Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social connectedness
The Relationship Between Low Social/Emotional Support and Health Care Affordability Among Rural and Urban Residents
Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Reflections from Lived Experience: Disability and Public Libraries
Examines disability needs as related to rural public libraries and their services. Focuses on library networking, information resources, outreach, and accessing community resources in rural areas. Discusses library services such as assisting with health insurance and benefits enrollment, social connectedness, transportation needs, and more.
Author(s): Jeff Gutierrez
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Examines disability needs as related to rural public libraries and their services. Focuses on library networking, information resources, outreach, and accessing community resources in rural areas. Discusses library services such as assisting with health insurance and benefits enrollment, social connectedness, transportation needs, and more.
Author(s): Jeff Gutierrez
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Mechanisms of Resilience and Coping to Intersectional HIV Prevention and Drug-Use Stigma among People who Inject Drugs in Rural Appalachian Ohio
Analyzes perspectives on resilience and coping strategies and behaviors related to stigma reduction and HIV prevention among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural Appalachian Ohio, utilizing interview data of 35 PWID. Discusses the role of supports for PWID in improving public health outcomes in rural areas.
Author(s): Stacy Endres-Dighe, Ana D. Sucaldito, Renee McDowell, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 22, 18
Date: 02/2025
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Analyzes perspectives on resilience and coping strategies and behaviors related to stigma reduction and HIV prevention among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural Appalachian Ohio, utilizing interview data of 35 PWID. Discusses the role of supports for PWID in improving public health outcomes in rural areas.
Author(s): Stacy Endres-Dighe, Ana D. Sucaldito, Renee McDowell, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 22, 18
Date: 02/2025
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Investigating Suicide Risk Factors Among Appalachian West Virginian Adults
Results of a study exploring lifetime suicide risk in West Virginia. Identifies factors driving urban-rural differences in suicide risk, using survey data from the 2021 Mountain State Assessment of Trends in Community Health. Features demographics and statistics with breakdown by urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Erin D. Caswell, Angela M. Dyer, Summer D. Hartley
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 41-66
Date: 01/2025
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Results of a study exploring lifetime suicide risk in West Virginia. Identifies factors driving urban-rural differences in suicide risk, using survey data from the 2021 Mountain State Assessment of Trends in Community Health. Features demographics and statistics with breakdown by urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Erin D. Caswell, Angela M. Dyer, Summer D. Hartley
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 41-66
Date: 01/2025
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A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring the Role of Social Isolation in the Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Depressive Symptoms, and Resource Use Among Midwestern Rural Veterans in the U.S.
Presents a study focusing on the role social isolation plays in short an long-term food insecurity among rural veterans living in the Midwest. Explores rates of resource use and depressive symptoms associated with social isolation. Breaks down data by race, age, and employment status, among other measures.
Author(s): Mwiza A. Uwashimimana, Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Douglas A. Sneddon, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 17(2), 318
Date: 01/2025
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Presents a study focusing on the role social isolation plays in short an long-term food insecurity among rural veterans living in the Midwest. Explores rates of resource use and depressive symptoms associated with social isolation. Breaks down data by race, age, and employment status, among other measures.
Author(s): Mwiza A. Uwashimimana, Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Douglas A. Sneddon, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 17(2), 318
Date: 01/2025
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Rural Roads to Cognitive Resilience (RRR): A Prospective Cohort Study Protocol
Study protocol to investigate the influence of smoke-related fine particulate matter exposures and social and built environments on social isolation and cognitive function among rural Floridians in areas affected by seasonal agricultural burning. Discusses the significance of health disparities associated with agriculture in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities.
Author(s): Lilah M. Besser, Lisa Wiese, Diane J. Cook, et al.
Citation: PloS ONE, 20(1), e0312660
Date: 01/2025
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Study protocol to investigate the influence of smoke-related fine particulate matter exposures and social and built environments on social isolation and cognitive function among rural Floridians in areas affected by seasonal agricultural burning. Discusses the significance of health disparities associated with agriculture in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities.
Author(s): Lilah M. Besser, Lisa Wiese, Diane J. Cook, et al.
Citation: PloS ONE, 20(1), e0312660
Date: 01/2025
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Translation and Assessment of Encultured Meaning of the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Diné Bizaad (Navajo) Using Community-Based Participatory Action Research Methods
Highlights the community-engaged research approach to translating the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) into the Diné bizaad (Navajo) language so that it can be used to measure perceived social support in Navajo communities. Breaks down the structure of the MSPSS and details the translation process through a community-based participatory research method.
Author(s): Tapati Dutta, Jon Agley, Camille Keith, Gregory Zimet
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(1), 9433
Date: 01/2025
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Highlights the community-engaged research approach to translating the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) into the Diné bizaad (Navajo) language so that it can be used to measure perceived social support in Navajo communities. Breaks down the structure of the MSPSS and details the translation process through a community-based participatory research method.
Author(s): Tapati Dutta, Jon Agley, Camille Keith, Gregory Zimet
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(1), 9433
Date: 01/2025
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Strategies for Promoting Well-Being Across the Workplace Lifecycle: Case Studies from Rural Community Health Centers, Part 1
A recorded webinar that discusses staff well-being in rural Community Health Centers, with a focus on best practices related to staff recruitment, hiring strategies, and engagement. Includes information on social isolation and loneliness, work-life balance, and social and family needs of healthcare staff in rural areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Rural Recruitment Best Practices
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
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A recorded webinar that discusses staff well-being in rural Community Health Centers, with a focus on best practices related to staff recruitment, hiring strategies, and engagement. Includes information on social isolation and loneliness, work-life balance, and social and family needs of healthcare staff in rural areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Rural Recruitment Best Practices
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
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Physician Engagement in Addressing Health-Related Social Needs and Burnout
Results of a 2022 study exploring physicians' engagement in addressing health-related social needs and its association with burnout. Supplementary material features statistics including geographic location with breakdowns by greater or less than 20% rural patient care.
Additional links: Supplementary Content
Author(s): Masami Tabata-Kelly, Xiaochu Hu, Michael J. Dill, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2452152
Date: 12/2024
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Results of a 2022 study exploring physicians' engagement in addressing health-related social needs and its association with burnout. Supplementary material features statistics including geographic location with breakdowns by greater or less than 20% rural patient care.
Additional links: Supplementary Content
Author(s): Masami Tabata-Kelly, Xiaochu Hu, Michael J. Dill, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12), e2452152
Date: 12/2024
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The Loss of Rural Vital Places: A Case Study Using the Social Determinants of Health Framework
Interviews 26 residents of a rural Pennsylvania town to explore the impact of the loss of vital places (defined as sources of healthy food, recreational facilities, and social spaces) through a social determinants of health lens. Discusses built environments, economic stability, education, and transportation and their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant
Citation: Wellbeing, Space and Society, 7
Date: 12/2024
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Interviews 26 residents of a rural Pennsylvania town to explore the impact of the loss of vital places (defined as sources of healthy food, recreational facilities, and social spaces) through a social determinants of health lens. Discusses built environments, economic stability, education, and transportation and their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant
Citation: Wellbeing, Space and Society, 7
Date: 12/2024
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