Effects of school environment on depression among Black and White adolescents.

While the school environment is critical for adolescents' psychological development, how the school environment influences depression among different racial groups has not been fully explored. This study aims to identify the effects of the school environment (school connectedness, school climates, trouble with peers and teachers) on depressive symptoms among Black and White adolescents. It also compares how the effects of school environments differ between Black and White adolescents. This study analyzed wave 6 of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study in 20 major cities across the United States. Almost three-fourth (73.39%) of the adolescents were Black, and 26.61% were White. About half (50.46%) of the adolescents were females, and the mean age of adolescents was 15.39. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher school connectedness and less frequent troubles with teachers were associated with lower depression among Black adolescents. In contrast, only school connectedness was associated with depression among White adolescents. Higher school connectedness was associated with lower depressive symptoms for both Black and White adolescents. However, the magnitude of the effects of school connectedness was found to be statistically weaker among Black adolescents. These findings suggest a need for creating a racially equitable school environment that makes every student feel more connected to their schools, especially Black students.

Adaptation of the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS) for Karen refugees: factor analysis.

Health literacy has been identified as a significant predictor of healthcare utilization among refugee and immigrant communities. Considering its potential impact on their health outcomes, accurately measuring levels of health literacy among limited English proficiency (LEP) populations is an important area of investigation. This study examined the psychometric properties of a modified version of the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS), based on Nutbeam's model of health literacy, using an exploratory factor (EFA) and confirmatory factor (CFA) analysis among a sample of Karen refugees, an ethnic minority group from Burma. Results of the EFA confirmed a 3-factor model in our sample. CFA results indicated good model fits, demonstrating a promising use of the AAHLS in assessing health literacy among Karen refugees. The findings of this study support the validity of using this measure among this population and suggest some necessary adjustments to incorporate factors unique to the refugee experience that may affect the interpretation and application of items in the AAHLS. Further replication using other LEP samples is necessary to confirm the psychometric properties of the AAHLS and its ability to assess health literacy using Nutbeam's theoretical model of health literacy.

The Impact of Life Domains on Delinquent Behaviors in Five Caribbean Countries: A Partial Test of Agnew's General Theory of Crime and Delinquency.

The current study tests the applicability of Agnew's (2005) general theory of crime and delinquency to a sample of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) youths and explains the hypothesized direct and indirect/mediated effects of family attachment and peer delinquency on delinquent behaviors. Data for this study were obtained from a 2014 cross-sectional survey of 512 adolescents from the five members of the CARICOM. This study utilizes mediation analysis. Results reveal that adolescents with abuse experience from family members and unsafe school environments are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Furthermore, peer delinquency is significantly related to delinquent behavior and mediates the link between child abuse, family history of violence, unsafe school environment, and subsequent delinquent behavior. Finally, child abuse generated a lower level of family attachment, and then a higher level of family attachment led to a lower likelihood of subsequent delinquent behavior.

Transformative school-community collaboration as a positive school climate to prevent school absenteeism.

School absenteeism has become a prevalent problem that affects student development and future societies across the world. We examined whether and how the framework for transformative school-community collaboration (TSCC) can be utilized to effectively reduce school absenteeism. To achieve this goal, we analyzed clustered data involving 3428 students within 14 schools that collaborated with communities in providing out-of-school time programs. A generalized ordered logit analysis with clustered standard errors showed that overall TSCC significantly decreased the likelihood of students' school absenteeism. Democratic and empowering structures in the collaboration were particularly significant for reducing the higher level of school absenteeism. We conclude our article with practice implications to translate the core dimensions of TSCC into effective practice.

Transformational Leadership, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Burnout of Child Welfare Workers: Multilevel Moderation Effects.

This study examines the moderating effects of distant leader's practice of transformational leadership on the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout among child welfare workers. Caseworkers and supervisors in a Midwest U.S. state (N = 210) rated their regional director's use of transformational leadership skills using a survey. Given the nature of the clustered data, multilevel modeling was employed to examine the main effects of transformational leadership on worker burnout and its cross-level interaction effect on the association between worker STS and burnout. Multilevel modeling demonstrated that worker burnout was positively associated with STS and negatively associated with organizational-level transformational leadership. The cross-level interaction between transformational leadership and STS was significant. Specifically, the positive association between workers' STS and burnout decreased as transformational leadership increased. These findings suggest that organizational approaches such as transformational leadership can influence workforce results. Further research will guide child welfare policymakers to develop more sophisticated training programs in leadership skills and strategies.

Organizational justice and secondary traumatic stress among child welfare workers: The moderated mediation model.

OBJECTIVE: Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is documented as a common occupational hazard among child welfare workers. We examined the moderated mediation effects of distributive, procedural, and interpersonal justice on child welfare workers' STS. METHOD: We analyzed survey data collected from 1,053 child welfare workers in a Midwestern state in 2018. Participants were asked to rate their STS and perceived organizational justice using valid scales. Hypotheses were tested using multiple regression and the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: Distributive justice was a stronger factor associated with STS. The direct effect of procedural justice was not significant. However, it was associated indirectly with STS through distributive justice. Interpersonal justice was associated directly with STS. Furthermore, it moderated the association between distributive justice and STS. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the different types of organizational justice have different functions in reducing child welfare workers' STS. This study can contribute to developing justice-oriented and trauma-informed organizations that prevent child welfare workers' STS and reduce its negative effects on themselves, organizations, and children in the child welfare system. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Older Korean Americans' Perceived Burdensomeness to Their Healthcare Partners: An Egocentric Network Assessment.

Objectives: The objective is to examine how older Korean Americans' perceived burdensomeness to their healthcare partners is associated with the characteristics of older adult participants (egos) and their healthcare partners (alters). Methods:Surveys of 2150 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans provided ego data. Participants were also asked to list up to three individuals whom they usually asked for help on health-related matters or healthcare use, which generated 3402 alters. Multilevel modeling was conducted to examine the role of the characteristics of egos and alters, as well as their cross-level interactions. Results: Perceived burdensomeness was negatively associated with English-speaking ability and residence in a low Korean density area. Perceived burden was also lowered when emotional support was received from the alters, and this pattern was pronounced among those with multi-comorbidity. Discussion: By identifying older immigrants prone to the sense of burdensomeness, the study suggests strategies to promote their health and healthcare use.

Bridging Potential in Friend Networks and Cognitive Function in Older Korean Americans.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associates of bridging potential in networks of friends and its impact on cognitive function in older Korean Americans. METHODS: Data came from 308 participants in Central Florida who were part of the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA). Using data from a name generator of three close friends in local Korean communities, non-overlapping networks were quantified for bridging potential. Linear regression models for bridging potential and cognitive function were examined. RESULTS: Bridging potential was greater among those with stronger social ties with friends in general and higher levels of activity engagement. The direct benefit of bridging potential on cognitive function was also confirmed. In addition, bridging potential was found to mediate the effect of social ties with friends on cognitive function. DISCUSSION: Findings underscore the interconnectedness of older immigrants' social and cognitive function and shed light on interventions.

Neighborhood Walkability, Personal Active Travel, and Health in Asian Americans: Does English Proficiency Matter?

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated a model on how neighborhood walkability influences individual's active travel behavior, which in turn is associated with overall health status among Asian Americans. Given that English proficiency uniquely represents racial/ethnic minorities' ability to access resources and benefits in the host society, we also examined the moderating effects of English proficiency in the relationship. METHODS: Using data from the Asian American Quality of Life Survey (N= 1,447), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the proposed mediation model of active travel in the relationship between neighborhood walkability and health. The moderating effect by English proficiency was tested using a multiple-group analysis. RESULTS: For the entire sample, neighborhood walkability was significantly associated with a higher level of active travel (ß = .269, p < .001). However, the mediation effect of active travel was not significant (indirect effect = .004, p = .111, 95% bias-corrected CI = -.003 - .026). The results of the multiple group analysis showed that the neighborhood walkability was positively associated with active travel for both the English proficiency group (ß =.329, p < .001) and the group with limited English proficiency (ß =.201, p < .001). However, the mediation effect of active travel on health status was only significant in the English proficiency group (ß = .110, p < .05), indicating that active travel influenced by the neighborhood walkability was positively associated with better health status only for the English proficiency group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings add to the growing literature on the influence of the neighborhood walkability on individual's active travel and health status. In addition, findings provide implications for tailored interventions to promote Asian Americans' health with respect to English proficiency.

Racial/ethnic disproportionality in reunification across U.S. child welfare systems.

BACKGROUND: Racial/ethnic disparities are persistent in referrals and removals of children into child welfare systems. Yet, less is known about disparities in reunification, and how system factors may contribute to more equitable outcomes for families of color. OBJECTIVE: This study examined racial/ethnic disparities in reunification rates across U.S. child welfare systems controlling for child- and system-factors. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data for this study came from the 2017 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). We utilized a subsample of n = 284,382 children ages 0-5. METHODS: We used a bottom-up model building-approach to examine child- and system-factors associated with reunification. A series of multilevel models were run. RESULTS: Less than 3% of the variance in reunification occurred between state child welfare systems. Native American children had lower odds of reunification than White children (AOR = 0.87, p < .001), while Hispanic children had higher odds of reunification (AOR = 1.08, p < .001). Random effects were present for race/ethnicity and interaction terms between race/ethnicity and parental drug use were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic disparities are present in reunification, though these may vary across child welfare systems. Thus, future research could examine state systems that have better outcomes for families of color and examine factors that might explain these relationships.