Disaster's disparate impacts: Analysing perceived stress and personal resilience across gender and race.

The purpose of this research was to identify differences in perceived stress and personal resilience across race, gender, and different types of stressors (i.e., rent/mortgage stress) for a sample of U.S. residents experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a cross-sectional, convenience sampling design for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting in April 2020 (n = 374). Independent t-tests and binary logistic regression were performed to determine statistically significant differences between gender and race for perceived stress and personal resilience and to identify key contributing factors. Results indicate women exhibited higher levels of stress compared to men, with non-IPV reporting women evidencing higher levels of resilience than IPV reporting women. Racial minority women were more likely to experience nutritional stress due to the disaster, while white women were more likely to worry about rent or mortgage stress resulting from the disaster. These findings provide insight into disparate impacts across vulnerable populations regarding perceived stress and resilience at the start of a crisis with implications for improving pre- and post- disaster interventions.

Intimate Partner Violence Survivorship, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Disaster: Implications for Future Disasters.

This study investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence among a sample of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors (n = 77) who filed for restraining orders in rural Louisiana during the COVID-19 pandemic. IPV survivors were individually interviewed to assess their self-reported levels of perceived stress, resilience, potential PTSD, COVID-19-related experiences, and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed to differentiate group membership between two groups; non-PTSD and probable PTSD. Results suggest the probable PTSD group had lower levels of resilience and higher levels of perceived stress compared to the non-PTSD group. Findings suggest the importance of providing services during disaster to reduce PTSD for IPV survivors.

Sociodemographic Predictors of Depression in US Rural Communities During COVID-19: Implications for Improving Mental Healthcare Access to Increase Disaster Preparedness.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to identify sociodemographic predictors of depression for a rural population in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance mental health disaster preparedness. METHODS: This study uses t-tests to differentiate between gender and ethnicity groups regarding depression status; binary logistic regression to identify socio-demographic characteristics that predict depression status; and t-test to differentiate between average depression scores, measured by the PHQ-9, pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2019) and after it's start (2020). RESULTS: Results indicate that men were less likely than women to report depression. Clients who identified as Latinx/Hispanic were 2.8 times more likely than non-Hispanics to report depression and clients who did not reside in public housing were 19.9% less likely to report depression. There was a statistically significant difference between mean PHQ-9 scores pre- and post-pandemic, with pre-pandemic scores lower on average, with a small effect size. CONCLUSIONS: Building on findings from this study, we propose ways to increase rural access to mental health services, through equitable access to telemedicine, to meet the needs of rural clients to increase disaster preparedness.

Surviving intimate partner violence and disaster

PurposeFew studies investigating disaster have examined the risks associated with surviving both disaster and intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV is psychological or physical abuse in a personal relationship. Using an intersectional approach, the purpose of this study is to investigate contributions to and differences in perceived stress and personal resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of predominantly female-identified IPV survivors (n = 41) to examine risks associated with this vulnerable population during disaster.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured interview guide, IPV survivors were interviewed regarding their perceived stress (i.e. perceived stress scale), personal resilience, (i.e. Connor Davidson Resilience Scale), type of violence experienced (i.e. physical violence), COVID-19-related stressors (i.e. loss of income due to the pandemic) and relevant socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. race).FindingsThese interviews indicate that participants exhibited low levels of resilience and a moderate amount of stress exposure highlighting risk factors associated with experiencing personal violence during disaster.Originality/valueAt the height of their need for support and assistance, the disaster generated additional rent and nutritional stress compounding the pressures violence survivors face. These findings suggest those who are socially vulnerable due to violence need structural support services to cope with disaster and violence-related stresses.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural survivors of intimate partner violence.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to understand experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) by survivors living through the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural area. METHOD: Structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of IPV survivors, 93% of whom identified as women, living in a rural parish (county) in Louisiana (n = 41). Interviews included COVID-19-related stressors (e.g., rent stress due to the pandemic) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5) and resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10) validated scales. Data were analyzed using independent t tests to determine differences across race with respect to PTSD and resilience and logistic regression to predict group membership in the probable PTSD group. RESULTS: Results indicate 72.5% and 56.2% of rural IPV survivors interviewed reported experiencing rent/mortgage stress and nutritional stress, respectively, due to the pandemic. No statistically significant differences by race for probable PTSD or resilience were found. Rent or mortgage stress due to COVID-19 was a significant predictor of probable PTSD in the regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the possibility that IPV concerns may exacerbate pandemic-related concerns, which in turn exacerbates health functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A Global South Perspective: The Intersection of COVID-19 and Intimate Partner Violence

Making matters more complicated, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging on many fronts, with IPV taking center stage as a major global public health concern, in response to pandemic-related strategies like lockdowns.3,4 In this issue of AJPH, Fereidooni et al. (http://bit.ly/3NV9xG8) undertook an investigation that examined the prevalence of IPV during COVID-19 among Iranian women. [...]they provide empirical data documenting the impact COVID-19 public health prevention measures had on increasing IPV risk for women, with an emphasis on the Global South. [...]they found that a male partner becoming unemployed increased IPV risk for his female partner and that socioeconomic status served as a protective factor for women, both of which are true in Western countries.6 The Fereidooni et al. study serves to further the argument made in other studies that we should unify efforts to address violence against women by providing yet more evidence that IPV is a global public health problem that is not bound by hemisphere, continent, or region.7 CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence may be sent to Regardt Ferreira, School of Social Work, Tulane University, 127 Elk Place, New Orleans, LA 70112-2627 (e-mail: rferrei@tulane.edu).

Changes in depression levels for U.S. rural communities before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

The objective of this research is to identify whether there were statistically significant changes in depression severity for rural residents in the United States before the COVID-19 pandemic and after its start in 2020. This study uses paired-sample t tests to differentiate between depression levels, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, before the pandemic and after its start for a sample of rural residents (n = 324), as well as a subsample of women (n = 224) and Black clients (n = 55). Results indicate that the average Patient Health Questionnaire-9 decreased from 11.86 to 11.77 for the total sample and from 12 to 11.99 for the subsample of women, whereas the subsample of Black residents increased from 10.58 to 11.27 for prepandemic versus postpandemic levels, though the differences are not statistically significant. Given the urban/rural differences in coping with challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States cannot have a one-size-fits-all pandemic response policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19, Intimate Partner Violence, and Communication Ecologies: PROD

The purpose of this research is to identify important predictors, related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to provide insight into communication ecologies that can address IPV in disaster contexts. This study uses a cross-sectional design, with purposive snowball sampling, for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting the first week in April 2020. A total of 374 adults participated in the study. Logistic binary regression was used to identify key predictors among sociodemographic characteristics, stress related to COVID-19, and perceived stress of group membership for those who reported IPV experiences. A t test was used to statistically differentiate between IPV-reporters and non-IPV reporters based on perceived stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. Results indicated that respondents who reported renting, lost income due to COVID-19, and increased nutritional stress were all more likely to belong to the IPV-reporters group. These findings provide insight into additional stressors related to the ongoing pandemic, such as stress due to income loss, nutritional stress, and renting, and their likelihood of increasing IPV victimization. Taken together, these results indicate that additional communication resources are needed for those affected by IPV. Additional findings and implications are further discussed.

COVID-19: Uncovering mental health disparities

This article is an introduction to a special issue regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current author of the introduction was particularly interested in empirical studies focused on mental health disparities, trauma, and resilience in the wake of COVID-19. The special call is the first in a collection of some of the most important research to be generated since the pandemic started with the main aim of investigating the impacts associated with COVID-19. The special issue includes fourteen articles detailing empirical and theoretical approaches seeking to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 impacts our overall well-being, with a special focus on uncovering mental health disparities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19, Intimate Partner Violence, and Communication Ecologies

The purpose of this research is to identify important predictors, related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to provide insight into communication ecologies that can address IPV in disaster contexts. This study uses a cross-sectional design, with purposive snowball sampling, for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting the first week in April 2020. A total of 374 adults participated in the study. Logistic binary regression was used to identify key predictors among sociodemographic characteristics, stress related to COVID-19, and perceived stress of group membership for those who reported IPV experiences. A t test was used to statistically differentiate between IPV-reporters and non-IPV reporters based on perceived stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. Results indicated that respondents who reported renting, lost income due to COVID-19, and increased nutritional stress were all more likely to belong to the IPV-reporters group. These findings provide insight into additional stressors related to the ongoing pandemic, such as stress due to income loss, nutritional stress, and renting, and their likelihood of increasing IPV victimization. Taken together, these results indicate that additional communication resources are needed for those affected by IPV. Additional findings and implications are further discussed.

COVID-19 and intimate partner violence: Prevalence of resilience and perceived stress during a pandemic

COVID-19 is a pandemic event not seen in a century. This research aims to identify the group differences regarding resilience and perceived stress for those who identified as single, in a relationship not experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), and those in a relationship experiencing IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses a cross-sectional design, with purposive snowball sampling, for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting the first week in April 2020 (n = 374). Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on demographics and behavioral factors. Resilience was assessed using the 10-item Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, and perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Two one-way analysis of variance procedures were performed to identify statistically significant differences across 3 groups, those not in a relationship, those in a relationship not experiencing IPV, and those in a relationship and experiencing IPV. Analyses indicate that those experiencing IPV reported lower resilience and greater perceived stress. Analyses also show those in the experiencing IPV group were statistically significantly different from those in a relationship without IPV and those in the single group with respect to resilience. Those in the IPV experiences group were also statistically significantly different from the group of participants in relationships without reported IPV experiences with respect to perceived stress. These findings provide empirical support for the contention that public health measures put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19 might have negative, unintentional consequences for people experiencing IPV and mental health issues. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

The hidden disaster of COVID-19: Intimate partner violence.

The hidden and often unspoken impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV). This commentary addresses this issue and highlights a study undertaken to address this public health issue by generating empirical research on the relationship between COVID-19 and IPV. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

COVID-19: Immediate Predictors of Individual Resilience

COVID-19 is a pandemic event not seen in a century. This research aims to determine important predictors of resilience towards the COVID 19/Coronavirus Pandemic. This study uses a cross-sectional design, with purposive snowball sampling, for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting the first week in April 2020. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on demographics and behavioral factors. Resilience was assessed using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. 374 adults participated in the survey. OLS regression was performed to determine key associations among demographic variables, resilience measures, and perceived stress brought on by COVID-19. Age and education were statistically significantly positively associated with resilience, while English as a second language was significantly negatively associated. Participants who reported needing help from family and neighbors, total number of days in lockdown, and higher perceived stress were all significantly negatively associated with resilience. This study adds to immediate predictors of individual resilience to the ongoing infectious disease catastrophe created by the COVID-19 pandemic.