Economic and Social Consequences of COVID-19 and Mental Health Burden Among Latinx Young Adults During the 2020 Pandemic.

Latinx young adults 18-25 years old face unique challenges that disproportionately put them at high risk of experiencing health as well as economic and social burden due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study examined how economic and psychosocial consequences as a result of the pandemic were associated with mental health issues among a community sample of Latinx young adults (N = 83) from Central Texas. Participants completed an online survey of COVID-related experiences and mental health needs. The survey asked about personal and family experiences of COVID-19 in two significant areas: (a) economic strain (e.g., economic hardship, food insecurity) and (b) psychosocial burden (e.g., losing relationships, substance use). Regression analyses examined the association of COVID-19 consequences on level of mental health symptoms and clinically significant outcomes. Relative to economic consequences, psychosocial consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher levels of mental health symptoms. In contrast, in few cases, economic strain resultant from the pandemic was correlated with clinically significant outcomes among this sample. Collectively, findings suggest that the costs of the pandemic do not only pertain to mortality from illness but also to morbidity as it relates to deteriorating social circumstances and mental health. Findings from this study call for immediate attention to implement policies and programs to help mitigate the economic and social-emotional consequences of COVID-19 such as easy access to low-cost virtual mental health resources to Latinx young adults.

Los adultos jóvenes latinos de 18 a 25 años enfrentan desafíos únicos que los ponen de manera desproporcionada en un alto riesgo de sufrir consecuencias de salud, económicas y sociales debido a la pandemia del COVID-19. El estudio presente examinó cómo las consecuencias económicas y psicosociales a raíz de la pandemia se asociaron con problemas de salud mental en una muestra comunitaria de adultos jóvenes latinos (N = 83) del centro de Texas. Los participantes completaron una encuesta en línea sobre experiencias relacionadas con el COVID-19 y necesidades de salud mental. La encuesta incluyó preguntas sobre las experiencias personales y familiares del COVID-19 en dos áreas importantes: (a) tensión económica (por ejemplo, dificultades económicas, inseguridad alimentaria) y (b) carga psicosocial (por ejemplo, pérdida de relaciones, consumo de sustancias). Los análisis de regresión examinaron la asociación de las consecuencias del COVID-19 en el nivel de los síntomas de salud mental y los resultados clínicamente significativos. En comparación a las consecuencias económicas, las consecuencias psicosociales debido a la pandemia de COVID-19 se asociaron con niveles más altos de síntomas de salud mental. Por el contrario, en unos pocos casos, la tensión económica resultante de la pandemia se correlacionó con resultados clínicamente significativos en esta muestra. En conjunto, los hallazgos sugieren que los costos de la pandemia no solo se refieren a la mortalidad por enfermedad, sino también a la al deterioro de las circunstancias sociales y la salud mental. Los hallazgos de este estudio exigen atención inmediata para implementar políticas y programas que ayuden a mitigar las consecuencias económicas y socioemocionales del COVID-19, como el fácil acceso a recursos virtuales de salud mental de bajo costo para adultos jóvenes latinos.

Social conditions and urban health inequities: realities, challenges and opportunities to transform the urban landscape through research and action.

The process of urbanization entails social improvements with the consequential better quality-of-life for urban residents. However, in many low-income and some middle-income countries, urbanization conveys inequality and exclusion, creating cities and dwellings characterized by poverty, overcrowded conditions, poor housing, severe pollution, and absence of basic services such as water and sanitation. Slums in large cities often have an absence of schools, transportation, health centers, recreational facilities, and other such amenities. Additionally, the persistence of certain conditions, such as poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and high population turnover, contributes to a lowered ability of individuals and communities to control crime, vandalism, and violence. The social vulnerability in health is not a "natural" or predefined condition but occurs because of the unequal social context that surrounds the daily life of the disadvantaged, and often, socially excluded groups. Social exclusion of individuals and groups is a major threat to development, whether to the community social cohesion and economic prosperity or to the individual self-realization through lack of recognition and acceptance, powerlessness, economic vulnerability, ill health, diminished life experiences, and limited life prospects. In contrast, social inclusion is seen to be vital to the material, psychosocial, and political aspects of empowerment that underpin social well-being and equitable health. Successful experiences of cooperation and networking between slum-based organizations, grassroots groups, local and international NGOs, and city government are important mechanisms that can be replicated in urban settings of different low- and middle-income countries. With increasing urbanization, it is imperative to design health programs for the urban poor that take full advantage of the social resources and resourcefulness of their own communities.

Paternal absence and international migration: stressors and compensators associated with the mental health of Mexican teenagers of rural origin.

Mexico-U.S. migration creates situations that may cause psychological distress. The purpose of this research project was to study the impact of father's physical absence due to international migration (FPAIM) on adolescent offspring of rural immigrants from Zacatecas, Mexico. Stressors and compensators were studied from the adolescent's perspective and were analyzed using a stress-mediator-consequences theoretical framework. Qualitative (n = 24) and quantitative (n = 310) methodologies were used with a nonrandom sample of adolescents. Results show that the FPAIM is an ambivalent experience for adolescents that has positive and negative elements. Though migrants' children seem to be more vulnerable to psychosocial stress than are the offspring of nonmigrants, gender, not father's absence, appears to be the most important risk factor for psychological distress.