@article{ref1,
title="A randomized control trial to test a peer support group approach for reducing social isolation and depression among female Mexican immigrants",
journal="BMC public health",
year="2021",
author="Bearer, Elaine L. and Murray-Krezan, Cristina and Page-Reeves, Janet and Tigert, Susan and Wagner, Bill and Perez, Daniel and Willging, Cathleen E. and Bleecker, Molly and Perez, Jackie and Regino, Lidia",
volume="21",
number="1",
pages="e119-e119",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Female Mexican Immigrants (FMIs) experience high rates of depression compared with other populations. For this population, depression is often  exacerbated by social isolation associated with the experience of immigration. Aim  1. To measure whether a culturally situated peer group intervention will reduce  depression and stress associated with the experience of immigration. Aim 2. To test  whether an intervention using a &quot;women's funds of knowledge&quot; approach results in  improved resilience, knowledge and empowerment. Aim 3. To investigate whether a  culturally situated peer group intervention using a women's funds of knowledge  approach can give participants a sense and experience of social and physical  connection (&quot;emplacement&quot;) that is lost in the process of immigration. <br><br>METHODS: This  mixed-methods study will implement &quot;Tertulias&quot; (&quot;conversational gatherings&quot; in  Spanish), a peer support group intervention designed to improve health outcomes for  FMI participants in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We will document results of the  intervention on our primary hypotheses of a decrease in depression, and increases in  resilience and social support, as well as on our secondary hypotheses of decreased  stress (including testing of hair cortisol as a biomarker for chronic stress), and  an increase in social connectedness and positive assessment of knowledge and  empowerment. <br><br>DISCUSSION: This project will address mental health disparities in an  underserved population that experiences high rates of social isolation. Successful  completion of this project will demonstrate that health challenges that may appear  too complex and too hard to address can be using a multi-level, holistic approach. Our use of hair samples to test for the 3-month average levels of systemic cortisol  will contribute to the literature on an emerging biomarker for analyzing chronic  stress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on  2/3/20, Identifier # NCT04254198.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-2458",
doi="10.1186/s12889-020-09867-z",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09867-z"
}