Digital Commons Network^™

After The Class: Intergroup Dialogue Students' Actions Through The Lens Of The Cycle Of Liberation, Crista C. Gray

Dissertations - ALL

This research project centered 16 former intergroup dialogue (IGD) students' narratives from in-depth qualitative interviews and explored the ways participants did and did not put their learning into action at least a full semester after IGD course completion. Narrative data were analyzed through the lens of the Cycle of Liberation (Harro, 2010) and student actions were categorized as intrapersonal (within self), interpersonal (with others), and systemic (with/for larger organized groups). Most participants stated that their IGD experiences were among the most influential of their college experience at the time of the interview. Often the influence of IGD echoed in the …

The Poverty Of Simplicity: Austerity, Alienation, And Tiny Houses, Brian Richard Hennigan

Dissertations - ALL

Tiny houses – stand-alone, fully functional dwellings generally between 100 and 400 square-feet – are increasingly popular in the United States. The degradation of working class life wrought through neoliberal policy and then punctuated by the Great Recession propels this popularity. Next to traditional houses, tiny houses are significantly cheaper. Those among the middle stratum of the working class have sought out tiny houses as a means to ease their financial anxiety. Rather than merely a newer form of cheaper housing, an entire lifestyle movement has emerged around tiny houses. Anti-consumerism is the keystone to this lifestyle movement. For enthusiasts, …

Reported Reasons For Avoiding The Covid-19 Vaccine Vary By Age, Kelsey Wilber

Population Health Research Brief Series

Despite various efforts by governments, businesses, and health care providers, a large share of the U.S. population remains resistant to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Understanding why individuals refuse the vaccine is important for tailoring interventions to improve vaccination rates. This brief examines age differences in reasons reported for not getting the vaccine. Concerns about possible side effects are the most common among every age group, but other reported reasons, including lack of trust in the vaccine and the government vary by age group. Findings suggest that tackling COVID-19 misinformation is critical to increase vaccination rates in the United States.

Growth In Confidence And Search For Belonging: A Case Study Of Muslim Student Experience At An American College, Amir Duric

Muslim Student Life

The broader perception of Muslim Student Association (MSA) in the wider society is not always positive. It is often viewed as a conservative organization where all members need to be a specific type of Muslim to fit in or a political space influenced by a foreign group or ideology. Because of this I studied the group, and my findings challenge this view drawing from the semester-long fieldwork, participant observations, and four in-depth interviews with MSA members at Salt City University (SCU). Data collected shows how the group and its members and the broader Muslim community on campus made Muslim students …

Billions In Covid-19 Rental Assistance Fails To Reach Tenants, William Clay Fannin

Population Health Research Brief Series

COVID-19 exacerbated existing problems with housing affordability in the United States, particularly for Black and Hispanic renters. To curb these financial hardships, Congress created the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, but ERA rollout has been slow and inconsistent. This brief describes geographic differences in ERA spending across the U.S. and encourages states and localities to adopt policies that increase program eligibility and streamline fund disbursement.

Covid-19 Has Had Devastating Economic Impacts On Older Black And Latinx Adults, Claire Pendergrast, Amy Thierry, Marc A. Garcia

Population Health Research Brief Series

Black and Latinx communities have been disproportionately affected by economic hardships during the pandemic, magnifying long-standing economic inequalities. This research brief shows that in the first year of the pandemic, older Black and Latinx adults experienced greater negative economic impacts than older White adults. Foreign-born and U.S.-born Latinx adults experienced especially significant economic hardships relative to other groups. To reduce the disproportionate economic impacts of crises like COVID-19 on older Black and Latinx adults, policymakers should prioritize economic relief measures and support broader social policy to reduce economic inequality.

Consistent Snap Participation Increases Preventative Health Care Visits For Infants, Colleen Heflin, Irma A. Arteaga, Julia Stafford

Population Health Research Brief Series

Food insecurity in families with children has increased dramatically during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Not only is food insecurity a problem on its own, but it is linked to receiving less preventative medical care in the first year of life—including well-child visits and recommended vaccinations. This brief summarizes findings from research examining the connection between SNAP participation and preventative care in an infant’s first year of life in Missouri. Findings show that infants in households that receive unstable SNAP benefits have a lower likelihood of attending all their well-child visits and receiving routine immunizations. Policymakers should consider interventions to simplify …

The U.S. Should Expand Access To Dental Care For Older Adults, Madonna Harrington Meyer, Sarah Reilly, Julia Finan

Population Health Research Brief Series

Older adult Medicare recipients face high out-of-pocket dental expenses due to a lack of appropriate dental care coverage. Older adults with lower socioeconomic status tend to have worse oral health, less dental insurance coverage, greater difficulties finding a dentist, and low-quality care. This brief details the experiences socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults face in obtaining appropriate and affordable dental care and calls on Congress to include preventative and restorative dental care as part of the federal funding agenda.

Older Adults Are More Likely To Avoid Covid-19 Information, Julia Nolte, Corinna Löckenhoff

Population Health Research Brief Series

Older adults are at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 but less interested in information that might lower the risk of getting or spreading the disease. This brief shows that in the first months of the pandemic, older adults were less likely to consume COVID-19 information or media than younger adults. These behaviors are associated with age differences in emotional experiences and preferences, with older adults feeling calmer and more interested in protecting their feelings than younger adults. To keep older adults informed on COVID-19, government and health officials should directly target communication efforts to older adults.

Rural Counties Lost More Years Of Life Than Urban Counties In 2020, Yue Sun

Population Health Research Brief Series

Rural mortality rates have been higher than urban mortality rates for decades in the United States. Now, higher COVID-19 mortality rates in rural areas threaten to exacerbate the existing rural mortality penalty. This brief shows that rural counties had higher average years of potential life lost than urban counties in both 2019 and 2020. However, the increase in YPLL between 2019 and 2020 was largest in small rural counties and large rural counties adjacent to metro areas. Federal, state, and local governments must target social, structural, and policy determinants of health and premature mortality that disproportionately affect rural residents.

Women Report Worse Employment Impacts From Family Caregiving, Claire Pendergrast

Population Health Research Brief Series

29.2 million people in the United States, most of them women, act as family caregivers while also holding down a paying job. U.S. social policy is notoriously unsupportive of family caregivers. As a result, families struggling to balance caregiving and paid employment face emotional, social, and financial stress, with especially severe negative impacts for women. This brief uses a nationally representative sample of family caregivers participating the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) to describe gender differences in how providing care to a family member impacts caregivers’ employment experiences. Findings suggest that women are more likely than men to provide …

How Are Parental And Sibling Military Service Related To Adolescent Depression And Mental Health Service Use?, Andrew London

Population Health Research Brief Series

Having a parent or sibling serving in the military may lead to distress and mental health problems among adolescents. This research brief examines differences in depression and mental health service use among U.S. adolescents ages 12-17, comparing those who have parents or siblings currently serving in the military to those who do not. The study shows that adolescents are more likely to have an older sibling than a parent in the military. Although current parental military service is not associated with major depression among adolescents, having an older sibling in the military is associated with an increased probability of major …

Older Adult Vaccination Rates Lag In Rural Areas And The South, Claire Pendergrast, Yue Sun

Population Health Research Brief Series

Older adults face especially severe health risks from COVID-19 compared to other age groups. Getting vaccinated is the most effective way for older adults to reduce their risk of serious illness or death. This brief examines geographic trends in COVID-19 vaccination rates for adults age 65+. The authors find that older adult vaccination rates are low in rural areas and especially low in the South.

Why Are Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Lower In Rural Than In Urban Areas Of The U.S.?, Shannon M. Monnat, Yue Sun

Population Health Research Brief Series

Achieving high vaccination coverage is the best way to prevent coronavirus spread, but COVID-19 vaccination rates vary substantially across the U.S. This brief compares COVID-19 vaccination rates across the U.S. rural-urban continuum and identifies the major contributors to lower rates of vaccination in rural counties. The authors find that higher Trump vote share in the 2020 Presidential election and lower educational attainment collectively explain lower rural vaccination rates.

Elder Mistreatment Is Pervasive In New York State, Karl Pillemer, David Burnes

Population Health Research Brief Series

Elder mistreatment is a pervasive problem that has major health and psychosocial consequences for older adults. This data slice shows that about 10% of older adults (age 60+) in New York State experienced elder mistreatment between 2009 and 2019. Age and poor self-rated health increase the risk of experiencing mistreatment. Black older adults are also at greater risk of financial abuse than Whites. Health care practitioners can play a key role in screening, providing education and awareness, and making appropriate referrals for older adults at risk of mistreatment.

Taking The Measure Of Addiction Recovery: A Brief History Of Recovery Capital, Austin Brown

Population Health Research Brief Series

Drug overdose and alcohol-related deaths continue to rise in the United States. Despite the billions of dollars spent on drug and alcohol treatment annually, the U.S has failed to properly deal with addiction. This brief discusses the concept of ‘recovery capital’ as an important theoretical advancement in the field of addiction treatment. It argues that health policies should promote personal, social, community and cultural capital to increase recovery success and measure an individual’s capacity to heal from a substance use disorder.

The Case For Intersectionality: An Intersectional Look At Disability In The Labor Market, Jennifer D. Brooks

Dissertations - ALL

While approximately 10% of adults ages 18 to 64 living in the United States identify as having a disability, workers with disabilities make up only 3% of the labor force (Livermore and Schimmel Hyde 2020; Paul et al. 2020). When compared to their non-disabled counterparts, those with disabilities have lower employment rates and earnings, are more likely to work in precarious and low wage jobs and report higher levels of workplace discrimination (BLS 2020; Maroto and Pettinicchio 2014b; Robert and Harlan 2006). Yet, recent evidence suggests that disabled people's labor market disadvantages may be disproportionately experienced by those with multiple …

How Do Immigrant Older Adults In The United States Fare In Later Life? Examining Differences In Immigrant Status And Life-Course Timing Of Migration On Late-Life Disablement And Mortality, Rebecca Wang

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation focuses on immigrant older adults in the United States and their experiences with late-life disablement. Specifically, this dissertation examines immigrant status differences in late-life disability among immigrants compared to non-immigrants and investigates how life-course timing of immigration shapes late-life disability among immigrant older adults using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) 2011-2016. Drawing from life course and segmented assimilation theoretical frameworks, this research is guided by two broad research aims: 1) To determine if the immigrant health and mortality advantage extends to late-life disablement, 2) To examine how life-course timing of migration affects late-life …

An Analysis Of Gender And Entrepreneurship In Sudan, Salma Abdalla

English Language Institute

The purpose of this paper is to analyze gender inequality in entrepreneurship in Sudan. Adopting simple questions design, the author collected data from existing secondary sources. The findings reveal that there is some gender inequality impeding female entrepreneurs in Sudan.

Causes Of Early Age Drinking In Cambodia, Sopheakpanha Sok

English Language Institute

No abstract provided.

Laughter In Interactions Among Japanese Women During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mugiho Kojima

English Language Institute

This poster explores ① why people laugh about the impact of COVID-19 and ② what consciousness is behind this laughter. In order to explore these questions, discourse analysis (Bambarg, 2004) is performed targeting Japanese women in their mid-20s.

How Can Countries Protect Vulnerable Groups Against Gender Based Violence (Gbv)?, Mahwish Khan

English Language Institute

Develop an understanding about the different international treaties that exist to protect vulnerable groups against GBV.

Relationship Between Gender-Based Violence And Poor Access To Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene Services, Yousra Abu Sharekh

English Language Institute

It is generally believed that gender gaps in having access to safe, equitable and adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services arise from the unfair distribution of WASH resources between females and males, in addition to the gender norms that assign WASH responsibilities to women and girls.

It was found that poor access to WASH services is not a main cause of Gender Based Violence (GBV), however, it increases the vulnerability of females to different types of GBV. It is strongly recommended to conduct research on GBV and access to WASH facilities that is more comprehensive, qualitative, reliable and evidence …

Why Crimean Tatars Are Being Persecuted In Occupied Crimea, Nara Narimanova

English Language Institute

This poster discusses the three main reasons why Crimean Tatars are being persecuted by the Russian Federation in Occupied Crimea: for their religious beliefs, political will, and citizen journalism.

Investigating Job Performance Of Female Legislators Under Quota System: An Indonesian Case, Dede Puji Setiono

English Language Institute

This paper examines to what extent Indonesian female legislators elected through gender quota perform their legislative duties compared to non quota counterparts. Employing OLS method, the finding suggests that quota congresswomen perform similar level of legislature works to non-quota congressmen.

Working Parents Post Pandemic: Reimagining Remote Work After Covid-19, Austin Brown

Population Health Research Brief Series

Working families faced significant challenges prior to COVID-19. The pandemic has prompted many Americans to more deeply examine the relationship between time, work, and health. This brief discusses considerations for working parents as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and workers face calls to return to the office. It argues that public health professionals should advocate for work-life balance and flexible work arrangements as key social determinants of health.

Most States Effectively Enroll Racial-Ethnic Minority Older Adults In Community-Based Aging Services, But Gaps Remain, Erin Bisesti, Claire Pendergrast

Population Health Research Brief Series

The population is aging, and a growing number of older adults lack adequate support for their long-term care needs. Older Americans Act (OAA) services aim to improve health and reduce nursing home placements for older adults by connecting them with community-based supports to address their unique needs and support independence. This research brief estimates state-level differences in the effectiveness of OAA-funded programs in enrolling racial-ethnic minority older adults. Although most states adequately enroll minority and Black older adult populations, over half do not adequately enroll Hispanic older adults.

Flood Risk Is Higher In Rural And Disadvantaged Communities, Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun

Population Health Research Brief Series

Flooding has become more common in the U.S. and poses health risks to individuals, families, and communities. However, not all places face the same risk of flooding. This brief describes how flood risk varies across places with different demographic and social characteristics. It shows that rural Census tracts and tracts with larger shares of socioeconomically vulnerable populations have larger relative shares of properties at risk of flooding.

Gender And The Political Economy Of Oil In The Niger Delta: A Feminist Critique, Nneka Eke

Dissertations - ALL

The exploitation of women's labor is central to the international political economy. Since the 1980s, the trend has been towards a 'feminization of labor' in which women are confined to low-skilled, low-paying, and mostly part-time work. The exploitation of women's labor is not just confined to waged labor, as women's domestic and subsistence labor is necessary to make the economy function but remains unpaid and undervalued. Despite these findings, studies on the oil political economy have not sufficiently dealt with oil's impact on women's labor. These studies—albeit in different ways—undertheorize the link between oil, women's labor (waged and unwaged), and …

The Effect Of Mindfulness On Adolescent Self-Compassion, Self-Regulation, And Stress: Exploring The Association Between Individual Factors And Markers Of Well-Being, Staceyann Reid

Dissertations - ALL

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact participating in a mindfulness-based intervention would have on various markers of well-being, including self-compassion, long-term self-regulation, and involuntary stress response for urban adolescents. This study evaluated how the individual factors of gender, grade level, and baseline extraversion/surgency are associated with the effect of the intervention on well-being outcomes. Participants in the final analytic sample included 1,809 students in ninth (316), eleventh (1258), and twelfth (235) grade from two public high schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The intervention was delivered by instructors trained in the Inner Strength Teen Program and classes took …