Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social connectedness
Community Voices from North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots Program: Implications for Designing and Evaluating Programs to Address Upstream Drivers of Health
Describes experiences of participants in North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, including enrollees, care managers, and staff at community-based organizations. The program tested impacts of providing services to eligible Medicaid members to address upstream drivers of health in 3 predominantly rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Alida Austin, Katie Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody Kinsley, Rebecca Whitaker
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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Describes experiences of participants in North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, including enrollees, care managers, and staff at community-based organizations. The program tested impacts of providing services to eligible Medicaid members to address upstream drivers of health in 3 predominantly rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Alida Austin, Katie Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody Kinsley, Rebecca Whitaker
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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Economic Cynicism, COVID-19 and Deaths of Despair in Rural Ohio Counties
Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Active Aging for L.I.F.E.: An Intergenerational Program to Improve Adolescents' Aging Attitudes in Rural Communities
Presents results of participation in Active Aging for L.I.F.E., a school-based intergenerational program focused on health literacy, health awareness, aging attitudes, and social connectedness, among 77 junior high and high school students in rural Oklahoma. Details how outcomes varied by sex and age.
Author(s): Xuewei Chen, Emily Roberts
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 822
Date: 06/2026
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Presents results of participation in Active Aging for L.I.F.E., a school-based intergenerational program focused on health literacy, health awareness, aging attitudes, and social connectedness, among 77 junior high and high school students in rural Oklahoma. Details how outcomes varied by sex and age.
Author(s): Xuewei Chen, Emily Roberts
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 822
Date: 06/2026
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A National Virtual Peer Support Group for Women Veterans Living with Breast Cancer: Lessons from the Field
Discusses implementation and findings from a Veterans Health Administration virtual peer support specialist-led support group for women veterans with breast cancer. Discusses experiences of rural program participants.
Author(s): Jenny K. Cohen, Kara Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(6), 817
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses implementation and findings from a Veterans Health Administration virtual peer support specialist-led support group for women veterans with breast cancer. Discusses experiences of rural program participants.
Author(s): Jenny K. Cohen, Kara Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(6), 817
Date: 06/2026
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Drug Use and Social Connectivity Related to Hepatitis C Infection Among Rural People Who Use Drugs
Presents a study on the levels of social connectivity of rural people who use drugs (PWUDs) that correlate hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity. Explores data by demographic characteristics, and measurements of social connectivity, such as currently seeing a primary care provider, past substance use treatment, and access to transportation, among other measures.
Author(s): Alex Rains, Ellen Almirol, William Nicholson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 33(7), e70200
Date: 06/2026
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Presents a study on the levels of social connectivity of rural people who use drugs (PWUDs) that correlate hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity. Explores data by demographic characteristics, and measurements of social connectivity, such as currently seeing a primary care provider, past substance use treatment, and access to transportation, among other measures.
Author(s): Alex Rains, Ellen Almirol, William Nicholson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 33(7), e70200
Date: 06/2026
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Faith, Hope, and Therapy: A Qualitative Study to Explore Faith-Based Leaders' Perceptions of Mental Illness in the Rural South
Examines the perceptions of faith leaders living in the rural South on mental illness, referrals to mental health professionals, and mental health stigma. Provides qualitative feedback from pastors and ministers regarding mental health and the role of the church, preparedness and training to address mental health, and the importance of relationships.
Author(s): Shameka L. Cody, Shena Sanchez, Wanda M. Burton, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the perceptions of faith leaders living in the rural South on mental illness, referrals to mental health professionals, and mental health stigma. Provides qualitative feedback from pastors and ministers regarding mental health and the role of the church, preparedness and training to address mental health, and the importance of relationships.
Author(s): Shameka L. Cody, Shena Sanchez, Wanda M. Burton, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 06/2026
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Aging Well in Rural America: Partnerships, Policy, and Progress
Podcast episode describing the beginnings of and next steps for the National Rural Health Association's Age-Friendly Initiative. Discusses social connection in rural communities, community collaborations, and age-friendly care work in the Rural Health Transformation Program proposals.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Podcast episode describing the beginnings of and next steps for the National Rural Health Association's Age-Friendly Initiative. Discusses social connection in rural communities, community collaborations, and age-friendly care work in the Rural Health Transformation Program proposals.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Peer Recovery Supports for Behavioral Health in Rural Communities
Discusses behavioral health peer recovery support services in rural and agricultural communities. Highlights innovative and promising practices for overcoming behavioral health barriers, such as addressing stigma, social isolation, and scarcity of services through community and peer supports.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Discusses behavioral health peer recovery support services in rural and agricultural communities. Highlights innovative and promising practices for overcoming behavioral health barriers, such as addressing stigma, social isolation, and scarcity of services through community and peer supports.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Community Place Attachment as a Significant Correlate of Motivation to Change Substance Use Behavior among Adults who Inject Drugs in Rural U.S.
Explores the role of community place attachment (CPA) in motivating change in substance use behaviors (MCSUB) among 350 people who inject drugs in Appalachian Kentucky. Provides data on the relationship between CPA, MCSUB, and substance use treatment utilization, and discusses belongingness as an asset supporting SUD treatment in rural communities.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Keith J. Watts, Juma S. Mwenda, Hilary L. Surratt
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1746203
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the role of community place attachment (CPA) in motivating change in substance use behaviors (MCSUB) among 350 people who inject drugs in Appalachian Kentucky. Provides data on the relationship between CPA, MCSUB, and substance use treatment utilization, and discusses belongingness as an asset supporting SUD treatment in rural communities.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Keith J. Watts, Juma S. Mwenda, Hilary L. Surratt
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1746203
Date: 03/2026
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