Latinx Youth's Mental Health Needs and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Service Utilization.

This study examined mental health needs and risk factors associated with service use among Latinx high school students in two cities in the United States. We explored how socioeconomic characteristics, school location, youth and parental nativity, and self-perceived clinical needs were associated with the odds of youths seeing a mental health provider. Data were collected from 306 Latinx youths during the 2018-19 school year. Most youths (78%) self-reported symptoms of anxiety, trauma, or depression above the clinical range. None of these clinical needs predicted service utilization. Youth experiencing less economic hardship and having a mother from South America were almost five times more likely to use services than their counterparts. Similarly, males and older respondents were more likely to be underserved than females and younger respondents. Implications to ensure equitable access to services among older, low-income Latinx youth, particularly those from Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, are discussed.

Hearing Loss and Associated 7-Year Cognitive Outcomes Among Hispanic and Latino Adults.

Importance: Hearing loss appears to have adverse effects on cognition and increases risk for cognitive impairment. These associations have not been thoroughly investigated in the Hispanic and Latino population, which faces hearing health disparities. Objective: To examine associations between hearing loss with 7-year cognitive change and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prevalence among a diverse cohort of Hispanic/Latino adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used data from a large community health survey of Hispanic Latino adults in 4 major US cities. Eligible participants were aged 50 years or older at their second visit to study field centers. Cognitive data were collected at visit 1 and visit 2, an average of 7 years later. Data were last analyzed between September 2023 and January 2024. Exposure: Hearing loss at visit 1 was defined as a pure-tone average (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz) greater than 25 dB hearing loss in the better ear. Main outcomes and measures: Cognitive data were collected at visit 1 and visit 2, an average of 7 years later and included measures of episodic learning and memory (the Brief-Spanish English Verbal Learning Test Sum of Trials and Delayed Recall), verbal fluency (word fluency-phonemic fluency), executive functioning (Trails Making Test-Trail B), and processing speed (Digit-Symbol Substitution, Trails Making Test-Trail A). MCI at visit 2 was defined using the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer Association criteria. Results: A total of 6113 Hispanic Latino adults were included (mean [SD] age, 56.4 [8.1] years; 3919 women [64.1%]). Hearing loss at visit 1 was associated with worse cognitive performance at 7-year follow-up (global cognition: ß = -0.11 [95% CI, -0.18 to -0.05]), equivalent to 4.6 years of aging and greater adverse change (slowing) in processing speed (ß = -0.12 [95% CI, -0.23 to -0.003]) equivalent to 5.4 years of cognitive change due to aging. There were no associations with MCI. Conclusions and relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that hearing loss decreases cognitive performance and increases rate of adverse change in processing speed. These findings underscore the need to prevent, assess, and treat hearing loss in the Hispanic and Latino community.

Understanding the Behavioral Health Risk Factors that African American and Latinx Women Experience within a National Context.

In an effort to address social determinants of health and to reduce barriers to care, there have been increased attempts to understand and mitigate public health concerns in ethnic minority communities. As knowledge increases regarding the impact of health disparities on ethnic minority communities, social workers practice knowledge must expand to include intersectional approaches and methods that are inclusive of mechanisms that address inconsistencies in access to health care. Using the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this study examined behavioral health and psychosocial risk factors that African American and Latinx women (n = 7008) experienced and identified how these factors are associated with self-reported overall health. Results indicated that overall health and wellbeing is linked to psychosocial risk factors, such as depression, substance use, and even age for African American and Latinx women.

Marital Quality and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Hispanic Adults in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the cultural importance of marriage as a social support system and its well-established link to mental health, older Hispanic adult populations, which are the largest racial and ethnic minoritized groups, remain understudied. The current study examined how positive and negative dimensions of marital quality are associated with depressive symptoms. METHODS: Data from Hispanic adults aged 51 years and older (n = 1,012) were obtained from the 2016 and 2018 Health and Retirement Study waves. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (0-8 symptoms) was modeled as a function of positive and negative marital quality measures (1-4), as well as the relevant covariates. RESULTS: Results from a negative binomial regression model showed that a 1-unit change in positive and negative marital quality was associated with a 23.61% reduction and a 23.74% increase, respectively, in depressive symptoms. The interaction terms with marital quality and gender, as well as marital quality and religion, were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: In the United States, a large percentage of older Hispanic adults are immigrants, and their extended family tends to reside in their countries of origin. As such, older Hispanic adults may have smaller social networks, and marital quality most likely represents a culturally important social support network in later life. Significant associations between depressive symptoms and marital quality among older Hispanic adults should receive more attention in family and public health policy discussions, particularly given the increasing diversity in U.S. society.

Comprehension and usefulness of Spanish language health information about depression treatment.

US Latine adults who prefer the Spanish language for healthcare encounter communication have high risk of health disparitiesm in part from low organizational health literacy, mental health stigma and discrimination. Organizational health literacy includes the provision of culturally responsive, language concordant health information, which supports good comprehension and usefulness and could mitigate some health disparities. We conducted a pilot study to assess commonly provided patient health information handouts about depression treatment and antidepressant consumer medication information sheets. Thirty Latine adults with a Spanish language preference and a history of depression and antidepressant use participated in one phone interview. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to assess comprehension and usefulness of selected sections extracted verbatim from these documents. Overall, 83% (n = 25) participants reported that all sections were easy to understand, and 97% (n = 29) said that they were useful. Yet, responses to open-ended questions for 53% (n = 16) of participants revealed 'confusing' terminology in at least one section, and 10% (n = 3) expressed concerns about or misunderstood an idiomatic phrase as reinforcing mental health stigma. The seriousness of the organizational health literacy-based issues identified in this and previous studies require that government and health service organizations make necessary and timely revisions to address them.

Isotemporal Substitution of Sedentary Time With Physical Activity Among Middle-Aged and Older Latinos: Effects on Episodic Memory.

PURPOSE: To examine the estimated effects of substituting 30 min of sedentary time with low-light physical activity (LLPA) and high-light physical activity (HLPA) on episodic memory, executive functioning, and working memory among middle-aged and older Latinos. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Chicago and Chicagoland suburbs. SUBJECTS: Middle-aged and older Latinos (n = 61). MEASURES: Accelerometer-assessed physical activity. A cognitive battery was administered to assess episodic memory, executive function, and working memory. ANALYSIS: Isotemporal substitution analyses were conducted, where unstandardized coefficients from linear regression models were used to examine the substitution effect of replacing sedentary time with LLPA and HLPA. RESULTS: Substitution of sedentary time with LLPA was associated with better episodic memory (Immediate recall, B = .947, P = .008; Delayed recall, B = .857, P = .013). No other significant substitution effects were present. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged and older Latinos who replace sedentary time with LLPA may have better episodic memory. Future studies may target light physical activity to address cognition disparities and can inform the development of physical activity interventions that are appealing and accessible for Latinos.

Unequal loss: Disparities in relational closeness to a COVID-19 death among U.S. older adults.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 mortality occurred unevenly across U.S. demographic subgroups, leaving some communities harder hit than others. Black and Hispanic/Latino older adults are among those disproportionately affected by COVID-19 mortality, and in turn, COVID-19 bereavement. Because disparities in COVID-19 mortality may extend to COVID-19 bereavement, it is important to understand the incidence of COVID-19 bereavement among older adults at various degrees of relational closeness (e.g., spouse vs. household member vs. friend). METHODS: We used the National Social Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) COVID Study to evaluate disparities in loss of a social network member to COVID-19 among U.S. older adults by race/ethnicity, language, and relational closeness. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of experiencing a COVID-19 death in one's social network. RESULTS: None of the English-speaking, non-Hispanic White respondents reported the loss of a household member or spouse to COVID-19. English-speaking, non-Hispanic Black and English-speaking, Hispanic older adults were overrepresented in reporting a death at every degree of relational closeness. However, close COVID-19 bereavement was most prevalent among Spanish-speaking older adults of any race. Although Spanish speakers comprised only 4.8% of the sample, half of the respondents who lost a spouse to COVID-19 were Spanish speakers. Language and ethnoracial group disparities persisted after controlling for age, sex, marital status, and education. CONCLUSIONS: Known ethnoracial disparities in COVID-19 mortality extend to COVID-19 bereavement among older adults. Because bereavement impacts health, Black, Latino, and Spanish-speaking communities need greater protection and investment to prevent disparities in bereavement from exacerbating disparities in later-life mental and physical health.

Mental Health Among Puerto Rican Adolescents Living in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The present study examined how different family level (family financial stress, family violence) and individual (food insecurity, gender, race) determinants of health were associated with mental health among Puerto Rican adolescents living in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A sample consisting of 119 Puerto Rican adolescents, aged 13 to 17, was collected via Qualtrics Panels between November 2020 and January 2021. We examined the association between family financial stress experienced during the pandemic and psychological distress. We also evaluated whether the association between family financial stress and psychological distress was moderated by family violence, food insecurity, and the participant's gender and race. RESULTS: Findings showed that food insecurity positively predicted psychological distress. Results also showed that participants' race moderated the association between family financial stress and psychological distress. Specifically, we found that while there was a significant positive association between family financial stress and psychological distress among Puerto Rican adolescents who identified as a racial minority, this association was nonsignificant among White Puerto Rican adolescents. CONCLUSION: Our research highlights the significant role of COVID-19 related family financial stress and food insecurity on Puerto Rican adolescents' poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implications of Undocumented Status for Latinx Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action.

BACKGROUND: A disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported among Latinxs in the U.S. Among those most affected by the pandemic are marginalized families, including those that are undocumented and mixed-status, in which some, but not all members are undocumented. Undocumented and mixed-status families face multiple and chronic daily stressors that compromised their health and wellbeing. Salient stressors faced by undocumented Latinx families include poverty, social disadvantage, discrimination, dangerous living and working conditions, and limited access to healthcare. These stressors are frequently compounded with trauma, fear of detention, deportation, and family separation. PURPOSE: Informed by the literature and insights from our community-based work to address the health needs of undocumented and mixed status Latinx families during the pandemic, this paper uses a social determinants of health lens to present a narrative summary that highlights four primary psychosocial stressors faced by these families and their implications for mental health. DISCUSSION: These include stressors pertaining to (a) anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions; (b) family stressors and disruptions in family dynamics; (c) economic changes and financial losses; and (c) limited access to healthcare. Implications of the aforesaid stressors on the mental health of undocumented families and youth are also discussed. In addition, recommendations are provided for the provision of mental health services, best practices, and resources from a strengths-based approach.

"I Lay Awake at Night": Latino Family Caregivers' Experiences Covering Out-of-Pocket Costs When Caring for Someone Living With Dementia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The financial burden of caregiving has received less research attention than physical and emotional costs. This is especially true for underserved ethnic minorities. Financial strain affects mental and physical health and is unequally distributed across caregivers of different races and ethnicities. Although caregivers overall spend, on average, one quarter of their income on caregiving, Latino caregivers, the focus of this study, spend nearly half. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: To better understand this disparity, we conducted 11 qualitative interviews with 14 Latino caregivers of persons living with dementia located in either California or Texas. Interview transcripts were thematically coded, guided by a material-psychosocial-behavioral conceptual model of financial strain. RESULTS: We identified 3 themes: daily needs and costs, psychological distress caused by financial issues, and stressful barriers to accessing family and societal support. Furthermore, interviews revealed how Latino culture may influence spending patterns and management of costs. Findings suggest that preference by Latino families to care for a family member in the home may be met with a financial disadvantage due to the high out-of-pocket costs of care. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: A better understanding of the factors contributing to high costs for Latino caregivers and how these costs affect caregivers will inform approaches at both the individual and policy levels and develop culturally relevant interventions to help Latino families to lower caregiving costs. This is especially important as the number of Latinos living with dementia is expected to increase over the next 4 decades and effective interventions are lacking.

Pain Severity in Relation to Smoking Cessation Problems and Self-Efficacy for Quitting among Latinx Individuals Who Smoke Cigarettes: The Moderating Role of Perceived Discrimination.

Background: Latinx individuals experience significant tobacco cigarette smoking-related diseases and illnesses. Although most Latinx smokers report a desire to quit smoking, evidenced-based cessation treatments are underutilized in this group, which may partially be due to lower likelihood of receiving advice from a healthcare professional. Further, there are a lack of cessation treatments that account for comorbid symptoms/conditions (e.g., co-occurring pain) and social determinants of health (e.g., perceived discrimination). Extant work has established the reciprocal relation between pain and smoking trajectories. Additionally, although social determinants, such as perceived racial/ethnic discrimination, have demonstrated clinical relevance to a variety of health-related behaviors, limited work has examined the role of perceived discrimination in pain-smoking relations. The current study examined the effects of perceived discrimination and pain severity in relation to smoking cessation problems and self-efficacy for quitting among Latinx cigarette smokers. Method: Participants included 226 (Mage = 34.95 years, SD = 8.62; 38.5% female) adult Latinx daily cigarette smokers. Results: Results indicated that the interaction of pain and perceived discrimination was predictive of greater quit problems (p = 0.041) as well as greater confidence in the ability to refrain from smoking in response to internal (p < 0.001) and external stimuli (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Overall, this work provides a more nuanced understanding of the psychosocial contexts in which Latinx smokers may encounter problems related to quitting, and this data is important for future smoking cessation research and treatment.

Ethnic Determinants of Health and Medication Use for Depression Among US Latinx Adults.

BACKGROUND: Medication use for depression among US Latinx adults is low (34%) and commonly associated with systems-related and individual-related cultural factors. Social determinants of health (SDH) include economic, environmental, educational, community, and healthcare systems factors. Ethnic determinants of health (EDH) are SDH factors specific to an ethnic group and described by an ethnic and disparities framework. OBJECTIVE: To assess relationships between EDH factors and depression medication use among non-Latinx White (NLW) and Latinx adult populations using data from a weighted national sample for hypothesis building. METHODS: Weighted responses to 2015-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health surveys from NLW, Latinx, and Latinx adult respondents from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and other Latinx countries were compared. Bivariate analyses were conducted using 2-way cross tabulation and a Wald chi-square test of association. EDH variables were characterized within the construct domains of systems-related geographic location, education, and economic stability, and individual-related cultural factors. RESULTS: Prescription medication use for depressive symptoms is 16.6% (P < 0.05) lower among a national sample of Latinx compared with NLW adults with major depressive episode (MDE). Many differences among systems-level EDH variables between Latinx and NLW populations with MDE were also found between populations with depression medication use. Of note, seeing a primary care provider or psychologist or social worker was significantly different among populations with MDE but not for those with depression medication use. Individual-related cultural EDH variables of overall health and serious psychological distress were significantly worse for Latinx than NLW populations with depression medication use. However, stigma, healing beliefs, and religious beliefs were not different between populations with MDE or depression medication use. Differences between certain Latinx populations with depression medication use were found with limited English proficiency and living in poverty. EDH variables for environment-physical characteristics or community and interpersonal levels of analysis were not represented within the NSDUH survey. CONCLUSION: Seeing a primary care provider or behavioral health specialist, depression severity, and overall health status appear to be important factors related to depression medication use among Latinx adults. Given the limitations of these analyses, multivariate analyses of EDH factors and other Latinx populations are warranted.

Racial Disparity of Mental Health Service Utilization Among Low-Income Head Start Eligible Parents.

Based on the Head Start Impact Study, 1706 parents who had mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms were selected to examine the following questions: (1) Are there racial disparities in mental health service utilization among low-income parents? (2) Does Head Start have an impact on mental health service utilization across white, African American, and Hispanic parents? The present research found that, compared to white parents, African American and Hispanic parents are significantly less likely to utilize mental health services. Head Start impact was found for white parents but not for African American and Hispanic parents. Furthermore, parents who spoke a language other than English had higher household risk factors, and reside in rural areas are less likely to utilize mental health services. Mental health providers should deliver patient-centered services that consider cultural and linguistic competency as well as the personal life context of their patients to remove any barriers to accessing mental health services.

Examining COVID-19 pandemic-related economic and household stress and its association with mental health, alcohol, and substance use in a national sample of Latinx sexual minority and heterosexual adults.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual minority adults of Latinx descent faced compounded intersectional stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic across socioeconomic and health domains. Latinx people have experienced some of the highest COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates in the United States in addition to significant economic challenges. Yet, current data have not observed the unique pandemic-related experiences of sexual minority Latinx (SML) adults. We examined sexual identity differences in economic and household stress, social support, mental health symptomatology (depression, anxiety), alcohol, and substance use among sexual minority and nonsexual minority Latinx adults in the United States. METHOD: Primary data were collected via the AmeriSpeak panel, a national probability sample of U.S.-based 2,286 Latinx adults [sexual minority = .34% (n = 465)]. Data were collected from November 2020 to January 2021, during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: SML adults endorsed higher levels of economic and household stress, mental health symptomatology, and alcohol and substance use than nonsexual minority Latinx adults. Economic stress was associated with increased mental health symptomatology, alcohol, and substance use among SML adults. Social support moderated the association between economic stress and mental health symptomatology and substance use, but not alcohol use. CONCLUSION: Findings highlighted unique intersectional considerations among SML adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of social support and the negative toll of economic stress on mental health and substance use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

"I Can Never Feel Safe": Latinx Youth Voices on Psychosocial Impacts of 287(g) in Georgia.

Increasingly, immigration policies are understood as structural determinants, rooted in racism, nativism, and ethnocentrism, which raise serious public health concerns for Latinx adolescents' mental health. Our objective was to examine how immigration policy enforcement affects mental health of Latinx youth raised in a county with an aggressive interior immigration enforcement program. From 2009 to 2021, Gwinnett County, GA, led the nation in deportations under the 287(g) program as a "universal enforcement model," where local law enforcement were deputized to detain undocumented immigrants, primarily through traffic violations. From June to July 2022, we followed a participatory action research approach with two groups of Latinx youth who grew up in Gwinnett County. In total, 10 youth took photos related to the research question, and engaged in facilitated dialogue using photovoice guide SHOWED/VENCER for four, 2-hour sessions that were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed following grounded theory principles to arrive at a conceptual model codeveloped and validated by youth. Youth described how 287(g) led to policing and deportation in their communities, fueling stereotypes, and discrimination that criminalized Latinx immigrants. Youth linked immigration enforcement policies like 287(g) to exclusionary systems that contributed to fear, marginalization, and loss in their communities, bringing experiences of sadness, grief, isolation, hopelessness, and low self-worth. From youth-driven research, we identified mental health implications of the 287(g) program among Latinx youth. The cascading harms of immigration enforcement policies highlight the need to address these policies and identify immediate strategies to promote Latinx youth mental health.

A qualitative study of childhood cancer families' post-treatment needs and the impact of a community-based organization in a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged, majority Hispanic/Latino region.

BACKGROUND: Individual- and population-level socioeconomic disadvantages contribute to unequal outcomes among childhood cancer survivors. Reducing health disparities requires understanding experiences of survivors from historically marginalized communities, including those with non-English language preference. PROCEDURE: We partnered with a community-based organization (CBO) serving families of children with cancer in a rural region in California with low socioeconomic status and majority Hispanic/Latino (H/L) residents. We interviewed English- and Spanish-speaking adolescent/young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors (≥15 years old, ≥5 years from diagnosis), parents, and CBO staff to evaluate post-treatment needs and impact of CBO support. Data were analyzed qualitatively using applied thematic analysis. Themes were refined through team discussions with our community partners. RESULTS: Twelve AYAs (11 H/L, 11 bilingual), 11 parents (eight H/L, seven non-English preferred), and seven CBO staff (five H/L, five bilingual) participated. AYAs (five female, seven male) were of median (min-max) age 20 (16-32) and 9 (5-19) years post diagnosis; parents (nine female, two male) were age 48 (40-60) and 14 (6-23) years post child's diagnosis. Themes included challenges navigating healthcare, communication barriers among the parent-AYA-clinician triad, and lasting effects of childhood cancer on family dynamics and mental health. Subthemes illustrated that language and rurality may contribute to health disparities. CBO support impacted families by serving as a safety-net, fostering community, and facilitating H/L families' communication. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood cancer has long-lasting effects on families, and those with non-English language preference face additional burdens. Community-based support buffers some of the negative effects of childhood cancer and may reduce disparities.

Community-Engaged Research With Latino Dementia Caregivers: Overcoming Challenges in Community Advisory Board Development.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Latinos caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) have the highest prevalence of caregiving. Yet, they are less likely to benefit from evidence-based interventions given their continued underrepresentation in ADRD-related research. Community advisory boards (CABs) have the potential to address barriers to research for underrepresented communities; however, there are complexities to establishing and sustaining CABs. This article describes how our work addressed challenges in CABs related to unbalanced power relations, language barriers, the value of time, and low research knowledge and health literacy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nine Latino CAB members, including older Latino caregivers, were trained in a comprehensive program designed to increase knowledge about health research methods and ethics, cognitive health, and cultural adaptation methods. Members completed pre- and post-training measures of Alzheimer's disease knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward research, and a satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Results from the satisfaction questionnaire indicated that the program was well received. CAB members increased their knowledge regarding the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and dementia-associated risk factors and treatment. Positive changes in members' attitudes toward research included increased willingness to participate in trials and subject protection measures. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Formalized training in research conduct and ethics and health literacy is a promising strategy to reduce challenges in establishing and maintaining CABs and can also optimize CAB impact to address gaps in older Latino ADRD caregiving research.

The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families of Youth of Color: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Prospectively examine racial and ethnic disparities in exposure to COVID-19-related stressors and their impact on families. METHODS: A racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse cohort of caregivers of youth (n = 1,581) representative of the population served by a pediatric healthcare system completed the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Scales in Oct/Nov 2020 and March/April 2021. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine exposure to COVID-19-related events (Exposure), impact of the pandemic on family functioning and well-being (Impact), and child and parent distress (Distress) across time and as a function of race and ethnicity, adjusting for other sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Exposure and Distress increased over time for all participants. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, caregivers of Black and Hispanic youth reported greater Exposure than caregivers of White youth and caregivers of Black youth had a greater increase in Exposure over time than caregivers of White youth. Caregivers of White youth reported greater Impact than caregivers of Black and Other race youth. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family psychosocial functioning varied by race and ethnicity. Although exposure to COVID-19-related events was greater among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black families, those of marginalized races reported less family impact than non-Hispanic White families, suggesting resiliency to the pandemic. Research should examine such responses to public health crises in communities of color, with a focus on understanding protective factors. These findings suggest the importance of culturally tailored interventions and policies that support universal psychosocial screenings during times of public health crises.

Well-Being of Children and Families in COVID-19 Hotspots in Chicago.

BACKGROUND: Families in high-risk communities for COVID-19 transmission experienced a disproportionate burden during the pandemic. This study assessed these families' needs, changes in children's well-being, and perceptions related to the pandemic. METHODS: Four online surveys were administered January 2021 to September 2021 to parents of students, enrolled in parochial, kindergarten-eighth grade schools in Chicago neighborhoods with higher COVID-19 incidence rates by ZIP code, compared to the city average, and higher resource need. RESULTS: The response rate was 69.1% (n = 186 of 269) in the baseline survey; and other surveys were at 1 (n = 151), 3 (n = 145), and 5 months (n = 154). Of the sample, 83% of parents identified as Hispanic/Latinx with a mean age of 38.3 years (SD: 8.5). Approximately a quarter of parents reported difficulty paying cable and internet bills (26%) and paying utilities (25%). Parents reported children as happy (94% and 95%, p = .59) and hopeful (96% and 95%, p = .74) at 1-month (February to May 2021) and 5-month surveys (June to September 2021). Parents also reported fewer children were irritable (29% vs 19%, p = .03), felt lonely (17% vs 10%, p = .03), and felt isolated (28% vs 9%, p < .001) between those survey waves. The majority (67%) of parents felt that their child had no difficulty wearing a mask in public. CONCLUSIONS: In this longitudinal study, Chicago parents rated children's well-being highly and reported a decrease in negative emotions over time. The areas of need identified may be particularly relevant for outreach and providing resources to Hispanic/Latino families in future emergencies or global health threats.

A Qualitative Analysis of Latina Migrant Farmworkers' Perception of Mental Health: Voices From Wisconsin.

INTRODUCTION: Despite evidence showing Latinos' high prevalence of mental health, little is known about Latina migrant farmworkers' mental health experiences, especially those working in Midwestern states. Considering the multiple vulnerabilities observed among Latina migrant farmworkers, it is necessary to gain insight from own accounts and perceptions of mental health and mental health-seeking experiences. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive approach, using in-depth semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions, served to retrieve data from 34 Latina migrant farmworkers. This study was informed by Chicana, postcolonial, and Black feminist epistemologies. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified themes within the data. These findings pertained to the conceptualization of mental health within the contexts of family, capacities, stigma, denial, and faith. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate the need for health care providers to consider Latina migrant farmworkers' perceptions about mental health and apply those in designing and implementing culturally informed policy and practice.