Yale University

Building interdisciplinary/intersectoral research partnerships for community-based mental health research with older minority adults.

TitleBuilding interdisciplinary/intersectoral research partnerships for community-based mental health research with older minority adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsSchensul, Jean J., Julie Robison, Carmen Reyes, Kim Radda, Sonia Gaztambide, and William Disch
JournalAmerican journal of community psychology
Volume38
Issue1-2
Pagination79-93
Date Published2006 Sep
ISSN0091-0562
KeywordsAnthropology, Cultural, Community Mental Health Services, Connecticut, Consumer Participation, Cooperative Behavior, Depression, Health Services Accessibility, Health Services Research, Humans, Interdisciplinary Communication, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Minority Groups, Organizational Case Studies, Psychology, Social
AbstractCommunity-based research often brings investigators from different disciplinary backgrounds together with community representatives to conduct research on topics of mutual concern. This paper describes a case example that illustrates an interdisciplinary/intersectoral study of depression and barriers to mental health care among older adults and illustrate the factors central to implementing a successful research partnership. It will address the following conditions that facilitate and challenge interdisciplinary/intersectoral research: (1) achieving commonality of purpose in study design and research and referral approaches; (2) ensuring the ability to develop, field-test and implement psychometrically rigorous and culturally and qualitatively appropriate instruments; (3) building effective management structures for interdisciplinary/intersectoral research partnerships; and (4) identifying, training and supporting qualified researchers to carry out a mental health study with older ethnically diverse adults. The paper concludes with strengths and limitations of the approach.
Alternate JournalAm J Community Psychol

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