Sukhmani Singh, Joshua G. Adler, Fernando Ricardo Valenzuela, James Jeter, Tanya Rhodes Smith
{"title":"Moving from manufactured ambivalence to building power: Recommendations for voter engagement interventions through a participatory project with formerly incarcerated people","authors":"Sukhmani Singh, Joshua G. Adler, Fernando Ricardo Valenzuela, James Jeter, Tanya Rhodes Smith","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70013","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Felony re-enfranchisement efforts have expanded voting rights of formerly incarcerated people (FIP) across 26 states. Despite progress, research demonstrates low voter turnout and civic participation among this structurally marginalized population. We conducted a community-based participatory research project, rooted in the framework of critical consciousness, to understand how FIP experience voting. We conducted five semi-structured focus groups with 32 FIP; the majority of people were of color (85%). We find FIP articulate a nuanced, structural analysis of the injustices they face at the intersection of numerous public-serving systems, including the legal and electoral systems. Notably, they are not apathetic toward voting or civic participation. Rather, we note manufactured ambivalence as an emotional response stemming from their critical reflection—that is, while they simultaneously articulate that their needs will not be met by the system and things do not change, they are also attuned to how powerful actors, particularly politicians, make decisions impacting their lives. Despite gaps in civic education due to community disinvestment, FIP express a strong desire for building both individual and collective efficacy to address oppression. We generate key components that future initiatives should consider for promoting civics education, voting, and building political power with FIP.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"133-148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144938997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tamara Nelson, Naysha N. Shahid, Samrawit B. Gebretensay, Chareina C. Johnson, Penny D. Telesford, Karen Sheffield-Abdullah
{"title":"“And in some cases, we're the best option:” A qualitative study of community-based doula support for black perinatal mental health","authors":"Tamara Nelson, Naysha N. Shahid, Samrawit B. Gebretensay, Chareina C. Johnson, Penny D. Telesford, Karen Sheffield-Abdullah","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70020","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We explored community-based doulas' perspectives on the acceptability of using formal screening tools to address low rates of mental health screening, diagnosis, and treatment for perinatal anxiety and depression among Black women. Using thematic analysis, we analyzed interview data from 30 community-based doulas who support Black families during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Approximately 57% of community-based doulas supported mental health screening; 23% opposed, and 20% were unsure of whether or not to screen. Four themes emerged from participants' responses, including (1) rethinking screening approaches and procedures; (2) cultural and contextual screening; (3) community-based doula roles; and (4) client mistrust of mental health questionnaires. Additionally, there were four themes that highlighted community-based doulas' perspectives of how they might advocate for this population, including (1) bridge to mental health; (2) identification and normalization of symptoms; (3) systemic issues; and (4) mental health specialization. Partnering with trusted community-based doulas might improve perinatal mental health screening and prevention efforts for Black women experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"215-230"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13007760/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cross-community community-based participatory research: A scoping review","authors":"You Wu, Dalya Robinson, Mina Silberberg","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70048","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70048","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the United States (US), communities that share the reality of relatively poor health are often on differing sides of a growing political divide. Might community-based participatory research (CBPR) promote inter-community understanding and mutual support? We conducted a scoping review of English-language literature on CBPR in the United States that utilized what we term “purposeful diversity.” By purposeful diversity, we mean studies that intentionally involved partnerships with communities of differing race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic regions, gender/sexual orientation, religions or age in order to achieve a specific result. Only 41 partnerships (described in 65 papers) met our review criteria. Purposeful diversity in ethnicity/race was most common. Community advisory boards, community co-investigators, and community membership on steering committees were prevalent forms of community participation. Frequently, reasons for involving diverse partners were not given; those offered most often were the disproportionate burden of poor health on the communities participating. While many partnerships reported benefits of diversity, the only benefit frequently mentioned was success in recruiting diverse participants. Fewer than 40% of partnerships addressed challenges from working with diverse communities; barriers to communication and understanding were the most common. Fewer than 20% of partnerships reported strategies to address these challenges. Even fewer documented results of such strategies or methods they used to explore the influence of community diversity. Despite the focus of CBPR on structural disadvantage and the possibility of structural change, the potential of this approach for addressing inter-community conflict is virtually unexplored.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"7-18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146083817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nick Kerman, Sena Gok, John Sylvestre, John Ecker, Sihan Zhang, Stephen W. Hwang, Nicole Kozloff, Vicky Stergiopoulos
{"title":"Complexity among people experiencing homelessness: A scoping review of definitions and measurement approaches","authors":"Nick Kerman, Sena Gok, John Sylvestre, John Ecker, Sihan Zhang, Stephen W. Hwang, Nicole Kozloff, Vicky Stergiopoulos","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70052","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<p>People experiencing homelessness are often described as having “complex needs” for whom various health and housing interventions have been developed. However, there is no consensus on how this and similar terms are defined or measured. A prospectively registered scoping review was conducted to examine how “complexity” is defined and measured with people experiencing homelessness. Six academic databases were searched, along with several techniques for identifying grey literature and articles in unindexed journals. A total of 224 academic articles were included in the review (35 grey literature articles were included in a supplemental review). There were 220 definitions of complexity provided in 203 academic articles, which most commonly included mental illness and/or substance use problems. Physical health problems, multiple health conditions, justice system involvement and offending behaviours, health and social service use patterns, and type and characteristics of homelessness were also common. Three types of approaches for measuring complexity were identified in 29 articles: (1) instruments (primarily vulnerability indices and service prioritization tools), (2) risk adjustment/health resource prediction indices, and (3) study-specific algorithms and processes. Limited validation was common among the methodological approaches, with a few exceptions. Overall, the findings highlight how complexity is often underdefined, with limitations in its measurement.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"19-36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146163530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shannon B. Wanless, Meghan C. Orman, Shallegra Moye, Caitlin F. Spear
{"title":"A community-partnered process for construct & measure development: The 3Rs: Reading, Racial equity, & Relationships","authors":"Shannon B. Wanless, Meghan C. Orman, Shallegra Moye, Caitlin F. Spear","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70010","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This paper describes a 3-year community–partnered research initiative focused on advancing early reading, racial equity, and relationships—collectively known as the 3Rs Initiative. The project brought together researchers and community members committed to ensuring that all adults in the county embody a shared “3Rs mindset” to better support literacy development for children in kindergarten through third grade. In Study 1, researchers and community members (The 3Rs team) used thematic analysis of interviews, meeting notes, and group activity and discussion artifacts with community stakeholders to construct and validate a definition of a 3Rs mindset. In Study 2, the 3Rs team created a 36-item scale that could assess an adult's 3Rs mindset. The scale demonstrated excellent content validity, response process, and associative validity. Findings from both studies suggest that community-partnered measure development can be achieved through collaboration, honoring of multiple perspectives, and elevating community partners as “experiential experts” (El Mallah, 2024, p. 984). Measures resulting from such processes have the benefit of community-defined cultural specificity and strong content validity and can be leveraged towards social change.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"52-69"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13007759/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144939045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From greens to safety: Exploring the relationship between outdoor neighborhood conditions, neighborly bonds, and social integration among public housing residents","authors":"Mihi Parikh, Jiya Patel, Gum-Ryeong Park","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70018","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aims to examine the relationship between outdoor environmental quality, trust in neighbors, and social integration among residents of public rental housing in Seoul, South Korea. It also investigates how neighborly relationships moderate this association. The study uses data from the 2016–2021 Seoul Public Rental Housing Panel Survey (SPRHPS) and applies individual fixed effects models to examine how outdoor environmental quality affects trust in neighbors. It also explores the moderating role of dwelling type characterized by apartment and non-apartment (e.g., single detached house and multiunit housing). Poor outdoor environmental quality, characterized by low greenery, inadequate amenities, and unsafe conditions, was linked to diminished trust in neighbors. Interestingly, the negative impact of these outdoor conditions on neighborly trust was less pronounced among residents of apartments compared to those living in non-apartment settings. This trend was also observed in other outcomes, such as attitudes toward social integration. These findings highlight the importance of both physical environmental improvements and fostering social connections in public housing communities to enhance social trust and overall well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"160-169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144999398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Linnea L. Hjelm, Aishia A. Brown, Benjamin W. Fisher, Alice Story, Nubia Bennett
{"title":"Structural problems without structural solutions? Youth leaders' perceptions of their community","authors":"Linnea L. Hjelm, Aishia A. Brown, Benjamin W. Fisher, Alice Story, Nubia Bennett","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70008","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70008","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As young people explore and reflect on the conditions of their neighborhoods and communities, they can forge a critical consciousness—merging their perspectives and analysis to direct both individual and collective actions. Photovoice is a methodological tool that allows participants to document their perspectives and analysis and discuss with peers what is needed for social change. In this study, members of a local government youth program engaged in Photovoice with the ultimate goal of exploring problems and possible solutions from their points of view. Through dialogue of their selected photos, participants name a variety of structural causes of neighborhood neglect and abandonment. However, when encouraged to consider the solutions to those issues, participants predominantly identify individual or community-level actions. We discuss the implications of this discord in the context of literature on critical consciousness and social justice youth development, with the hope of informing policy and practice decisions that can facilitate the empowerment of young people and elevate community well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"37-51"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13007755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145997038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jaleah D. Rutledge, Jasmine Abrams, Ijeoma Opara, Robin Lin Miller
{"title":"Navigating an STI diagnosis: The role of social support, intergenerational learning, and transformative growth among Black women","authors":"Jaleah D. Rutledge, Jasmine Abrams, Ijeoma Opara, Robin Lin Miller","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70011","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Black women face a myriad of challenges that heighten their susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), resulting in a disproportionate impact of STIs among this population. Yet, there is a lack of research that explores how women navigate these diagnoses with resilience. Instead, much of the prevention research on Black women's sexual health and wellness reflects a deficit orientation and focuses on risk. In the current study, we adopt a strengths-based approach and use narrative inquiry methodology to identify mechanisms of resilience that support Black women in navigating the social and emotional challenges following an STI diagnosis. Narrative analysis of interviews with 16 Black women who have been diagnosed with an STI at least once in their lifetimes revealed three storylines about mechanisms of resilience that helped them resolve the impact of the diagnosis: (1) support from other women, (2) openness to intragenerational learning and teaching, and (3) self-love and transformative growth. By understanding how women navigate STI diagnoses, researchers and practitioners can move beyond risk-focused interventions for Black women and toward those that capitalize on their assets and strengths.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"118-132"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13007758/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144939068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachael Goodman-Williams, Shaunna L. Clark, Sarah E. Ullman
{"title":"A longitudinal analysis of social integration, perceived emotional support, and posttraumatic stress in a community sample of sexual assault survivors","authors":"Rachael Goodman-Williams, Shaunna L. Clark, Sarah E. Ullman","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Social support has long been recognized as an individual and community resource that can reduce stress and promote well-being, both in everyday life and after traumatic events. This study sought to explore the impact of two types of social support—social integration and perceived emotional support—on sexual assault survivors' longitudinal experiences of posttraumatic stress. We built on a previously conducted latent transition analysis to identify whether social integration and perceived emotional support predicted membership in each latent class, in addition to whether varied levels of support predicted transitions between latent classes over 1 year. Based on responses from a community sample of sexual assault survivors in an urban area of the midwestern United States, we found that while both types of social support predicted latent class membership, the impact of each type of support varied between latent classes, such that social integration and perceived emotional support were differently impactful depending on one's experience of posttraumatic stress. Findings contribute to the ongoing discussion of social support as a vital community resource and suggest circumstances in which social integration and perceived emotional support may each be especially useful in reducing distress and promoting health.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"70-82"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily Hersch, Alexandra Werntz, Sarah E. O. Schwartz, Elizabeth B. Raposa, James Hughes, McKenna F. Parnes, Jean Rhodes
{"title":"Testing the effects of a social capital intervention on college student retention and academic success","authors":"Emily Hersch, Alexandra Werntz, Sarah E. O. Schwartz, Elizabeth B. Raposa, James Hughes, McKenna F. Parnes, Jean Rhodes","doi":"10.1002/ajcp.70027","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajcp.70027","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Social capital, particularly in the form of supportive relationships and mentorship, plays a crucial role in enhancing college students' academic success and retention. However, disparities in access to these resources contribute to inequities in educational and career outcomes. This study examined the long-term effects of a one-credit course, Connected Scholars, which was designed to teach college students a variety of evidence-based skills for building social capital and recruiting mentors. Drawing on longitudinal administrative data from a large, diverse public university, results demonstrated that passing Connected Scholars was associated with improved retention and an increased likelihood of graduating within 4 or 6 years. Connected Scholars was not associated with significant differences in cumulative GPA at graduation. Results highlight the potential long-term impacts of this semester-long social capital intervention. By increasing college retention and timely degree completion, Connected Scholars may help mitigate economic disparities often experienced by students from marginalized backgrounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":7576,"journal":{"name":"American journal of community psychology","volume":"77 1-2","pages":"273-290"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145511598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}