Oppression and resistance: An analysis of Muslims' experiences of structural violence.

Discrimination and vilification of Muslims in the United States have historical and political roots. This study explores everyday incidents of marginalization and oppression through the framework of structural violence. Structural violence refers to the systemic inequalities embedded within societal structures that create and support these oppressive conditions. In this community-engaged qualitative study, 10 self-identified Muslims from the northeastern United States were interviewed to understand their lived experiences of structural violence. Using thematic analysis, seven themes were identified: Racialized and xenophobic Islamophobia; normalized violence against Muslims and fear of safety; exclusion, marginalization, and subjugation through policies; Muslims as spokespersons for Islam; Intersecting marginalized identities and oppression; challenges of navigating Muslim identities; resilience and resistance through faith, activism, and community. This study aims to understand and contextualize the experiences of Muslims within a systemic and geopolitical framework. Another critical objective is to promote a discourse to address how academics and clinicians reproduce and maintain structural violence and to instead engage in socially transformative approaches embedded in the principles of decolonizing and mutually-liberating cross-struggle solidarity. These must be cultivated through community-informed intersectional collaborative strategies for dismantling oppressive structures and promoting agency, resilience, activism, and resistance.

Feasibility of an online health intervention for Latinas with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain is a common health problem in the United States, and it is associated with numerous physical and mental health issues. Disparities in pain treatment are high for particular populations, including Latinos, who comprise a significant percent of the U.S. POPULATION: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an online health education intervention for Spanish-speaking Latinas with chronic pain. The intervention was developed based on a biopsychosocial approach to treatment and targeted multiple domains including exercise, psychological wellbeing, regaining function, emotional wellbeing, sleep hygiene, and stress management. METHOD: Through a mixed-method, single-arm design, this pilot study examined patients' and providers' acceptability of and satisfaction with the intervention, as well as the impact of the intervention on patients' knowledge, chronic pain self-efficacy, pain severity, and pain interference (measured pre and post intervention). RESULTS: Both chronic pain patients (n = 40) and provider participants (n = 10) reported high rates of participation, and high ratings for website features and website content. Patient participants also experienced a significant increase in knowledge regarding pain management and treatment options, and in chronic pain self-efficacy, as well as a significant decrease in pain interference. Although means for pain severity were lower at the posttest session, this change was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, results indicate that an online educational intervention that targets Spanish-speaking Latinas with chronic pain is feasible, potentially impactful, and that there is a need for such interventions. Recommendations include additional content and interactive features that could improve satisfaction, engagement, and impact. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Feasibility of a Texting Intervention to Improve Medication Adherence Among Older HIV+ African Americans: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the primary treatment for HIV, and adherence to it is crucial to addressing health disparities. Approximately half of individuals in the United States living with HIV are African Americans, and those over 45 years of age are more likely to die early from HIV/AIDS than their White counterparts. This mixed-method pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a text-based mobile phone intervention designed to improve ART adherence among older African Americans with HIV. Feasibility was assessed via implementation, participant adherence, acceptability, and satisfaction, as well as short-term impact on medication adherence, adherence-related self-efficacy, and positive affect. The intervention utilized pill reminder, motivational, and health educational texts. Participants (N = 21) ranged in age from 50 to 68 years. Outcomes were evaluated via quantitative results from self-report measures and qualitative data from four focus groups. Attrition to the study was 100%. After 8 weeks, participants reported statistically significant improvements in medication adherence, but not in self-efficacy or affect scores. Qualitative findings highlight the psychologically supportive potential of the intervention, challenges to adherence, as well as suggestions for improvement. The study demonstrates that a text messaging intervention may be feasible for older African Americans with HIV, and helpful in supporting ART adherence.

Use of an online community to provide support to caregivers of people with dementia.

One challenge faced by many family members caring for persons with dementia is lack of information about how to take care of others and themselves. This is especially important for persons from ethnic minority groups, because linguistically and culturally appropriate information is often not available. In response to these needs, we developed a web site for Spanish-speaking caregivers. Cuidatecuidador.com provides bilingual information on dementia and caregiver issues. Content was developed and then evaluated by caregivers residing in 3 countries. Findings suggest trends that exposure to information may be related to a higher sense of mastery and a reduction of depressive symptomatology.