The effects of social support and self-efficacy on hopefulness in low-income older adults during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Social support and self-efficacy play a significant role in improving positive psychological well-being in marginalized older adults. However, to date, there are few studies identifying the relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the effect of social support and self-efficacy on hopefulness in a majority Black sample of marginalized low-income older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study used baseline data from a clinical trial designed to increase COVID-19 testing in Essex County, NJ, United States. The dataset involved participants 50 years old or older. We conducted: 1) cross-sectional descriptive/frequency statistics to understand the sociodemographic characteristics, 2) multivariate linear regression to investigate the direct relationships between social support subscales or self-efficacy and hopefulness, and 3) mediation analyses to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and hopefulness. RESULTS: Our findings showed that self-efficacy had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between social support and hopefulness. After adjusting for covariate variables, social support subscales (i.e., emotional/informational, tangible, affectionate, positive social interaction social support) and self-efficacy were significantly associated with hopefulness. The indirect effect of social support via self-efficacy was positive and statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between social support and hopefulness in marginalized older adults aged 50 and over. Further research is needed to identify the various facets of positive psychological well-being using longitudinal data and a larger sample size.

Understanding Black and Latino sexual minority men's perspectives on assessment of sexual history in diverse health care settings.

OBJECTIVE: This exploratory analysis aims to understand conditions under which cisgender Black and Latino sexual minority men (SMM) would be willing to share potentially abusive childhood sexual experiences with health care providers. Black and Latino SMM may be overrepresented among childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors, but some abusive experiences are appraised as consensual due to cultural pressures, leading to underreporting and a delay in identification and treatment. Prior research highlights the importance of screening for sexual abuse histories in primary care and substance use treatment settings, though studies indicate that such assessments rarely occur. METHOD: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 61 cisgender Black and Latino SMM who reported sexual experiences in childhood that met criteria for CSA. Interviews explored men's experiences with and attitudes toward sexual history taking in diverse health care settings. RESULTS: Most respondents felt that providers should assess sexual history and be aware of prior abuse. Barriers to disclosure included perceived provider bias and insincerity and concerns that provider characteristics (e.g., gender) might limit their ability to understand a client's experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that a trauma-informed approach to the assessment of sexual histories should consider that patients' current physical and mental states may be (in)directly linked to earlier, traumatic events and that intersecting identities (e.g., gender and race) could influence men's willingness to share their histories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining Cultural Competency and Sexual Abuse Training Needs Among Service Providers Working with Black and Latino Sexual Minority Men.

Black and Latino sexual minority men (SMM) with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may be reluctant to disclose such experiences or may appraise them as consensual because of cultural norms. Anticipated stigma, medical mistrust, and concerns that providers lack training in sexuality may complicate their efforts to obtain treatment for long-term health consequences of CSA. It is important to examine the training needs of service providers working with SMM who may disclose sexual abuse. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 35 substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and allied health service providers across the New York City area. Themes included the importance of training in cultural competence, trauma-informed care, and assessment of-and counseling for-CSA. Further education in these areas can enable providers to recognize indicators of abuse in their clients' sexual histories and to more effectively and safely respond to this information. Future studies are encouraged to test a trauma-informed approach to screening for CSA history with Black and Latino SMM who present to SUD treatment and allied health service providers. This research should consider provider perspectives in developing such an approach and will likely involve training and evaluation to ensure adequate preparedness and effective service delivery.

Individual and structural determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in a marginalized community in the United States.

Socially and medically vulnerable groups (e.g., people 65 years or older, minoritized racial groups, non-telework essential workers, and people with comorbid conditions) experience barriers to COVID-19 prevention and treatment, increased burden of disease, and increased risk of death from COVID-19. Researchers are paying increased attention to social determinants of health (SDH) in explaining inequities in COVID-19-related health outcomes and rates of vaccine uptake. The purpose of the present manuscript is to identify clinically significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people who were socially and medically vulnerable to SARs-CoV-2 infection. Analysis was informed by the SDH framework and included a sample of 641 baseline surveys from participants in a clinical trial designed to increase COVID-19 testing. All participants were at high risk of developing COVID-19-related complications or dying from COVID-19. Following community-based participatory research principles, a well-established community collaborative board conducted every aspect of the study. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to examine the relationships between individual and structural factors and COVID-19 vaccine uptake. In the final time adjusted model, we found that vaccine uptake was only predicted by specific individual-level factors: being 65 years and older, living with HIV/AIDS, and having previously received a flu vaccine or a COVID-19 test. Those reporting to believe in COVID-19-conspiracy theories were less likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine. More research is needed to identify predictors of vaccine uptake among people with comorbidities that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19 complications or death.

Service provider interpretations of childhood sexual experiences among sexual minority men.

In this study, we report findings from a directed content analysis of service provider (SP) interpretations of early sexual experiences depicted in vignettes created from retrospective interviews with Black sexual minority men. Specifically, we explore whether SP recognize circumstances of abuse in the vignette narrators' sexual histories. Data for this analysis come from in-person qualitative interviews conducted with 35 providers working in substance abuse treatment and allied health service settings (e.g., mental health, HIV prevention and outreach) across the New York City area. The interviewees were asked to evaluate each of five vignettes depicting a range of early sexual experiences as described by the narrators [e.g., unwanted experiences with a male or female consistent with definitions of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), consensual sex with an older male or female]. Based on analysis of provider responses to the vignettes, we found that most recognized differences in age and authority as abuse indicators. Many of the providers struggled with assertions by vignette narrators that they had consented to the encounters-specifically those that could be considered abusive. Findings highlight areas to focus on in developing additional provider training, including the challenges of defining CSA, age and other factors that influence consent, and how cultural background and sexual minority status may shape men's appraisals of their experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Optimization of a new adaptive intervention using the SMART Design to increase COVID-19 testing among people at high risk in an urban community.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has impacted the health and social fabric of individuals and families living across the USA, and it has disproportionately affected people living in urban communities with co-morbidities, those working in high-risk settings, refusing or unable to adhere to CDC guidelines, and more. Social determinants of health (SDH), such as stigmatization, incarceration, and poverty, have been associated with increased exposure to COVID-19 and increased deaths. While vaccines and booster shots are available, it will take time to reach herd immunity, and it is unclear how long newly developed vaccines provide protection and how effective they are against emerging variants. Therefore, prevention methods recommended by the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC)-i.e., testing, hand-washing, social distancing, contact tracing, vaccination and booster shots, and quarantine-are essential to reduce the rates of COVID-19 in marginalized communities. This project will adapt and test evidence-based HIV interventions along the prevention and treatment cascade to help address COVID-19 prevention needs. METHODS: The study aims to (1) optimize an adaptive intervention that will increase rates of testing and adherence to New Jersey State COVID-19 recommendations (testing, social distancing, quarantine, hospitalization, contact tracing, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots) among high-risk populations and (2) identify predictors of testing completion and adherence to New Jersey recommendations. This study follows Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles to conduct a Sequential, Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) with 670 COVID-19 medically/socially vulnerable people. Participants will be recruited using a variety of strategies including advertisements on social media, posting fliers in public places, street outreach, facility-based, and snowball sampling. Participants complete a baseline survey and are randomized to receive navigation services or an electronic brochure. They then complete a follow-up 7 days after baseline and are randomized again to either continue with their original assignment or switch to the other intervention or critical dialog or brief counseling. Participants then complete a 5-week post-baseline follow-up. Guided by the COVID-19 Continuum of Prevention, Care, and Treatment, the analysis will explore the factors associated with COVID-19 testing within 7 days of the intervention. DISCUSSION: This paper describes the protocol of the first study to use SMART following CBPR to adapt evidence-based HIV prevention interventions to COVID-19. The findings will inform the development of an effective and scalable adaptive intervention to increase COVID-19 testing and adherence to public health recommendations, including vaccination and booster shots, among a marginalized and difficult-to-engage population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04757298 . Registered on February 17, 2021.

Enhancing behavioral intervention science: using community-based participatory research principles with the multiphase optimization strategy.

Innovative methodological frameworks are needed in intervention science to increase efficiency, potency, and community adoption of behavioral health interventions, as it currently takes 17 years and millions of dollars to test and disseminate interventions. The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) for developing behavioral interventions was designed to optimize efficiency, efficacy, and sustainability, while community-based participatory research (CBPR) engages community members in all research steps. Classical approaches for developing behavioral interventions include testing against control interventions in randomized controlled trials. MOST adds an optimization phase to assess performance of individual intervention components and their interactions on outcomes. This information is used to engineer interventions that meet specific optimization criteria focused on effectiveness, cost, or time. Combining CBPR and MOST facilitates development of behavioral interventions that effectively address complex health challenges, are acceptable to communities, and sustainable by maximizing resources, building community capacity and acceptance. Herein, we present a case study to illustrate the value of combining MOST and CBPR to optimize a multilevel intervention for reducing substance misuse among formerly incarcerated men, for under $250 per person. This integration merged experiential and cutting-edge scientific knowledge and methods, built community capacity, and promoted the development of efficient interventions. Integrating CBPR and MOST principles yielded a framework of intervention development/testing that is more efficient, faster, cheaper, and rigorous than traditional stage models. Combining MOST and CBPR addressed significant intervention science gaps and speeds up testing and implementation of interventions.

"Like a ticking time bomb": the persistence of trauma in the HIV diagnosis experience among black men who have sex with men in New York City.

BACKGROUND: Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV compared to almost every other demographic group in the country and have worse outcomes along the care continuum. Diagnosis is a critical juncture. This study aims to explore the impact and meaning of an HIV diagnosis for Black MSM, and how this has changed over time, both for the individual's experience living with HIV as well as for Black MSM in general. METHODS: From 2017 to 2018, we conducted in-depth interviews with 16 black MSM living with HIV in New York City diagnosed between 1985 and 2016. RESULTS: Inductive analysis of the qualitative data allowed three major themes to emerge: diagnosis trauma, lack of patient -centeredness in the healthcare system, and acceptance of HIV diagnosis over time. CONCLUSIONS: This small pilot study signals that an HIV diagnosis experience possibly remains traumatic for black MSM even in the era of highly effective ART, and they often perceive a lack of patient-centeredness in the delivery of a new diagnosis. This has persisted over time. In most cases, black MSM in our sample overcame this trauma due to self-motivation, social support and seeking out and fostering trusting relationships with their HIV provider and the healthcare system.

Early Sexual Experiences, Mental Health, and Risk Behavior among Black Non-Hispanic and Hispanic / Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM).

Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Investigating these histories is often confounded by underreporting and varied definitions of abuse. Unrecognized abuse may manifest in unhealthy ways, specifically psychological distress, substance use, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Black and Hispanic/Latino MSM in New York City discussed formative sexual experiences in in-person interviews. Eligible men reported a sexual experience occurring before age 16 with a man or woman 18 or older at the time. Among interviewees (n = 61), men living with HIV were significantly younger at the time of their first sexual experience with a male partner compared to HIV-negative men. Approximately half of interviewees (47.5%) scored at or above the diagnostic cutoff for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hispanic/Latino men had increased odds of scoring at or above the diagnostic cutoff for PTSD compared to Black non-Hispanic men. Further, nearly half of interviewees (46%) scored at or above the diagnostic cutoff for harmful drug use or possible drug dependence. Study findings have implications for future research using an indirect approach to uncovering potential sexual abuse during childhood, and associations with adult health outcomes.

Polysubstance use patterns and novel synthetics: A cluster analysis from three U.S. cities.

The rapid emergence of novel psychoactive substances within the past decade has raised new concerns about the harms associated with unregulated drug use. Synthetic analogues-chemically related to established psychoactive substances like cannabis sativa and catha edulis-in particular have proliferated rapidly, allowing little opportunity for scientific research or the establishment of informal guidelines for safe use among consumers. To explore how synthetic substance use relates to other forms of use, this paper presents an analysis of polysubstance use among a sample of 676 people who use illicit substances in the United States. Participants were sampled from three greater metropolitan areas (Houston/Galveston, Texas; New York City; and New Orleans, Louisiana). Study researchers used cluster-type analyses to develop dendrogram visualizations of the interrelationships between substance types. Results suggest a considerable variation in substance and polysubstance use patterns across states in the U.S. Polysubstance use clustered around well-observed combinations like MDMA/cannabis and cocaine/heroin. Synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones showed no strong clustering with other substances. High rates of binge drinking among users of other substances further support the importance of interventions sensitive to the clinical challenges of polysubstance use.

Optimizing a community-engaged multi-level group intervention to reduce substance use: an application of the multiphase optimization strategy.

BACKGROUND: Rates of alcohol and illicit drug use (AIDU) are consistently similar across racial groups (Windsor and Negi, J Addict Dis 28:258-68, 2009; Keyes et al. Soc Sci Med 124:132-41, 2015). Yet AIDU has significantly higher consequences for residents in distressed communities with concentrations of African Americans (DCAA - i.e., localities with high rates of poverty and crime) who also have considerably less access to effective treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). This project is optimizing Community Wise, an innovative multi-level behavioral-health intervention created in partnership with service providers and residents of distressed communities with histories of SUD and incarceration, to reduce health inequalities related to AIDU. METHODS: Grounded in critical consciousness theory, community-based participatory research principles (CBPR), and the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), this study employs a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design to engineer the most efficient, effective, and scalable version of Community Wise that can be delivered for US$250 per person or less. This study is fully powered to detect change in AIDU in a sample of 528 men with a histories of SUD and incarceration, residing in Newark, NJ in the United States. A community collaborative board oversees recruitment using a variety of strategies including indigenous field worker sampling, facility-based sampling, community advertisement through fliers, and street outreach. Participants are randomly assigned to one of 16 conditions that include a combination of the following candidate intervention components: peer or licensed facilitator, group dialogue, personal goal development, and community organizing. All participants receive a core critical-thinking component. Data are collected at baseline plus five post-baseline monthly follow ups. Once the optimized Community Wise intervention is identified, it will be evaluated against an existing standard of care in a future randomized clinical trial. DISCUSSION: This paper describes the protocol of the first ever study using CBPR and MOST to optimize a substance use intervention targeting a marginalized population. Data from this study will culminate in an optimized Community Wise manual; enhanced methodological strategies to develop multi-component scalable interventions using MOST and CBPR; and a better understanding of the application of critical consciousness theory to the field of health inequalities related to AIDU. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02951455 . Registered on 1 November 2016.

Understanding the Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Men's Risk Behavior: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) remains a critical public health issue among black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), as it is associated with multiple negative outcomes including substance misuse, poor mental health, revictimization, and high-risk sexual behavior. Most CSA research with MSM relies on quantitative assessment that often precludes consideration of cultural variations in how formative sexual experiences are understood and is based on inconsistent or overly restrictive definitions of abuse, and therefore may fail to detect certain abusive experiences (eg, those involving female perpetrators), which can have harmful health consequences if they remain unrecognized. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to overcome existing limitations in the literature by drawing on perspectives of black and Latino MSM and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), as well as relevant service providers to better understand the role of, and the need to include, sexual abuse histories (eg, CSA) in treatment and counseling settings, with the long-term goal of improving assessment and health outcomes. METHODS: We will conduct mixed-methods interviews, framed by an intersectionality approach, with 80 black and Latino men (40 MSM and 40 MSMW) in New York City (NYC), exploring appraisals of their formative sexual experiences, including those described as consensual but meeting criteria for CSA. We will also interview 30 local service providers representing substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and HIV prevention and outreach. RESULTS: The study was launched in May 2017. CONCLUSIONS: This formative research will inform testable approaches to assessing and incorporating sexual abuse history into substance abuse treatment and other health and mental health services used by men with such histories.

Challenges to Opioid Treatment Programs After Hurricane Sandy: Patient and Provider Perspectives on Preparation, Impact, and Recovery.

Over 300,000 patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD) receive methadone maintenance therapy from opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States. Large numbers of these attend OTPs located in New York and New Jersey, areas (largely but not exclusively coastal) impacted by Hurricane Sandy (Sandy) on October 29th, 2012. Disruption of methadone dispensing and other services can have severe consequences to patients (and treatment seekers) such as relapse, dropping out of treatment and resumption or increase in HIV/HCV injection risk behaviors. To facilitate OTP preparedness and response, we developed recommendations for OTPs for future emergencies. Using both qualitative and quantitative measures, we obtained data from OTP directors, staff, patients and out-of-treatment persons to learn how OTPs prepared for the impending hurricane, whether recovery efforts were successful, and what impact the hurricane has had. We observed a wide range of preparation and recovery efforts among participating programs. Director, staff, and patient perspectives on programs' responses and storm impact often differed. Triangulated data suggest that program responses were adequate for a majority of patients. For a sizeable minority of patients, program responses were very successful; for at least 20% of the clinics, program planning and responses were inadequate to meet the needs of patients. Among the recommendations made for sustaining continuity of care in future emergencies are: a focus on improving communication, procuring transportation, guest dosing, and take home provisions.

The long tail of a demon drug: The 'bath salts' risk environment.

Using the case of synthetic cathinones (commonly referred to as 'bath salts' in the US context), this paper analyses structural factors surrounding novel psychoactive substances (NPS) as contributing to the unique risk environment surrounding their use. Drawing on interviews with 39 people who use bath salts from four U.S. cities and analysis of the infrastructural, social, economic, and policy contexts, we document the unique harms related to changing contexts for illicit drug regulation, manufacture, and consumption. Findings suggest that NPS and designer drug markets, which are highly reliant upon the internet, share characteristics of the entertainment industry which has come to rely more heavily upon profits derived from the 'long tail' of myriad lesser-known products and the diminished centrality of 'superstars' and 'hits'. Findings point toward increased theoretical and policy attention to changing drug market structures, more rigorous evaluations of drug 'analogues' legislation and greater involvement with NPS education and testing by harm reduction agencies.

Exploring Service Provider Perceptions of Treatment Barriers Facing Black, Non-Gay-Identified MSMW.

Non-gay-identified men who have sex with men and women and who use alcohol and other drugs are a vulnerable population. Little is known about health and medical service provider interaction with these underserved clients. This article presents a thematic analysis of two focus groups undertaken with social and medical service providers regarding the needs of non-gay-identified men who have sex with men and women. Four emergent themes (labeling, constructions of masculinity, HIV/AIDS awareness, and treatment success) illustrate perceived barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as treatment success. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed.

Black Women with Multiple Sex Partners: The Role of Sexual Agency.

Motivations of low-income substance using heterosexual Black women in New York City for having multiple sexual partners are explored in this paper. Analysis of in-depth interviews with 50 study participants demonstrates that their relationships consisted of those who had: (1) a main sex partner and a secondary sex partner; or (2) two or more "casual" partners. Individual-level motivations for extra relational sex fell into four dominant themes: sexual pleasure, partner infidelity, sex exchange and past main partners. Using a Black feminist framework, we describe how participants displayed considerable autonomy by actively forming and withdrawing from sexual relationships with men. However, women described low rates of condom use with main partners and inconsistent use of condoms with more casual sexual partners. This contradiction becomes an important area for sexual health interventions. Women who had sexual relations with only one current mate in the past two years were recruited as a monogamous comparison group.

Community Wise: paving the way for empowerment in community reentry.

Theoretical approaches traditionally applied in mental health and criminal justice interventions fail to address the historical and structural context that partially explains health disparities. Community Wise was developed to address this gap. It is a 12week group intervention informed by Critical Consciousness Theory and designed to prevent substance abuse, related health risk behaviors, psychological distress, and reoffending among individuals with a history of incarceration and substance abuse. This paper reports findings from the first implementation and pilot evaluation of Community Wise in two community-based organizations. This pre-posttest evaluation pilot-tested Community Wise and used findings to improve the intervention. Twenty-six participants completed a phone and clinical screening, baseline, 6- and 12-week follow-ups, and a focus group at the end of the intervention. Measures assessed participants' demographic information, psychological distress, substance use, criminal offending, HIV risk behaviors, community cohesion, community support, civic engagement, critical consciousness, ethnic identification, group cohesion, client satisfaction, and acquired treatment skills. Research methods were found to be feasible and useful in assessing the intervention. Results indicated that while Community Wise is a promising intervention, several changes need to be made in order to enhance the intervention. Community Wise is a new approach where oppressed individuals join in critical dialogue, tap into existing community resources, and devise, implement and evaluate their own community solutions to structural barriers.

Community Wise: A formative evaluation of a community based health intervention.

Individuals with histories of incarceration and substance abuse residing in distressed communities often receive suboptimal services partly due to a lack of empirically supported substance abuse treatments targeting this population. Grounded in community-engaged research, we developed Community Wise, a manualized, 12-week, group behavioral intervention. The intervention aims to reduce substance use frequency, HIV/HCV risk behaviors, and reoffending among individuals with histories of substance abuse and incarceration. Thirty six individuals were recruited to participate in a formative evaluation of Community Wise processes and outcomes. Analysis showed significantly lower post-intervention number of cigarettes smoked per day, days using an illicit drug, money spent on illegal drugs, and rearrests. Based on the evaluation, the research team made the following changes: 1) added a session on sexuality; 2) increased the number of sessions from 12 to 15; and 3) modified strategies to help participants develop and implement capacity building projects.