Angela U. Ekwonye

Background: Upon arrival in a new country, immigrants have lower body mass index (BMI), and are less likely to be overweight and obese than natives. However, longer residence is associated with higher BMI, partly attributed to adoption of unhealthy diets and dietary habits. Overweight and obesity (primary risk factors for diabetes) have been associated with food acculturation—the process by which immigrants adopt food practices of their new country. In particular, unfamiliar food cultures and food purchasing environment, lack of knowledge on how to prepare and incorporate new foods in traditional diets, perceptions towards food in new countries, all limit immigrants’ food choices and access. However, very few food acculturation studies have focused on African immigrants, specifically from eastern Africa. Yet, this group reports high rates of overweight, obesity, and higher prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes. Using the socioecological framework, this study explored the multi-level facilitators and barriers associated with food and dietary acculturation patterns and perceived diabetes-related health risks among East African immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota, United States. Methods: Six semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 36 Somali and Ethiopian women in the summer and fall of 2025. Participants represented Somali, Oromo and Amharic speakers. Only women were recruited with the assumption that women are the primary food decision makers and preparers in these communities. Therefore, the 36 participants provided insight into their households’ dietary practices and food decision-making processes. All focus group discussions were audio recorded to ensure accuracy and authenticity of participants’ narratives, then directly translated into English within a few days of being conducted. Each transcript was cross-checked by at least two team members. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s approach: codes, categories, themes, and subthemes were iteratively refined through collaborative team review and organized within the socioecological framework. Results: The analysis identified two overarching themes at the individual, family, community and structural levels. Attachment to traditional and ethnic foods functioned as important cultural and health-related anchors. Participants shared their preference for ethnic foods as healthier, more natural, tastier and central to identity and continuity after migration. Sustaining healthy dietary practices at the individual and family levels was shaped by complex factors such as: work and caregiving demands, stress, time constraints, and changing family dynamics and roles. Intergenerational differences were especially salient. Children adopted American foods faster, increasing reliance on fast and convenience foods, creating household tensions, and sometimes requiring separate meal preparations. Community and structural factors further shaped dietary choices. High costs, limited availability of cultural foods, distance to ethnic stores, and transportation barriers constrained access, while highly processed and sugary foods were easily accessible. Participants also described reduced routine physical activity and migration-related stress as contributors to perceived diabetes risk. Ethnic grocery stores, halal markets, community networks, recipe adaptation, and the continued consumption of traditional foods were perceived as protective resources amidst these challenges. Overall, the findings appear to demonstrate that food and dietary acculturation are not a linear process in which immigrants shift from a traditional to a Western-based diet. Rather, it is shaped by complex interactions across individual, family, community, and structural factors. The study limitations, and implications for practice and research are discussed in the paper.

Many African youths enter university amid socio-economic and security challenges. Although chronic stress is known to hinder academic achievement and gratitude has been shown to enhance psychological well-being, its impact on perceived stress has not yet been investigated. This mixed-methods pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of gratitude education and a one-week grateful expression exercise in reducing stress. Forty undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either an education-only control group ( n = 20) or an education + gratitude visit group ( n = 20). The ANOVA results show that perceived stress changed over time, but this change differ not between groups. There was a non-significant time × group interaction (p = 0.44, ηp ² = 0.016), indicating that the pattern of change from baseline (T0) to post-intervention (T1) and one-month follow-up (T2) was similar across groups. A significant main effect of time was observed (p = 0.007, ηp ² = 0.18), with medium sized-effect, indicating that perceived stress levels changed meaningfully across the three time points for all participants. Surprisingly, the control group demonstrated steady decline in PSS scores from baseline to one-month follow-up (SE = 0.77, p = .007, 95% CI [0.63, 3.62]), whereas the intervention group showed no comparable change. Despite the non-significant impact of the gratitude intervention, students’ gratitude letters and reflections provided rich, personal accounts that beautifully illustrate the robust psychological mechanisms through which gratitude improves emotional well-being, strengthens family and social relationships, and supports character development. Our results are preliminary but have important implications for university administrators, researchers, educators, and mental health professionals.

The well-being of university students is deteriorating, highlighting the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing supports beyond clinical care. Positive psychology (PP) interventions have shown strong potential for improving mental well-being, yet they remain largely underutilized in Nigerian universities. This pilot study evaluated the impact of an eight-week education and intervention incorporating acts of kindness, gratitude, positive reframing, and character strengths in improving subjective well-being among university students in Nigeria. Students were assigned randomly to an education + PP group or an education-only control group and assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Independent-samples t-tests were used to examine group differences in outcomes, while mixed-design ANOVA models assessed the effects of group and time. Compared with controls, the intervention group showed significantly higher mental well-being, positive affect, and resilience, with moderate to large effects. While significant main effects emerged across outcomes, time-by-group interactions were observed only for positive affect and resilience. Given rising psychological distress among Nigerian university students, these preliminary results showed that brief, strengths-based PP exercises can meaningfully improve students’ subjective well-being. They can serve as low-cost, non-stigmatizing additions to university mental health services and a scalable complement to traditional care in low-resource settings.

This qualitative study examined how faith influences self-care and care for others among sixteen religious individuals actively engaged in their faith communities in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. Data collected from the semi-structured interviews revealed that participants were motivated to care for themselves and others out of a deep sense of purpose, a will to live, and compassion rooted in faith and love. Participants viewed their bodies and lives as gifts from God, leading them to make healthy lifestyle choices and utilize preventive healthcare services to preserve their well-being. Their motivation to care for others was driven by a calling to act compassionately, translating their faith into action. The findings hold significance for public health professionals, healthcare providers, and faith leaders.

Background: Energy healing techniques are associated with many physical and mental benefits. A qualitative study was conducted to understand clients’ experiences of a new energy healing modality called Magdalena Energy Healing. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted after clients experienced 60 min Magdalena energy healing session(s). Twenty-five adults participated in the study. All participants received Magdalena energy healing from a certified, trained practitioner. Thematic analysis was conducted to determine clients’ perceived benefits of the Magdalena energy healing session(s). Results: Four themes emerged from the data: Physical, Mental, Social, and Spiritual Benefits. Physical health benefits included relief from a variety of medical symptoms, improved sleep quality, and physical body awareness. Mental Health benefits included relaxation and peace, decision-making clarity, relief of mental health symptoms, and an increased ability to cope with life. Social Benefits included improved attitudes in relationships. Spiritual Benefits included optimism, gratitude, self-acceptance, and increased spiritual connection. Conclusions: Participants’ perceptions are that Magdalena energy healing sessions offer peace, symptom relief, and gratitude. Magdalena energy healing can address priorities of The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Sessions can be seamlessly integrated into traditional medical care as a useful complementary/integrative healing option to improve physical, mental, and/or spiritual wellbeing across a variety of diseases.

The photovoice literature has focused mainly on research collaborations between researchers in academia and community partners. There is limited evidence of undergraduate students facilitating photovoice research projects with underserved Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC). Students’ participation in photovoice research increases their understanding of local issues and can empower them to engage with local communities to create change. This qualitative study explored students’ experiences facilitating photovoice research with BIPOC older adults and frontline healthcare workers. In this study, we trained college students in photovoice methodological skills by introducing photovoice as a participatory qualitative methodology, explained ethics issues and the informed consent process, and clarified the steps and requirements for the photovoice project. Students were paired with BIPOC older adults and frontline healthcare workers. They facilitated the photovoice research project in four stages. Throughout the study, students critically reflected and wrote about the various aspects of their experience facilitating the photovoice research activities based on weekly structured reflection questions. In their weekly journal, student facilitators commented on how both older and younger BIPOC participants were friendly and kind, flexible with the research activity scheduling, inspiring with their stories, and selfless. Students’ reflections indicated that their participants experienced greater emotional and psychological burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the long-standing epidemic of systemic racism. Student facilitators overwhelmingly recognized participants’ resilience and perseverance despite these life challenges. Our findings highlight the importance of photovoice in developing and strengthening college students’ qualitative research skills and stimulating critical thinking and creativity, a sense of critical consciousness about social issues and society, and a sense of empowerment. Our results will be relevant to hospital/long-term care managers, policymakers, and researchers.

Perception of one’s own age and the aging process can influence healthy aging and encourage younger adults to be more proactive in taking care of themselves. There is a shortage of literature on college students’ self-perceptions of aging and old age. This descriptive qualitative study explored how short-term aging research training and activities influenced college students’ perceptions of aging, older adults, and their future older selves. Students were exposed to discussions about aging, the aging process, myths, a brief TED talk, and a video on positive age stereotypes in preparation for their encounter with older adults in a more extensive photovoice aging research project. Data for the study were collected using weekly guided reflections and drawing. Findings show that college students improved perceptions of aging and older adults after the short-term research training. We found cultural differences in self-perception of the onset of old age. Students perceived healthy aging in terms of biological, psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions of health. Students presented a hopeful, positive picture of their future older self as opposed to the negative stereotypic views they initially had of older adults. Reflections on one’s own aging may be crucial in encouraging younger adults to be more proactive in taking care of themselves for a healthier life in later adulthood.