Melissa R. Garabiles

Cultural logic is a set of cultural scripts and patterns organized around a central theme. The cultural logics of dignity, honor, and face describe different ways of evaluating a person’s worth and maintaining cooperation. These cultural logics vary in prevalence across cultures. In this study, we collaboratively develop and validate a measure capturing these cultural logics, which will allow us to map world cultures based on the prevalence of these logics. We will further explore the interrelations of dignity, honor, and face with prosocial behavior, values, moral beliefs, and religiosity as well as examine the generalizability of these relationships across cultures. Finally, we will explore historical antecedents (e.g., resource scarcity) and current correlates (e.g., inequality) of the country-level prevalence of these cultural logics. This study will generate a new dataset of country scores for dignity, honor, and face that will be available for future comparative research. It will also provide theoretical insights for researchers and practitioners interested in cooperation and social behavior within and between cultures.

This study investigated left-behind Filipino fathers and their involvement as child caregivers. It hypothesized that social support and well-being predict paternal involvement, with well-being as the mediator. Results showed that familial and peer support predicted involvement, with well-being as mediator. Spousal support did not predict involvement or well-being. Findings highlight the importance of familial and peer support to left-behind fathers. Interactions between significant predictors of involvement present novel pathways to childcare. The non-significant role of spousal support is discussed in the context of transnational migration. Several interventions involving families and peers are suggested.

Background: The current pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) protocol will comprehensively describe the implementation of a culturally adapted Filipino version of the World Health Organization Step-by-Step (SbS-F) program, unguided online psychological intervention for people with depression based on behavioral activation, among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Macao (Special Administrative Region). The main objective of this pilot study is to explore the preliminary effectiveness of the SbS-F program to decrease participant-reported depressive symptoms compared to enhanced care as usual (ECAU); and the secondary objectives are to explore the preliminary effectiveness of the SbS-F to decrease participant-reported anxiety symptoms and improve wellbeing, and to evaluate the potential for SbS-F implementation in real-world settings. Methods: This trial will follow an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 1 trial design and utilize the Reach, Efficacy/Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to accelerate the translation of clinical research into more effective implementation strategies and policies. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to control and treatment groups. Control group participants will receive ECAU that consists of brief depression psychoeducation and referral to local community partners. Treatment group participants will receive a 5-session of digital intervention through a mobile phone application. The primary outcome (depression) and psychological secondary outcomes (anxiety symptoms and wellbeing) will be measured using validated instruments. To evaluate study implementation, an embedded mixed-methods design will be used to collect data from various stakeholders. Data then will be analyzed using intention to treat principle and reported following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guideline. Discussion: This study will provide important new knowledge about the preliminary effectiveness of SbS-F, a mobile application, as a digital mental health intervention and its scalability. If SbS-F shows positive results among OFWs in Macao, it has strong potential to be used by OFWs in other countries that may also experience depression and difficulty accessing mental health services. Trial registration: Prospective registration, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000034959) on 26/07/2020.

Labour migrants are exposed to potentially traumatic events throughout the migration cycle, making them susceptible to developing mental disorders. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often com... Antecedentes: Los trabajadores migrantes están expuestos a eventos potencialmente traumáticos durante el ciclo migratorio, tornándolos susceptibles de desarrollar trastornos mentales. El trastorno ... 背景: 劳务移民在整个移民周期都暴露于潜在创伤事件, 使其易感精神疾病。创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 常与抑郁症共病。并发症会加重病程, 预后, 治疗反应并增加自杀风险。本研究使用网络分析在一个移民家庭佣工样本中考察了PTSD和抑郁症的结构, 此样本是劳务移民中尤其易感的群体。本研究试图得出核心或最重要的症状, 最强边或症状之间的关系, 以及PTSD和抑郁症之间的桥症状。 方法: 数据来自中...

Domestic workers comprise roughly one‐fourth of the total number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). They leave the Philippines primarily to provide financial assistance to their families they leave behind. Most of the existing studies investigated the problems they experience at work and with their families. Some studies focused on how they cope with these problems. However, little is known about the narrative identities of this group of labor migrants. This study addresses this gap by identifying the narrative identities of the community of Filipino domestic workers in Macao Special Administrative Region, China. This study utilized qualitative interviews to plot the identities into a three‐part timeline: Premigration, during migration, and imagined future. Results show that, before migration, the community of domestic workers identifies as hands‐on mothers and inadequate mothers. During migration, work‐ and family‐related identities are present: Modern‐day slave, inadequate, fighter, self‐sacrificing, employer's family, and hands‐on mother. In an imagined future, the community of domestic workers identifies as successful retired OFWs, reconciled life partners, hands‐on mothers, and inadequate mothers. Findings highlight the multiple, interacting identities in community narratives and their corresponding effects on experiences. Implications on policies and programs for this labor migrant group are discussed.

Objectives To define key stressors experienced and coping behaviours within poor agrarian communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Design Descriptive qualitative study incorporating inductive thematic analysis. Participants 81 participants purposely sampled, stratified by age (adolescents and young adults) and sex Setting The study was conducted in villages in Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania. Results Stressors were thematically grouped into those directly related to poverty and the lack of basic necessities (eg, food insecurity), and additional stressors (eg, drought) that worsen poverty-related stress. Impacts on functioning, health and well-being and key coping behaviours, both positive and negative, were identified. The findings together inform a more nuanced view of stress within these contexts. Conclusion Although participants were asked to provide general reflections about stress in their community, the salience of poverty-related stressors was ubiquitously reflected in respondents’ responses. Poverty-related stressors affect development, well-being and gender-based violence. Future research should focus on interventions to alleviate poverty-related stress to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

There are 500,000 female Filipino domestic workers worldwide. However, there are no validated instruments to assess common mental disorders in this population. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ–9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD–7) are brief measures that could be effective screeners for depression and anxiety in domestic workers. This study aims to establish reliability and validity of the Filipino versions of the PHQ–9 and GAD–7. In Study 1, 131 domestic workers completed the PHQ–9, GAD–7, and other questionnaires with a test–retest interval of 10 days. Convergent validity was examined using measures of posttraumatic stress disorder, direct exposure to traumatic events, and rumination. Discriminant validity was assessed using measures of discrimination, pain, social support, and indirect exposure to traumatic events. In Study 2, criterion validity was established with another sample of domestic workers (N = 100) using clinician-administered Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interviews. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic efficiency. Results showed acceptable and high internal consistency for PHQ–9 and GAD–7, respectively. Both had acceptable test–retest reliability. Convergent and discriminant validity were also established. ROC curve results demonstrated that optimal cut scores for PHQ–9 and GAD–7 are 6 and 7, respectively. The Filipino versions of PHQ–9 and GAD–7 are reliable and valid for use among Filipino domestic workers.