Using the Structural Influence Model to Explore U.S. Latina/O/X/E Undocumented Immigrants' COVID-19 Information Acquisition, Perceptions, and Prevention Behaviors.

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. undocumented immigrants were at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with many of them being "frontline essential workers" and residing in crowded living spaces. Given undocumented immigrants' elevated susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 at the peak of uncertainty surrounding the virus, we used the structural influence model of communication to explore: (1) how undocumented immigrants acquired information about COVID-19; (2) how they assessed information trustworthiness and accuracy; (3) their perceptions of COVID-19; and (4) how they prevented or managed COVID-19. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 46 Latina/o/x/e undocumented immigrants residing in California, we found four key themes: (1) (dis)trust in traditional media as participants relied heavily on social media for COVID-19 information; (2) weak and strong ties played a crucial role in co-constructing health outcomes with different levels of organization; (3) learning about COVID-19 through (in)direct experiences; and (4) coping through health literacy and cultural beliefs. The study's findings can inform future efforts to reach highly-vulnerable immigrant communities during a crisis (or different outbreaks in COVID-19 variants), and hopefully, help reduce health inequities.

Using resilience theory to examine undocumented students' "know your rights" family communication.

OBJECTIVES: Prior research has found that to keep their family safe, some undocumented immigrants in the United States engage in "Know Your Rights" family communication-talking to family about their rights, should they be approached by the police or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Although "Know Your Rights" family communication plays a functional role, this study used resilience theory to examine when such communication can be a promotive factor and a risk factor. METHOD: To test the hypotheses, we utilized three waves of survey data, with 1-month intervals, from 366 U.S. undocumented college students primarily from Latin America (76% cisgender women; Mage = 22 years, SD = 4.26). Path analysis was employed. RESULTS: We found that "Know Your Rights" family communication at Wave 1 was positively associated with: (a) greater knowledge of how to respond if approached by police or ICE and (b) greater knowledge of how to help their family if detained 1 month later (Wave 2). Through both types of knowledge taken together, "Know Your Rights" family communication was indirectly associated with higher levels of felt safety 2 months later (Wave 3). Nevertheless, through knowledge of how to help family, "Know Your Rights" family communication was also indirectly associated with higher levels of anxiety 2 months later (Wave 3). CONCLUSION: Given the distribution of "Know Your Rights" information on college campuses, our findings can provide evidence for the utility of such messages, while also potentially identifying when it is associated with higher levels of anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Importance of Norms and Efficacy in Predicting Undocumented College Students' Intentions to Talk to an On-Campus Mental Health Professional.

Drawing from an extended version of a focus theory of normative conduct, the extended parallel process model, and self-stigma, this study examined factors that predict undocumented college students' (UCS) intentions to talk to an on-campus mental health professional (MHP). Two hundred thirty-seven UCS completed an online survey between January-June, 2019. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that the more UCS believed their friends talked to an on-campus MHP (i.e., descriptive norms), the more likely UCS were to believe that talking to an on-campus MHP would help them manage their undocumented-related stress (i.e., response efficacy). In turn, UCS were more likely to report intentions to talk to an on-campus MHP. Furthermore, family injunctive norms were positively associated with self-efficacy and communication efficacy, and in turn, intentions to talk to an on-campus MHP. Unexpectedly, friend injunctive norms were not significantly associated with the three types of efficacy or intentions. Lastly, although family and friend injunctive norms were negatively associated with self-stigma, self-stigma was not significantly associated with intentions to talk to an on-campus MHP. This study's findings emphasize the importance of addressing different types of norms and efficacy when attempting to reduce UCS' under-utilization of on-campus mental health services.

Exploring the ascribed and avowed identities of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in early adulthood.

Objectives: Using symbolic interactionism theory, we explore the different identity labels that Latinx and Asian DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) have reported are imposed on them (i.e., ascribed) and the different meanings behind such identity labels. We also examine the identity labels that DACA recipients adopt for themselves (i.e., avowed). Method: Forty semistructured interviews were conducted with DACA recipients who attend a 2- or 4-year college in California. Results: Our findings reveal that DACA recipients have different meanings for ascribed identity labels. Some of these meanings have positive connotations and denotations, which may help to construct a positive self-view. Nonetheless, most of the emergent themes in our study show that DACA recipients perceive that ascribed identity labels have negative connotations and denotations. To create more positive representations of undocumented immigrants, DACA recipients use certain labels to describe themselves. Conclusion: Consideration of the ascribed and avowed identities of DACA recipients is important because such identities might reflect and influence others' views of undocumented immigrants and affect undocumented immigrants' self-view. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Perceived Parental Legitimacy as a Moderator of Parent-Child Communication's Effects on Latina/o Adolescent Substance Use.

Utilizing primary socialization theory (PST) and longitudinal survey data from 381 Latina/o sixth- through eighth-grade students, we hypothesized that four types of parent anti-substance use messages (i.e., parents' own past substance use, religious beliefs, respect for family, and peer resistance) would discourage Latina/o students' substance use, particularly when the students perceived their parents' anti-substance use messages were legitimate. The results supported moderation. For Latina/o students who thought that their parents' anti-substance use messages were legitimate, many of the anti-substance use messages were negatively related to substance use, but the associations were positive or nonsignificant for Latina/o students who thought that their parents' anti-substance use messages were not legitimate. The findings extend past work on PST and anti-substance use parent-child communication, highlighting the importance of perceived legitimacy and message content.

Latina/o adolescents' family undocumented-status disclosures directed at school counselors: A latent transition analysis.

For adolescents from undocumented families, school counselors may serve as a resource to draw upon for support should the adolescents decide to disclose their family status. In this study, we identified psychological factors that were associated with adolescents' decisions to disclose (or not) their own or a family member's undocumented status to a counselor and examined corresponding mental health implications. Utilizing latent transition analyses with a sample of 410 Latina/o immigrant high school students, four profiles emerged in Wave 1: (1) indifferent nondisclosers, (2) concerned revealers, (3) anxious revealers, and (4) secure revealers. By Wave 2, we identified the same profiles, except anxious revealers were no longer present, and anxious nondisclosers emerged as a new profile. At Wave 3, we only identified three profiles: (1) indifferent nondisclosers (2), concerned revealers, and (3) anxious revealers. As Latina/o immigrant students experienced greater fear of deportation in the middle and end of the year, they were more likely to be concerned revealers (i.e., reporting moderate perceived risk of disclosing, low communication efficacy, and moderate levels of disclosure) compared with most profiles. Anxious revealers reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than several other profiles in the beginning of the year, and concerned revealers reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than several other profiles in the middle and end of the year. This study emphasizes the importance of considering the diverse experiences of family undocumented adolescents, and it sheds light on the extent to which family undocumented adolescents confide in a counselor. (PsycINFO Database Record

Using an Acculturation-Stress-Resilience Framework to Explore Latent Profiles of Latina/o Language Brokers.

With survey data from 243 Latina/o early adolescent language brokers, latent profile analyses were conducted to identify different types (i.e., profiles) of brokers. Profiles were based on how often Latina/o early adolescents brokered for family members, as well as their levels of family-based acculturation stress, negative brokering beliefs, parentification, and positive brokering beliefs. Three brokering profiles emerged: (1) infrequent-ambivalents, (2) occasional-moderates, and (3) parentified-endorsers. Profile membership was significantly predicted by ethnic identification and brokering in a medical context. Respect, brokering at school, and brokering at home did not significantly predict profile membership. In addition, parentified-endorsers had more frequent perceived ethnic/racial discrimination and depressive symptoms than other profiles. In contrast, infrequent-ambivalents engaged in risky behaviors less frequently than other profiles.

Measuring Alcohol-Specific Communication with Friends: Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Communication as Multidimensional.

According to primary socialization theory, adolescents develop beliefs about alcohol by interacting with peers, as well as other socialization agents. Although communication is essential to this belief-formation process, few studies have identified the specific alcohol-related messages that adolescents exchange with their peers, and more specifically friends, that lead to certain anti- and/or pro-alcohol-related beliefs. Consequently, the goal of this study was to develop a multidimensional measure of alcohol-specific communication with friends. Based on survey data from 259 high school students, the results indicated that communication with friends involving warnings against drinking alcohol, disapproval of alcohol consumption, and making fun of others for drinking alcohol was negatively related to pro-alcohol beliefs and intentions. Communication with friends involving rumors, teasing each other about drinking alcohol, intentions to drink alcohol, different types of alcohol, experiences with alcohol, and talking about how many peers drink alcohol was positively related to pro-alcohol beliefs and intentions.

What do high school students say when they talk to their friends about substance use? Exploring the content of substance-use-specific communication with friends.

In this study, we examined the content of adolescents' conversations with their friends about substance use, adolescents' reactions to such conversations, and reasons why some adolescents did not engage in such conversations. Based on 25 semistructured interviews with high school students, we identified three themes: informational, persuasive, and relational messages. Informational messages included discussing how many peers use substances and clarifying rumors about a friend's substance use. Persuasive messages involved direct anti-substance-use messages (e.g., warning), direct pro-substance-use messages (e.g., legalizing marijuana), indirect anti-substance-use messages (e.g., disliking their substance-use experience), and indirect pro-substance-use messages (e.g., intentions to use substances). Relational messages included joking about substance use and establishing code words for use. Adolescents reacted to their conversations in several ways, such as shock and increased relational closeness. When adolescents did not talk about substance use with their friend, they offered several reasons, including low response efficacy and fear of ruining the friendship.

Explicating how parent-child communication increases Latino and European American early adolescents' intentions to intervene in a friend's substance Use.

This study used primary socialization theory and a focus theory of normative conduct to examine whether anti-substance-use norms mediated targeted parent-child communication against substance (alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana) use's effects on Latino and European American early adolescents' intentions to intervene in a friend's substance use. Further, this study investigated whether familism interacted with targeted parent-child communication to predict anti-substance-use norms, and whether this mediated moderation model functioned differently for Latino and European American early adolescents. Self-reported longitudinal survey data were collected from 6th-8th grade students (N = 627), attending rural IL public schools. Multigroup mediated moderation analyses revealed that as Latino and European American early adolescents engaged in targeted mother-child communication against substance use, they were more likely to develop anti-substance-use parent injunctive norms, and in turn, more likely to report anti-substance-use personal norms. Thus, they were more likely to report that if their friend used substances, they would talk to their friend, seek help from others, and end the friendship. They were, however, less likely to ignore the friend's substance use. Familism was not a significant moderator, and the hypothesized effects did not differ for Latino and European American early adolescents. The results suggest that parents of Latino and European American adolescents may discourage substance use by engaging in targeted parent-child communication, which may indirectly benefit their children's friends, as well.

Latino and European American early adolescents' exposure to music with substance-use references: examining parent-child communication as a moderator.

This study hypothesized that frequent exposure to and attention to music with substance-use references would be indirectly related to alcohol, cigarette, or marijuana use through pro-substance-use beliefs (e.g., norms, outcome expectancies, and refusal efficacy). Parent-child communication, however, would attenuate such associations, which would differ by ethnicity. Multigroup mediation and moderation analyses were conducted, using cross-sectional survey data from 253 Latino and 308 European American 6th-8th grades students. For Latino and European American early adolescents, best-friend-injunctive norms and weak refusal efficacy were significant mediators, but not positive outcome expectancies. Descriptive norms were a significant mediator, but only for European American early adolescents. Although targeted parent-child communication and parental mediation did not moderate the associations between the music-exposure variables and the pro-substance-use beliefs variables, targeted parent-child communication attenuated the association between listening to favorite songs and alcohol consumption. Parental mediation attenuated the association between attention to music and alcohol consumption.

The stressful (and not so stressful) nature of language brokering: identifying when brokering functions as a cultural stressor for Latino immigrant children in early adolescence.

Language brokering remains prevalent among immigrant families, but it is widely assumed that brokering functions as a cultural stressor, resulting in adverse health outcomes for immigrant youth. Few studies, however, have tested this assumption, particularly while using longitudinal data and capturing multiple dimensions of brokering. Thus, this study examined how depressive symptoms and family-based acculturation stress mediated the relationships between various aspects of brokering (i.e., frequency of brokering, positive and negative feelings about brokering, brokering norms, and brokering efficacy) and alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use and other risky behaviors. Using longitudinal survey data from 234 Latino early adolescents in 6th-8th grades (M age  = 12.4 years; Females = 46.2 %), brokering for parents indirectly affected alcohol and marijuana use through family-based acculturation stress; however, these significant indirect effects became non-significant when taking into account negative brokering feelings and brokering as a burden on one's time. Feeling positively or efficacious about brokering or having pro-brokering norms did not directly predict any adverse mental and behavioral health outcomes. Moderation analyses, however, revealed that brokering for parents did not seem to function as a stressor when Latino early adolescents were high in brokering efficacy (e.g., feeling confident in one's ability to broker) or descriptive brokering norms (e.g., perceiving one's peers as brokering often). By contrast, when Latino early adolescents perceived brokering as a burden, brokering for parents functioned as a stressor, placing Latino early adolescents at risk for family-based acculturation stress, and in turn, alcohol and marijuana use. Such findings point to the complexity of brokering.

CT scanning in the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Right-heart catheterization is currently the gold standard method for detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH) and grading its severity. Our study determined the utility of computerized tomography (CT) scans for detecting PH in patients with left-sided heart disease, thereby potentially avoiding the overuse of invasive right-heart catheterization. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 40 patients with left-sided cardiac pathology who had undergone both right-heart catheterization and CT scanning of the chest. Mean pulmonary artery diameters (MPADs) were measured on CT scans and compared with pulmonary artery pressures measured by right-heart catheterization. RESULTS: Patients with mild-to-moderate PH had significantly greater CT-measured MPADs (34.89 ± 1.01) than patients without PH (controls) (27.36 ± 0.83, p < 0.001). Patients with severe PH had significantly greater MPADs (38.31 ± 0.88) than both mild-to-moderate PH patients (p < 0.01) and controls (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that CT scanning predicted PH with an area under the curve of 0.95 (p < 0.0001). A cutoff MPAD of >33.3 mm had 100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value (N = 40, p < 0.0001), and a cutoff MPAD of <27.3 mm had 100% sensitivity with 100% negative predictive value (N = 40, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CT scanning correctly identified all patients with PH with MPADs >34 mm and excluded all patients without PH when MPADs were <27 mm. We advocate that the measurement of MPAD by CT scanning can be quickly and easily performed by the clinician to screen for the presence of PH.

Examining the effects of mass media campaign exposure and interpersonal discussions on youth's drug use: the mediating role of visiting pro-drug websites.

To extend past research on interpersonal communication and campaign effects, we hypothesized that anti-drug mass media campaign message exposure indirectly affects visiting anti- and pro-drug websites through targeted parent-child and friend-to-friend communication against drugs, as well as through having drug-related discussions during organized group activities. Second, we posited that engaging in anti-drug interpersonal communication indirectly affects adolescents' drug use through two intervening variables: visiting anti-drug websites and visiting pro-drug websites. Using self-reported longitudinal data from 2,749 youth, we found that as youth reported higher levels of anti-drug mass media campaign message exposure, they were more likely to talk to friends about the bad consequences of drugs, how to avoid drugs, and anti-drug ads. In turn, however, they were more likely to visit pro-drug websites, and subsequently, to smoke cigarettes.

Perceived discrimination as a risk factor for Latina/o youth's substance use: do parent- and peer-based communication and relationship resources act as protective factors?

Based on general strain theory, it was hypothesized that as Latina/o youth experience perceived discrimination, they are more likely to develop acculturation stress and, in turn, more likely to use substances. Two additional hypotheses were set forth to examine how parent- and peer-based communication, relationship, and norm resources may function as buffers, thereby decreasing the likelihood that strained youth will use substances. Latina/o youth (N = 728) from 23 schools in Phoenix, AZ, completed surveys at three waves over 2 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results supported the first hypothesis. Yet, contrary to the second hypothesis, neither parent nor peer resources were significant moderators. Implications are discussed for theory and parent- and peer-based prevention research directed at perceived discrimination, acculturation stress, and substance use.

Hepatic hydrothorax without any evidence of ascites.

Hepatic hydrothorax usually presents in association with ascites, but there are rare cases when it does not. This case helps to support the differential of hepatic hydrothorax in patients who have a history of liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and recurrent pleural effusions without ascites. We hope to support the conclusion that a patient with recurrent pleural effusions, without ascites, does not exclude gastrointestinal involvement in its etiology.

More than just openness: developing and validating a measure of targeted parent-child communication about alcohol.

Research addressing parent-child communication on the topic of alcohol use relies heavily on assessing frequency of discussions and general assessments of openness in parent-child communication, ignoring the complexity of this communication phenomenon. This study adds to the literature by articulating a conceptualization and developing a measurement of parent-child communication-targeted parent-child communication about alcohol-and comparing the efficacy of targeted parent-child communication about alcohol in predicting positive expectancies of alcohol use and recent alcohol use. The predictive power of general openness in parent-child communication and frequency of communication about alcohol also were assessed. Students in fifth and sixth grade (N = 1,407) from 29 public schools completed surveys. Targeted parent-child communication about alcohol was negatively associated with both outcomes. Frequency and general openness were only negatively associated with positive expectancies regarding alcohol. Implications of these findings for the etiology and prevention of substance use are discussed.

Applying general strain theory to examine perceived discrimination's indirect relation to Mexican-heritage youth's alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use.

Latent growth curve modeling was used to test four hypotheses. First, this study hypothesized that acculturation-related variables (e.g., Mexican-heritage youth's country of origin, time spent in the U.S., and language preference with family and friends) would be associated with initial levels of perceived discrimination. Guided by general strain theory (GST), this study then posed a second hypothesis: Initial levels of perceived discrimination would be indirectly related to initial levels of substance use through initial levels of acculturation stress. Third, this study hypothesized that changes in perceived discrimination would be indirectly related to changes in substance use through changes in acculturation stress. As a fourth hypothesis, it was postulated that initial levels of perceived discrimination would be indirectly related to changes in substance use through changes in acculturation stress. Mexican-heritage youth (N = 1,106) from 29 schools in Phoenix, AZ completed surveys at six waves from 5th through 8th grades. In partial support of the first hypothesis, more time spent in the U.S. and speaking English with friends were associated with lower levels of perceived discrimination. The second hypothesis was not supported. Initial levels of perceived discrimination were positively associated with initial levels of acculturation stress; however, this association was not found between initial levels of acculturation stress and substance use. The third and fourth hypotheses were supported, which buttressed predictions derived from GST. Both initial levels and increases in perceived discrimination were indirectly related to increases in substance use through increases in acculturation stress.

An atypical case of right-sided bochdalek hernia in an adult.

Bochdalek hernias are usually congenital in nature and normally present after birth. However, in rare cases, these hernias are present in adulthood. We report an unusual case of a posttraumatic right-sided Bochdalek hernia found incidentally in an adult and treated successfully with conservative management.

A rare case presentation of a perforated giant sigmoid diverticulum.

Giant sigmoid diverticulum (GSD) is a rare complication of diverticulosis. These lesions arise from herniations of the mucosa through the muscle wall which progressively enlarge with colonic gas to become large air-filled cysts evident on plain X-ray and CT scans. We present a rare case of a 72-year-old female presenting with abdominal distention, abdominal tenderness, and fever who developed a type 1 giant sigmoid diverticulum (pseudodiverticulum) that subsequently formed an intra-abdominal abscess and an accompanying type 2 diverticulum as well. The patient was treated with surgical resection of the diverticulum with a primary anastomosis and abscess drainage. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. This case helps to support the need for the consideration of GSD in patients aged 60 and older with a history of diverticulosis and presenting with abdominal discomfort and distension.