Objectives. To examine the association between family member incarceration, psychological stress, and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods. Between 2012 and 2016, 1849 CVD-free women from the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort responded to questions on family incarceration from the Life Stressor Checklist. Perceived stress and hair cortisol levels were measured in a subset of participants. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured, and carotid atherosclerosis was determined in all participants. We used multivariable quantile, linear, and logistic regression models to evaluate the association between family member incarceration, stress, and subclinical CVD. Results. Among women with a mean age of 49.7 years (SD ±5.2), 15.3% reported family member incarceration. We found that both perceived stress and hair cortisol levels were significantly higher in women with an incarcerated family member relative to women without one. After multivariable adjustment, women who reported family member incarceration had 41% (95% confidence interval = 1.04, 2.00) higher odds of carotid atherosclerosis compared with those who did not. Conclusions. Family member incarceration was associated with robust markers of stress and cardiovascular risk. Mass incarceration may have a long-lasting impact on physical health of affected families.

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Increasingly, researchers and practitioners are examining connections between public and private cycles of violence. In complex emergency settings, these cycles of violence often intersect with conflicting norms and values as societies work toward sustainable peace. Gender norms, particularly norms of masculinity, are not often highlighted in transdisciplinary violence studies. Furthermore, few studies on either subject capture the perspectives and experiences of adolescent boys. This study seeks to explore adolescent boys’ (13-17 years) experiences with violence at home and in the community in “post-conflict” Colombia. Thematic qualitative analysis of 20 interview transcripts from 14 Colombian boys in Cundinamarca ( n = 5) and Córdoba ( n = 9) revealed themes of conflict avoidance, hegemonic masculinity, and opportunities for change in the form of positive coping habits. Further research into social and emotional coping behaviors and linkages to perpetuating violence between adolescence and adulthood is needed.

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Resumen Este artículo evalúa el uso de la fuerza letal por parte de las fuerzas federales mexicanas en enfrentamientos con presuntos miembros de la delincuencia organizada en el periodo 2008-2014. Con datos oficiales y reportes de prensa sobre muertos y heridos en enfrentamientos se construyen indicadores acerca del uso de la fuerza letal. En un contexto donde aumentan o se mantienen constantes los factores que favorecen el uso excesivo de la fuerza letal, los resultados muestran una esperada tendencia al alza en sus valores, lo que consolida un posible patrón sistemático de uso ilegal de la fuerza letal por parte de las fuerzas federales de seguridad. Además, se plantea que existe una creciente opacidad en la información oficial disponible y serias carencias en el marco legal que regula el uso de la fuerza.