Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social connectedness
Chronic Pain in Community: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Vet-to-Vet Program
Examines healthcare utilization patterns among veterans with chronic pain enrolled in the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer-led virtual support group. Utilizes focus group feedback from 40 veterans in the program regarding outcomes from participation, including impacts on mental, physical, and social health.
Author(s): Rachael R. Kenney, Elise Gunzburger, Drew Herbert, Kyla L. Bauer, Joseph W. Frank
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Examines healthcare utilization patterns among veterans with chronic pain enrolled in the Vet-to-Vet program, a peer-led virtual support group. Utilizes focus group feedback from 40 veterans in the program regarding outcomes from participation, including impacts on mental, physical, and social health.
Author(s): Rachael R. Kenney, Elise Gunzburger, Drew Herbert, Kyla L. Bauer, Joseph W. Frank
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Stories from the Field - Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being
Describes the 7 Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being framework: belonging, health and safety, housing, work and wealth, lifelong learning, thriving natural world, and transportation. Provides examples from health centers focused on these vital conditions, including rural examples such as the Agricultural Worker Health Program in South Carolina and CareVan in Kansas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Describes the 7 Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being framework: belonging, health and safety, housing, work and wealth, lifelong learning, thriving natural world, and transportation. Provides examples from health centers focused on these vital conditions, including rural examples such as the Agricultural Worker Health Program in South Carolina and CareVan in Kansas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Western Region Household Survey Report: Findings from the WR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024
Reports on rural and urban demographics, economics, social environment, mental health, substance recovery, food security, and natural environment across the Western United States using 2024 data from the WR-Stat: Baseline Survey from 4,502 households. Includes state-by-state rural-urban comparison data.
Author(s): Ahsan Kibria, Nadeeka Weerasekara, Thomas Trotter, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
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Reports on rural and urban demographics, economics, social environment, mental health, substance recovery, food security, and natural environment across the Western United States using 2024 data from the WR-Stat: Baseline Survey from 4,502 households. Includes state-by-state rural-urban comparison data.
Author(s): Ahsan Kibria, Nadeeka Weerasekara, Thomas Trotter, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
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MauiWES Community Report - The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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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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