Summary
Guided by the social psychological theories (i.e., social comparison theory and social cognitive theory), this study aims to investigate the association between perceived physical and mental health problems among adolescents in the general population. Using a diverse sample of 240 adolescents, we propose the mediating effects of low self-confidence and emotion dysregulation in explaining this association. Preliminary results from structural equation modeling (SEM) supported our hypothesis that adolescents’ low self-confidence and emotion dysregulation fully mediated the relationship between perceived physical health problems and mental health problems. Further, gender was included as a covariate and findings suggested that adolescent girls were found to be more vulnerable to mental health problems than adolescent boys. In conclusion, this study addressed the negative implication of adolescents who perceive poor physical health and provided critical information on adolescents’ internal thought processes on perceived physical health, self-confidence, emotion dysregulation, and mental health.

Objectives

• To investigate whether perceived physical health problems are associated with mental health problems in the general population of adolescents.
• To test whether low levels of self-confidence and emotion dysregulation serve as linking mechanisms between perceived physical health and mental health problems among adolescents.
• To propose and test a conceptual model of adolescents’ internal process of mental health with the guidance of social cognitive theory and to inform prevention/intervention programs with the aim of promoting adolescents’ mental health.

Subject Codes: physical health, mental health, emotional problems
Population Codes: adolescence, U.S.
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology, path analysis

Summary
Latino migrant farmworker (LMFW) youth face many health issues and challenges, yet little attention is paid to this topic. Using a qualitative approach, this study aims to evaluate the state of physical and mental health of Mexican and Guatemalan LMFW youth and to understand the risk factors that contribute to their health issues. Using a sample of N=20 male Mexican and Guatemalan LMFW youth, preliminary analyses from in-depth interviews pointed out to physical and mental health problems, including choosing work over health, tiredness, heat and sun exposure, feeling lonely, and alcohol exposure. Further, several factors were identified to contribute to these health issues, for example; lack of knowledge of or access to health care facilities, loss of immediate close relationships and support, and language barriers. The implications for policy makers and health workers to provide health resources and education to LMFW youth are highlighted.

Objectives

• * To evaluate the state of physical and mental health of Mexican and Guatemalan migrant farmworker youth.
• * To understand the risk factors migrant farmworker youth face that contribute to their health issues.
• * To inform policy makers and health workers to provide health resources and education to migrant farmworker youth.

Subject Codes: physical health, mental health, migration
Population Codes: Hispanic/Latina/o/x, migrant, adolescence
Method and Approach Codes: qualitative methodology

Summary
This study investigated the relationship between parenting style, mental health, and help- seeking behaviors in adolescence based on an online survey distributed to college students. The study consisted of questions on demographics, mental health, family relations, and a version of the Parenting Styles and Dimension Questionnaire - Short Form which was used to collect data on the parenting style participants were raised with. The researchers hypothesized that participants that grew up with more authoritarian parents, those that exhibited lower warmth and granting of autonomy but higher strictness, would be more likely to suffer from mental health issues but less likely to exhibit help-seeking behaviors. Results indicate that those with authoritarian parents had higher suicidality, less help-seeking behaviors, and were more likely to have more negative mental health outcomes. These results can help to develop strategies for promoting health and well-being in youth and families.

Objectives

• To evaluate the impact of parenting style on adolescent help-seeking behaviors.
• To evaluate the impact of parenting style on adolescent mental health and suicidality.
• To inform approaches to connecting adolescents to mental health services.

Subject Codes: mental health, health care, parent-child relationships
Population Codes: adolescence
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology

Summary
Success of first-generation college students (FGCSs) is important for universities and communities. However, their difficulty adjusting to college life compared to their peers has been consistently reported although universities have implemented various measures to help them. Given the current limitation of these measures that see FGCSs homogeneous focusing on weaknesses, a positive perspective is needed, particularly focusing on strengths. Guided by a resilient perspective, the purpose of the current study was to examine FGCSs’ strengths and investigate whether groupings could be identified from their pattern of strengths in the multiple domains by using a person-centered approach. A latent profile analysis was conducted to determine subgroups of FGCS participants and MANOVA was run to identify profile group differences in their mental health, drop-out intention, and demographic characteristics. Our study results suggest FGCSs are heterogeneous in their strengths. Therefore, subgroup characteristics should be considered in generating polices that assist their college life.

Objectives

• To examine FGCSs’ strengths
• To investigate whether groupings of FGCSs could be identified from their pattern of strengths or lack of thereof
• To assess how subgroups of FGCSs differed in the multiple domains

Subject Codes: mental health, resilience, education
Population Codes: emerging/young adulthood, undergraduate students, educators
Method and Approach Codes: evidence-based practices/ programs, resilience, applied research

Summary
Anxiety is a prevalent health concern for emerging adults and the top concern for those seeking mental health treatment (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2019). The purpose of this study was to investigate how differentiation of self may impact the relationship between emerging adulthood features (identity exploration, optimism about possibilities, instability, self-focus, and feeling in-between; Arnett, 2004) and anxiety symptoms. The study sample included 598 emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25. The results of this study suggested that differentiation of self does not moderate the relationship between any of the five features of emerging adulthood and anxiety. However, main effects were found for identity exploration, instability, feeling-in-between, and differentiation of self. These findings have implications for families of emerging adults and professionals working with the emerging adult population.

Objectives

• To demonstrate the emerging adulthood experience as it relates to anxiety symptoms.
• To analyze the role of differentiation of self on emerging adults’ mental health.
• To identify potential strengths of emerging adults’ which may benefit their well-being.

Subject Codes: anxiety, decision making, well-being
Population Codes: emerging/young adulthood, undergraduate students, U.S.
Method and Approach Codes: regression: linear (simple/multiple/hierarchical), lifespan development, quantitative methodology

Authors: Patricia Calderon, Jen Wong, Barbara Hodgdon

Summary
Individuals in interracial relationships have been overlooked in the examination of health/well-being in romantic relationships. Thus, a scoping review was conducted to document the literature on the impacts of interracial romantic relationships on the health and well-being of individuals in the United States. Informed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005), 14 peer-reviewed empirical research articles met the selection criteria. Study findings were documented in the following areas: use of theory, methodology, and health/well-being outcomes. Examination of these studies showed that individuals in interracial romantic relationships experienced lower levels of health and well-being as compared to individuals in same-race romantic relationships. Findings also revealed more empirical attention is needed in the examination of physical health outcomes and the use of qualitative and mixed/multi-methods. Providing support for interracial relationships is critical because the rates of these relationships are expected to increase, and individuals in these relationships are faring worse.

Objectives

• To synthesize the literature on the physical health and psychological well-being of individuals in interracial romantic relationships in the United States
• To examine if the spousal health advantage theory applies to diverse couples (i.e. interracial).
• To assess the patterns of associations in the linkages between interracial romantic relationships and health/well-being.

Subject Codes: mental health, physical health, relationships
Population Codes: romantic partners
Method and Approach Codes: review article, systematic literature review

Author: Laura M. Frey

Summary
Professionals have a limited understanding of family dynamics related to suicide-related disclosure. We examined whether parental expressed emotion predicts how adolescents disclose suicidal behavior. Parent-adolescent dyads (n=90) were recruited from a children’s psychiatric hospital after presenting to the ED for suicidal behavior. Adolescents from families with Low EE reported higher levels of ideation disclosure and behavior disclosure compared to those from families with High EE. Differences were evident for parental intrusiveness (how intrusive parents were about adolescent’s experience), emotional reactivity (degree that parent overreacts to adolescents’ symptoms), negative attitude toward illness (level of negative attitudes parents hold about adolescents’ symptoms), and tolerance/expectations (degree that parents have low tolerance for symptoms coupled with high expectations for adolescents’ recovery). These findings point to a need for addressing EE directly during treatment and to exploring use of brief interventions targeting EE to increase treatment adherence and help-seeking among suicidal adolescents.

Objectives

• To examine the link between expressed emotion and suicide disclosure
• To explore the degree to which adolescents' disclose suicidal thoughts and behaviors to parents
• To inform recommendations for family therapists working with suicidal adolescents and their families

Subject Codes: suicide
Population Codes: adolescence
Method and Approach Codes: quantitative methodology

Summary
The transgender population is at much higher risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors than the general population. Family relationships can be both a risk factor for and protective against suicide for transgender individuals. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide posits that the acquired capability for suicide must be present for an individual to attempt to die by suicide and that acquired capability is gained by exposure to painful and provocative events. According to attachment theory, rejection by attachment figures is inherently traumatic. Therefore, repeated or prolonged exposure to family rejection may increase a transgender individual’s acquired capability for suicide. This study used data collected from a sample of transgender adults to examine the relationship between family affirmation of transgender identity, acquired capability for suicide, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Keywords: transgender, family affirmation, acquired capability, suicide

Objectives

• To understand the high risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the transgender population from a family systems perspective.
• To explore the relationship between family rejection and acquired capability for suicide.
• To introduce a novel measure of family affirmation of transgender identity.

Subject Codes: suicide, family relations, gender identity
Population Codes: transgender/trans*, inclusive of adults
Method and Approach Codes: strength-based structural equation modeling (SEM), mediation/indirect effects models

Summary
Identification of depressive symptoms by individuals and the treatment providers is critical. Thus, research is needed to better understand the manifestations of depression, and symptoms of depression that are bothersome to those who experience them. Social media has become widely used as a data source for social science research, particularly for examining attitudes and experiences (MCormick et al., 2017).To address the research questions, we examined a cross section of tweets about depression collected from Twitter. To gather tweets, we used the NCapture add-on for the internet browser, Google Chrome (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia) and employed a search strategy that captured English language tweets using the hashtag #depresionsucks which were disseminated over a four-week period starting October 6, 2021, and ending November 9, 2021.

Objectives

• To analyze the social media posts focused on the daily experiences of depression
• To understand differences in manifestations of depression across cultural groups
• To discuss ways that providers can aware of variation in depression symptom presentations

Subject Codes: depression
Population Codes: inclusive of adults
Method and Approach Codes: qualitative methodology