A qualitative community health assessment of HIV prevention awareness in a semi-rural Latinx seasonal farm working community in South Florida.

This article explores HIV awareness and prevention in a Latinx seasonal farmworker community of south Miami-Dade County in the USA. The study took place as part of a larger community assessment that aimed to determine community needs and resources related to substance abuse, violence and HIV in the Latinx seasonal farmworker communities of south Miami-Dade County, with a particular focus on fathers' and their male sons' relationships. The study collected data on HIV knowledge and prevention, healthcare-seeking behaviours, cultural norms, and communication barriers about HIV prevention between fathers and sons. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with community leaders, two focus groups with social and health services providers, and four focus groups involving fathers and their adolescent sons. A deductive approach to data analysis was undertaken. Five major themes were identified: (1) HIVrelated knowledge and perception; (2) HIV prevention strategies; (3) barriers and needs for tailored preventive health and care services in the community; (4) stress over sex-related communication; and (5) the dominance of traditional masculine gender norms in the household and the community.

Methodologies used in studies examining substance abuse, violence and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) constructs using a syndemic framework: a scoping review.

The syndemic theoretical framework has been used in health disparities research to explain several co-occurring epidemics, particularly in populations facing disparate health conditions. A prominent example of this is seen in Singer's Substance Abuse, Violence and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) syndemic theory. However, even though numerous studies support some of the theoretical underpinnings of the SAVA syndemic, the empirical applications of the theory remain methodologically underdeveloped. The current review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR), to present the state of the science of methodologies examining SAVA constructs using the syndemic framework. Seven bibliographic databases were searched with no language or date restrictions. Studies were synthesized by author, year of publication, study location, total sample size, study population, SAVA outcomes, analytic method of SAVA measurement, intervention type, level of influence, disease interaction and concentration, main findings of the study, and possible future areas of research. Our search yielded a total of 967 articles, and 123 were included in the review. Methodologic and statistical innovation is needed to elevate the impact of syndemic theory for elucidating the synergistic effects of determinants leading to health disparities.

Alcohol use among adult recent Latino/a immigrants: the role of stress, forced migration, and adherence to traditional gender roles.

Background: Previous research conducted among Latino/a immigrants has shown the underlying effect that exposure to stress after immigrating to the U.S. (i.e. health access, racial/ethnic discrimination, and language barriers) has on alcohol use patterns. However, given the demographic shifts in recent immigrants, understanding the influence of stress before (i.e. poverty, healthcare, and educational opportunities) and after immigration on their alcohol use (i.e. alcohol consumption and drinking behaviors in the past 12 months) in the context of migration and traditional gender roles is warranted.Objectives: To examine the (a) cumulative effects of pre- to post-immigration stress, (b) respective moderating effects of traditional gender roles, and (c) forced migration on alcohol use for men and women.Methods: Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 529 (N = 268 men, N = 261 women) adult (18-34 years) from recent Latino/a immigrants in South Florida.Results: Gender had a statistically significant difference on alcohol use, (F 527) = 18.68, p < .001, with men (p = 4.36 ± SE =.22) reporting higher alcohol use than women (p = 3.08 ± SE =.20). Post-immigration stress (ß = .12, p = .03) but not pre-migration stress had a statistically significant association with alcohol use. There is no interaction effect by traditional gender roles and forced migration on the associations between pre- to post-immigration stress and alcohol use.Conclusion: Results suggest that post-immigration stress may be a reasonable intervention target to mitigate alcohol use among recent Latino/a immigrants, particularly among men.

Ethnic discrimination and psychological stress among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism.

Hispanic emerging adults are often exposed to ethnic discrimination, yet little is known about coping resources that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on psychological stress in this rapidly growing population. As such, this study aims to examine (1) the associations of ethnic discrimination, distress tolerance, and optimism with psychological stress and (2) the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism on the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study of 200 Hispanic adults ages 18-25, recruited from two urban counties in Arizona and Florida. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were utilized to examine these associations and moderated effects. Findings indicated that higher optimism was associated with lower psychological stress. Conversely, higher ethnic discrimination was associated with higher psychological stress. Moderation analyses indicated that both distress tolerance and optimism moderated the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. These study findings add to the limited literature on ethnic discrimination among Hispanic emerging adults and suggest that distress tolerance may be a key intrapersonal factor that can protect Hispanic emerging adults against the psychological stress often resulting from ethnic discrimination.

Depressive symptoms among recent Latinx immigrants in South Florida: The role of premigration trauma and stress, postimmigration stress, and gender.

In the past decade, recent Latinx immigrants (RLIs) from South and Central America have arrived in the United States seeking asylum from countries affected by war, political upheaval, and high crime and poverty rates. The premigration stress and trauma they experience are further compounded by postimmigration stress due to discrimination, lack of access to health care, and financial instability. Evidence suggests RLIs who experience such stress and trauma have an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. We examined the combined effect of premigration stress and trauma and postimmigration stress on postimmigration depressive symptoms; we also explored the moderating effect of gender. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 540 young adult RLIs (age range: 18-34 years, 50.2% men) in South Florida. Higher levels of postimmigration stress, ß = .37, p < .001, were associated with increased postimmigration depressive symptoms. No significant associations emerged between premigration stress and trauma and postimmigration depressive symptoms. Moderation analyses revealed no significant interaction effect of gender. Post hoc analyses indicated that country/region of origin moderated the relation between postimmigration stress and depressive symptoms such that the association was stronger among Venezuelan, ß = 1.51, p < .001; other South American, ß = 1.06, p < .001; and Central American/Mexican RLIs, ß = 1.38, p < .001, compared with Caribbean RLIs, ß = .45, p  = .122. These findings suggest that interventions focused on addressing postimmigration stress early in the immigration process can potentially lower subsequent depressive symptoms among RLIs.

Prescription Drug and Cannabis Use among Recent Latinx Immigrants Pre- and Post-Immigration to the US.

Introduction: Shifts in the sociopolitical context of Latin America have led to steep increases in recent Latinx immigrants (RLI) arriving in the US within the context of forced migration. Yet, little is known about how adverse experiences of RLIs before and after immigration may impact their health including drug use. The purpose of this study was to examine prescription drug and cannabis use before and just after immigration among RLIs and how this drug use is influenced by pre-and post-immigration factors. Methods: This study utilized baseline data from a study examining pre- to post-immigration drinking and driving trajectories among RLI in the United States (US). Baseline criteria included: self-identifying as a Latinx immigrant, 18 - 34 years old, who recently immigrated from a Latin American country. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine predictors of drug use both prior to and after immigrating. Results: There were 540 RLI, 50.2% male and 47.8% subjected to forced migration. Prescription and illicit drug use decreased post-immigration with sedatives being the most common. Higher levels of education was associated with increased odds of pre-immigration prescription drug use and cannabis use. Those experiencing forced migration were more likely to engage in prescription drug use before and after immigration, while no associations were found for cannabis use. Conclusion: Findings suggest a need for increased substance use and mental health services among RLIs arriving within the context of forced migration. More research is needed to understand the trajectories of drug use among RLI as their time in the US increases.

Socio-Cultural Subgroups of Latina/o Immigrants: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Socio-cultural factors, such as familismo, social support, machismo, and multigroup ethnic identity, are strongly associated with Latina/o immigrants' alcohol misuse and depressive symptoms. However, research has rarely explored whether unobserved groups of Latina/o immigrants with similar socio-cultural factors exist. Latent Profile analysis can illuminate which subgroups to target, or which socio-cultural factors need to be supported, to have an impact on the prevention and treatment of alcohol use and/or depression in the Latina/o immigrant population. Cross sectional data from on ongoing longitudinal investigation was utilized (N= 518 Latina/o adults living in Miami-Dade County, Florida and have immigrated to the US within one year prior to assessment). Latent Profile Analyses (LPA) were conducted utilizing validated measures of familismo, social support, neighborhood collective efficacy, ethnic identity, machismo, caballerismo, and marianismo. The LPA revealed three, significantly different profiles: (1) low socio-cultural protection (n=155, 29.98%), (2) high socio-cultural protection (n=21, 4.06%), and (3) high socio-, low-cultural protection (n=341, 65.96%). Profile membership was associated significantly with immigrant documentation status, education level, and past family history of substance use. Results indicate that Latina/o immigrants in the low socio-cultural protection group had significantly higher alcohol use compared to high socio-, low cultural protection group. No significant differences were found for depressive symptoms. We discuss implications of our findings and encourage researchers to continue to unpack the complexities associated with socio-cultural factors and Latina/o mental and behavioral health. Specifically, research should focus on socio-cultural factors can provide protection from negative health outcomes and increase resiliency among this population.

Associations Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power Among Latina Immigrant Farmworkers: The Moderating Role of Gender Norms.

Sexual trauma is a national public health concern due to the alarming rates at which it occurs and decades of research supporting its long-term deleterious effects on health outcomes. We assessed the impact of gender norms and sexual trauma on power within sexual relationships among Latina immigrant farmworkers. At baseline, participants (N  = 175) completed a survey examining demographic information, sexual trauma history, and gender norms; a follow-up was administered 6 months later. Past sexual trauma was associated with less power in sexual relationships, r  = -.25, p < .001, as was endorsement of traditional Latina gender norms (i.e., marianismo): sexual relationship control, r  = -.38, p < .001; sexual decision-making dominance, r  = -.21, p  = .005. In contrast, egalitarian gender norm endorsement was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, r  = .37, p < .001, and sexual decision-making dominance, r  = .17, p  = .023. Gender norms moderated the association between sexual trauma and sexual relationship power. Specifically, women who subscribed more to marianismo and reported sexual trauma had less decision-making dominance in sexual relationships, whereas those with lower ratings of marianismo reported higher levels of decision-making dominance despite sexual trauma, R2   = .03, p  = .022. Sexual trauma history coupled with higher ratings of egalitarian gender norms was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, DR2   = .02, p  = .023. These results highlight the importance of culturally informed research to increase the sexual and overall health of vulnerable populations (e.g., Latina immigrant farmworkers).