Translating cultural assets research into action to mitigate adverse childhood experience–related health disparities among African American youth.

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including trauma exposure, parent mental health problems, family dysfunction, and community-level adversities put individuals at risk for a host of negative health outcomes. The effects of cumulative ACEs are numerous, diverse, and can predispose an individual to cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems as well as premature death. African American youth experience disproportionate exposure to ACEs in the context of racism that increases risk for allostatic load and hinders systems of care responses resulting in physical and mental health disparities. To maximize efforts to mitigate these disparities it is imperative that we translate research into action to respond to ACEs in the context of racism. This article synthesizes African American cultural assets research within a resilience after trauma framework to provide a foundation for translating research into action to mitigate ACE-related disparities among African American youth. We present task shifting and youth-partnered advocacy as two strategies supported by this framework and describe their application to responding to ACEs in the context of racism.

Intergenerational risk and resilience pathways from discrimination and acculturative stress to infant mental health

“…Communalism is a cultural orientation towards interdependence (and thought to stand in contrast to the Eurocentric value of independence) that emphasizes social bonds, social duties, and the importance of collective well-being, both outside and within one's family (i.e., familism) (Abdou et al, 2010;Schwartz et al, 2010). Communalism has been highlighted by researchers as a potential culturally specific resilience-promoting asset for racially/ethnically diverse populations, including Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and Asian American groups (Moemeka, 1998;Schwartz et al, 2010;Woods-Jaeger et al, 2021). However, evidence has been mixed in its level of support for this hypothesis (Abdou et al, 2010;Gaylord-Harden & Cunningham, 2009;Harris & Molock, 2000), and some scholars have suggested that higher levels of communalism may sensitize one to the presence of stressors such as discrimination (Goldston et al, 2008;Perez-Brena et al, 2018).…”

Science, practice, and policy related to adverse childhood experiences: Framing the conversation.

“…Noting the impact of historical trauma on African Americans, Hampton-Anderson et al (2021) explore the unique needs of this population through a biopsychosocial-cultural framework, and make recommendations for effective responses relative to ACEs. Woods-Jaeger et al (2021) expand this discussion to examine culture as a source of protective factors for African American youth and offer strategies for responding to ACEs that account for the context of racism.…”

Promoting Mental Wellness among Black Faculty: Strategies for Coping

“…Continuous encounters of racism within the workplace affect the physical and mental well-being of employees (Memon et al, 2016). Everyday events such as threats, being treated with less respect, or being thought of as having lower intelligence due to race, constitute chronic racism (Woods-Jaegar et al, 2021). It is known that racism can lead to physical and mental health challenges such as chronic and acute forms of stress (Novacek et al, 2020).…”

“…It is known that racism can lead to physical and mental health challenges such as chronic and acute forms of stress (Novacek et al, 2020). In Black individuals, stress caused by racism manifests as hypertension, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and low self-esteem (Woods-Jaegar et al, 2021). Chronic racism characterizes the experiences of many Black faculty within higher education.…”

“…Although it is common to work extended hours in the academy, overworking becomes problematic when it is done in response to institutional issues, such as having one's reputation questioned, attempting to meet excessive demands, and working to meet changing or informal expectations (DeCuir-Gunby et al, 2019). Overworking produces heightened levels of stress and can have adverse mental and physical ramifications on the body, such as exacerbated stress-related disorders like depression, anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes (Woods-Jaegar et al, 2021). Unfortunately, overworking rarely lifts the institutional barriers that exist for Black faculty.…”