Family Financial Difficulties Research Articles

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Perceived Stress in South Korean Twins.

Researchers have proposed that culture significantly influences perceived stress (PS). To date, however, twin studies on PS have been conducted mostly in western, individualistic cultures, which demonstrate that PS due to controllable (personal) life events is more heritable than PS due to uncontrollable (network) life events. This study aimed to investigate genetic and environmental influences on PS in South Korean twins. South Korea practices a dominant collectivist culture. In total, 1372 twin individuals (mean age = 22.4 ± 2.5 years) completed an online survey on PS, which consisted of the scales, Friendship, Academic Stress, Future Career, Family Conflicts, and Family Financial Difficulties (FFD). Friendship, Academic Stress, and Future Career can be considered PS due to personal life events, and Family Conflict and FFD, PS due to network life events. The general sex-limitation model-fitting analysis revealed the absence of qualitative or quantitative sex differences in genetic and environmental influences. Specifically, additive genetic influences were predominant for Friendship (63%), Academic Stress (67%), and Future Career (57%) for both sexes, with the remaining variance attributable to nonshared environmental influences. In contrast, shared environmental influences were largest for Family Conflict (47% for both genders) and FFD (64% for males, 63% for females) with no significant genetic effects. Despite known cultural differences in the means and variances of PS, South Korean twins exhibited significant genetic effects in PS due to personal life events and large shared environmental effects in PS due to network life events, which is similar to western samples.

A qualitative study on factors that influence the degree of comfort experienced by patients undergoing respiratory endoscopy in combination with intravenous injections of remimazolam besylate and fentanyl

Purpose: To investigate the level of discomfort in patients undergoing respiratory endoscopy in order to provide experimental evidence for the formulation of a comfort assessment scale for this procedure, and for guiding future research and intervention measures.
 Methods: Using the phenomenological research method of qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 patients who underwent respiratory endoscopy in the Respiratory Intervention Center of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The interview data were analyzed, and the theme was extracted using the Colaizzi 7-step analysis method. During the surgery, remimazolam besylate (intravenous injection, 5 - 7.5 mg) was used in combination with fentanyl (intravenous injection, 1 - 2 µg/kg) for flexible bronchoscopy examination.
 Results: From the interview data, 3 themes and 9 sub-themes that affect the comfort of patients undergoing respiratory endoscopic surgery were identified. These comprised individual factors (fear and worry about the outcome), family factors (family financial difficulties and lack of care from family), and medical care factors (attitude of medical caregivers, insufficient health education, unreasonable operation arrangements, inconvenient care, and surgical complications). 
 Conclusion: Patients undergoing respiratory endoscopy experience a higher degree of comfort when remimazolam besylate is used in combination with fentanyl. Medical staff should correctly identify the sources of discomfort in patients undergoing respiratory endoscopy under general anesthesia, and provide targeted interventions to improve the comfort experienced. Moreover, the quality of service provided by medical staff should be improved.

Social determinants of health predict health outcomes following pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is an intensive medical procedure that places substantial financial and logistical burdens on families and is associated with significant health risks, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and infections. The influence of the social determinants of health (SDoH) on outcomes following pediatric HCT is understudied. This study aimed to examine whether SDoH predicts outcomes following pediatric HCT. Data were collected from 84 children who received HCT (Mage =5.8years, SD=3.7) and their primary caregiver. Detailed demographic information was collected from caregivers at baseline, and child health information was extracted from the electronic medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between SDoH and health outcomes within a 24-month period following pediatric HCT. After controlling for malignancy as reason for transplant and donor type, lower family income predicted the incidence of chronic GVHD. Neighborhood deprivation, total family income, public health insurance, caregiver relationship status, caregiver educational attainment, and perceived family financial difficulties did not predict acute GVHD or the number of infections. Total family income is a simple family indicator of SDoH that predicts chronic GVHD after pediatric allogeneic HCT. These findings provide further support for the importance of screening of child and family SDoH risks to ensure that fundamental needs can be met to mitigate potential health disparities for up to 2years following pediatric HCT.

Educational outcomes in siblings of childhood leukemia survivors: Factors associated with school difficulties and comparison with general population.

To investigate the educational outcomes of siblings of childhood leukemia survivors, explore determinants of school difficulties, and compare the rates of repeating grades between siblings and the general population. A cross-sectional study of childhood leukemia survivors' siblings recruited through the Leucémies de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent cohort, a French long-term follow-up program, was conducted, and education-related data were obtained via self-report questionnaires. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to identify variables associated with school difficulties and time since diagnosis. Rates of repeating a grade in middle school were compared between siblings and the general population of the same generation. A total of 564 siblings with a mean time from diagnosis of 14.1 ± 6.4 years were included, among whom 139 (24.6%) repeated a grade, at an average of 6.4 ± 4.5 years after diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, the risk factors for repeating a grade were older siblings (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, p = 0.006), family financial difficulties (OR 2.8, p = 0.008), and history of repetition in survivors (OR, 2.5, p = 0.001). Sibling hematopoietic stem cell donors were at greater risk of repeating a grade long-term after diagnosis (p = 0.018). Overall, siblings did not have a higher risk of educational delays at the end of middle school than the general population. Although the results are reassuring, socioeconomic and cancer-related factors may have an impact on siblings' schooling long after diagnosis. Paying attention to siblings contributes to identifying the most vulnerable families, allowing more attention and appropriate resources to avoid long-term repercussions. Additionally, supportive and targeted interventions can be developed to improve the organization of education and the health care system.

Profiles and predictors of mental health of university students in Hong Kong under the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigated the mental health problems of university students in Hong Kong and related sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors under the pandemic. A total of 978 undergraduate students (mean age = 20.69 ± 1.61) completed an online questionnaire measuring sociodemographic factors, psychological morbidity, positive well-being, COVID-19 related stress and self-efficacy, and positive psychosocial attributes. Psychosocial risk factors included psychological morbidity, COVID-19 related stress, and difficulties encountered under the pandemic, whereas protective factors comprised pandemic related self-efficacy, positive psychological attributes, positive environmental factors, need satisfaction and positive perception toward service. Results showed that psychological morbidity in the participants was widespread, and it was related to sociodemographic factors, particularly family financial difficulties. While pandemic related stress positively predicted psychological morbidity and negatively predicted well-being indicators, COVID-19 self-efficacy showed an opposite effect. Besides, positive psychological attributes (resilience, emotional competence, and positive beliefs related to adversity) and environmental factors (healthy family functioning, peer support, and supportive community atmosphere) negatively predicted psychological morbidity and positively predicted well-being. Furthermore, need satisfaction and positive perception toward service were negatively associated with psychological morbidity and positively associated with well-being, while perceived difficulties showed an opposite effect.

Pathways between Risk/Protective Factors and Maternal Postnatal Depressive Symptoms: The ELFE Cohort.

The risk factors for postnatal depressive symptoms (PNDS) are numerous, but little is known about the protective factors or the interactions between different exposures. The present study explored the pathways between maternal, infant and parenthood vulnerabilities or risk/protective factors and PNDS at 2 months postpartum (PP) in a large sample of women from the general population. We used data from the French ELFE cohort, a nationally representative cohort of children followed-up from birth. The available information about vulnerabilities or risk/protective factors for PNDS was collected during the maternity ward stay (mother or medical records) and at 2 months PP (mother by phone). PNDS were evaluated with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 2 months. A measurement model was built based on the psychosocial model for PNDS of Milgrom and colleagues using exploratory factor analysis. The Structural Equation Model was used to investigate the pathways between vulnerability, risk/protective factors and PNDS at 2 months PP. In the study sample (n = 11,583), a lack of a partner's perceived antenatal emotional support, consultation with a mental health specialist before pregnancy, family financial difficulties, prenatal psychological distress and a difficult pregnancy experience were directly associated with the severity of maternal PNDS at 2 months PP, as well as lack of perceived postnatal support. Family financial difficulties and consultation with a mental health specialist before pregnancy were also indirectly associated with the intensity of PNDS through a lack of perceived antenatal emotional support, a difficult pregnancy experience, prenatal psychological distress and a lack of perceived postnatal support. Regarding infant and parenthood characteristics, infant self-regulation difficulties, maternal difficulty in understanding infant crying and infant hospitalisation were directly associated with PNDS severity at 2 months PP, while maternal difficulty in understanding an infant's cries was also indirectly associated with infant self-regulation difficulties. Perinatal professional support should begin antenatally and target the couple's prenatal functioning, with particular attention to women presenting a history of psychiatric disorders, especially those of low socioeconomic status. After delivery, addressing infant and parenthood characteristics is also recommended.

Socioeconomic inequality in the worsening of psychosocial wellbeing via disrupted social conditions during COVID-19 among adolescents in Hong Kong: self-resilience matters.

Adolescents, especially the socioeconomically disadvantaged, are facing devastating psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during their critical developmental period. This study aims to (i) examine the socioeconomic patterning of the worsening of psychosocial wellbeing, (ii) delineate the underlying mediating factors (i.e., overall worry about COVID-19, family's financial difficulty, learning problems, and loneliness), and (iii) explore the moderating effect of resilience in the inter-relationship among adolescents under COVID-19. Based on maximum variation sampling of 12 secondary schools of diverse socioeconomic background in Hong Kong, 1018 students aged 14-16 years were recruited and completed the online survey between September and October 2021. Multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) by resilience levels was employed to delineate the pathways between socioeconomic position and the worsening of psychosocial wellbeing. SEM analysis showed a significant total effect of socioeconomic ladder with the worsening of psychosocial wellbeing during the pandemic in the overall sample (β = -0.149 [95% CI = -0.217 - -0.081], p < 0.001), which operated indirectly through learning problems and loneliness (both p < 0.001 for their indirect effects). Consistent pattern with stronger effect size was observed in the lower resilience group; nonetheless, the associations were substantially mitigated in the higher resilience group. In addition to facilitating self-directed learning and easing loneliness during the pandemic, evidence-based strategies to build up resilience among adolescents are critical to buffer against the adverse socioeconomic and psychosocial impacts of the pandemic or other potential catastrophic events in the future.

Poverty Stifles Ambition: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Perceived Social Fairness in the Future Orientation of Adolescents from Financially Disadvantaged Families

Although there is substantial evidence that the family’s financial situation influences the development of adolescents’ future orientation, little is known about the influencing mechanism. This study examined the potential mediating effects of self-efficacy (SE) and perceived social fairness (PSF) in the relationship between family financial difficulties (FFD) and future orientation (FO) with two independent samples of Chinese adolescents. In Study 1, a total of 1,527 adolescents (762 girls; mean age = 14.81 years, SD = 1.70) were recruited to complete a multi-section questionnaire. The results indicated that FFD significantly and negatively predicted FO. SE and PSF significantly mediated the relationship between FFD and FO both independently and sequentially. To test whether the above results are stable and replicable, we further conducted a validation study in Study 2 ( N = 410) and found all the results remained significant. Implications for future research and limitations are discussed.

Exploring grief and loss among COVID-19 orphaned adolescents

ABSTRACT Background: In the context of the pandemic, sudden, unanticipated deaths occurring due to COVID-19 are traumatizing for children and left families ill-prepared to navigate psychological consequences. Aim: The study aims to explore the impact of the death of loved ones due to COVID-19 on children and adolescents in India. Methodology: The study was conducted in Bangalore District of Karnataka using qualitative multiple in-depth case study method with seven children and adolescents who lost their family members due to COVID-19. The convenience sampling technique was adopted to collect the data. Results: The results revealed persistent sadness, yearning for the loved ones who passed away, feeling of guilt, anger, crying spells, stigma, loneliness, social neglect, loss of family support, financial difficulties, and poverty due to the death of parent(s) and multiple family members due to COVID-19. Conclusion: There is a need to have comprehensive grief care and support for the children and adolescents who lost their loved ones due to COVID-19. The comprehensive response to this phenomenon must be adaptable to the varying needs of children and adolescents keeping in view of their developmental and socioeconomic needs.

Knowledge about neonatal danger signs and associated factors among mothers of children aged 0\u201312\xa0months in a rural county, Southwest of China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDelay in care seeking is one of the causes for neonatal death. Mothers’ knowledge of neonatal danger signs is imperative to promote early recognition of neonatal illness and reduce the delay in care seeking. Currently, no study has been conducted on the knowledge about neonatal danger signs in China, especially in economically less developed areas. This study aimed to examine the knowledge of neonatal danger signs and risk factors of poor knowledge among mothers in a rural county of southwest of China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Wenshan, a rural county of southwest of China. A total of 112 respondents were included from November 2020 to February 2021 among women who had babies aged 0–12 months and brought their babies to health care centers for immunization within the study period. A questionnaire with 18-item key neonatal danger signs was used to measure their knowledge about these signs. Mothers who scored above average were considered to have relatively good knowledge whereas those who scored below average were considered to have relatively poor knowledge. Independent predictors of mothers’ knowledge were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe mean knowledge score of neonatal danger signs of mothers was 18.1 (SD = 8.6). Fifty-eight percentage of mothers (65/112) had poor knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Danger signs of “bluish or pale skin”, “chest indrawing”, and “convulsion” were mostly recognized, whereas danger signs of “not able to feed since birth, or stopped feeding well”, “excessive crying” and “eyes draining pus” were recognized poorly. Less than four antenatal visits [AOR = 4.348], younger than 25 years old [AOR = 3.839], ethnic minority [AOR = 3.956] and family financial difficulty [AOR = 4.944] were significant indicators of relatively poor knowledge.ConclusionsMothers’ knowledge about neonatal danger signs in rural China is poor even though the coverage of maternal and child health care services are expanded. Existing efforts should be enhanced for antenatal care visits, avoiding early marriage as well as early childbearing. More attention should be paid to low-income ethnic minority mothers. Educating and training should be strengthened for danger signs, especially those who are predicted to have insufficient knowledge.

Epidemiology of Childhood Witnessing Domestic Violence and Exploration of Its Relationships With Affective Lability and Suicide Attempts in Chinese Young Adults.

Childhood witnessing domestic violence (CWDV) exerts short- and long-term negative impacts on emotional and behavioral health. The present study investigated the epidemiological features of CWDV, and its negative impact on psychological outcomes in a sample of Chinese college students. The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies on CWDV associations with psychological outcomes and gender differences in these relationships were examined. A total of 3,126 respondents (1,034 males; 2,086 females; 6 missing data in gender) completed the study questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics, CWDV, and suicide attempt history items as well as the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and Affect Lability Scale-18 (ALS-18). Overall, 43.03% of the respondents reported CWDV, including 44.87% of males and 42.09% of females. Higher frequencies of CWDV were found to be related to the following factors: unstable marital status of parents; not being an only child; being a left-behind child, family financial difficulties, consumption of alcohol in the past year, and being in relatively poor physical condition. Among males, ERQ suppression scores were significantly higher for those men who experienced "often or every day" CWDV than for men who indicated that they did not have any history of CWDV (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.047). More frequent CWDV was associated with higher ALS-18 scores and increased risk of suicide attempts in males and females (p < 0.05), and emotion regulation (suppression) was found to mediate the association between CWDV and affective lability among males. This study revealed high rates of CWDV, and serious impacts of CWDV on mental health in male and female Chinese college students. In males, but not females, emotion regulation strategy use, use of suppression, was found to act as a mediator in the association of CWDV with affective lability. Our findings suggest that interventions for individuals with CWDV should focus on the emotional regulation, which may help them improve mental health, especially in males.

When Post-Incarcerated Individuals Return to High-Risk Neighborhoods: Staying Out of Trouble, Social Withdrawal, and Mental Health

Studies show that residents from urban, high-risk neighborhoods fair worse on multiple behavioral and health outcomes than their counterparts from more socially and economically advantaged neighborhoods. However, few research efforts have been devoted to examining how formerly incarcerated individuals’ concerns over neighborhood environment are associated with reentry outcomes. Using longitudinal data that captured the reentry experiences of individuals released from prison, the present study quantifies how returning citizens’ concerns over neighborhood environment predict their social withdrawal and mental health deterioration. Findings suggest that when respondents’ post-release family bonds, financial difficulty, drug use, and past mental health histories are all taken into account, their concerns over neighborhood environment exert a significant and positive effect on social withdrawal, depression, and hostility. Returning citizens who believe it is hard to stay out of trouble and prison in their neighborhoods tend to avoid social interactions with others and experience depression and increased hostility and vigilance. Implications for reentry programing and interventions are discussed.

Parent Preferences for Transparency of Their Child’s Hospitalization Costs

Health care in the US is often expensive for families; however, there is little transparency in the cost of medical services. The extent to which parents want cost transparency in their children's care is not well characterized. To explore the preferences and experiences of parents of hospitalized children regarding the discussion and consideration of health care costs in the inpatient care of their children. This cross-sectional multicenter survey study included 6 geographically diverse university-affiliated US children's hospitals from November 3, 2017, to November 8, 2018. Participants included a convenience sample of English- and Spanish-speaking parents of hospitalized children nearing hospital discharge. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2020, to June 25, 2021. Parents' preferences and experiences regarding transparency of their child's health care costs. Multivariable linear regression examined associations between clinical and sociodemographic variables with parents' preferences for knowing, discussing, and considering costs in the clinical setting. Factors included family financial difficulties, child's level of chronic disease, insurance payer, deductible, family poverty level, race, ethnicity, parental educational level, and study site. Of 644 invited participants, 526 (82%) were enrolled (290 [55%] male), of whom 362 (69%) were White individuals, 400 (76%) were non-Hispanic/Latino individuals, and 274 (52%) had children with private insurance. Overall, 397 families (75%) wanted to discuss their child's medical costs, but only 36 (7%) reported having a cost conversation. If cost discussions were to occur, 294 families (56%) would prefer to speak to a financial counselor. Ninety-eight families (19%) worried discussing costs would hurt the quality of their child's care. Families with a medical financial burden unrelated to their hospitalized child had higher mean agreement that their child's physician should consider the family's costs in medical decision-making than families without a medical financial burden (effect size, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.18-0.92]). No variables were consistently associated with cost transparency preferences. Most parents want to discuss their child's costs during an acute hospitalization. Discussions of health care costs may be an important, relatively unexplored component of family-centered care. However, these discussions rarely occur, indicating a tremendous opportunity to engage and support families in this issue.

Pediatric Palliative Care Parents’ Distress, Financial Difficulty, and Child Symptoms

ContextParents of patients with a serious illness experience psychological distress, which impacts parents’ wellbeing and, potentially, their ability to care for their children. Parent psychological distress may be influenced by children's symptom burden and by families’ financial difficulty. ObjectivesThis study examined the associations among parent psychological distress, parent-reported patient symptoms, and financial difficulty, seeking to determine the relative association of financial difficulty and of patient symptoms to parent psychological distress. MethodsCross-sectional study of baseline data for 601 parents of 532 pediatric palliative care patients enrolled in a prospective cohort study conducted at seven US children's hospitals. Data included self-reported parent psychological distress and parent report of child's symptoms and family financial difficulty. We used ordinary least squares multiple regressions to examine the association between psychological distress and symptom score, between psychological distress and financial difficulty, and whether the degree of financial difficulty modified the relationship between psychological distress and symptom score. ResultsThe majority of parents were moderately to severely distressed (69%) or severely distressed (17%) and experienced some degree of financial difficulty (65%). While children's symptom scores and family financial difficulty together explained more of the variance in parental psychological distress than either variable alone, parental distress was associated more strongly, and to a larger degree, with financial difficulty than with symptom scores alone. ConclusionsParent psychological distress was associated with parent-reported patient symptoms and financial difficulty. Future work should examine these relationships longitudinally, and whether interventions to improve symptom management and ameliorate financial difficulties improve parental outcomes.

Peer Phubbing and Social Networking Site Addiction: The Mediating Role of Social Anxiety and the Moderating Role of Family Financial Difficulty.

A growing body of research has pinpointed the consequences as well as mechanisms of phubbing. However, few studies have explored the relationship between peer phubbing and social networking site addiction. Based on the self-determination theory, the exclusion theory of anxiety, the social compensation model, and the reserve capacity model, the present study examined whether peer phubbing was positively related to social networking site addiction among undergraduates, whether social anxiety mediated the relationship, and whether this mediating process was moderated by family financial difficulty. Our theoretical model was tested using the data collected from 1,401 Chinese undergraduates (Mage = 18.83 years, standard deviation = 0.93). The participants completed anonymous questionnaires that assessed their peer phubbing, social anxiety, social networking site addiction, and family financial difficulty. The correlation analysis indicated that peer phubbing was positively associated with social networking site addiction. The testing for moderated mediation further revealed that social anxiety partially mediated the association between peer phubbing and social networking site addiction, with family financial difficulty moderating the first stage. To be specific, the indirect association between peer phubbing and social networking site addiction via social anxiety was stronger for undergraduates in high family financial difficulty. The results from this study extend research on the potential consequences of phubbing as well as highlight the significance of uncovering the underlying mechanisms.

Combat New Normal Life and Remote Emergency Learning During Pandemic Crisis: A Perspective from Public Universities Students

The Bangladeshi education system has resorted to a virtual emergency mode of learning in order to sustain teaching and learning practices in educational institutions, providing a quick fix to the challenges. From the perspective of public university students, the researcher employed a qualitative study approach to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on tertiary education in Bangladesh. The primary data was collected via a well-designed online questionnaire, which was completed by 150 persons. Public universities in Bangladesh use virtual platforms to deliver online classes. University facilities and infrastructure, a robust national data infrastructure, appropriate computer devices, and excellent and affordable data services for students are all required for online instruction. The goal of the study is to determine the practicality and applicability of online education, as well as how students deal with the risk of Covid-19. This research identified a number of unanticipated disruptions in students' learning, as well as a drop in excitement and study hours, difficulty with student-teacher interactions, and a variety of physical, emotional, and financial issues associated to academic studies. According to the research, the most typically mentioned issues by students include network and facility-related hurdles, as well as personal and socio-psychological challenges. A lack of technological infrastructure, a high cost of internet, a slow internet connection, a family's financial difficulty, and student mental strain were also recognized as important impediments to online education by the majority of students. The study presented several recommendations to policymakers based on the findings to help them overcome the challenges of online classrooms in the future. Keywords: Emergency virtual learning, online class, network, psychological stress, academic fear, Covid-19, Tertiary level. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-24-10 Publication date: August 31 st 2021

Risk and protective factors related to children's symptoms of emotional difficulties and hyperactivity/inattention during the COVID-19-related lockdown in France: results from a community sample.

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 epidemic has spread worldwide since December 2019. To contain it, preventive measures including social distancing, economic shutdown, and school closures were introduced, carrying the risk of mental health burden in adults and children. Although the knowledge base regarding children's response to trauma and adverse events in general has broadened, descriptions of their mental health during epidemics remain scarce. In particular, the role of family socioeconomic characteristics and parental mental health are poorly understood.MethodsWe assessed the correlates of children’s emotional difficulties and symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention during the COVID-19 lockdown in a French community-based sample. Data came from 432 community-based parents (27–46 years, TEMPO cohort) and their children (mean age 6.8 ± 4.1) interviewed online. Children’s symptoms of emotional difficulties and hyperactivity/inattention were assessed using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire during the 5th week of home confinement. Family socioeconomic characteristics and parental mental health and substance use were assessed weekly during the first 5 weeks of home confinement. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models.Results7.1% of children presented symptoms of emotional difficulties and 24.7% symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention. Family financial difficulties and parental symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as children’s sleeping difficulties and screen time, were associated with the presence of psychological difficulties.ConclusionChildren's emotional and behavioural difficulties are associated with parental mental health and socioeconomic difficulties. In the unprecedented situation of the COVID-19 epidemic, parents and professionals involved in caring for children should pay special attention to their mental health needs.

The Roles of Family, Community, and Services in the Prevention of Illicit Drug Use: Findings From a Sample of Released Prisoners

Studies show that the deterioration of family bonds and financial difficulty are barriers to a successful reintegration after incarceration. However, how family, community, and correction agencies simultaneously affect individuals’ illicit drug use during reentry is rarely examined. This study draws insights from the systemic model of social disorganization and examines the joint effects of private, parochial, and public levels of social control on post-release drug use. We used a longitudinal data set that captured family relationships, community cohesiveness, and reentry program participation of released prisoners. Findings provide empirical support for the application of the systemic model of social disorganization on illicit drug during reentry. The various levels of social control defined by this theory were found to exhibit significant and inhibitory effects on individuals’ drug use after release. This study advances our understanding of individuals’ reentry outcomes by highlighting the joint influence of family, community, and correction agencies. Policy implications for addressing post-release drug use are presented.

Long-Term Physical Health Consequences of Financial and Marital Stress in Middle-Aged Couples.

To examine psychological health as a mechanism linking economic pressure and marital instability in the early middle years to poor physical health in later life. Although previous research suggests that sustained stressful marital experience may lead to mental and physical health problems, little is known about how contextual factors, such as economic pressure, impact marital outcomes, and how changes in marital attributes influence health outcomes in a longitudinal and dyadic context. Utilizing an actor-partner interdependence model within a latent growth curve approach and prospective data from couples in enduring marriages, we examined the associations between family economic pressure, marital instability, and mental health over their early middle years (1989-1994) and subsequent physical health in later adulthood (2015). Analyses assessed a couple-level pathway and an individual pathway involving within-spouse and between-spouse effects. During the middle years, family financial difficulties were linked to reduced marital stability, which was associated with increased mental health challenges. The findings also reinforced the salient role of psychological distress for subsequent physical health outcomes as husbands' and wives' anxiety symptoms over their early middle years contributed to declines in their physical health outcomes in later adulthood. A partner effect was noted between husbands' anxiety and wives' physical health. For couples, experiences of financial and marital stress in their early middle years can have long-lasting detrimental impacts on their physical health in later adulthood.

The role of inflammation in the association between poverty and working memory in childhood

BackgroundFamily financial difficulties have been directly linked to poorer executive functioning in childhood. However, recent studies suggest that difficulties in affording basic items and other necessities may also indirectly affect children’s executive functions through several psychological but also physiological paths. One of the latter may be inflammation, which has been related to both financial difficulties and executive functioning. In this study, we explored for the first time if the relationship between early family financial difficulties and working memory in middle childhood can be explained by inflammation. MethodsUsing data from 4,525 children of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a general population birth cohort, we tested associations between parents’ perceptions at ages 0–3 years of having difficulties in affording basic items for their children including food and clothing, children’s inflammation [measured by interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] at age 9 years and working memory performance at age 10 years. Confounders included socioeconomic status at ages 0–3 years, economic hardship between ages 3–9 years, BMI and gender. ResultsUsing Structural Equation Modelling, we found that financial difficulties were associated with worse working memory (β=-0.076, 95 % CI=-0.105, -0.043) even after adjusting for confounders. This association was partially explained by inflammation (β=-0.002, 95 % CI=-0.005, -0.001) as measured by IL-6. ConclusionsChildren in families struggling to afford necessities early in life have higher levels of inflammation, in turn related to poorer executive functioning in middle childhood. These findings suggest that living under financial strain has a unique effect on children’s cognitive development through inflammation in the general population.