Exploring pathways to successful aging among older black lesbians and sexual minority women: A focus on life satisfaction and intersectional factors.

PURPOSE: Satisfaction with life is a core aspect of successful aging, which is influenced by a broad range of factors, including health, socioeconomic status, and social relationships. Black lesbians experience various social challenges, including racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexualism, that may present as deterrents to aging successfully. To develop better policies and programs in support of successful aging among all adults, an understanding of the unique components associated with their intersecting identities must be explored. This study was carried out to gain a better understanding of how Black lesbians and other Black sexual minority women (BSMW) view successful aging within the context of life satisfaction. METHODS: Inferential statistics were used to determine relationships between satisfaction with life (SWLS-3) and selected independent variables. Backward stepwise regression was conducted to ascertain significant relationships of the study outcome variable. RESULTS: The respondents were 118 Black lesbians and other BSMW aged 50 and above. Independent t-tests showed that those living with a partner had a significantly higher SWLS-3. Backwards stepwise regression indicated the predictor variables for higher rates of SWLS-3 to be harmony in life, annual household income, and provider sensitivity/cultural competence to their patient being Black. CONCLUSION: This study provides insight on factors increasing and diminishing satisfaction with life for aging Black lesbians and other BSMW. Future research should replicate this study with a more diverse and nationally representative sample, especially given the study limitations of having recruited a highly educated sample during a global pandemic.

Controversies in knowledge translation for community-based drug treatment: the need to the end policies of the war on drugs and mass incarceration of drug offenders to achieve health equity.

The purpose of this article was to discuss significant challenges to the achievement of urban health, specifically acknowledging numerous controversies in knowledge translation for community-based drug treatment that prevent the achievement of health equity. Seven specific controversies are analyzed in this article. The results of the analysis are recommendations for moving toward the resolution of each controversy. Among the most important recommendations is a call to end the policies of the war on drugs and mass incarceration of drug offenders-as policies reflecting how politics and the misuse of power may derail knowledge translation. The article provides justification for evidence-based policy that supports community-based drug treatment as a public health approach consistent with the goals of health equity, ethical practice, and effective knowledge translation.

Prevalence of past-year mental disorders and its correlates among Chinese international students in US higher education.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of past-year mental disorders and its correlates among Chinese international students in US higher education. Participants: A total of 222 Chinese international students participated in the study. Methods: Participants were recruited via a social marketing campaign and participated in an online survey. Results: The majority of the participants were female (65.3%) and graduate students (84.7%) with a mean age of 23.75 years. Of the sample, 77.9 and 74.3% reported having experienced depression and anxiety symptoms in the past year, respectively. Predictors of a higher past-year global mental health status were: not having a steady partner; being more likely to return China after graduation; a higher level of stress about the returning plan; and, a lower rating of cultural humility of key college/university personnel. Conclusions: These results suggest that mental health is a pressing issue facing Chinese international students and correlated with other psychosocial factors.

Women's Perspectives On Provider Education Regarding Opioid Use.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate women's experiences with opioid medications and their perspectives on provider education regarding opioid use, risks and safety. METHODS: Women with a self-reported history of pain who had been prescribed opioids were recruited in 2016 using a convenience sampling approach that included an online social media campaign. Participants (N=154) completed online surveys and open-ended questions regarding their experiences with pain and opioids, and their perspectives on the quality of education they received from their providers. RESULTS: Participants reported receiving insufficient education about opioid-related side effects, as reflected in both ratings for the quantity and quality of education they received from their providers. Non-white participants reported lower quantity and poorer quality of provider education (p<0.05). Themes identified from the qualitative data included frustrations with pain management options, fear of opioids, stigma associated with opioid use, and the need for improved provider education and patient-provider communication. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that from a patient's perspective, there is a need for enhanced patient-provider communication and education regarding pain management and potential opioid-related side effects. Improved physician communication and education could promote shared decision-making and result in enhanced satisfaction with care and health outcomes.

An Evaluation of a Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Intervention Delivered Using Avatar-Based Technology: Certified Diabetes Educators' Ratings and Perceptions.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceptions that certified diabetes educators (CDEs), of diverse health professions, have of a culturally appropriate e-health intervention that used avatar-based technology. Methods Cross-sectional, survey-based design using quantitative and qualitative paradigms. A logic model framed the study, which centered on the broad and general concepts leading to study outcomes. In total, 198 CDEs participated in the evaluation. Participants were mostly female and represented an age range of 26 to 76 years. The profession representative of the sample was registered nurses. Study setting and data collection occurred at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AvatarVideoSurvey-for-Certified_Diabetes_Educators . Study instruments used were the Basic Demographics Survey (BD-13), Educational Material Use and Rating of Quality Scale (EMU-ROQ-9), Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Survey (MS-SOC-DES-CDE-13), Quality of Avatar Video Rating Scale (QAVRS-7), Recommend Avatar to Patients Scale (RAVTPS-3), Recommend Avatar Video to Health Professionals Scale (RAVTHP-3), and Avatar Video Applications Scale (AVAPP-1). Statistical analysis used included t tests, Pearson product moment correlations, backward stepwise regression, and content/thematic analysis. Results Age, ethnicity, Arab/Middle Eastern, Asian, and white/European descents were significant predictors of a high-quality rating of the video. Thematic and content analysis of the data revealed an overall positive perception of the video. Conclusions An e-health intervention grounded in evidence-based health behavior theories has potential to increase access to diabetes self-management education as evidenced in the ratings and perceptions of the video by CDEs.

Integrated trauma treatment in correctional health care and community-based treatment upon reentry.

Given the crisis of mass incarceration in the United States and the high prevalence of trauma histories among those incarcerated, it is imperative to improve service delivery to inmates in correctional facilities and to those undergoing reentry in community-based treatment settings. This article provides trauma definitions and categories, describes the sequelae of trauma, reviews research on the high prevalence of incarceration in this nation, and reviews research on the high prevalence of trauma among the incarcerated. This article also provides a menu of evidence-based and promising treatment approaches to address the overlap among trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, and behavioral problems. A synthesis of research via seven points is meant to guide practitioner and policy responses to the national challenge of meeting the needs of those undergoing reentry.

Online sex-seeking behaviors of men who have sex with men in New York City.

The ongoing HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City and the increased use of Internet sexual social networking websites by MSM fosters a need to understand the characteristics and sex-related behaviors of this group. The authors conducted an online survey of 195 MSM who use sexual social networking websites in New York City. Demographic characteristics, sexual sensation seeking, and HIV optimism-skepticism were compared among participants reporting sex with and without condom use (safe sex and high-risk sex, respectively) with partners met online. There was no difference in income, education, race, or employment status between the groups. The groups differed significantly in age, sexual sensation seeking, and HIV optimism-skepticism. In a multivariate logistic regression both HIV optimism-skepticism (p < .05) and sexual sensation seeking (p < .05) were significant predictors of high-risk sexual behavior (pseudo-R(2) = .24). This information should be considered when developing interventions for this group. For example, to reach those with high sexual sensation seeking, public health professionals should design sex-positive prevention messages for online distribution that highlight safer sex without condemning risky sexual practices.