| Popis: |
Chronic, uncontrollable exposure to social and environmental stressors has been associated with negative health and well-being outcomes, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular reactivity and disease, psychological distress, passive coping strategies development of mental health problems later in life, poor academic achievement, and lower relational competence. Chronic and uncontrollable stress disproportionately impacts at-risk youth, including low-income, minority and immigrant populations. However, most research focuses on the broader experiences of these youth rather than contextual and community factors that influence chronic stress. The purpose of this study was to address gaps in the literature by (1) understanding the cultural and contextual differences and (2) consider factors of resilience, rather than risk, in low-income populations in Cincinnati. Three communities were recruited to participate in the study: rural White Appalachian, urban Black, and urban Latino adolescents. Through a narrative and participatory approach, 18 adolescents participated in a narrative interview and 8 adolescents subsequently engaged in participatory analysis and creation of a visual narrative. The results reveal that although all three groups experienced many chronic stressors (e.g., neighborhood characteristics including violence and drug use, conflict in relationships, academic stress), their experiences with risk and protective factors were very different in each community. The results indicate a need for tailored interventions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches to reducing chronic stress and supporting adolescents. Implications for future research and recommendations for strategies to bolster protective factors in each community are discussed. |
