Theresa S Betancourt
Biographic Data
| ID | 3700698 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Theresa S Betancourt |
| GIVEN NAMES | Theresa S |
| FAMILY NAME | Betancourt |
| SIGNATURE | BETANCOURT T S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Boston College |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 41 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 144 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 41 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Labour Market Impacts of a Mental Health and Entrepreneurship Intervention in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone
Nearly a billion youth globally are affected by fragility, conflict, or violence, which leads to psychological distress and hinders economic self-sufficiency. While employment training and cash transfers can help, evidence from fragile settings is limited, especially for women. Leveraging a randomised controlled trial, we study the integration of an evidence-based mental health intervention, the Youth Readiness Intervention, into a youth entrepre…
Factors Affecting Access to and Utilisation of HIV/Aids Preventive Services Among Young Single Mothers Working in Alcohol Serving Establishments in Rwanda
Delivering a family‐based child mental health promotion program among two resettled refugee communities during the Covid‐19 pandemic
BACKGROUND: Resettled refugee families face elevated mental health risks, compounded by structural and cultural barriers. The Family Strengthening Intervention for Resettlement (FSIR), co-developed with resettled refugee communities, aims to improve family functioning and child mental health. This study evaluated FSI-R in Somali Bantu and Bhutanese communities in New England during COVID-19 using a Hybrid Type II Implementation-Effectiveness Tria…
Shadows into Light
Exploring outcomes between single and dual caregiver households participating in a parenting and family strengthening intervention in Rwanda
The Sugira Muryango intervention yielded similar outcomes across caregiver household types. Given its inclusive design and potential to deliver equitable benefits across diverse households settings in low-resource contexts, it offers a promising model for community-based interventions with important implications for scaling up similar programs
Return-on-investment of a mental health intervention for war-affected youth in Sierra Leone
Mental health interventions, such as Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI), offer an opportunity for improving the mental health of war-affected youth in fragile and conflict-affected regions. The YRI has demonstrated effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes, yet prior analyses have not examined the economic impact of the YRI integrated within with an entrepreneurship (ENTR) program. A costing analysis was conducted using standard activity-…
Advancing sustainable implementation of an evidence-based mental health intervention in Sierra Leone’s schools
Clinical Trial Network: NCT05737667
Measuring the cost-effectiveness of a home-visiting intervention to promote early child development among rural families linked to the Rwandan social protection system
Early childhood development (ECD) programmes are heralded as a way to improve children’s health and educational outcomes. However, few studies in developing countries calculate the effectiveness of quality early childhood interventions. This study estimates the cost and cost-effectiveness of the Sugira Muryango (SM) trial, a home-visiting intervention to improve ECD outcomes through positive parent-child relationships. Cost-effectiveness analysis…
Promoting positive development among refugee adolescents
Of the estimated 35.3 million refugees around the world (UNHCR, Figures at a Glance , 2022), approximately 50% are children under the age of 18. Refugee adolescents represent a unique group as they navigate developmental tasks in an unstable and often threatening environment or in resettlement contexts in which they often face marginalization. In addition to physiological, social, and psychological changes that mark adolescence, refugee youth oft…
Mental health among older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience
There are disparities in the mental health of refugee populations compared to individuals who have not experienced forced migration. It is important to identify individuals with a refugee life experience who are most in need of mental health care and prioritize their engagement in services. The objectives of this convergent mixed-methods study are to quantitatively identify the association between exposure to pre- and postresettlement traumas and…
Investigating Outcomes of a Family Strengthening Intervention for Resettled Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees
Pre- and post-migration stressors can put resettled refugee children at risk of poor mental health outcomes. The Family Strengthening Intervention for Refugees (FSI-R) is a peer-delivered preventative home visiting program for resettled refugees that aims to draw upon families' strengths to foster improved family communication, positive parenting, and caregiver-child relationships, with the ultimate goal of reducing children's risk of mental heal…
Mental health problems among children in Sierra Leone
Globally, over 13% of children and adolescents are affected by mental disorders, yet relatively little scholarship addresses how risk factors, symptoms, and nosology vary by culture and context, especially in young children living in post-conflict and low-resource settings. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study to identify and describe the most salient mental health problems facing children aged 6 to 10 years in Sierra Leone, as w…
Economic vulnerability and non-initiation of antiretroviral therapy in India
In India, many people living with HIV (PLHIV) do not successfully initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) after diagnosis. We conducted a clinic-based qualitative study at the Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to explore factors that influence ART non-initiation. We interviewed 22 men and 15 women; median age was 42 (IQR, 36-48) and median CD4+ was 395 (IQR, 227-601). Participants were distrustful of HIV care freely avai…
Beyond the Pandemic
COVID-19 led to rapidly expanding telehealth infrastructure and a shift in mental health service delivery. -Many known barriers facing underserved populations, such as immigrants and refugees, are addressed with telemental health (TMH) services, while other barriers are exacerbated, such as digital literacy. -Leveraging ongoing political momentum responding to the COVID-19 pandemic affords opportunities to improve digital connectivity and reduce …
Fear, distress, and perceived risk shape stigma toward Ebola survivors
This study identified key individual and psychosocial characteristics which may predict higher levels of stigma toward infectious disease survivors. Future studies should pursue a better understanding of how personal characteristics and perceptions, including psychosocial distress, fear, and perceived infection risk serve as pathways for stigma in communities affected by infectious disease
Traditional Medicine and Help-Seeking Behaviors for Health Problems Among Somali Bantu Refugees Resettled in the United States
Somali refugees have resettled in the United States in large numbers. The focus of this study was specifically on the Somali Bantu refugees, an ethnic minority group from Somalia. The goal of this study was to understand the following: (a) jinn (invisible beings or forces in Islamic theology) and related health problems resulting from jinn possession affecting Somali Bantu refugees, (b) types of traditional healing practices integrated into help-…
Mental Health of Refugee Children and Youth
The number of refugee youth worldwide receives international attention and is a top priority in both academic and political agendas. This article adopts a critical eye in summarizing current epidemiological knowledge of refugee youth mental health as well as interventions aimed to prevent or reduce mental health problems among children and adolescents in both high- and low-to-middle-income countries. We highlight current challenges and limitation…
Promoting parent-child relationships and preventing violence via home-visiting
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02510313
We are all under the same roof
We discuss study implications for psychosocial services for older refugees and contribution to theory on meaning making among diverse, vulnerable populations who experience multiple traumas and loss
Preventive mental health interventions for refugee children and adolescents in high-income settings
Early Childhood Development Plus Violence Prevention in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
Violence exposure can negatively impact early childhood development ( ECD ), yet limited research exists in low‐ and middle‐income countries ( LMIC s). This study aimed to determine what effective integration of ECD plus violence prevention ( ECD + VP ) can look like in LMIC s. Seventeen key informants were selected using purposive sampling, representing U.N. agencies, donors, implementers and research organisations. Using open coding of semi‐str…
Youth and Resilience in Postconflict Settings
In Sierra Leone, as in conflict and postconflict settings around the world, youth are coping with their exposure to violence during conflict as well as the poverty and displacement that follow war and the stigma that can persist long after involvement with armed groups has ended. Both contextual and individual factors influence whether youth overcome these barriers successfully and resume positive life trajectories, or struggle to reintegrate int…
Exploring the potential of a family-based prevention intervention to reduce alcohol use and violence within HIV-affected families in Rwanda
HIV-affected families report higher rates of harmful alcohol use, intimate partner violence (IPV) and family conflict, which can have detrimental effects on children. Few evidence-based interventions exist to address these complex issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. This mixed methods study explores the potential of a family-based intervention to reduce IPV, family conflict and problems related to alcohol use to promote child mental health and family f…
Costs and cost-effectiveness of a mental health intervention for war-affected young persons
BACKGROUND: One billion children live in war-affected regions of the world. We conducted the first cost-effectiveness analysis of an intervention for war-affected youth in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a broader cost analysis. METHODS: The Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI) is a behavioural treatment for reducing functional impairment associated with psychological distress among war-affected young persons. A randomized controlled trial was condu…
Promises and pitfalls of data sharing in qualitative research
Past horrors, present struggles
Promises and pitfalls of data sharing in qualitative research
The psychological toll of slum living in Mumbai, India
Addressing Health Disparities in the Mental Health of Refugee Children and Adolescents Through Community-Based Participatory Research
Objectives. We sought to understand the problems, strengths, and help-seeking behaviors of Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees and determine local expressions of mental health problems among youths in both communities. Methods. We used qualitative research methods to develop community needs assessments and identify local terms for child mental health problems among Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees in Greater Boston and Springfield, Massachuset…
We are all under the same roof
We discuss study implications for psychosocial services for older refugees and contribution to theory on meaning making among diverse, vulnerable populations who experience multiple traumas and loss
Mental health problems among children in Sierra Leone
Globally, over 13% of children and adolescents are affected by mental disorders, yet relatively little scholarship addresses how risk factors, symptoms, and nosology vary by culture and context, especially in young children living in post-conflict and low-resource settings. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study to identify and describe the most salient mental health problems facing children aged 6 to 10 years in Sierra Leone, as w…
Interrelatedness of child health, protection and well-being
Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among Haitian immigrant students
A significant level of depression and PTSD was observed. Stressors subsequent to immigration, such as living in an unsafe neighborhood and concern for physical safety, were associated with an increased risk of PTSD and should be considered when developing programs to assist this population. Reducing exposure to these stressors and enhancing access to social support and appropriate school-based and mental health services may improve educational at…
Past horrors, present struggles
Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings
Understanding locally, culturally, and contextually relevant mental health problems among Rwandan children and adolescents affected by HIV/Aids
In assessing the mental health of HIV/AIDS-affected children and adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers often employ mental health measures developed in other settings. However, measures derived from standard Western psychiatric criteria are frequently based on conceptual models of illness or terminology that may or may not be an appropriate for diverse populations. Understanding local perceptions of mental health problems can aid in the …
Developmental Perspectives on Moral Agency in Former Child Soldiers
Trauma History and Psychopathology in War‐Affected Refugee Children Referred for Trauma‐Related Mental Health Services in the United States
There is an increasing need to deliver effective mental health services to refugee children and adolescents across the United States; however, the evidence base needed to guide the design and delivery of services is nascent. We investigated the trauma history profiles, psychopathology, and associated behavioral and functional indicators among war‐affected refugee children presenting for psychological treatment. From the National Child Traumatic S…
Decision maker priorities for providing antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected South Africans
In resource-limited settings, successful HIV treatment scale-up has been tempered by reports of funding shortfalls. We aimed to determine the priorities, including ethical considerations, of decision makers for HIV antiretroviral programs. We conducted qualitative interviews with 12 decision makers, identified using purposive sampling. Respondents engaged in one-on-one, semi-structured interviews. We developed an interview guide to direct questio…
Interrelatedness of child health, protection and well-being
The living environment and children's fears following the Indonesian tsunami
The tsunami that struck South-east Asia on 26 December 2004 left more than 500,000 people in Aceh, Indonesia, homeless and displaced to temporary barracks and other communities. This study examines the associations between prolonged habitation in barracks and the nature of fears reported by school-age children and adolescents. In mid-2007, 30 months after the tsunami, the authors interviewed 155 child and parent dyads. Logistic regression analysi…
Annual Research Review
Background: To date, research on mental health in HIV‐ affected children (children who have an HIV‐positive caregiver or live with the virus themselves) has focused on risk factors associated with the disease. However, simultaneous identification of factors that contribute to resilience in the face of risks is also needed. A greater understanding of modifiable protective processes that contribute to resilience in the mental health of children aff…
Interventions for Children Affected by War
BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents exposed to armed conflict are at high risk of developing mental health problems. To date, a range of psychosocial approaches and clinical/psychiatric interventions has been used to address mental health needs in these groups. AIMS: To provide an overview of peer-reviewed psychosocial and mental health interventions designed to address mental health needs of conflict-affected children, and to highlight areas in…
A qualitative case study of child protection issues in the Indian construction industry
By exploring the risks faced by migrant workers and their children in the urban construction industry in India, we illustrate the alarming implications for their health, safety, livelihoods, and development. Our findings, illuminated through the SAFE model, call attention to the need for enhanced systems of corporate and government accountability as well as the implementation of holistic child-focused and child-friendly policies and programs in o…
Experiences and acceptance of intimate partner violence
Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at elevated risk for poor sexual health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This association, however, has not been consistently demonstrated in low-income or post-conflict countries. Furthermore, the role that attitudes towards IPV play in sexual-health outcomes and behaviour has rarely been examined. We examined associations between IPV experiences, accepting at…
The psychological toll of slum living in Mumbai, India
Towards Clarity in Research on “Non-Cognitive” Skills
Human development and economic development are intrinsically linked. Guided by human capital theory, economists are increasingly recognizing the importance of a range of other skills – in addition to intelligence and technical skills – for economic success. Until fairly recently, years of education completed, literacy, numeracy and IQ – often used as proxies for cognitive ability – were the main measures used to assess the relationship between hu…
Addressing Health Disparities in the Mental Health of Refugee Children and Adolescents Through Community-Based Participatory Research
Objectives. We sought to understand the problems, strengths, and help-seeking behaviors of Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees and determine local expressions of mental health problems among youths in both communities. Methods. We used qualitative research methods to develop community needs assessments and identify local terms for child mental health problems among Somali Bantu and Bhutanese refugees in Greater Boston and Springfield, Massachuset…
Youth and Resilience in Postconflict Settings
In Sierra Leone, as in conflict and postconflict settings around the world, youth are coping with their exposure to violence during conflict as well as the poverty and displacement that follow war and the stigma that can persist long after involvement with armed groups has ended. Both contextual and individual factors influence whether youth overcome these barriers successfully and resume positive life trajectories, or struggle to reintegrate int…
Exploring the potential of a family-based prevention intervention to reduce alcohol use and violence within HIV-affected families in Rwanda
HIV-affected families report higher rates of harmful alcohol use, intimate partner violence (IPV) and family conflict, which can have detrimental effects on children. Few evidence-based interventions exist to address these complex issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. This mixed methods study explores the potential of a family-based intervention to reduce IPV, family conflict and problems related to alcohol use to promote child mental health and family f…
Costs and cost-effectiveness of a mental health intervention for war-affected young persons
BACKGROUND: One billion children live in war-affected regions of the world. We conducted the first cost-effectiveness analysis of an intervention for war-affected youth in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a broader cost analysis. METHODS: The Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI) is a behavioural treatment for reducing functional impairment associated with psychological distress among war-affected young persons. A randomized controlled trial was condu…
Promises and pitfalls of data sharing in qualitative research
Early Childhood Development Plus Violence Prevention in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
Violence exposure can negatively impact early childhood development ( ECD ), yet limited research exists in low‐ and middle‐income countries ( LMIC s). This study aimed to determine what effective integration of ECD plus violence prevention ( ECD + VP ) can look like in LMIC s. Seventeen key informants were selected using purposive sampling, representing U.N. agencies, donors, implementers and research organisations. Using open coding of semi‐str…
Preventive mental health interventions for refugee children and adolescents in high-income settings
Mental Health of Refugee Children and Youth
The number of refugee youth worldwide receives international attention and is a top priority in both academic and political agendas. This article adopts a critical eye in summarizing current epidemiological knowledge of refugee youth mental health as well as interventions aimed to prevent or reduce mental health problems among children and adolescents in both high- and low-to-middle-income countries. We highlight current challenges and limitation…
Promoting parent-child relationships and preventing violence via home-visiting
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02510313
We are all under the same roof
We discuss study implications for psychosocial services for older refugees and contribution to theory on meaning making among diverse, vulnerable populations who experience multiple traumas and loss
Medicine (29 works) · Psychology (23 works) · Migration, Health and Trauma (21 works) · Psychiatry (21 works) · Mental health (20 works) · Sociology (20 works) · Psychological intervention (18 works) · Political science (16 works) · Clinical Psychology (13 works) · Environmental health (13 works)