examines how family relationships convey risk or resilience for pain outcomes for aging African Americans, and to replicate and extend analyses across 2 nationally representative studies of aging health. Methods African American participants in Midlife in the United States (MIDUS, N  = 755) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N  = 2,585) self-reported chronic pain status at 2006 waves and then again 10 years later. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of pain incidence and persistence explained by family, intimate partner, and parent–child strain and support, as well as average support and average strain across relationships. Results On average, MIDUS participants were younger (M  = 52.35, SD  = 12.06; 62.1% female) than HRS (M  = 66.65, SD  = 10.92; 63.7% female). Family support and average support were linked to decreased odds of pain incidence in MIDUS, but only when tested without accounting for strain, whereas parent–child strain was a risk factor for pain incidence in HRS, as was average strain. Family support protected against pain persistence in MIDUS, whereas average support was linked to reduced odds of pain persisting in HRS. Discussion Chronic pain outcomes are worse for African Americans for a number of reasons, but parent–child strain may contribute to the risk of new pain developing over time for older adults. Conversely, family support may offer a protective benefit for pain incidence and persistence among aging African Americans. Findings implicate family relationships as a potential target of pain management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic placed unprecedented stress on older adults. Resiliency could mitigate deleterious effects of pandemic stressors. We described trends in resilience among U.S. adults aged 50–80 years approximately one and a half years after the onset of the pandemic, compared with before the pandemic, and evaluated associations between relationships and resilience. Research Design and Methods Data were from the National Poll on Healthy Aging (N = 2,100) in August 2021. Respondents rated their resiliency as compared with before the pandemic (more, about the same, or less) and different types of relationships (spouse/partner, friends, and neighbors) as sources of joy and/or stress during the pandemic (a lot, some, very little, and not at all). Multinomial logistic regressions (complete-case analysis) estimated the relationships between each joyful and stressful relationships and resiliency. Results Most participants reported feeling as resilient as before the pandemic (70.6%) with 14.5% feeling less resilient. More women than men felt less resilient than before the pandemic (16.7% vs 12.8%, p =.006). Feeling a lot of stress from one's spouse or neighbors was associated with increased likelihood of feeling less resilient than before the pandemic (odds ratio [OR] = 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8, 7.7 and OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.5, 13.9, respectively), which was stronger among women (OR = 15.1; 95% CI: 4.8, 45.6) than men (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.4, 2.7). Discussion and Implications Social relationships may have been more important for women than for men in supporting resiliency during the pandemic. Understanding patterns of resiliency can help to inform policymaking and support the well-being of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]