Psychosocial Aspects Of Chronic Illness And Disability Among African Americans

One out of every seven working age African Americans has an impairment that affects functioning in activities of daily living. These statistics suggest that most African Americans are touched by disability. This book examines the psychosocial aspects of disability and chronic illness using a culturally congruent framework. Chapters address prevalance, health and rehabilitation utilization patterns, the role of culture, empirical research, and strategies for improving mental health and functional outcomes. This book will be useful to professionals who work with people with disabilities, policymakers, and consumers, as well as faculty and students in rehabilitation, health, and African American courses.

In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good-or equally poor-health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations. Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability, Fifth Edition is a comprehensive text designed to educate students with little or no medical background on how to work with individuals challenged by chronic illness and disability. Falvo utilizes her nursing expertise and over 30 years of rehabilitation counseling and psychology experience to create a text for students preparing for careers in rehabilitation nursing, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or social work. This text serves as an important resource to assist students and professionals in understanding the manifestations of common chronic illnesses and disabilities. The goal is to bring awareness around the impact of chronic illness and disability to clients through a discussion of symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and prognoses. The Fifth Edition includes new research and addresses the rapid changes in the fields of medicine and rehabilitation. In addition, thorough coverage of cultural concerns and the impact of cultural issues on the counseling process are also discussed. Resources for Instructors: Comprehensive Test Bank, PowerPoint Presentations Book jacket.

Praise for the First Edition: "This is an excellent book, but the best parts are the stories of the disabled, which give readers insights into their struggles and triumphs." Score: 94, 4 Stars–-Doody's Medical Reviews What are the differences between individuals with disabilities who flourish as opposed to those who never really adjust after a trauma? How do those born with a disability differ from individuals who acquire one later in life? Fully updated and revised, this second edition of a unique rehabilitation counseling text reflects growing disparities among "haves and have-nots" as they bear on the psychosocial aspects of disability. New content focuses on returning veterans afflicted with physical and mental health problems, persons with disabilities living in poverty, and the need for increased family and community-based engagement. The book provides updated information about assisted suicide, genetic testing, new legislation, and much more. Using a minority model perspective, the text provides students and practitioners of rehabilitation and mental health counseling with vivid insight into the experience of living with a disability. It features first-person narratives from people living with a variety of disabling conditions, which are integrated with sociological and societal perspectives toward disability, and strategies for counseling such individuals. The text encompasses an historical perspective, psychological and sociological research, cultural variants regarding disability, myths and misconceptions, the attitudes of special interest and occupational groups, the use positive psychology, and adjustments to disability by the individual and family. A wealth of counseling guidelines and useful strategies are geared to individuals with specific disabilities. Designed for a 15-week semester, the book also includes thought-provoking discussion questions and exercises, an Instructor’s Manual and PowerPoints. New to the Second Edition: Reflects the growing disparities between “haves and have-nots” as they impact people with disabilities Includes new content on veterans with physical and mental disabilities Describes the experience of impoverished individuals with disabilities Examines the need for increase family and community-based engagement Discusses strengths and weaknesses of the Americans with Disabilities Act Covers assisted suicide, genetic testing, and recent legislationExpanded coverage of sexual identity Provides an Instructor Manual and PowerPoints Key Features: Provides 16 personal narratives demonstrating the "normalcy" of individuals with different types of disabling conditions Includes stories of people living with blindness, hearing impairments, spinal chord injuries, muscular dystrophy, mental illness, and other disabilities Delivers counseling strategies geared toward specific disabilities, with "do’s" and "don'ts" Discusses ongoing treatment issues and ethical dilemmas for rehabilitation counselors

This book introduces the reader to the complexities and management of chronic/persistent pain. Chronic pain affects one in seven in the UK population and can be experienced as a symptom of disease or trauma but can also exist without the presence of either of these. This is aimed at non-specialist working in all areas of health care who want to know more about this complex problem. This book begins by exploring models of care and introduces the reader to the biopsychosocial model before going on to explain the physiology of pain. Further chapters explore the snuffer's experience, the appraisal of pain, and barriers to effective pain management and treatment strategies.

"What a marvelous and amazing textbook. Drs. Marini, Glover-Graf and Millington have done a remarkable job in the design of this highly unique book, that comprehensively and very thoughtfully addresses the psychosocial aspects of the disability experience. These highly respected scholars have produced a major work that will be a central text in rehabilitation education for years to come." From the Foreword by Michael J. Leahy, Ph.D., LPC, CRC Office of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Michigan State University "This is an excellent book, but the best parts are the stories of the disabled, which give readers insights into their struggles and triumphs." Score: 94, 4 Stars--Doody's Medical Reviews What are the differences between individuals with disabilities who flourish as opposed to those who never really adjust after a trauma? How are those born with a disability different from individuals who acquire one later in life? This is the first textbook about the psychosocial aspects of disability to provide students and practitioners of rehabilitation counseling with vivid insight into the experience of living with a disability. It features the first-person narratives of 16 people living with a variety of disabling conditions, which are integrated with sociological and societal perspectives toward disability, and strategies for counseling persons with disabilities. Using a minority model perspective to address disability, the book focuses on historical perspectives, cultural variants regarding disability, myths and misconceptions, the attitudes of special interest and occupational groups, the psychology of disability with a focus on positive psychology, and adjustments to disability by the individual and family. A wealth of counseling guidelines and useful strategies are geared specifically to individual disabilities. Key Features: Contains narratives of people living with blindness, hearing impairments, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, polio, mental illness, and other disabilities Provides counseling guidelines and strategies specifically geared toward specific disabilities, including "dos and don'ts" Includes psychological and sociological research relating to individual disabilities Discusses ongoing treatment issues and ethical dilemmas for rehabilitation counselors Presents thought-provoking discussion questions in each chapter Authored by prominent professor and researcher who became disabled as a young adult

African American Psychology: From Africa to America, Fourth Edition provides comprehensive coverage of the field of African American psychology. Authors Faye Z. Belgrave and Kevin W. Allison skillfully convey the integration of African and American influences on the psychology of African Americans using a consistent theme throughout the text—the idea that understanding the psychology of African Americans is closely linked to understanding what is happening in the institutional systems in the United States. The Fourth Edition reflects notable advances and important developments in the field over the last several years, and includes evidence-based practices for improving the overall well-being of African American communities. New to the Fourth Edition Coverage of current issues affecting African Americans and causing changes in the social-political environment include the Black Lives Matter movement, racial trauma, and more. Content from blogs has been added to chapter-opening cover stories to reflect the more modern ways news and information are obtained. More coverage of literature and research on Blacks throughout the diaspora, especially in Africa, provide historical context and documents heterogeneity among African Americans in the United States. Expanded coverage of topics as a result of recent research includes LGBTQ individuals, African American fathers, colorism, intersectionality, electronic cigarettes, social media, and more. More...