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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social connectedness

Building On and Tailoring To: Adapting a Cancer Caregiver Psychoeducational Intervention for Rural Settings
Describes the process for adapting the CARING intervention for rural cancer patient caregivers. Offers lessons learned related to intervention selection, involving impacted populations, and communicating with the original intervention developers.
Author(s): Erin E. Kent, Kelly R. Tan, Zev M. Nakamura, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 13(7), e70187
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
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Variations in Caregivers' Health and Well-Being in the North Central Region: Research Snapshot
Examines the emotional and financial health of caregivers across gender, race/ethnicity, household income, rurality, and caregiving type. Utilizes 2023 data from the North Central Region and provides statistics on physical, mental, social, and financial effects of caregiving.
Author(s): Elena Pojman, Florence Becot, Shoshanah Inwood
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Mental Health of Women in Rural Illinois: Insights from the Household Pulse Survey, June-July 2024
Explores the mental health of women in nonmetropolitan Illinois. Utilizes 2024 data from the Household Pulse Survey to examine rate of mental illness in nonmetro Illinois women according to race, education, income and marital status; impacts of role overload; and feelings on loneliness and connectedness.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Discharge Disposition for Home Health Care Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia: The Role of Living Arrangements and Rural Living
Examines rural versus urban differences in living arrangements and their impact on discharge disposition of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). Analyzes 531,269 Medicare fee-for-service patient records with data breakdowns for living arrangement, such as living alone, living at home with others, or living in a congregate setting, as well as sociodemographic and health condition variables. Discusses rural versus urban disparities when a patient discharges to their community or an institution and the impact of social support on ADRD patients.
Author(s): Daniel Jung, Jeong Ha (Steph) Choi, Kerstin Gerst Emerson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Active Social Engagement and Health among Older Adults: Assessing Differences by Cancer Survivorship Status
Evaluates whether recent cancer survivorship affects the relationship between active social engagement and health-related quality of life among older adults, utilizing data from 2,914 survey participants in seven states. Includes data on physical and mental health-related quality of life in rural versus urban populations.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Moss, Veronica Bernacchi, Erin Kitt-Lewis
Citation: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 22, 67
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Community-Level Factors and their Associations with Changing Opioid Overdose Fatality Rates in Kentucky, 2019–2021
Identifies associations between community-level factors and opioid overdose fatality rates in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties, and examines how these associations have changed from 2019 to 2021. Discusses societal changes that occurred due to COVID-19, including social isolation, and which may be linked to an increase in overdose deaths. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, adjacent-to-metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Shawn R. Nigam, Philip M. Westgate, Svetla Slavova, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 90-115
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Social Induction via a Social Behavioral Intervention on Changes in Metabolic Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Rural Appalachia, United States
Examines the effects of a social network intervention on metabolic health in rural, Appalachian Kentucky. Presents data of 301 participants, including data on change in body weight, waist circumference, mean arterial blood pressure, and other cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators. Evaluates the relationship between social networks, health behaviors, and physical health outcomes.
Author(s): Eric L. Ding, Kathleen T. Watson, Leila Makarechi, et al.
Citation: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 99(7), 1058-1077
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Patient Perspectives on Cancer Care during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study
Analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on cancer patients' care experiences and mental health. Utilizes interview data from 15 rural Maryland patients who received a cancer diagnosis or treatment between January 2020 and October 2022. Discusses access to care, consistency of care, telehealth use, social isolation, patient advocacy, COVID-19 precautions, and more.
Author(s): Krista Y. Chen, Olivia Stanford, Jennifer A. Wenzel, Robert L. Joyner, Adrian S. Dobs
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(7), e0306035
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Perceived Social and Emotional Support Among Teenagers: United States, July 2021–December 2022
Compares child and parent reported social and emotional support among teens aged 12-17. Utilizes National Health Interview Survey and National Health Interview Survey–Teen data to analyze perceived support and related health conditions, with breakdowns according to sex, age group, race, sexual minority status, family income, parental education, region, and urbanization level, including large central or fringe metropolitan, medium or small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Risk Factors Associated with Loneliness among Mexican-Origin Adults in Southern Arizona
Examines factors associated with symptoms of loneliness among Mexican-origin adults in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Utilizes data of 213 Mexican-origin adults at risk for diabetes or depression in Arizona's Pima, Yuma, and Santa Cruz counties. Evaluates factors including social supports, optimism, physical problem frequency and severity, age, place of birth, and length of residence in the U.S.
Author(s): Mario Morales, Ada M. Wilkinson-Lee, Maia Ingram, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1694
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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