Introduction: A randomized controlled trial (#NCT03745703) assessed the efficacy of a tailored stress reduction intervention (Men of Color Health Awareness; MOCHA) aimed at improving the health of middle-aged African-American men. The present paper presents an exploratory study of whether the intervention affected chronic output of the stress hormone cortisol using the novel approach of measuring cortisol accumulation in fingernail samples. Each fingernail sample was hypothesized to contain cortisol deposited over approximately a 3-month period before collection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Black men in the U.S. experience disproportionately high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and prostate cancer - conditions closely linked to chronic stressors such as racial discrimination, economic precarity, and gender role strain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Mens Health
November 2023
There is a notable gap in empirical research regarding how Latino men define and demonstrate machismo, masculinity, and manhood as well as the behavioral consequences associated with these concepts. In our study, we employed a phenomenological thematic approach to analyze 20 semi-structured individual interviews conducted with Latino men residing in South Florida. Our primary objectives were twofold: to examine (1) how do Latino men ages 35 to 60 years describe what it means to be a man and (2) what are the attributes that these men seek to show others that demonstrate their character, cultural values, and gender identity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol
January 2025
Objectives: Structural and interpersonal discrimination can lead to social exclusion and limited social integration, inhibiting the use of support networks to gain access to health-protective material and social resources. Social support theories suggest that connectedness may moderate the link between discrimination and health risk. This study examined how risk factors (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hispanic men have disproportionate rates of overweight and obesity compared with other racial and ethnic subpopulations. However, few weight loss interventions have been developed specifically for this high-risk group. Furthermore, the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to support lifestyle behavior changes in weight loss interventions for Hispanic men is largely untested.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRationale: Puerto Ricans experience disproportionately high levels of emotional distress and co-occurring adverse health outcomes. Our study sought to elicit Puerto Rican men's perceptions of health disparities while centering dialogue on stressors, coping mechanisms, and general well-being. This paper focuses on one pronounced finding in our study, that of internalized racism and the effect it has on both individual well-being and intra-group cohesion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Low/no-income Latino men are disproportionately burdened by chronic disease morbidity and mortality, which is often compounded by persistent exposure to stress. Chronic stress is a key mediating factor in pathways linking macro-level socio-structural forces to micro-level behavioral factors with negative health outcomes. Being that Latinxs continue to be one of the fastest growing populations in the U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Q Community Health Educ
October 2021
Hispanic men have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among men in the U.S. Current research is lacking to inform best practices to engage Hispanic men in obesity-related research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLow/no-income, African American men are disproportionally burdened by chronic disease resulting from a complex interplay of systemic, sociocultural, and individual factors. These disparities are related to poverty, racism, gender role strain, high levels of stress, low levels of physical activity, and malnutritious diet. Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) is a community-driven movement to address the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of men of color.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To identify what is important to middle-aged Latino men and their personal goals and values as foundations for a future precision lifestyle medicine intervention that is rooted in Self-Determination Theory.
Design: We used a phenomenological, thematic approach to analyze data from 20 semi-structured, individual interviews with Latino men aged 35-60 years.
Setting: Community-based settings between November 2017 and May 2018 in South Florida.
. Hispanic males have the highest rates of overweight and obesity compared with men of all other racial/ethnic groups. While weight loss can significantly reduce obesity-related health risks, there is limited research examining effective gender- and culturally tailored behavioral weight loss programs for Hispanic men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFApproximately 83% of Hispanic men of Mexican origin are overweight or obese, which are both associated with increased risk of chronic disease and all-cause mortality. Consequently, men of Mexican origin have some of the highest prevalence rates of obesity-related comorbidities. Physical activity (PA) may be an important strategy for Hispanic men of Mexican origin in reducing incidence and risk factors of lifestyle diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealth Educ Behav
August 2019
Evidence suggests that Hispanic and non-Hispanic White men (NHW) have comparable prevalence rates of alcohol use. However, Hispanic men consistently have higher prevalence rates of alcohol misuse compared with NHW men. Consequently, Hispanic men experience disproportionate levels of adverse health consequences of alcohol misuse when compared with NHW men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a beverage intervention in Hispanic adults.
Design: Eligible individuals identified as Hispanic, were 18-64 years old and had BMI 30·0-50·0 kg/m2. Participants were randomized 2:2:1 to one of three beverages: Mediterranean lemonade (ML), green tea (GT) or flavoured water control (FW).
Am J Mens Health
November 2018
Hispanic men have poor access to alcohol abuse treatment, low treatment engagement, and low treatment completion rates despite the contrasting burden of alcohol-related consequences they face. The purpose of this study was to examine Hispanic male perspectives regarding alcohol abuse treatment-seeking behaviors and the structural, sociocultural, and individual factors that may influence initiation and continued engagement in treatment in this population. Individual interviews were conducted with a sample of 20 Hispanic men (age: 44.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Hispanic men have the highest rates of overweight and obesity when compared to men of other racial/ethnic groups, placing them at increased risk for obesity-related disease. Yet, Hispanic men are grossly underrepresented in weight loss research. Tailored intervention strategies to improve obesity treatment programs for this vulnerable racial/ethnic subgroup are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In the U.S., Hispanics have among the highest rates of overweight and obesity when compared to other racial/ethnic groups placing them at a greater risk for obesity-related disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Latino men are disproportionately affected by the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse when compared to non-Latino white men. Latino men also face greater barriers to accessing, engaging, and completing alcohol and substance abuse treatment services. Culturally adapted interventions are promoted to overcome these barriers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Mens Health
September 2017
Hispanic males have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among men in the United States; yet are significantly underrepresented in weight loss research. The purpose of the current study was to examine Hispanic male's perspectives of health behaviors related to weight management to refine the methodologies to deliver a gender-sensitive and culturally sensitive weight loss intervention. From October 2014 to April 2015, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 overweight Hispanic men of ages 18 to 64 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
July 2015
Background: Mental health issues are a rapidly increasing problem in the US. Little is known about mental health and healthcare among Arizona's Hispanic population.
Methods: We assess differences in mental health service need, mental health diagnoses, and illicit drug use among 7,578 White and Hispanic participants in the 2010 Arizona Health Survey.
Since October 2013, US Customs and Border Patrol has apprehended 15,979 families on the Southwest Border of the US. Daily, migrating women and children from Mexico and Central America that qualify for humanitarian parole are released from immigration detention to a humanitarian aid organization in Southern Arizona. After several days in detention facilities, these families arrive tired, hungry, dehydrated, and with minimal direction regarding their final destination, and adherence to the parameters of their parole.
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