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Building Interdisciplinary/Intersectoral Research Partnerships for Community‐Based Mental Health Research with Older Minority Adults
Author(s) -
Schensul Jean J.,
Robison Julie,
Reyes Carmen,
Radda Kim,
Gaztambide Sonia,
Disch William
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/s10464-006-9059-y
Subject(s) - mental health , general partnership , health psychology , psychology , public health , referral , gerontology , medical education , nursing , medicine , political science , psychiatry , law
Community‐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.