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New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable...
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New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "School Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 23036

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Terrell L. Strayhorn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Evelyn Reid Syphax School of Education and School of Arts & Sciences, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA
Interests: issues of identity-based inequities in education; learning spaces; business; workplaces especially for racial/ethnic minorities, GLBTQIA+, and other vulnerable populations including foster youth, restored citizens, and veterans
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Everybody wants to belong, regardless of environment or identity. The sense of belonging is a basic human need, a fundamental matter for emotional and public health. It is generally defined as a feeling of security and support that results when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identification for a member of a certain group or place. With the global COVID-19 pandemic, belonging has taken on an heightened importance in certain environments (e.g, poverty, rural, communities of color), as it usually happens  amid threatening public health issues and conditions associated with racial trauma and stress, to name a few.

This Special Issue of Healthcare focuses on research and studies related to emotional health of youth, who are  part of our most vulnerable population. This may include school- and college-age youth who are low-income, people of color, immune-compromised, LGBTQIA, immigrant, justice-involved. To address this critical topic, we invite scholars and researchers in public health, epidemiology, education, health economics, policy, public administration, and other social science fields to submit high-quality, well-written empirical reports, systematic reviews, theoretical essays, and short communications related to the core topics in this research area.

Prof. Dr. Terrell L. Strayhorn
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sense of belonging
  • Resilience
  • Achievement
  • Mindset
  • Vulnerable
  • Safety/Security
  • Public health

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 824 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Postpartum Depression in Adolescents Who Delivered during COVID-19 Social Restrictions: The Experience of a Tertiary Hospital from Bucharest, Romania
by Alexandra Matei, Mihai Cornel Traian Dimitriu, Catalin Gabriel Cirstoveanu, Bogdan Socea and Cringu Antoniu Ionescu
Healthcare 2021, 9(7), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9070807 - 26 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3117
Abstract
In the context of the viral spread of COVID-19 in 2020, Romanian authorities declared national confinement for two months. Our country faces a public health issue regarding adolescent pregnancy. This study assessed the predisposition of teenage mothers to postpartum depression and the influence [...] Read more.
In the context of the viral spread of COVID-19 in 2020, Romanian authorities declared national confinement for two months. Our country faces a public health issue regarding adolescent pregnancy. This study assessed the predisposition of teenage mothers to postpartum depression and the influence of the viral pandemic on their emotional status. This study enrolled patients 10 to 19 years old who delivered in our department between March–December 2020. Teenagers were attributed to the “lockdown group” (n = 30) and the “open group” (n = 171). All study participants agreed to take an interview based on a three-part questionnaire, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). In the “lockdown group”, 16.67% of patients felt stressed over the last year compared to 11.11% of individuals in the “open group”, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding overall EPDS scores (z value 0.51, Mann–Whitney U test). Predictable variables for postpartum depression were the use of cigarettes (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00–1.16), intended pregnancies (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09–0.68, p = 0.007) and absence of stressors in the last year (OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02–0.30, p = 0.0002). More adolescents were stressed during confinement compared to those who delivered in the following time period; this aspect did not interfere with depression screening scores. A planned pregnancy, even during adolescence, can serve as a protective factor for postpartum depression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth)
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12 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Empathy and Coping in Allied Health Sciences: Gender Patterns
by Artemisa R. Dores, Helena Martins, Ana C. Reis and Irene P. Carvalho
Healthcare 2021, 9(5), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9050497 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3157
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the patterns of associations between empathy and coping among undergraduate men and women studying at Allied Health Sciences. This cross-sectional study is part of a larger longitudinal study conducted in an Allied Health Sciences School. Participants were 183 [...] Read more.
This study aimed to examine the patterns of associations between empathy and coping among undergraduate men and women studying at Allied Health Sciences. This cross-sectional study is part of a larger longitudinal study conducted in an Allied Health Sciences School. Participants were 183 undergraduate students from 12 training programs (e.g., Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy). Their mean age was 20.79 years (SD = 2.64), and they were in their first, third, and fourth years of school. The instruments were the Brief-COPE and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Empathy correlated with coping strategies in both genders, though showing different patterns of association. First, distinct coping strategies were associated with the same empathy dimension (perspective taking) among women (positive reframing and self-blame) and among men (active coping). Second, the same three coping strategies appeared in both genders (seeking emotional or instrumental support and resorting to religion) but associated with different empathy dimensions (cognitive empathy among women and mostly emotional empathy among men). Third, among women (but not among men), two coping strategies (positive reframing and behavioral disengagement) were each simultaneously correlated with cognitive and emotional empathy in opposite directions. Fourth, emotional empathy correlated, only among women, with several coping strategies considered to be maladaptive (behavioral disengagement, denial and substance use). Among men, only one significant coping strategy was considered to be maladaptive (behavioral disengagement) and it was negatively correlated with cognitive empathy (perspective taking). Unlike in women, relationships between the empathic dimension of fantasy and coping strategies were non-significant among men. These distinct patterns of associations emerged despite significant differences in empathy by gender (fantasy, personal distress and empathic concern) and in coping strategies (instrumental support, emotional support, religion and venting). These results support the idea that the display of empathy might be associated with gender differences in the underlying empathy dimensions and in the coping strategies used to deal with stress in the undergraduate programs of Allied Health Sciences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth)
20 pages, 338 KiB  
Article
Promoting Emotional and Social Well-Being and a Sense of Belonging in Adolescents through Participation in Volunteering
by Mónica Luque-Suárez, María del Carmen Olmos-Gómez, María Castán-García and Raquel Portillo-Sánchez
Healthcare 2021, 9(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030359 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4777
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the differences within education-related degrees with respect to participation in volunteering. Volunteering motivation promotes and encourages emotional and social well-being and a sense of belonging in university students. This study was based on a total [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to analyze the differences within education-related degrees with respect to participation in volunteering. Volunteering motivation promotes and encourages emotional and social well-being and a sense of belonging in university students. This study was based on a total sample of 985 students undertaking Degrees in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Social Education who attended higher education institutions in Northern Africa (Spain) and Eastern Spain. Once the quality parameters of the instrument were determined, the reliability was confirmed, and data collection was initiated. In order to analyze the results, a multilevel study (ANOVA) was conducted by interacting the variables for degrees with three levels (PE = Primary Education; EC = Early Childhood Education; SE = Social Education) and the variable “volunteering is my motivation to feel better”, with five levels (strongly disagree, disagree, unsure, agree, and strongly agree). From the data obtained, it was concluded that there were significant differences between the different degree paths, the assessment covering sociodemographic variables and areas of interest showing that volunteering benefits university students both socially and in their decision-making processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth)
13 pages, 273 KiB  
Article
Bullying Victimization among In-School Adolescents in Ghana: Analysis of Prevalence and Correlates from the Global School-Based Health Survey
by Richard Gyan Aboagye, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, John Elvis Hagan, Jr., James Boadu Frimpong, Joshua Okyere, Abdul Cadri and Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
Healthcare 2021, 9(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030292 - 7 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3110
Abstract
(1) Background: Although bullying victimization is a phenomenon that is increasingly being recognized as a public health and mental health concern in many countries, research attention on this aspect of youth violence in low- and middle-income countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is minimal. The [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Although bullying victimization is a phenomenon that is increasingly being recognized as a public health and mental health concern in many countries, research attention on this aspect of youth violence in low- and middle-income countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is minimal. The current study examined the national prevalence of bullying victimization and its correlates among in-school adolescents in Ghana. (2) Methods: A sample of 1342 in-school adolescents in Ghana (55.2% males; 44.8% females) aged 12–18 was drawn from the 2012 Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) for the analysis. Self-reported bullying victimization “during the last 30 days, on how many days were you bullied?” was used as the central criterion variable. Three-level analyses using descriptive, Pearson chi-square, and binary logistic regression were performed. Results of the regression analysis were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with a statistical significance pegged at p < 0.05. (3) Results: Bullying victimization was prevalent among 41.3% of the in-school adolescents. Pattern of results indicates that adolescents in SHS 3 [aOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.25, 0.47] and SHS 4 [aOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.44] were less likely to be victims of bullying. Adolescents who had sustained injury [aOR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.63, 2.73] were more likely to be bullied compared to those who had not sustained any injury. The odds of bullying victimization were higher among adolescents who had engaged in physical fight [aOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.42, 2.25] and those who had been physically attacked [aOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.32, 2.27]. Similarly, adolescents who felt lonely were more likely to report being bullied [aOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.08] as against those who did not feel lonely. Additionally, adolescents with a history of suicide attempts were more likely to be bullied [aOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.11, 2.38] and those who used marijuana had higher odds of bullying victimization [aOR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.10, 10.24]. (4) Conclusions: Current findings require the need for policy makers and school authorities in Ghana to design and implement policies and anti-bullying interventions (e.g., Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Emotive Behavioral Education (REBE), Marijuana Cessation Therapy (MCT)) focused on addressing behavioral issues, mental health and substance abuse among in-school adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth)

Review

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19 pages, 620 KiB  
Review
Influencing Factors of Depression among Adolescent Asians in North America: A Systematic Review
by Ping Zou, Annisa Siu, Xiyi Wang, Jing Shao, Sunny G. Hallowell, Lihua Lydia Yang and Hui Zhang
Healthcare 2021, 9(5), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9050537 - 4 May 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5200
Abstract
Background: Asian American adolescents experience rates of depression comparable to or greater than those of other ethnic minorities. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize psychosocial factors related to depressive symptoms of Asian American adolescents between the ages of 10 to [...] Read more.
Background: Asian American adolescents experience rates of depression comparable to or greater than those of other ethnic minorities. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize psychosocial factors related to depressive symptoms of Asian American adolescents between the ages of 10 to 19. Methods: Various electronic databases were systematically searched to identify research articles published from 2000 to 2021, and the psychosocial factors influencing depression among Asian adolescents in North America were examined. Results: A total of 81 studies were included in this systematic review. Consistent findings on relationships between depressive symptoms and influencing factors included (a) acculturative stress, (b) religious or spiritual significance for females, (c) parent–child cohesion, (d) harsh parenting style, (e) responsive parenting style, (f) racial or ethnic discrimination, (g) being bullied, (h) positive mentor presence, and (i) exposure to community violence. Collectively, the majority of included studies suggest that depressive symptoms were more likely found among Asian American adolescents who (a) are older, (b) are female, (c) have immigrant status, (d) exhibit coping behaviours, (e) face academic challenges, (f) face a poor socioeconomic situation, (g) perceive parent–child conflict, (h) perceive maternal disconnectedness, and (i) perceive negative peer relations. A number of conflictive findings also existed. Discussion/Conclusions: This systematic review provides a summary of the various psychosocial factors on individual, familial, and social levels, which influenced the depressive symptoms of Asian American adolescents. Such findings offer a starting point to examine what factors should be necessarily included in related depression-preventive intervention design and evaluation. Culturally sensitive care, strengthened family–school–community collaboration, and targeted research efforts are needed to meet the needs of Asian adolescents experiencing a range of depressive symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth)
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Other

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7 pages, 187 KiB  
Brief Report
Perspectives on Humanizing and Liberatory Qualitative Research with Racially/Ethnically Minoritized Youth
by Shawn S. Savage, Royel M. Johnson, Alex J. Kenney and DaVonti’ D. Haynes
Healthcare 2021, 9(10), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9101317 - 1 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2520
Abstract
The visible impacts of COVID-19 and racial injustice have resulted in renewed funding commitments and research within minoritized communities. However, this work is too often anchored in deficit and damage-centered research approaches and practices. In this brief, we call on the qualitative research [...] Read more.
The visible impacts of COVID-19 and racial injustice have resulted in renewed funding commitments and research within minoritized communities. However, this work is too often anchored in deficit and damage-centered research approaches and practices. In this brief, we call on the qualitative research community to reframe their perspectives and terminate harmful, pain-driven research. We underscore the importance of humanizing and liberatory approaches to research with youth who are racially/ethnically minoritized. Specifically, we contend that the emotional health and overall well-being of youth are impacted by the approaches employed by researchers and the experiences racially/ethnically minoritized youth have with research. Thus, we offer specific anti-oppressive strategies and recommendations for qualitative researchers to consider in their work with racial/ethnically minoritized youth and communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advancements in the Science of Emotional Health among Vulnerable Youth)
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