Articles by Silvia Patricia Solís
Initially written in the form of an essay, this letter is written to my children from a place cal... more Initially written in the form of an essay, this letter is written to my children from a place called Land. It unveils the entanglements coloniality creates in young, racialized, and gendered lives through the colonial logics structuring childhood, memory, and borders. From a diasporic perspective, Land emerges as flesh rooted in the saberes, the knowledge of our mothers and grandmothers. Remembering and returning to the places we call home, in my case, US/Mexico border, help us grapple with trauma and also learn ways people respond to the violence. I illuminate the colonial wounds we bare and the knowledge we carry to suture and heal.
Book Chapters by Silvia Patricia Solís
Mexican-origin foods, foodways, and social movements: Decolonial perspectives, 2017
Co-Authored Articles by Silvia Patricia Solís
Women's Health Issues , 2014
Purpose: Obesity is a significant public health problem in women’s health. This study examined re... more Purpose: Obesity is a significant public health problem in women’s health. This study examined relationship between
body esteem, exercise motivations, depression, and social support among female free clinic patients. Low-income
women who are at risk for obesity and other health concerns would benefit from health education efforts.
Methods: We compared 299 female and 164 male free clinic patients 18 years or older using assessments for body
esteem, motivation to exercise, depression, and social support.
Results: Although female participants reported lower levels of body esteem and higher levels of depression compared with
male participants (p < .01), female participants were more motivated to exercise for weight-related reasons than male
participants (p < .05). U.S.-born female participants reported lower exercise motivations compared with non–U.S.-born
female participants (p < .01). Social support might be an important factor to increase exercise motivation among female
free clinic patients (p < .05); depression lowers levels of body esteem (p < .01).
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that female free clinic patients should receive gender-specific
interventions to promote positive body image and physical activity. It is important for health educators to engage a
myriad of physical activity motives to increase the likelihood that clients will experience enjoyment and sustained
adoption of exercise into their lifestyle. Future practice and research should warrant the implementation of body image
and physical activity programs and the potential impact of using exercise to reducing depression among female patients
at free clinics.
Objectives: The study’s purpose was to examine the impact of somatic
symptoms and perceived neig... more Objectives: The study’s purpose was to examine the impact of somatic
symptoms and perceived neighborhood environment on depression
using a comparison among US-born and nonYUS-born free
clinic patients.
Methods: US-born English speakers (n = 99), nonYUS-born English
speakers (n = 89), and nonYUS-born Spanish speakers (n = 158) 18
years old or older (N = 346) were surveyed at a free clinic that provides
primary care to people without health insurance. Depression, somatic
symptoms, and perceived neighborhood environment were measured
using standardized instruments.
Results: US-born English speakers reported higher levels of depression
and a greater number of somatic symptoms than nonYUSborn
Spanish speakers and nonYUS-born English speakers. NonYUS
born English speakers reported lower levels of depression and fewer
somatic symptoms than Spanish speakers. Somatic symptoms and
perceived neighborhood satisfaction were related to depression.
Conclusions: Developing mental health services for patients in a free
clinic setting is needed; however, because of limited financial and
human resources, providing mental health services in a free clinic
setting often is difficult. Community-based health promotion programs
as supplements to efforts within clinical settings would be
valuable in improving the mental health of free clinic patients. Future
studies should implement collaborative pilot programs and evaluate
health outcomes.
Free clinics provide free primary care to the under or uninsured and have been playing an importa... more Free clinics provide free primary care to the under or uninsured and have been playing an important role in serving the socio-economically disadvantaged. Free clinic patients represent a group of people who experience significant barriers to receiving diabetes prevention and intervention. This study examined diabetes attitudes among free clinic patients and volunteers. English or Spanish speaking patients and volunteers (N = 384), aged 18 years or older completed a self-administered survey. Diabetic patients and volunteers shared similar levels of diabetes attitudes compared to non-diabetic patients. Among patients, ethnicity, education level, diabetes education, and family history affected diabetes attitudes. Among volunteers, diabetes education was an important factor associated with positive diabetes attitudes. Whether the volunteer is a healthcare professional or student was related only to one aspect of diabetes attitudes, seriousness of type 2 diabetes. The results, indicating free clinic diabetic patients and volunteers shared similar levels of diabetes attitudes, were positive for main- taining and developing diabetes education programs at a free clinic. Unfortunately, the average length of volunteering at this free clinic was short and student volunteers likely leave the clinic upon graduation. Future research should examine issues of volunteer retention in free clinics. Diabetes edu- cation for patients may need to be diversified according to ethnicity, family history of diabetes, and educational level. Finally, non-healthcare professional volunteers could potentially be involved in diabetes education at a free clinic.
Thesis by Silvia Patricia Solís
In the fall of 2007,1 began filming a course called Cosecha Voices, which
centered on the migrat... more In the fall of 2007,1 began filming a course called Cosecha Voices, which
centered on the migratory, farmworking experiences of South Texas students attending the University of Texas - Pan American. This thesis therefore, stems from my two-year collaborative experience with the Cosecha Voices project. I propose Cosecha Voices
opened up an academic space for critical pedagogy and transculturation to intersect, creating a transcultural pedagogy. Transculturalpedagogy as praxis, centers on students' lived experiences, engaging educators and students in a transculturation of intersecting
theories intertwined in oral performances, film ethnography, and testimonies as pedagogical practices and epistemologies. This process allows for personal and social change by empowering the students to document their own migratory, farmworking histories as testimonios. As part of this framework, I transform the testimonio to an
empowering/creative/research tool to interpret the research findings and analysis to illustrate the transculturation in the development of this research.
Book Reviews by Silvia Patricia Solís
Chicana/Latina Studies , 2017
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Articles by Silvia Patricia Solís
Book Chapters by Silvia Patricia Solís
Co-Authored Articles by Silvia Patricia Solís
body esteem, exercise motivations, depression, and social support among female free clinic patients. Low-income
women who are at risk for obesity and other health concerns would benefit from health education efforts.
Methods: We compared 299 female and 164 male free clinic patients 18 years or older using assessments for body
esteem, motivation to exercise, depression, and social support.
Results: Although female participants reported lower levels of body esteem and higher levels of depression compared with
male participants (p < .01), female participants were more motivated to exercise for weight-related reasons than male
participants (p < .05). U.S.-born female participants reported lower exercise motivations compared with non–U.S.-born
female participants (p < .01). Social support might be an important factor to increase exercise motivation among female
free clinic patients (p < .05); depression lowers levels of body esteem (p < .01).
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that female free clinic patients should receive gender-specific
interventions to promote positive body image and physical activity. It is important for health educators to engage a
myriad of physical activity motives to increase the likelihood that clients will experience enjoyment and sustained
adoption of exercise into their lifestyle. Future practice and research should warrant the implementation of body image
and physical activity programs and the potential impact of using exercise to reducing depression among female patients
at free clinics.
symptoms and perceived neighborhood environment on depression
using a comparison among US-born and nonYUS-born free
clinic patients.
Methods: US-born English speakers (n = 99), nonYUS-born English
speakers (n = 89), and nonYUS-born Spanish speakers (n = 158) 18
years old or older (N = 346) were surveyed at a free clinic that provides
primary care to people without health insurance. Depression, somatic
symptoms, and perceived neighborhood environment were measured
using standardized instruments.
Results: US-born English speakers reported higher levels of depression
and a greater number of somatic symptoms than nonYUSborn
Spanish speakers and nonYUS-born English speakers. NonYUS
born English speakers reported lower levels of depression and fewer
somatic symptoms than Spanish speakers. Somatic symptoms and
perceived neighborhood satisfaction were related to depression.
Conclusions: Developing mental health services for patients in a free
clinic setting is needed; however, because of limited financial and
human resources, providing mental health services in a free clinic
setting often is difficult. Community-based health promotion programs
as supplements to efforts within clinical settings would be
valuable in improving the mental health of free clinic patients. Future
studies should implement collaborative pilot programs and evaluate
health outcomes.
Thesis by Silvia Patricia Solís
centered on the migratory, farmworking experiences of South Texas students attending the University of Texas - Pan American. This thesis therefore, stems from my two-year collaborative experience with the Cosecha Voices project. I propose Cosecha Voices
opened up an academic space for critical pedagogy and transculturation to intersect, creating a transcultural pedagogy. Transculturalpedagogy as praxis, centers on students' lived experiences, engaging educators and students in a transculturation of intersecting
theories intertwined in oral performances, film ethnography, and testimonies as pedagogical practices and epistemologies. This process allows for personal and social change by empowering the students to document their own migratory, farmworking histories as testimonios. As part of this framework, I transform the testimonio to an
empowering/creative/research tool to interpret the research findings and analysis to illustrate the transculturation in the development of this research.
Book Reviews by Silvia Patricia Solís
body esteem, exercise motivations, depression, and social support among female free clinic patients. Low-income
women who are at risk for obesity and other health concerns would benefit from health education efforts.
Methods: We compared 299 female and 164 male free clinic patients 18 years or older using assessments for body
esteem, motivation to exercise, depression, and social support.
Results: Although female participants reported lower levels of body esteem and higher levels of depression compared with
male participants (p < .01), female participants were more motivated to exercise for weight-related reasons than male
participants (p < .05). U.S.-born female participants reported lower exercise motivations compared with non–U.S.-born
female participants (p < .01). Social support might be an important factor to increase exercise motivation among female
free clinic patients (p < .05); depression lowers levels of body esteem (p < .01).
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that female free clinic patients should receive gender-specific
interventions to promote positive body image and physical activity. It is important for health educators to engage a
myriad of physical activity motives to increase the likelihood that clients will experience enjoyment and sustained
adoption of exercise into their lifestyle. Future practice and research should warrant the implementation of body image
and physical activity programs and the potential impact of using exercise to reducing depression among female patients
at free clinics.
symptoms and perceived neighborhood environment on depression
using a comparison among US-born and nonYUS-born free
clinic patients.
Methods: US-born English speakers (n = 99), nonYUS-born English
speakers (n = 89), and nonYUS-born Spanish speakers (n = 158) 18
years old or older (N = 346) were surveyed at a free clinic that provides
primary care to people without health insurance. Depression, somatic
symptoms, and perceived neighborhood environment were measured
using standardized instruments.
Results: US-born English speakers reported higher levels of depression
and a greater number of somatic symptoms than nonYUSborn
Spanish speakers and nonYUS-born English speakers. NonYUS
born English speakers reported lower levels of depression and fewer
somatic symptoms than Spanish speakers. Somatic symptoms and
perceived neighborhood satisfaction were related to depression.
Conclusions: Developing mental health services for patients in a free
clinic setting is needed; however, because of limited financial and
human resources, providing mental health services in a free clinic
setting often is difficult. Community-based health promotion programs
as supplements to efforts within clinical settings would be
valuable in improving the mental health of free clinic patients. Future
studies should implement collaborative pilot programs and evaluate
health outcomes.
centered on the migratory, farmworking experiences of South Texas students attending the University of Texas - Pan American. This thesis therefore, stems from my two-year collaborative experience with the Cosecha Voices project. I propose Cosecha Voices
opened up an academic space for critical pedagogy and transculturation to intersect, creating a transcultural pedagogy. Transculturalpedagogy as praxis, centers on students' lived experiences, engaging educators and students in a transculturation of intersecting
theories intertwined in oral performances, film ethnography, and testimonies as pedagogical practices and epistemologies. This process allows for personal and social change by empowering the students to document their own migratory, farmworking histories as testimonios. As part of this framework, I transform the testimonio to an
empowering/creative/research tool to interpret the research findings and analysis to illustrate the transculturation in the development of this research.