This study examined the impact of family conflict and intragroup marginalization on acculturative stress in 188 bicultural Latino college students. Results showed that low parental income, low acculturation, perceived family conflict, and perceived intragroup marginalization were related to higher acculturative stress for participants. Intragroup marginalization accounted for a statistically significant proportion of the variance in acculturative stress after all variables were controlled. The findings emphasize the need to recognize culture-specific stressors of college students. Implications for mental health providers are discussed.
ObjectiveThe aims of this project were to describe the development of a postpartum depression screening program for mothers of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and assess the implementation of the screening program.MethodsScreening began at 14 days postpartum and was implemented as part of routine medical care. A nurse coordinator facilitated communication with mothers for increasing screen completion, review of critical self-harm items, and making mental health referrals. During the 18-month study period, 385 out of 793 eligible mothers completed the screen.ResultsApproximately 36% of mothers had a positive screen that resulted in a mental health referral and an additional 30% of mothers had screening results indicating significant symptoms.ConclusionSeveral barriers were identified, leading to adjustments in the screening process, and ultimately recommendations for future screening programs and research. Development of a postpartum depression screening process in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit involves support, training, implementation, and coordination from administrators, medical staff, new mothers, and mental health specialists. Several predictable challenges to program development require ongoing assessment and response to these challenges.RelevanceThis study highlights the expanding role of the psychologist and behavioral health providers in health care to intervene as early as possible in the life of a child and family with medical complications through multidisciplinary program development and implementation, as well as key considerations for institutions initiating such a program.
Although much is known about the risks to health and well-being that occur among family caregivers of children with disability, little is known about the unique group of caregivers of children with severe neurodisabilities who require varying degrees of respiratory care including ventilator support. This present study examined the psychological adjustment of caregivers in these situations, and tested the prediction that caregiver coping and problem-solving styles would be predictive of their physical and emotional health. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that demographic characteristics and the severity of pulmonary condition were unrelated to caregiver adjustment. A coping style characterized by developing relationships, pursuing activities that promote self-worth and individuality, and a lower negative orientation toward solving problems were significantly predictive of caregiver distress. These data indicate that caregiver adjustment in these situations is influenced by cognitive-behavioral characteristics that could be addressed in educational and therapeutic programs provided in the clinic and in the community.
Most of this sample of mothers experienced significant symptoms of postpartum depression. The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale is a promising tool for screening mothers with infants in the NICU. Additional research is necessary to better understand the construct and predictive validity of scores among these mothers. Current and future research will contribute to the routine use of scale as a screening tool in this environment.
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