Link found between sociocultural institutions in ethnic enclaves and resident health

UC Irvine-led study used novel measures in Asian American and Hispanic neighborhoods

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 8, 2024 — The number of sociocultural institutions within ethnic enclaves may play a significant role in positively influencing the health of immigrant Asian American and Hispanic populations, according to recent research led by the University of California, Irvine.

 

For the study, published online in the journal Social Science and Medicine, researchers created and validated two novel measures – Asian- and Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions – to identify the different mechanisms that link majority minority neighborhoods to health outcomes.

 

“Our new measures capture aspects of local economies that may support residents through in-language and culturally appropriate services, employment and social groups that help us estimate how they impact community health,” said corresponding author Brittany Morey, associate professor of health, society and behavior in the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. “Rather than census data, we used business listings to identify organizations that promote cultural and social identity, including arts, civic, historical, religious, social service and membership.”

 

An online audit of 1,627 businesses within 12 cities was conducted using keyword searches to determine potential Asian- or Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions and assess their density within census tracts. Exploratory regression analyses showed that a high presence of SCIs may be associated with neighborhood-level health indicators. Researchers discovered a larger percentage of residents in a majority Asian tract who had received an annual checkup and fewer current smokers in both majority Asian and majority Hispanic tracts when there were more SCIs.

 

“Our approach advances methodology in measurement of neighborhood SCIs by capturing data that have been previously overlooked,” Morey said. “Further studies will be conducted to examine the impact that economic resources, social capital and the built environment have on positively influencing community-level well-being. Their potential suggests that support for neighborhood SCIs may lessen health inequities by race and ethnicity.”

 

Other team members included faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students from UC Irvine, UC San Francisco, the University of Southern California, Columbia University, Kaiser Permanente Northern California and New York’s Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The full list can be found here.

 

This research was supported by the National Cancer Institute under grant numbers R01CA230440, R01CA241125 and U01CA195565.

 

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

 

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus studio with a Comrex IP audio codec to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.

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Journal

Social Science & Medicine

Article Title

A validation study for measuring Asian- and Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions in neighborhoods using business listing data and potential implications for health

Article Publication Date

8-Aug-2024

Report examines Michigan families’ experience with food access and assistance, outlines changes for improved support

University of Michigan School of Public Health

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Michigan parents worry whether they can afford to feed their children. Increased food prices, the state’s housing crisis, and the end of COVID-era financial support have all led to more Michigan families experiencing food insecurity today than before the pandemic. Now, a new report led by the University of Michigan School of Public Health details the first-hand experiences of these families; their challenges signing up for food assistance, the stress and shame of having to ask for help with food, and parents’ deep commitment to making sure their children are fed—even if it means that they go without.

Called “Feeding MI Families: Michigan Families’ Lived Experience of Food Access and Food Assistance,” the report describes the findings of the Feeding MI Families community-based participatory research project, which has engaged nearly 1,300 parents from urban and rural communities across the state. The goal of the project is to elevate the lived experience of food insecurity in order to spur improvements in federal, state, and local food systems so they work better for families.

Feeding MI Families was established in 2021 with a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to elevate the experiences of food-insecure families from Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Battle Creek. In 2022, with support from Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies, Feeding MI Families expanded to include families from the state’s 57 rural counties. Rural communities often have food insecurity rates comparable to urban areas. According to the report, 22% of children in Michigan’s Wayne and Roscommon counties are food insecure. 

“While we think that living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could not be more different than living in Detroit, over and over, we heard the same challenges when it comes to buying food, whether it be lack of transportation, high food prices at local grocery stores, or not being able to find brands that can be purchased with WIC benefits,” says Kate Bauer, director of Feeding MI Families and an associate professor of Nutritional Sciences at Michigan Public Health. “While the solutions to these challenges may differ based on location, families' needs and wants are the same.” 

Feeding MI Families approach: We’re Listening. We’re Learning.

Aligning with the project’s motto, “We’re Listening. We’re Learning,” Feeding MI Families gathered parents’ experiences through text message-based surveys and in-depth phone interviews offered in English and Spanish. Parents were asked to share their perspectives on formal and informal food assistance programs, including:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Food Assistance Program (SNAP/FAP)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits
• School food distribution during COVID-19
• Charitable food systems

Three overarching themes emerged from parents’ experiences: 

• Stigma and discrimination are central barriers to food security
• Small modifications make big differences to families
• Families want dignified access to fresh and safe produce, proteins, and dairy products

Within each of these themes, the report provides parent-driven recommendations for policy and programmatic change at all levels of government and within the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. 

One recommendation that emerged is to change the design of the state’s EBT card, called the Bridge Card, which is loaded with food assistance benefits and can be used like a credit card at grocery stores. 

“Parents reported feeling shame and embarrassment when purchasing food with a Bridge Card because it is brightly colored and easily identifiable,” Bauer explains. “One mother said she only uses self-checkout so she can hide her Bridge Card from the people behind her in line. While we need to end discrimination at its root, making the Bridge Card more discreet is a simple strategy to improve the shopping experience.”

Elevating family experiences through storytelling

In addition to the survey and interview findings, the report elevates compelling personal stories from families and highlights unique Michigan populations with consistent barriers to healthy food access, including Hispanic/Latino families, families living in the Upper Peninsula, and families that include individuals with disabilities.

Bauer notes that many food assistance programs want client and community input but don’t have the resources to gather this information, and that there are often disconnects between those who hold power and those who rely on services. 

“There are a lot of stereotypes and assumptions about families experiencing food insecurity,” Bauer says. “We hope that Feeding MI Families helps dispel these inaccuracies and motivates more organizations to meaningfully engage individuals with lived experience in decision making. Communities know what they need to overcome food insecurity. We need to listen and learn from them.”

Read the report at feedingmifamilies.org.

 

About the University of Michigan School of Public Health 

Since 1941, the University of Michigan School of Public Health has been pursuing a healthier, more equitable world through education, research and action. Ranked among the top schools of public health in the country, Michigan Public Health trains more than 1,300 graduate and undergraduate students each year. With more than 190 faculty and researchers across six academic departments and numerous collaborative centers and institutes, the school produces impactful research aimed at finding lasting solutions to pressing public health challenges. Compassion, innovation and inclusion drive Michigan Public Health faculty, staff, students and more than 19,000 alumni worldwide to pursue positive change and make a lasting impact on the health of the world. Learn more at publichealth.umich.edu.