Digital Commons Network^™

Pediatric Obesity In The United States: Age–Period–Cohort Analysis, Ashley W. Kranjac, Dinko Kranjac, Roxanne I. Aguilera

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The rates of obesity among American children aged 2–5 years has reached a historic high. It is crucial to identify the putative sources of population-level increases in obesity prevalence among preschool-aged children because early childhood is a critical window for obesity prevention and thus reduction of future incidence. We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data and hierarchical age–period–cohort analysis to examine lifecycle (i.e., age), historical (i.e., period), and generational (i.e., cohort) distribution of age- and sex-specific body mass index z-scores (zBMI) among 2–5-year-olds in the U.S. from 1999 to 2018. Our current findings indicate that period effects, …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Antipsychotic Medication Use In Oregon Assisted Living, Sarah Dys, Ozcan Tunalilar, Paula Carder

Institute on Aging Publications

Objective

Investigate how assisted living and residential care (AL/RC) and memory care (MC) contexts are associated with the 90-day prevalence of antipsychotic medication use (APU), considered a quality measure in long-term care.

Design

All licensed AL/RC settings in Oregon received an annual mailed questionnaire to provide aggregate resident demographics, health acuity, health service use, payment type, and organizational policies. Organizational measures were collected from state websites.

Methods

Random intercepts regression models were estimated to assess organizational and resident population characteristics associated with 90-day APU prevalence over 3 study waves (2017-2019).

Setting and Participants

We examine 932 observations in 463 AL/RC …

Humanizing The Research Process: Collaborative Reflections On Prioritizing Research Participants’ Agency, Trust, And Connection, Anne E. Pezalla, Alyssa Scott, Lex Nappa, Diane Hsieh

The Qualitative Report

All research is a social construction. In this paper, we work to illuminate those moments of co-constructed meaning by taking readers on a “behind the scenes” tour of a collaborative research project that explored educator relationships. We describe our priorities in and care for participant recruitment and scheduling, our post-hoc reflections on the differences in emotional tenor between interviews and focus groups, and our own roles and positionalities within the data collection and analysis process. Action-items are recommended for other group-based qualitative studies to humanize the process of research and prioritize moments of agency, trust, and connection among participants.

Challenges Confronted, During Data Collection Concerning Nurses And Paramedics In Bahawalpur, Pakistan, Humera Gul Dr, Syed Shakir Ali Ghazali Dr, Huma Qasim

The Qualitative Report

Data collection is one of the initial steps in almost all research practices. This study describes the challenges and issues faced by a researcher, in a developing country like Pakistan, during the execution of time-use research on nurses and paramedics, working in public sector hospitals of District Bahawalpur. We collected the data from the year 2018 to 2021, in three phases from 364 participants. Obstacles faced included: non-cooperative behavior of health department officials, non-response, reluctance, disinformation and misinterpretation on behalf of participants during working hours or after working hours and limited resources regarding funds and time. This paper also highlights …

Placing Student Success And Well-Being At The Center Of The Educational Process: How The Magic City Acceptance Academy Promotes An Ethical And Caring School Culture, D. Keith Gurley, Dwayne White, Matthew Fifolt Dr.

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

Schools and school leaders are well-positioned to create school cultures that are supportive of all students, including students who identify as LGBTQ and those who are perceived as other due to status of race, class, or ability. The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to explore how faculty and staff at the Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA) promote an ethical and caring school culture. To guide our thinking and interpretation of research findings, our team relied on two conceptual frameworks, including queer theory and the ethical educational leadership framework ethic of care. Based on inductive coding of focus …

Public Support For Gunshot Detection Technology, Kris Henning, Joshua Carmony, Christian Peterson

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Firearm violence has led many U.S. cities to invest in gunshot detection technology (GDT). Research on GDT remains limited and focuses mainly on whether it impacts police response times, arrests, and injuries. Public opinion about this technology has received limited attention. The current study addresses this gap using surveys in 23 Portland, Oregon neighborhoods with above-average firearm discharges. Respondents were evenly distributed between those opposing GDT and those supporting its use. People with prior knowledge of the technology and those with privacy concerns were more likely to be opposed whereas those who worried about gun violence and those who had …

The Impact Of Racial Terminology On Pediatric Clinical Encounters, Grace Gifford

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

An Exploratory Analysis Of Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Physical Functional Impairment In Icu Survivors, Megan A. Watson, Marie Sandi, Johanna Bixby, Grace Perry, Patrick J. Offner, Ellen L. Burnham, Sarah E. Jolley

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE: Physical functional impairment is one of three components of postintensive care syndrome (PICS) that affects up to 60% of ICU survivors. OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of objective physical functional impairment among a diverse cohort of ICU survivors, both at discharge and longitudinally, and to highlight sociodemographic factors that might be associated with the presence of objective physical functional impairment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a secondary analysis of 37 patients admitted to the ICU in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Denver, Colorado between 2016 and 2019 who survived with longitudinal follow-up data. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Our primary …

A Study And Critique Of Sexual Violence Against Disabled Individuals In Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications For Policy And Practice Of Trauma-Informed Care, Kaeley Sells

Lux et Fides: A Journal for Undergraduate Christian Scholars

This paper examines and critiques current sexual violence against disabled individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa by evaluating the social and cultural stigma present that perpetuates cycles of vulnerabilities. Currently, women and girls with disabilities are disproportionally at risk for sexual violence as economic, cultural, and political structures in many Sub-Saharan African countries fail to recognize and adequately protect those with disabilities. Incorporating evidence from journals, books, reviews, and studies, this paper demonstrates the need for non-government and government actors to recognize the need to provide protection and trauma-informed care for disabled individuals.

Social Reproduction On Campus: Quantitative Investigations Into The Reproduction Of Gender And Socioeconomic Inequality Through Higher Education, Ned William Tilbrook

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation examines two key axes of inequality in higher education -- gender and socioeconomic status (SES) -- in terms of differences in college persistence and college major using the nationally-representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. While gender differences in terms of STEM majors has been oft-studied, this dissertation contributes to this body of literature by advancing Health & Social Sciences (HSS) majors as a separate category and examining the ways in which men and women may be sorted into these different types of major before and during college, despite the strong overlap in science and math related content. …

The Effects Of Perfume On Work Performance, Tian Soon Choo, Hiral Bharatbhai Variya

Introduction to Research Methods RSCH 202

This study investigates how fragrance could affect staff efficiency at work in the service industry, particularly insurance agents. Scent is recognised to affect human behavior and perception; nevertheless, the majority of study to date has overlooked scent's possible impact on job performance in favor of focusing on its relationship to confidence and beauty. We will explore whether wearing perfume improves work performance through a panel study with 100 insurance agents. Performance is gauged by the number of policies sold and the amount of premium generated. Our study proposes to investigate the potential significant impact of perfume, both positive and negative, …

Building Trust: The Role Of Place-Based Consciousness In Vaccine Hesitancy, Ramsey W. Ash

Quantitative Social Science Undergraduate Senior Theses

Vaccine hesitancy poses a threat to public health initiatives of the 21st century. Following a stark divide in the rural/urban COVID-19 vaccine uptake and harsh disparities between these areas in COVID-19 moralities and morbidities, further understanding of the drivers of vaccine hesitancy are needed. This study makes use of the framework of place-based consciousness (PBC), pioneered by scholars of rural political science, such as Katherine Cramer, to explore this phenomenon as a mechanism by which to understand vaccine hesitancy. To examine this, an experimental survey was distributed to 300 Americans (150 rural and 150 urban) that inquired about their PBC, …

Sustaining Digital Assets Through Mobile Estate Planning, Norliza Katuk, Asvinitha Muniandy, Norazlina Abd. Wahab, Ijaz Ahmad

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Many people own online accounts, with some having financial values like Internet banking, e-wallet and cryptocurrency. In the case of sudden death, their heirs are unaware of the digital assets possessed by the deceased person, which causes the assets to be lost forever, and the heirs might not receive the assets. If an estate plan did not account for digital assets properly, the beneficiaries would not be able to access them. Therefore, this paper addresses this issue by implementing a software development approach in designing a suitable model for sustaining digital assets through smartphones to allow the inheritance of digital …

Making Room, Rachel Strompf

Masters Theses

Massachusetts is the only state in the United States with a right-to-shelter law which guarantees shelter for families with children and pregnant women.¹ As of February 2024, 3,500 homeless families with children are being sheltered in a motel or hotel with an average length of stay of 14 months, because traditional family shelters have reached capacity.^2,3 While these families are provided temporary shelter, these shelters do not allow for the development of a true sense of “home.” While a motel meets the needs of rudimentary shelter, motels were never designed as long-term accommodations and certainly not with a …

Associations Between Disordered Eating Behaviour And Sexual Behaviour Amongst Emerging Adults Attending A Tertiary Education Institution In Coastal Kenya, Stevenson Chea, Adama Kazienga, Eunice Oyugi, Isaac Menza, Carophine Nasambu, Fauz Ibrahim, Osman Abdullahi, Amin Hassan, Amina Abubakar, Kristien Michielsen

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background Sexual behavior (SB) is a well-documented pathway to HIV acquisition in emerging adults and remains common amongst African emerging adults. Previous research in high-income countries indicates a correlation between disordered eating behavior (DEB) and engaging in sexual behaviors. We aimed to describe the relationship between DEB and SB amongst emerging adults attending a tertiary educational institution at the Kenyan Coast.

Methods We applied a cross-sectional design nested in a young adults’ cohort study. Eligibility included sexually active emerging adults aged 18–24 years. Three DEBs (emotional, restrained and external eating) were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and analysed …

Altruistic Imperialism: The Co-Optation Of Mutual Aid By The Nonprofit Industrial Complex, Kelly T. Waltz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis assesses the role of the nonprofit industrial complex (NPIC) in neoliberalism’s material destruction of global community development and its exploitation of human benevolence. An examination of the institutionalization of high-profile social movements such as BLM and #MeToo demonstrates that the nonprofit industrial complex is built upon a misappropriation of feminist and liberation ideologies and practices, an insidious weaponization of our collectivist tendencies, and the systematic subjugation of mutual aid networks originally created and operated independent of systems of capital. The systemic and conceptual limitations of mainstream methods and the criteria by which nonprofit organizations’ effectiveness is evaluated are …

A Comparison Of The Islamophobic Experiences Of The Female Convert And Immigrant Muslims In America, Aliaa Dawoud

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study compares the Islamophobic experiences of female converts and immigrants in America. It is based on interviews with a total of thirteen women, six Muslim born ones and seven converts. Both groups included hijabis and non-hijabis. Unlike most other studies, in which the converts are mostly or exclusively converts from Christianity, two of the interviewees were converts from Judaism while another one was a convert from a Christian/Buddhist/atheist background.

This study argues that Islamophobia is primarily manifested in the form of pervasive everyday racism that is levied at both female converts and immigrants alike, largely in the form of …

Voices Of Experience: Lay Perspectives On Severe Maternal Morbidity In Appalachia, Anna Hansen, Cassidy Carter, Nancy Schoenberg, Carrie B. Oser

UK CARES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Mental Health Experience Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Colombians: Que La Diversidad No Cueste La Vida, María Natalia Acosta Canchila

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Experiences of TGD people in various countries reflect difficulties accessing mental health services and significant mental health needs. In Colombia, experiences in broader healthcare systems suggest various barriers to care that include experiences of discrimination. However, specific experiences in mental health services have not been thoroughly examined. The current study aimed to understand the experiences, perceptions, and needs of TGD people in Colombia in mental health systems. Qualitative data was collected via 40 semi-structured interviews with TGD people in Colombia, data was analyzed via reflexive thematic analysis. Findings suggests great mental health needs related to needing support in the process …

Community Awareness Of Domestic Violence In Arumeru District, Arusha, Tanzania, Rehema John Magesa

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Domestic violence continues to be prominent among many communities worldwide despite different efforts and strategies geared towards eradicating it. Women and girls are among the main victims of this violence. Lack of or limited awareness of the problem perpetuates the problem. However, much of the levels of awareness of the problem are lacking. This study aimed to establish community awareness of domestic violence and the levels of awareness and determine the association between respondents' characteristics and the level of awareness of gender-based violence. The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling techniques to acquire the respondents. One hundred women and …

Strengthening U.S. Jail Systems’ Response To Infectious Diseases: An Evaluation Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erinn Bacchus

Dissertations and Theses

Jails across the United States were struck with increased infections and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have shown the structural make up of jails, lack of preparedness plans, and overcrowding contributed to health risks and poor health outcomes both inside jails and local communities. Yet little research has been dedicated to strengthening jail responses to infectious disease outbreaks spanning prevention measures, data collection, and reentry planning. Gaps include information on the (1) myriad infectious disease mitigation strategies used in jails and adherence to CDC prevention guidelines, (2) development of a standardized epidemiologic surveillance system, and (3) experiences working at …

State Of New Hampshire Child Care Market Rate Study And Narrow Cost Analysis, New Hampshire Department Of Health And Human Services, Brodsky Research And Consulting

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

The State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services initiated the Child Care Market Rate Survey and Narrow Cost Analysis in compliance with federal regulations to ensure equal access to child care for Child Care Assistance Program eligible families. This report provides insights into child care market rates and the actual costs of delivering high-quality care in New Hampshire, supporting informed decisions on subsidy rates.

Historical And Contemporary Representation Of Kava By Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Sione M. U. H. Funaki

Pacific Studies

In Oceania, kava, which is made from the root or stump of the kava shrub, is associated with traditional values such as sacrifice, loyalty, commitment, and chiefliness; it is especially linked with the importance of nurturing vā relationships with fonua—land and people (Kaʻili 2017: 74–75; Tomlinson 2020: 71, 74–75). Kava has also been demonized and mischaracterized since the early nineteenth century as a harmful substance detrimental to the spirit and physical body. The conflicting realities of kava as virtue and vice are expressly displayed in the relationship between kava and the Christian church. Specifically, this paper examines the dynamics between …

Family Court Rulings Linked To Parent-Child Relationships, Ruth Ann Nichols

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Parenting arrangements arising from family court decisions can have lasting effects on Parent-Child relationships, which can affect children’s emotional and physical development. In this study, parenting arrangements, also known as custody arrangements, are examined in terms of time allocated to each parent for the legal (decision-making) and physical (parenting time) aspects of parenting arrangements. The study aimed to identify patterns between temporary and final court decisions on parenting arrangements. Primary data were collected over 3 weeks in 2022 from 652 parents ages 19-64, with a child ages 3-17, and a U.S. family court decision. An 85-item, online survey, created for …

The Impact Of Religion And Spirituality On Continental African Immigrant Health, Samuel A. Ekong

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This research study explores the impact of religious affiliation and spirituality on the acculturation and health outcomes of continental African immigrants in the USA. These immigrants, distinct from the broader African American or Black population, bring unique religious, spiritual, and cultural norms, profoundly influencing their health behaviors and acculturation processes. Unlike the descendants of Africans living outside the continent, referred to as the African diaspora, continental Africans are specifically those born in Africa. This research operationalizes the term 'continental African' to focus on this unique group residing in the USA, aiming to deepen understanding of their specific health needs and …

An Exploration Of Contributors To Intergenerational Trauma Transmission In American Families: Parental Life Experiences And Parenting Styles., Shantrell P. Sutton-Mckenzie

Dissertations

Preexisting research on intergenerational trauma transmission primarily addresses biological and behavioral routes of transmission, leaving little room for systemic influences. This research reviews preexisting biological and behavioral contributors and explores systemic contributors to intergenerational trauma transmission in American families as it relates to post-traumatic growth, parental centrality distress, and parenting styles. It was that post-traumatic growth and parental centrality of distress (comprised of ACES, centrality of events, and access to community resources) and PTG predict parenting styles. The research hypothesis was partially supported. It was found (1) Post-traumatic growth, ACEs, and perceived access to community resources while parenting added significantly …

Heteronormativity And Fair Housing: Comparing Housing Opportunities Among Cisgender And Transgender Women, Joseph E. Lara

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the American housing market, gender norms regulate access to safe and stable dwellings. When looking for a home, transgender communities, plagued by multiple vulnerabilities and politicized by conservative politicians, endure vastly different experiences than their cisgender counterparts. Despite an ongoing housing crisis, civil rights laws have widened homeownership opportunities for cisgender women, but transgender women face multiple obstacles to owning a home. How have gender norms influenced the housing market, and how have socially embedded heterosexism and cisgenderism benefited cisgender women over transgender women? This manuscript explores the cultural norms regulating the creation and access to housing, the history …

Resilience, Resistance, And Nation-Building Among Internally Displaced Persons: Kites As A Means Of Transcending Displacement, Michelle Black

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Once a simple plaything, the kite has evolved into a symbol of hope and defiance. This study explores kite flying in Gaza, specifically among internally displaced people (IDPs), as an act of resilience and resistance. It investigates how kites, amidst conflict and displacement, rise as symbols of solidarity and identity, and contribute to nation-building efforts. The research process begins with an extensive investigation into IDPs, followed by an exploration of key concepts such as resilience, resistance, and nation-building. The study then delves into how these concepts manifest within the IDP population. Additionally, research was conducted on the history and uses …

Harassment, Stalking, And Violence On Campus: An Examination Of Persistent Cases, Madeline M. Eyer

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Stalking, harassment, dating violence, physical assault, and sexual assault continue to occur at elevated frequencies on college campuses. Most subjects cease engagement in these behaviors within a short period; however, a subset of individuals will engage in these intrusive behaviors over an extended length of time. While persistence has been examined in the stalking literature, only one study has examined risk factors of persistence in a college sample, and no studies have examined persistence for adverse behaviors outside of stalking (i.e., harassment, dating violence, physical assault, and sexual assault). Given the risk for physical and psychological harm toward targets as …

The Relationship Between Healthcare Access And Change In Health-Related Quality-Of-Life Among The General Population Of Five Countries During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nadja Alexandrov, Emily Stella Scott, Mathieu F. Janssen, Erica I. Lubetkin, John N. Yfantopoulos, Gouke J. Bonsel, Juanita A. Haagsma

Publications and Research

Purpose To determine whether (1) healthcare access at onset of the pandemic and (2) age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and pre-existing health status were associated with change in health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study includes a general population sample of five countries.

Methods An online questionnaire was administered to respondents from Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic between April 22nd and May 5th of 2020, and 1 year later between May 23rd and June 29th of 2021. The questionnaire included questions on demographic background, health status, and …