Featured Scholar: Silvia Bigatti, PhD
Associate Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences
IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
Improving the mental health of Latino youth
Professor Silvia Bigatti is concerned about the high rate of depression among Latino adolescents in Indianapolis who endure the stress of straddling two cultures. In 2012, she started a partnership with the Latino Health Organization and received funding from the Indiana Minority Health Coalition to pursue a pilot research project that investigated the stress and depressive outcomes in this population. The study revealed that nearly 60 percent of participants had some form of depressive symptoms—and that they were seven times more likely to have depression if they suffered from moderate levels of acculturative stress. Based on the ¬findings, the research team developed a program, “Your Life. Your Story.” The YLYS program begins with a one-week summer day camp that builds resilience and develops self-identities and future goals. In the second phase of the YLYS program, a monthly meeting cements components from the camp. Data suggest that one week of the YLYS camp has a statistically significant impact on participants, who showed an increase in resilience and a decrease in depressive symptoms. These differences were maintained at a six-month follow-up. YLYS has the potential to create a large and lasting impact on the Indianapolis community. While the program has been focused on Latino youth, it can be applied and tailored to any group of youth. Professor Bigatti’s work to improve the mental health of Latino youth in Indianapolis is another example of how IU Indianapolis faculty are TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.
Selected Publications in IU Indianapolis ScholarWorks
With several research works contributed to IU Indianapolis's free, open access repository, Professor Bigatti has made translational research knowledge available to professionals, researchers, students, and communities around the world.
Michelle Ramirez and Silvia M. Bigatti Ph.D. 2016, April 8. Identifying the Meaning of Acculturative Stress in Latino Adolescent Girls. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2016, Indianapolis, Indiana.https://hdl.handle.net/1805/10418
Kadé Diallo, Silvia Bigatti, Bradley Sutton, Julie Torbit, and Lyne Racette. 2016 April 8. Does Knowledge of the Causes of Glaucoma Impact Adherence? Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2016, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/9574
Wagner, C. D., Johns, S., Brown, L. F., Hanna, N., & Bigatti, S. M. (2015). Acceptability and Feasibility of a Meaning-Based Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Spouses A Pilot Study. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 1049909115575709. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/11889
Kacius, C., Stone, C. L. and Bigatti, S. (2015), Exit Interviews: A Decade of Data to Improve Student Learning Experiences. Assessment Update, 27: 8–12. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/10100
Eniola Idowu, Silvia Bigatti, and Lyne Racette. 2015 April 17. An Assessment of the Fidelity of Two Different Interventions to Improve Adherence to Glaucoma Treatment in Patients of African Descent. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2015, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/9181
Manuela Roa Gonzalez, Silvia Bigatti, and Katrina Conrad. (2015, April 17). The Impact of a Resilience-Building Intervention with Indianapolis Latino Teenagers. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2015, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/8969
Mark Botros, Lyne Racette, and Silvia Bigatti. (2015, April 17). Determining the Impact of Demographic Factors on Adherence to Glaucoma Treatment in Patients of African Descent. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2015, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/8392
Nabeel Awan, Ankita Sutaria, Silvia Bigatti, Emily Sirk, Elizabeth Hosty, Chloe Payton, Shelbi Grow, Bradley Sutton, Julie Torbit, and Lyne Racette. (2015, April 17). A Comparison of Objectively- and Subjectively-Measured Adherence in Glaucoma Patients of African Descent. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2015, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/8341
Rock, E. E., Steiner, J. L., Rand, K. L., & Bigatti, S. M. (2014). Dyadic Influence of Hope and Optimism on Patient Marital Satisfaction among Couples with Advanced Breast Cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 22(9), 2351–2359. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/8076
Reutter, K. K. and Bigatti, S. M. (2014), Religiosity and Spirituality as Resiliency Resources: Moderation, Mediation, or Moderated Mediation?. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 53: 56–72. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/14103
Brown, L. F., Rand, K. L., Bigatti, S. M., Stewart, J. C., Theobald, D. E., Wu, J., & Kroenke, K. (2013). Longitudinal Relationships Between Fatigue and Depression In Cancer Patients with Depression and/or Pain. Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 32(12), 1199–1208.https://hdl.handle.net/1805/8506
Davis, Breanna and Silvia M. Bigatti. (2013, April 5). Supportive Intervention for Advanced Lung Cancer Patients and Their Partners. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2013, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/7189
Steiner, J. L., Bogusch, L., & Bigatti, S. M. (2013). Values-based action in fibromyalgia: results from a randomized pilot of acceptance and commitment therapy. Health Psychology Research, 1(3), e34. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4911
Bigatti, S. M., Steiner, J. L., & Miller, K. D. (2012). Cognitive appraisals, coping and depressive symptoms in breast cancer patients. Stress and Health, 28(5), 355-361. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4903
Bergman, Alicia April; Bigatti, Silvia M; Clark Jr, Charles M.; Everetts, David R; Kahn, Hilary E; Lorant, Diane Estella; Maupome, Gerardo; Mays, Rose M; Riner, Mary E; Snodgrass, Michael David; Soto, Armando; Stelzner, Sarah M; Whitehead, Dawn Michele; Wilson, Gregory A.; Yoder, Karen M. (2010, April 9). The Binational/Crosscultural Health Enhancement Center. Poster session presented at IU Indianapolis Research Day 2010, Indianapolis, Indiana. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/11253
Svanum, S., & Bigatti, S. M. (2009). Academic course engagement during one semester forecasts college success: Engaged students are more likely to earn a degree, do it faster, and do it better. Journal of College Student Development, 50(1), 120-132. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4913
Bigatti, S. M., Hernandez, A. M., Cronan, T. A., & Rand, K. L. (2008). Sleep disturbances in fibromyalgia syndrome: relationship to pain and depression. Arthritis Care & Research, 59(7), 961-967. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4902
Bigatti, S. M., Lydon, J. R., & Brothers, B. M. (2008). Role strains and mood in husbands of women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a test of the stress process model. Open Fam Stud J, 1(10), 66Y75.https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4901
Svanum, S., & Bigatti, S. M. (2006). The influences of course effort and outside activities on grades in a college course. Journal of College Student Development, 47(5), 564-576. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4912