搜索结果：The Journal of black psychology

In the era of widespread antiretroviral therapy, few studies have explored the perspectives of the relatives involved in caring for people living with HIV (PLHIV) during periods of ill-health leading up to their demise. In this analysis, we explore the process of care for PLHIV as their death approached, from their relatives' perspective. We apply Tronto's care ethics framework that distinguishes between care-receiving among PLHIV on the one hand, and caring about, caring for and care-giving by their relatives on the other. We draw on 44 in-depth interviews conducted with caregivers following the death of their relatives, in seven rural settings in Eastern and Southern Africa. Relatives suggested that prior to the onset of poor health, few of the deceased had disclosed their HIV status and fewer still were relying on anyone for help. This lack of disclosure meant that some caregivers spoke of enduring a long period of worry, and feelings of helplessness as they were unable to translate their concern and "caring about" into "caring for". This transition often occurred when the deceased became in need of physical, emotional or financial care. The responsibility was often culturally prescribed, rarely questioned and usually fell to women. The move to "care-giving" was characterised by physical acts of providing care for their relative, which lasted until death. Tronto's conceptualisation of caring relationships highlights how the burden of caring often intensifies as family members' caring evolves from "caring about", to "caring for", and eventually to "giving care" to their relatives. This progression can lead to caregivers experiencing frustration, provoking tensions with their relatives and highlighting the need for interventions to support family members caring for PLHIV. Interventions should also encourage PLHIV to disclose their HIV status and seek early access to HIV care and treatment services.

Despite the availability of prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, uptake remains suboptimal among young Black adults. Social media is a platform for the dissemination of health information and can be used to promote HPV vaccination among young Black adults. This study aimed to assess the impact of a Facebook-based intervention (#HPVVaxTalks), which consisted of 40 posts over 8 weeks in improving cognitive outcomes, reducing vaccine hesitancy, and increasing vaccine intention, and uptake among young Black adults aged 18-26 years. A pilot 1-group pre- and poststudy was conducted among 43 young Black adults who engaged in an 8-week Facebook intervention (#HPVVaxTalks). #HPVVaxTalks was developed in collaboration with a youth community advisory committee. Participants were actively recruited by research staff from community settings using flyers, and flyers were posted in public places in communities. Eligible participants were screened for eligibility and consented prior to study participation. Participants completed baseline surveys and were added to a Facebook page created for the study to receive intervention posts. Participants completed pre- and postdata on HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine knowledge, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine uptake via REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) surveys distributed by email. Participants' satisfaction with the intervention was collected via individual interviews. Data were analyzed using 2-tailed paired t tests and repeated measures analysis. Overall, 32 of the 43 (74%) participants completed the follow-up survey, and of the 23 participants who reported not having ever received the vaccine at baseline, 7 (30%) reported receiving the vaccine at follow-up. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in HPV knowledge and receiving the vaccine at follow-up. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in HPV knowledge (pre: mean 7.3, SD 4.2 and post: mean 11.1, SD 4.3; P=.004) and HPV vaccine knowledge (pre: mean 2.8, SD 2.5 and post: mean 4.7, SD 2.2; P=.003) and reduction in vaccine hesitancy (pre: mean 28.3, SD 4.2 and post: mean 29.9, SD 3.6; P=.007) after the intervention. However, there were no significant changes in other outcomes. Feedback from open-ended questions and qualitative interviews highlighted participants' satisfaction with the intervention and its role in increasing HPV and HPV vaccine awareness. The findings from this study underscore the potential of social media platforms for health promotion among underrepresented populations and the importance of advocating for culturally appropriate interventions to improve HPV vaccination rates and reduce disparities.

Immigrant populations face diverse barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare services on several levels. In the Basque Country, Sub-Saharan African women were identified as facing the largest barriers to access them. The aim of the study is to analyse Sub-Saharan African immigrant women's perceptions and experiences of access to appropriate healthcare in the public health system in the Basque Country, Spain. Fourteen women from eight Sub-Saharan African countries who have used the Basque public healthcare services were interviewed. A qualitative content analysis was applied: meaning that units were identified, coded and the resulting codes were then organized into three categories. The first category, Fearing to enter a health system perceived as not friendly for immigrants, included factors, mainly those related to legal conditions for accessing healthcare services and lack of lawful documentation, that made women avoid or discontinue seeking out healthcare. The second category, Being attended on professionals' own communication terms, comprised how the lack of effective communication compromised not only the access of the immigrant women to healthcare services, but also their health. Lastly, the third category, Is mistreatment based on racism or merely on bad luck? described how being an immigrant and black influenced the way they were (mis)treated in the health system. For Sub-Saharan African immigrant women, accessing appropriate healthcare in the Basque Country was perceived to be subject to institutional barriers. At the legal level, barriers included lack of entitlement, difficulties in fulfilling legal access conditions and lack of documentation. The lack of communication with health centre staff and their attitudes, guided by a stereotyped social image of immigrants and black people, also hindered their possibilities of receiving appropriate healthcare. Facilitators for accessing healthcare included strategies from individual professionals, personal networks and social actors to help them to cope with the barriers. There is a need of reinforcing inclusion values and rights-based approach to attention among staff at the health centres to have more non-discriminatory and culturally appropriate health systems.

Previous studies show a positive association between household wealth and overweight in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries; however, the manner in which this relationship differs in the presence of educational attainment has not been well-established. This study examined the multiplicative effect modification of educational attainment on the association between middle-income and rich household wealth and overweight status among adult females in 22 SSA countries. We hypothesized that household wealth was associated with a greater likelihood of being overweight among middle income and rich women with lower levels of educational attainment compared to those with higher levels of educational attainment. Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 2006 to 2016 for women aged 18-49 years in SSA countries were used for the study. Overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2. Household wealth index tertile was the exposure and educational attainment, the effect modifier. Potential confounders included age, ethnicity, place of residence, and parity. Descriptive analysis was conducted, and separate logistic regression models were fitted for each of the 22 SSA countries to compute measures of effect modification and 95% confidence intervals. Analysis of credibility (AnCred) methods were applied to assess the intrinsic credibility of the study findings and guide statistical inference. The prevalence of overweight ranged from 12.6% in Chad to 56.6% in Swaziland. Eighteen of the 22 SSA countries had measures of effect modification below one in at least one wealth tertile. This included eight of the 12 low-income countries and all 10 middle income countries. This implied that the odds of overweight were greater among middle-income and rich women with lower levels of educational attainment than those with higher educational attainment. On the basis of the AnCred analysis, it was found that the majority of the study findings across the region provided some support for the study hypothesis. Women in higher wealth strata and with lower levels of educational attainment appear to be more vulnerable to overweight compared to those in the same wealth strata but with higher levels of educational attainment in most low- and middle- income SSA countries.

The impact of COVID-19 is challenging for many health and social care workers. The impact has been more felt by all ethnic groups, but during the course of its tenure, it has become more apparent that the black community has been affected more than others. They have been reported to suffer more fatalities from the pandemic compared to their white counterparts. Blacks are reported to make a significant percentage of health care workers. They are sometimes undervalued, lowly paid, with many on insecure contracts and experiencing professional inequality. This study sought to explore the challenges experienced by Black Sub-Saharan African (BSSA) front-line workers in health care during COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilised an explorative qualitative approach (EQA). Forty research participants were recruited for the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data through online platforms which included Zoom, WhatsApp and Teams. A thematic approach was used to analyse data. Following data analysis, the research found that the research participants experienced undermining of expertise, lack of appreciation and unfair allocation of tasks and were overlooked for promotion and perceived as carriers of COVID-19. This group was over-represented in agency and self-employed roles. There is need for a strong government commitment to prevent discrimination through enacting a comprehensive legislation to support tackling the problem. Race equality training awareness needs to be rolled out into healthcare organisations and empower managers to deal with equality issues at work.

Research has established a direct link between endorsement of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema and negative mental health outcomes. However, few have examined the factors that may explain this association. To address this gap in the literature, we examined personal mastery as a mediator of the relationship between endorsement of the SBW schema and negative mental health outcomes in a sample of 135 Black women. We also investigated this mediational pathway among subcomponents of the SBW schema: emotional strength, independence, and caretaking. We found that personal mastery mediated the association between endorsement of the SBW schema and negative mental health outcomes: greater endorsement of the SBW schema was associated with lower mastery, and subsequently more anxiety and depressive symptoms. We identified a similar pattern of results when testing two SBW schema subcomponents: emotional strength and caretaking. Study findings further evidence the deleterious impact of the SBW schema on Black women's mental health, while illuminating one explanatory factor in this relationship-personal mastery. We conclude by discussing areas for future research and practice with Black women.

"The Talk" refers to a specific type of racial socialization message that many Black parents have with their children about how to safely conduct themselves when interacting with police officers and other individuals in positions of power. With the recent increased exposure of racialized violence against Black people at the hands of police and vigilantes in the United States, many parents of young Black children now feel especially compelled to initiate these conversations to equip their children with the necessary knowledge to protect themselves when interacting with police officers. Black parents bear the unjust burden of striking a balance between alerting their children of possible harm while also not villainizing every member of law enforcement their child may encounter. This qualitative study examines "the Talk" occurring between 45 Black American parents and their young school-age children via observational methods. Findings of this study help to illuminate this critically important experience that characterizes Black familial processes and particularly the plight of parents socializing Black children. Implications for parent education and clinical interventions are also provided.

In western countries such as Canada, immigrants are experiencing cultural food insecurity - that is the inability to acquire, afford, and access one' ethnic foods and community gardens have emerged as potential area for addressing cultural food insecurity. However, limited knowledge exists on the role of collective community gardens in addressing the cultural food needs of immigrant communities. We conducted a community-based participatory research (CBPR) informed by an Afrocentric lens using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Data collection involved an online survey (n = 119) which was co-developed and co-administered with our community partners- Sinkunia Community Development Organization (SCDO). Semi-structured, in-depth interviews (IDI) were also conducted with purposefully sampled participants (n = 10) to obtain nuanced narratives. This study included Black identifying African immigrants from sub-Saharan countries. High prevalence of food insecurity (75.6%) was observed in the survey participants, higher than the general Canadian household prevalence rate. Participants recalled experiencing food insecurity ranging from mild (39.5%) to moderate (26.1%) and severe (10.1%) food insecurity. High prevalence of cultural food insecurity (80.7%) was also observed with most participants reporting some level of deprivation of cultural foods. However, participants demonstrated resilience and adaptability in maintaining their cultural food-ways amid these challenges. Collective community gardens allowed immigrant communities to: (a) cultivate connections through food production ('seeds of sovereignty'); (b) build intergenerational bridges ('seeds of identity'); (c) grow together across generations; and (d) grow strong to embody health and wellbeing. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the embodied benefits of community gardens for food security and social place-making of immigrant populations. High interest and engagement in gardening activities in the population suggests potential for expansion of community-led initiatives to support social and cultural integration of immigrant. This is important to Alberta's and to Canada's current and future sustainable economic and social growth.

Strong ethnic identity is recognized as a protective factor against body image concern and eating pathology in Black women as they tend to hold cultural values in line with an acceptance of a variety of body shapes and sizes. Reinforcement of these cultural ideals may occur via same-race peer relationships. The current study examined the mediating role of same-race versus other-race peers in the relationship between ethnic identity and body appreciation in Black women. Participants were 139 Black undergraduate women (Mage = 18.94 years, MBMI = 25.33) who completed validated measures of ethnic identity and body appreciation and reported on the ethnic makeup of their friends. We conducted mediation analysis examining the role of same-race peers on the relationship between ethnic identity and body appreciation. Same-race peers mediated the relationship between ethnic identity and body appreciation, where having a greater percentage of friends increased both ethnic identity and body appreciation in Black women. The influence of same-race peers should be considered in the development of culturally informed prevention and intervention efforts for eating pathology in Black women.

This qualitative study, based on life stories, documents the pathways to medicine and health sciences of Black students with immigrant parents from the Caribbean or Sub-Saharan Africa in Quebec, Canada. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that shape their educational pathways using Doray's framework. Even among students from families with substantial levels of education, the educational pathways to medicine or health sciences may be described as non-linear. Several obstacles can arise along these pathways, depending on various social markers. Many of the interviewees first enroll in a program other than their desired program, either to ensure their financial security or to improve their grades for a limited-enrollment program. Medicine and pharmacy studies remain a dream for most participants and their parents. However, in some cases, this dream is not coming true, and interviewees' aspirations are sometimes stifled. These results shed light on the possible changes to be made within certain programs' admissions policies. Nevertheless, the students (n = 12) demonstrate agency in facing a seemingly unfair admissions system for highly selective programs. We conclude with recommendations on how to better accommodate the so-called non-traditional pathways of Black students with immigrant parents from the Caribbean or Sub-Saharan Africa.[Box: see text].

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a highly heritable disorder. The majority of genetic cases are caused by autosomal dominant pathogenic variants in the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (c9orf72), progranulin (GRN), and microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene. As motor disorders are increasingly recognized as part of the clinical spectrum, the current study aimed to describe motor phenotypes caused by genetic FTD, quantify their temporal association, and investigate their regional association with brain atrophy. We analyzed baseline visit data of known carriers of a pathogenic variant in the c9orf72, GRN, or MAPT gene from the Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Initiative cohort study. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed to identify motor sign clusters that were compared with respect to frequency and severity between groups. Associations with cross-sectional atrophy patterns were determined using voxel-wise regression. We applied linear mixed effects models to assess whether groups differed in the association between motor signs and estimated time to symptom onset. A total of 322 pathogenic variant carriers were included in the analysis: 122 c9orf72 (79 presymptomatic), 143 GRN (112 presymptomatic), and 57 MAPT (43 presymptomatic) pathogenic variant carriers. Principal component analysis revealed 5 motor clusters, which we call progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)-like, bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like, mixed/ALS-like, Parkinson disease (PD) like, and corticobasal syndrome-like motor phenotypes. There was no significant group difference in the frequency of signs of different motor phenotypes. However, mixed/ALS-like motor signs were most frequent, followed by PD-like motor signs. Although the PSP-like phenotype was associated with mesencephalic atrophy, the mixed/ALS-like phenotype was associated with motor cortex and corticospinal tract atrophy. The PD-like phenotype was associated with widespread cortical and subcortical atrophy. Estimated time to onset, genetic group and their interaction influenced motor signs. In c9orf72 pathogenic variant carriers, motor signs could be detected up to 25 years before expected symptom onset. These results indicate the presence of multiple natural clusters of motor signs in genetic FTD, each correlated with specific atrophy patterns. Their motor severity depends on time and the affected gene. These clinicogenetic associations can guide diagnostic evaluations and the design of clinical trials for new disease-modifying and preventive treatments.

To date, only three studies investigated the mental health of youth affected by Ebola virus disease (EVD). None explored anxiety and psychological distress symptoms in survivors or orphans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of anxiety and psychological distress symptoms among survivors and orphans of the 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A representative sample of 416 participants (mean age&#xa0;=&#xa0;13.37, SD&#xa0;=&#xa0;2.79, 51.20&#xa0;% girls, 146 survivors, 233 orphans, and 34 orphan-survivor participants) completed measures evaluating anxiety, psychological distress, exposure, resilience, stigmatization related to Ebola and COVID-19. 55.88&#xa0;% and 55.96&#xa0;% of survivors and orphans experienced severe symptoms of anxiety and psychological distress. Participants who were both survivors and orphans presented higher prevalence of anxiety and psychological distress (94.12&#xa0;% and 100&#xa0;%) compared to survivors (74.03&#xa0;% and 81.82&#xa0;%) or orphans (37.99&#xa0;% and 33.33&#xa0;%), &#x3c7;2&#xa0;=&#xa0;70.63, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001; &#x3c7;2&#xa0;=&#xa0;113.50, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001. Ebola and COVID-19 related stigmatization were the most important determinants of anxiety (B&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.40, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001; B&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.37, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001) and psychological distress (B&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.48, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001; B&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.44, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001). Resilience was negatively associated with both anxiety and psychological distress. The final regression models explained 49&#xa0;% and 85&#xa0;% of the variance of anxiety and psychological distress. The cross-sectional design used prevents to establish causal link. Ebola children and adolescents' survivors and orphans are at major risk of experiencing anxiety and psychological distress in Eastern RDC affected by years of armed conflict. Massive resources are needed to develop and implement programs to reduce stigma and support mental health.

Reduced empathy is a common symptom in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Although empathy deficits have been extensively researched in sporadic cases, few studies have explored the differences in familial forms of FTD. Empathy was examined using a modified version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (mIRI) in 676 participants from the Genetic FTD Initiative: 216 mutation-negative controls, 192 C9orf72 expansion carriers, 193 GRN mutation carriers and 75 MAPT mutation carriers. Using global scores from the CDR&#xae; plus NACC FTLD, mutation carriers were divided into three groups, asymptomatic (0), very mildly symptomatic/prodromal (.5), or fully symptomatic (1 or more). The mIRI Total score, as well as the subscores of Empathic Concern (EC) and Perspective Taking (PT) were assessed. Linear regression models with bootstrapping were used to assess empathy ratings across genetic groups, as well as across phenotypes in the symptomatic carriers. Neural correlates of empathy deficits were examined using a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis. All fully symptomatic groups scored lower on the mIRI Total, EC, and PT when compared to controls and their asymptomatic or prodromal counterparts (all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.001). Prodromal C9orf72 expansion carriers also scored significantly lower than controls on the mIRI Total score (p&#xa0;=&#xa0;.046). In the phenotype analysis, all groups (behavioural variant FTD, primary progressive aphasia and FTD with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) scored significantly lower than controls (all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.007). VBM revealed an overlapping neural correlate of the mIRI Total score across genetic groups in the orbitofrontal lobe but with additional involvement in the temporal lobe, insula and basal ganglia in both the GRN and MAPT groups, and uniquely more posterior regions such as the parietal lobe and thalamus in the GRN group, and medial temporal structures in the MAPT group. Significant empathy deficits present in genetic FTD, particularly in symptomatic individuals and those with a bvFTD phenotype, while prodromal deficits are only seen using the mIRI in C9orf72 expansion carriers.

Previous research demonstrated an increase in the reporting of schizophrenia diagnoses among nursing home (NH) residents after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care. Given known health and healthcare disparities among Black NH residents, we examined how race and Alzheimer's and related dementia (ADRD) status influenced the rate of schizophrenia diagnoses among NH residents following the partnership. We used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design to study the quarterly prevalence of schizophrenia among US long-stay NH residents aged 65&#x2009;years and older, by Black race and ADRD status. Using 2011-2015 Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessments, our analysis controlled for age, sex, measures of function and frailty (activities of daily living [ADL] and Changes in Health, End-stage disease and Symptoms and Signs scores) and behavioral expressions. There were over 1.2&#xa0;million older long-stay NH residents, annually. Schizophrenia diagnoses were highest among residents with ADRD. Among residents without ADRD, Black residents had higher rates of schizophrenia diagnoses compared to their nonblack counterparts prior to the partnership. Following the partnership, Black residents with ADRD had a significant increase of 1.7% in schizophrenia as compared to nonblack residents with ADRD who had a decrease of 1.7% (p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.007). Following the partnership, Black NH residents with ADRD were more likely to have a schizophrenia diagnosis documented on their MDS assessments, and schizophrenia rates increased for Black NH residents with ADRD only. Further work is needed to examine the impact of "colorblind" policies such as the partnership and to determine if schizophrenia diagnoses are appropriately applied in NH practice, particularly for black Americans with ADRD.

Neuroinflammation has been shown to be an important pathophysiological disease mechanism in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This includes activation of microglia, a process that can be measured in life through assaying different glia-derived biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid. However, only a few studies so far have taken place in FTD, and even fewer focusing on the genetic forms of FTD. We investigated the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of TREM2, YKL-40 and chitotriosidase using immunoassays in 183 participants from the Genetic FTD Initiative (GENFI) study: 49 C9orf72 (36 presymptomatic, 13 symptomatic), 49 GRN (37 presymptomatic, 12 symptomatic) and 23 MAPT (16 presymptomatic, 7 symptomatic) mutation carriers and 62 mutation-negative controls. Concentrations were compared between groups using a linear regression model adjusting for age and sex, with 95% bias-corrected bootstrapped confidence intervals. Concentrations in each group were correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score using non-parametric partial correlations adjusting for age. Age-adjusted z-scores were also created for the concentration of markers in each participant, investigating how many had a value above the 95th percentile of controls. Only chitotriosidase in symptomatic GRN mutation carriers had a concentration significantly higher than controls. No group had higher TREM2 or YKL-40 concentrations than controls after adjusting for age and sex. There was a significant negative correlation of chitotriosidase concentration with MMSE in presymptomatic GRN mutation carriers. In the symptomatic groups, for TREM2 31% of C9orf72, 25% of GRN, and 14% of MAPT mutation carriers had a concentration above the 95th percentile of controls. For YKL-40 this was 8% C9orf72, 8% GRN and 0% MAPT mutation carriers, whilst for chitotriosidase it was 23% C9orf72, 50% GRN, and 29% MAPT mutation carriers. Although chitotriosidase concentrations in GRN mutation carriers were the only significantly raised glia-derived biomarker as a group, a subset of mutation carriers in all three groups, particularly for chitotriosidase and TREM2, had elevated concentrations. Further work is required to understand the variability in concentrations and the extent of neuroinflammation across the genetic forms of FTD. However, the current findings suggest limited utility of these measures in forthcoming trials.

Although previous studies have shown a high prevalence of mental health problems among adult Ebola virus disease survivors, no studies have yet been conducted on mental health problems among children and adolescents in affected regions. Consequently, the current study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among children and adolescent survivors and orphans by utilizing a cross-sectional survey following the 2018-2020 epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. A total of 146 survivors (mean age&#xa0;= 13.62, standard deviation [SD]&#xa0;= 2.50, 49.32% female), 233 orphans (mean age&#xa0;= 13.18, SD&#xa0;= 2.96, 53.32% female), and 34 orphan-survivor participants (mean age&#xa0;= 13.39, SD&#xa0;= 2.87, 44.12% female) were recruited. Participants completed measures assessing depression and PTSD symptoms, traumatic experiences, and stigma related to Ebola and COVID-19. The prevalence of depression and PTSD symptoms was 87.32% and 44.42%, respectively. Results showed significant differences in depression and PTSD symptoms between orphan-survivors (100% and 97.06%), survivors (90.21% and 75.86%), and orphans (83.48% and 16.52%; &#x3c7;2(2)&#xa0;= 9.02; p&#xa0;= .011 and &#x3c7;2(2)&#xa0;= 168.85; p < .001). Experience of traumatic events, Ebola stigmatization, and COVID-19 stigmatization positively predicted depression and PTSD symptoms. The regression models explained 61%-72% of the variance of depression and PTSD. The results reveal that the Ebola virus disease and its associated grief severely jeopardize the mental health of children and adolescents in affected regions. Despite the relative paucity of resources, intervention programs may be helpful to minimize associated stigma and promote psychological support.

Multiple studies indicate Black American women have disproportionately higher rates of obesity compared with other groups in United States. Although body image is associated with obesity, this relation is understudied among Black women. The purpose of the current study was to (1) examine the relations among body appreciation, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating; (2) assess body appreciation as a mediator of the relation between body mass index (BMI) and disordered eating, and (3) explore ethnic identity as a moderator in this association. Participants were 191 Black women recruited from a mid-Atlantic university. Participants' mean age was 19.16 years (SD = 1.95). Body appreciation partially mediated the relation between BMI and disordered eating behaviors and attitudes, such that women with higher BMIs reported lower body appreciation, which was associated with greater disordered eating symptoms. Ethnic identity was not a significant moderator of the association between BMI and body appreciation. Results support screening Black women with higher BMIs for disordered eating symptomatology and suggest it might be helpful to include body appreciation in interventions for Black women.

HIV and mental health are sensitive subjects among Black Sub-Saharan African (BSSA) communities despite the disproportionate impact of HIV among this population and high comorbidity between HIV and mental disorders. This study explored the impact of religion, superstition, and professional cultural competence on access to HIV and mental health services among BSSA communities in the English city of Birmingham. Researchers utilised explorative qualitative methods. Specifically, 12 focus groups were conducted followed by a semi-structured interview with a member from each focus group. Data were analysed using a thematic approach guided by the four phases of the silences framework. Results suggest that religion, superstition, and professional cultural competence affect access to HIV and mental health services among BSSA communities. Findings indicate a need to educate religious leaders on the impact of HIV and mental health stigma as well as a need for cultural competence training among health professionals.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) profoundly impacts individuals and communities, causing psychological distress, and social stigma. EVD outbreaks are strongly associated with posttraumatic stress due to their high fatality rate, social isolation, due to the fear of infection, of transmitting the virus to loved ones, and of dying. However, limited research explores the mental health of children in EVD-affected areas, highlighting critical gaps. This research aims to document symptoms and determinants of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological distress among adolescents living in EVD-affected health zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted in &#xc9;quateur province (March-April 2019 and August-September 2020), DRC, using stratified sampling to recruit 493 adolescents (50.1% girls). Participants completed measures assessing PTSD and psychological distress symptoms, EVD exposure, EVD-related stigma, life traumatic experiences, peritraumatic distress, and sociodemographics. The prevalence of symptoms of PTSD rose from 19.27 to 30.63%, and psychological distress increased from 39.35 to 59.43% between baseline and follow-up. Rural residents had higher PTSD (33.41%) and psychological distress (61.10%) rates compared to urban residents (8.93% and 46.43%, respectively), but there were no gender differences. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analyses revealed increases in PTSD and psychological distress over time (B&#x2009;=&#x2009;7.76, p&#x2009;<.001; B&#x2009;=&#x2009;4.77, p&#x2009;<.001), linked to EVD-related stigmatization (B&#x2009;=&#x2009;3.78, p&#x2009;<.001; B&#x2009;=&#x2009;2.54, p&#x2009;<.001), peritraumatic distress (B&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.50, p&#x2009;=.012; B&#x2009;=&#x2009;2.36, p&#x2009;<.001), and witnessed life events (B&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.43, p&#x2009;=.006; B&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.74, p&#x2009;=.004). Sociodemographic factors, including rural residence and parental unemployment status, were significant predictors. The study documents a significant rise in PTSD and psychological distress among adolescents in EVD-affected regions of the DRC, which underscores the urgent need for sustainable mental health services, stigma reduction programs, and culturally sensitive interventions, particularly in rural areas.