Racial microaggressions are a type of perceived discrimination entailing a brief pejorative message by a perpetrator, whether verbal or nonverbal, intentional or unintentional, about a target person that operates below the level of conscious awareness. Research supports a relationship between perceived discrimination and worse mental and physical health outcomes, with the literature centered mainly on non-Hispanic blacks. Less research exists on how perceived discrimination, specifically racial microaggressions, affects the mental and physical health of Hispanic/Latinos. This study examined how exposure to racial microaggressions, using an experimental design whereby a confederate delivers two types of racial microaggressions, influences affect and cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) among Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic whites. Results revealed that the experience of racial microaggressions did not evoke larger and longer lasting emotional and physiological arousal among Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic Whites. Future directions are discussed.

This study was conducted in order to more accurately understand the relationship between sense of belonging in the U.S., self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and mental health and well-being for Latinx DACA recipient college students in the United States. Additionally, results were intended to assist in providing critical information regarding: (a) adequate support to Latinx DACA recipient college students, (b) informed consulting for policy shifts and changes with legal status, and (c) ethical psychological care to Latinx DACA recipient individuals. Ten participants were interviewed and given self-report measures (BDI and BAI) in order to glean insight on the aforementioned relationship. Data analysis included consensual qualitative research (CQR) analysis for interview transcripts and averages of self-report measures as compared to general university student population scores (BDI and BAI). Qualitative results are organized under eight overarching themes. Clinical implications, considerations for immigration policies, and considerations for university policies are discussed and explored.

Mass incarceration is a public health issue that impacts millions of Americans. Draconian drug laws, over-policing, and unfair sentencing policies rooted in racism have led to the incarceration of millions of Black and Latinx people in the past four decades. Mass incarceration not only has collateral consequences for the health of the incarcerated, but also fortheir partners and children across multiple dimensions. This cross-sectional study recruited participants using social media, email, and text messages. Those who identified as Black or Latinx, age 20 or older, and who had a partner who was incarcerated for at least three months were eligible for study participation. The study was novel in asking for ratings of physical and mental/emotional health for four time periods: before their partner’s incarceration, after their partner’s incarceration, the year after their partner’s release, and “now”/currently. Results showed significant declines in both physical and mental/emotional health (e.g., a decline in ratings for during their partner’s incarceration from the pre-incarceration level), as well as improvements (e.g., improvement for the period “now”/currently from the during incarceration level). Also, when rating their children for the same four time periods for physical health, mental/emotional health, behavioral conduct, and school performance, a similar pattern of both declines and improvements was found. Findings argued for the importance of a methodology using multiple time periods for obtaining ratings, and for a resilience framework to accommodate interpretation of improvements. Further, having a greater number of children, being currently employed, having a lower income, and a lower rating of mental health during their partner’s incarceration were four significant predictors found in the regression models for both study outcome variables: i.e., (1) a higher negative impact from a partner’s incarceration on multiple dimensions; and (2) more harmful mental health consequences for partners of the incarcerated. Findings provided evidence for an especially underserved at-risk subset within the population of diverse male and female partners of the incarcerated: i.e., Black and Latinx women with a high number of children who are employed yet earning low wages—while suffering from severe mental health symptoms. Implications of the findings and recommendations are discussed.

Persons with serious mental illness (SMI) are in worse physical health compared to persons in the general population and are more likely to develop medical conditions, such as obesity and diabetes, which place them at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is some evidence that Hispanics with serious mental illness are at greater risk for developing CVD risk factors compared to non-Hispanic Whites with SMI mainly due to health disparities. This study asks the questions: 1) What self-management behaviors do Hispanics with SMI and at risk of CVD engage in or attempt to engage in?, 2) How do measures of self-efficacy and patient activation correspond to self-management behaviors and barriers?, and 3) How do patients’ and stakeholders’ reports of barriers converge or diverge? Self-efficacy theory and social ecology theory were used as theoretical frameworks. Twenty four consumers were recruited from an outpatient mental health clinic. Seventeen stakeholders were recruited through various sites. A convergent mixed methods approach was used. Quantitative measures of self-efficacy and patient activation were compared to qualitative data on self-management behaviors and barriers to healthy living. Additionally, two sets of qualitative data on consumers’ and stakeholders’ perceptions of barriers to healthy living were compared to determine if they converged. Self-management behaviors identified included: healthy eating, seeking medical care, engaging in physical activity, involving others, self-motivation, use of faith, and engaging in structured and unstructured activities. Consumers with high levels of self-efficacy and patient activation tended to engage in more self-management behaviors regularly and perceived fewer barriers. Consumers with the lowest levels of self- efficacy and patient activation engaged in fewer self-management behaviors regularly and encountered more barriers. Consumer and stakeholder perceptions of barriers to healthy living experienced by consumers did converge, with the exception of the following additional barriers which were only identified by stakeholders: lack of health education, lack of formal education, consumer beliefs and fears, and body image. Using an ecological approach, barriers were identified at different environmental levels, often interacting. Overall, self-efficacy and patient activation may have an important influence on self-management behaviors among Hispanics with SMI and at risk for CVD. There is the possibility that barriers may moderate this relationship. Additionally, an ecological approach to understanding barriers to healthy living can be used to locate barriers and develop interventions which address them.