ABSTRACT
The dual pandemic (racial discrimination and COVID-19) has contributed to mental health disparities across various social identities. Black mothers, in particular, have shouldered the heightened stresses of being Black and female during a time of immense anti-Black racism and societal pressures to assume caretaking roles at the expense of, or in addition to, other financial obligations. Thus, this study examines the relationship between COVID-19 related financial difficulties, racial discrimination, and the protective role of stable income on Black mothers' (N = 949) mental wellbeing (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress). Using regression analyses, we find that financial difficulties and experiences of racial discrimination along with related concerns for children are associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress. Moderation analyses suggest that at the highest level of financial difficulties, stable income can serve as a protective factor for anxiety. However, the study found no significant interactions between financial difficulties and experiences of racial discrimination or related concern for children. Implications for short-and long-term social policies are discussed. © 2023 The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.
ABSTRACT
Systemic racism and discriminatory practices continue to disproportionally expose Black children and families to less than optimal health and economic resources. COVID-19 sheds existing light on how longstanding systemic inequalities affecting Black children and families create racial disparities in accessing material resources. The purpose of this study (N = 704 Black caregivers) is to better understand the relationship between experiences of racial discrimination, access to material resources (i.e., health-promoting resources and economic resources), and Black children's behavioral functioning during the pandemic. Through the application of ordinary least squares regression analysis, we find that inadequate material resources (both health-related risks and economic hardship) during the pandemic were associated with heightened caregiver report that their child was frequently fussy or defiant (externalizing) and frequently anxious or fearful (internalizing). The study found no significant links between caregivers' experiences of discrimination during the pandemic and children's behavioral functioning. However, the study found a significant link between caregivers' concern for their children's experiences of discrimination and their children's externalizing behaviors. Findings from this study offer an important contribution to understanding how factors rooted in systemic racism—access to material resources—and experiences of discrimination affect Black children's well-being during COVID-19. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.
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Objective: The benefits of adherence to an evidence-based model of intervention in the delivery of Cognitive Behavior Therapy in substance misuse is debated. The advantages to both patient and therapist of taking a structured and systematic approach is explored in depth. Fidelity to The Scientist Practitioner Model is an evidence-based way of yielding good clinical outcomes. Along the way, on their journey through treatment, patients are facilitated toward a reduction in the intensity and frequency of anxiety-based symptoms, thus improving their functionality and overall quality of life. The use of Validated Rating Scales is an independent method of measurement. Cognitive Behavior Therapy has an over-whelming evidence-base to support its use, with reference to anxiety-based disorders. Conclusion(s): This discussion supports the importance of the role of Validated Rating Scales and how they can benefit evidence-based clinical interventions such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, as they represent an impartial method of measurement of functionality and symptom severity. The importance of their integration into routine interventions is highlighted. Adapting to new ways of working such as remote delivery of psychological interventions has now become the new 'normal' as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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Background: The rapid spread of COVID-19 has resulted in an urgent need for effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a powerful tool in the identification and characterization of this pathogen and genomic information may aid in understanding the mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, vaccine escape, virulence, and pathogenicity. The Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Research Panel is a targeted NGS solution that facilitates sequence analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Paired with a bioinformatics assembly and variant calling pipelines, this assay allows for accurate characterization of the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant. This assay's performance was analytically validated for the detection of mutations (substitutions, insertions, and deletions) in RNA derived from nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. Method: The Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Research panel consists of two primer pair pools generating 237 amplicons specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Reverse transcription of the RNA was performed using the SuperScript VILO cDNA Synthesis kit. Library preparation was then completed using the Ion AmpliSeq Library Kit Plus kit. The final library was quantified, normalized, pooled, and sequenced. Raw sequencing data was aligned to the AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Research panel, using the MN908947.3 reference genome. Variants were called using the Torrent Variant Caller and annotated using the COVID19AnnotateSnpEff plugin. The reference-guided iterative assembler IRMA was used to produce a single consensus sequence consisting of the reference genome sequence modified to include sequence variations supported by the reads. The Pangolin COVID-19 lineage assigner software tool was used to assign SARS-CoV-2 lineage. Analytical validation was completed using controls (Twist Biosciences, BEI Resources, ATCC) and RNA derived from NP swabs. Accuracy and specificity were examined by evaluating the correctness of calling true negative variants compared to false positive and all other variant calls, respectively. Precision and limit of detection (LoD) were examined by evaluating the concordance of variants across replicate samples. Limit of Blank (LoB) was calculated as the 95th percentile of reads per amplicon in the negative samples. Results: Accuracy of base calling, specificity, and precision were 100% for SNVs, insertions, and deletions above 25% allele frequency. LoD was determined to be 576 viral copies/mL. LoB was determined to be 202 reads per amplicon. Pangolin lineage assignment was 100% for all samples. Conclusions: This panel accurately characterizes SARS-CoV-2 variants, allowing for accurate consensus sequence generation, mutation annotation, and lineage assignment.
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INTRODUCTION Under-representation in health-related research is one of a multitude of factors that contribute to cancer disparities experienced by African American and Latinx communities. Barriers to research participation stem from historical social injustices, are multi-faceted and include factors specific to the research process, research team members and community experiences and expectations about research participation. Informed consent is a longitudinal process and represents an opportunity to address these barriers and potentially improve access to research by individuals from underrepresented groups. The purpose of the Strengthening Translational Research in Diverse Enrollment (STRIDE) study was to develop and test an integrated, literacy- and culturally-sensitive, multi-component intervention that addresses barriers to research participation during the informed consent process. METHODS A multi-pronged community engaged approach was used to inform the development the three components of the STRIDE intervention. At each of the three study sites, Community Investigators, local community members of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, contribute to intervention development, pilot testing and dissemination activities. Community engagement studios provided a semi-structured opportunity to solicit feedback from community experts in a facilitated group regarding the relevance, usability and understandability of the STRIDE intervention components. Additionally, component-specific approaches to obtaining community input were utilized. RESULTS The three components were developed and refined with community input. The STRIDE intervention includes: (1) an electronic consent (eConsent) framework within the REDCap software platform that incorporates tools designed to facilitate material comprehension and relevance, (2) a storytelling intervention in which prior research participants from diverse backgrounds share their experiences, and (3) a simulation-based training program for research assistants that emphasizes cultural competency and communication skills for assisting in the informed consent process. CONCLUSIONS The STRIDE project had produced an integrated set of interventions that are available to support researchers across the CTSA hubs and beyond in efforts to enhance diversity in clinical research. Early dissemination of STRIDE intervention components include utilization in national COVID-19 trials and research networks.