Engstrom, Malitta
Email Address
ORCID
Disciplines
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
Publication Correlates of HIV Risks Among Women on Probation and Parole(2017-01-01) Engstrom, Malitta; Winham, Katherine M; Golder, Seana; Higgins, George; Renn, Tanya; Logan, TKThis article examines HIV risks among a sample of 406 women on probation and parole with lifetime histories of victimization who were recruited from an urban community in the southern U.S. Guided by the Comprehensive Health Seeking and Coping Paradigm, we analyze the significance of sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social support in relationship to three sexual risks and one drug use risk using multivariable regression. Findings indicate that substance use is a significant correlate of nearly all HIV risks examined, including lifetime sexual partners and sexual partners during the past 12 months. Age, race/ethnicity, homelessness, lifetime traumatic event exposure, regular use of alcohol to intoxication and other drugs, functional social support, and substance use treatment in the past 12 months are associated with specific HIV risks. The findings identify potential targets to address in HIV prevention with women on probation and parole who have experienced victimization.Publication Childhood Sexual Abuse Characteristics, Intimate Partner Violence Exposure, and Psychological Distress Among Women in Methadone Treatment(2012-10-01) Engstrom, Malitta; El-Bassel, Nabila; Gilbert, LouisaTraumatic experiences and their biopsychosocial sequelae present complex challenges in substance use treatment. For women with substance use problems, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), intimate partner violence exposure (IPV), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and overall psychological distress are often co-occurring concerns. To address gaps in knowledge and to strengthen practice regarding these critical issues in substance use treatment, we drew upon cross-sectional and longitudinal data from baseline and 12-month interviews with a random sample of 416 women in methadone treatment to examine relationships between CSA characteristics, particularly the presence of force and involvement of family, IPV, and mental health concerns. Although CSA involving force and family was not associated with IPV as hypothesized, it was associated with increased risk of PTSD and overall psychological distress. The multivariate findings underscore the psychological vulnerabilities associated with CSA involving force and family and suggest that drug use and financial circumstances may be important targets to reduce IPV risk.Publication Family Processes in Kinship Care(2012-01-01) Engstrom, MalittaOver thousands of years and across diverse cultures and contexts, extended families have provided care for children. When children cannot be cared for by their parents, care provided by other relatives and close nonrelatives, known as "kinship care," is increasingly recognized as the favored alternative for children in need of foster care. "Formal" arrangements involve the child welfare system; "informal" arrangements, without child welfare involvement, may still involve formal procedures, including legal custody and decision-making power. Informal kinship care is also referred to as "private kinship care," and formal kinship care is also referred to as "kinship foster care," when the state assumes custody of the child, and "voluntary kinship care," when the state does not assume custody (Geen, 2003b). Unless noted, this chapter uses the term "Publication Psychological Distress among Victimized Women on Probation and Parole: A Latent Class Analysis(2015-07-01) Golder, Seana; Engstrom, Malitta; Hall, Martin T; Higgins, George; Logan, TKLatent class analysis was used to identify subgroups of victimized women (N = 406) on probation and parole differentiated by levels of general psychological distress. The 9 primary symptom dimensions from the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were used individually as latent class indicators (Derogatis, 1993). Results identified 3 classes of women characterized by increasing levels of psychological distress; classes were further differentiated by posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, cumulative victimization, substance use and other domains of psychosocial functioning (i.e., sociodemographic characteristics; informal social support and formal service utilization; perceived life stress; and resource loss). The present research was effective in uncovering important heterogeneity in psychological distress using a highly reliable and easily accessible measure of general psychological distress. Differentiating levels of psychological distress and associated patterns of psychosocial risk can be used to develop intervention strategies targeting the needs of different subgroups of women. Implications for treatment and future research are presented.Publication Mass Incarceration: What's at Stake and What to Do(2017-02-01) Engstrom, Malitta; Wimberly, Alexandra; Franke, NancyPublication Psychosocial and Re-Incarceration Risks Among Older Adults in Mental Health Courts(2014-08-01) Canada, Kelli E; Engstrom, Malitta; Jang, EunyoungObjective Older adults are increasingly involved in the criminal justice system, yet there is limited research regarding their needs and experiences. This study examined differences in psychosocial experiences and reincarceration between older and younger adults with psychiatric disorders involved in the criminal justice system. Methods Participants (N = 80) were recruited from two mental health courts in the midwestern United States. Bivariate analyses examined age-related differences in psychosocial experiences and reincarceration between younger and older participants. Results Older adults, on average, experienced more treatment adherence and fewer probation violations than younger adults during the 6-month follow-up; however, they experienced comparable risk for reincarceration. Older adults' substance use, service use, housing instability, and program retention were similar to their younger counterparts. Conclusion Despite older mental health court participants' treatment adherence and reduced probation violations, they are at risk for incarceration, substance use, and housing instability.Publication Childhood Victimization, Attachment, Psychological Distress, and Substance Use Among Women on Probation and Parole(2015-03-01) Winham, Katherine M; Engstrom, Malitta; Golder, Seana; Renn, Tanya; Higgins, George E; Logan, TKThe present analysis was guided by a gendered pathways-based theoretical model and examined relationships between childhood victimization and current attachment, psychological distress, and substance use among 406 women with histories of victimization who were on probation and parole in an urban Kentucky county. Structural equation modeling examined relationships among childhood victimization, attachment, psychological distress, and substance use. Additionally, we examined the mediational role that attachment plays in relationships between childhood victimization and both psychological distress and substance use. The data fit the models properly. Psychological distress was significantly predicted by childhood victimization, and adult attachment partially mediated this relationship. Childhood victimization did not significantly predict substance use; however, attachment did. The findings suggest that attachment may be an important factor to further understand and address in relation to psychological distress and substance use among women with histories of victimization who are involved in the criminal justice system.Publication Psychological Distress and Intimate Physical and Sexual Abuse among Women in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs(2002-06-01) Schiff, Miriam; El-Bassel, Nabila; Engstrom, Malitta; Gilbert, LouisaGuided by the cognitive theory of stress and coping and the comprehensive health‐seeking and coping paradigm, this study examines associations among intimate partner abuse and psychological distress, posttraumatic stress disorder, childhood sexual abuse, and current drug use among a cohort of 416 women randomly recruited from New York City methadone treatment programs. Findings expand on past evidence of the high prevalence of psychological distress among adult victimized women and among those with a history of childhood sexual abuse. Women currently abused by their partners have more posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, and psychological distress than women not abused by their partners.