Digital Commons Network^™

Accuracy Of Covid-19 Relevant Knowledge Among Youth: Number Of Information Sources Matters, Patricia Wonch Hill, Judy Diamond, Amy N. Spiegel, Elizabeth Vanwormer, Meghan Leadabrand, Julia Mcquillan

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Can comics effectively convey scientific knowledge about COVID-19 to youth? What types and how many sources of information did youth have about COVID-19 during the pandemic? How are sources of information associated with accurate COVID-19 knowledge? To answer these questions, we surveyed youth in grades 5–9 in a Midwestern United States school district in the winter of 2020–2021. The online survey used measures of COVID-19 knowledge and sources, with an embedded experiment on COVID-19 relevant comics. Guided by an integrated science capital and just-in-time health and science information acquisition model, we also measured level of science capital, science identity, and …

Examining Effective And Realized Healthcare Access In The West South Central Division., Katherine Cameron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores realized and effective access domains outlined by Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Exploring other domains of access is critical to understanding how the healthcare system functions (Kirby & Yabroff, 2020). This study evaluates rural-urban and racial/ethnic differences in access to care using two underresearched domains of healthcare access. It also allows for exploring access disparities within rural communities amongst minority populations. This dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter One provides an overview of health disparities and inequities and a brief overview of the study. Chapter Two details a high-level history of racism and its …

Healthcare In A Time Of Crisis: An Investigation Of The Association Between Socioeconomic Status, Counties, And Covid-19, Jorge F. Contreras

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed social structural institutions such as hospitals, schools, the economy, and governmental bodies (local, state, and federal), exacerbating existing health inequality. Fundamental Cause Theory (FCT) provides a framework for understanding which factors drive such inequality, but its primary focus is on within-group variation. By highlighting the role of fundamental causes as systems of exposure, the Systems-of-Exposure (SOE) approach expands on FCT to account for variation more directly between populations. I performed a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) of county-level data from Texas and California to test the utility of SOE in assessing the impact of a pandemic …

Social Networks, High-Risk Anal Hpv And Coinfection With Hiv In Young Sexual Minority Men, Kayo Fujimoto, Alan G Nyitray, Jacky Kuo, Jing Zhao, Lu-Yu Hwang, Elizabeth Chiao, Anna R Giuliano, John A Schneider, Aditya Khanna

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Young sexual minority men (SMM) exhibit a high prevalence and incidence of high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus (hrHPV) anal infections and a confluence of a high prevalence of HIV and rectal STIs. Social determinants of health (SDOHs) are linked to social network contexts that generate and maintain racial disparities in HIV and STIs. A network perspective was provided to advance our knowledge of drivers of genotype-specific hrHPV infection and coinfection with HIV. The study also examined whether socially connected men are infected with the same high-risk HPV genotypes and, if so, whether this tendency is conditioned on coinfection with …

Effect Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Volunteerism And Fundraising Management Strategies In Nonprofits And Rebuilding Tactics Of Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana (Rmhc-Cni), Humza Wolf

Nonprofit and NGO Studies Student Projects

The financial sustainability of nonprofits depends highly on volunteerism and funding strategies which got impacted during Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. This capstone study explores to what extent nonprofits got affected and evaluates the efforts of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) to improve the provision of support for underprivileged families of critically ill children. The continual efforts to overcome financial hurdles escalated in pandemic. Mixed method research design was used to collect, analyze, and triangulate both quantitative and qualitative research methods in this single study to understand the research problem. Interpretive approach encompassed the complexities of …

Covid-19 And Challenges To The Classical Theory Of Epidemics, Simon Levin

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Parental Coping Strategies During Catastophic Events, Vivian K. Mills

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

On March 11, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Sars CoV-2 a global pandemic. The virus that originated in Wuhan, China, had spread to several other countries causing governments to shut down and issue safety mandates to slow and stop the spread. The pandemic caused global changes to normal routines and highlighted the importance of coping during these tough times. Although the global COVID-19 pandemic encompassed much of the news during the past few years, it is not an isolated catastrophic event to have impacted society. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, wars, and other disasters have …

Covid-19 Pandemic And Special Education Teacher Voices, Rama Cousik

The Qualitative Report

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 created havoc in schools across the world as it necessitated school closures and lockdowns, and/or a sudden switch to an online mode of learning. Although all children and teachers were adversely affected, children with disabilities faced additional problems. Special education teachers bore the burden of having to continue providing high quality special education in the face of these challenges. In this paper, I present findings from a survey of special education teachers through use of qualitative and arts-based research technics.

County-Level Societal Predictors Of Covid-19 Cases And Deaths Changed Through Time In The United States: A Longitudinal Ecological Study, Philip J. Bergmann, Nathan A. Ahlgren, Rosalie A. Torres Stone

Biology

People of different racial/ethnic backgrounds, demographics, health, and socioeconomic characteristics have experienced disproportionate rates of infection and death due to COVID-19. This study tests if and how county-level rates of infection and death have changed in relation to societal county characteristics through time as the pandemic progressed. This longitudinal study sampled monthly county-level COVID-19 case and death data per 100,000 residents from April 2020 to March 2022, and studied the relationships of these variables with racial/ethnic, demographic, health, and socioeconomic characteristics for 3125 or 97.0% of U.S. counties, accounting for 96.4% of the U.S. population. The association of all county-level …

Covid-19, Nutrition, And Gender: An Evidence-Informed Approach To Gender-Responsive Policies And Programs, Anna Kalbarczyk, Noora-Lisa Aberman, Bregje S M Van Asperen, Rosemary Morgan, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Bianca Carducci, Rebecca Heidkamp, Saskia Osendarp, Neha Kumar, Anna Lartey

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

In addition to the direct health impacts of COVID-19, government and household mitigation measures have triggered negative indirect economic, educational, and food and health system impacts, hitting low-and middle-income countries the hardest and disproportionately affecting women and girls. We conducted a gender focused analysis on five critical and interwoven crises that have emerged because of the COVID-19 crisis and exacerbated malnutrition and food insecurity. These include restricted mobility and isolation; reduced income; food insecurity; reduced access to essential health and nutrition services; and school closures. Our approach included a theoretical gender analysis, targeted review of the literature, and a visual …

Gendered Geographies Of Care: Women As Health Workers In An Indigenous Health Project In The Peruvian Amazon, Daniela Peluso

Tipití: Journal of the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America

This article examines how women as primary gatekeepers for well being became involved as health promoters in a local indigenous health care project in the Amazonian region of Madre de Dios, Peru. Here, I provide a case study of the processes and transitions that the project underwent from its inception to its eventual inclusion of indigenous women health promoters into its programs among indigenous communities from the mid 1980’s through the early 1990’s, at a time when western primary health care was even less accessible then it is today. The article begins with an overview of Madre de Dios and …

The Impact Of Long-Term Travel On The Socio-Political Consciousness Of South Carolina Students, Sierra Davis

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

This pilot study’s driving force is to contribute to the student travel and study abroad literature and provide insight for social workers interested in practice on the global level. Social Work practice strongly emphasizes the importance of continuing education. On the macro level, advocacy and knowledge of policy can inform actions taken in the field. Literature surrounding study abroad among students typically focuses on cultural and educational impact, with little broad research focus on how study abroad experiences impact global awareness. The United Nations created a list of goals, known as the Sustainable Development Goals, aimed towards the rectification of …

“Khi Mô Về?” (When Will You Go Home?) Evocative Autoethnography On Death, Impermanence, And Time-Space Extension, Kien Nguyen-Trung

The Qualitative Report

This article is motivated by my personal wish to pay tribute to my beloved grandfather, who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic while I was stranded in Australia. Relying on an evocative autoethnography of a grandson, a father, a PhD candidate and graduate, and a researcher, and in reference to the concepts of place-making theories such as time-space expansion, I tried to embrace my experience of grief and loss as well as to make sense of my feelings of distance, impermanence, and death during this chaotic period. The story I will tell below chronicles my emotional and spiritual journey from …

How Spirituality Intensifies Sustainability: A Case Study Of Ananda Valley In Northern Portugal, Mia Handler

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The religious affiliations of citizens in the West are currently shifting away from the fundamentalist, traditional structures of the past towards more alternative spiritualities. Furthermore, as a result of the climate crisis, ecovillages are becoming increasingly popular. Ecovillages are intentional, “sustainable” communities that seek to reduce consumption, live in harmony with nature, and create strong social bonds. They are characterized by varying levels of spiritual involvement (Greenberg, 2014, p. 274). As such, the objective of this paper is to study the relationship between spirituality and environmentally-friendly practices and attitudes, using the ecovillage Ananda Valley – an Ananda Marga Master Unit …

Challenges, Opportunities, And Adaptations Of A College Preparatory 4-H Youth Development Program During Covid-19, Emily M. Davis, Ann Sansing, Jasmine Harris-Speight, Mary Nelson Robertson, David Buys

Journal of Youth Development

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has proliferated across the United States, and in the process, it has disrupted all sense of normalcy. Because adolescents are in a critical period for growth and development, youth are particularly susceptible to negative impacts of disruption from COVID-19. Therefore, sustaining youth development programs is essential to ensuring positive youth development occurs despite significant challenges. Unfortunately, the implementation of programs that maintain safety precautions can be challenging. Many programs have been forced to either cancel all activities or to transition program elements to a virtual format. Rural Medical and Science Scholars (RMSS) program administrative staff made the decision …

Poly Under Pandemic: A Pilot Survey Examining Cal Poly Slo’S Student Body During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brett Vollrath

Journalism

The following is a survey of Cal Poly SLO students and alumni who had attended the university while major pandemic restrictions were in place. The paper is based around a pilot survey and data set.

The introduction provides background on the problem and how this survey was prepared.

The literature review details research conducted during the pandemic, which was used to guide the survey's focus questions.

The survey section details the questions asked of respondents. Respondents were first asked demographic questions to establish reference points. They were then asked questions on different aspects of student life, such as mental health, …

A Case Study Investigating Perceptions Of The Covid-19 Vaccine In Cato Manor And Chesterville, Caitlin Chan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Despite countries all over the world transitioning to life post COVID-19, there are still many aspects of the pandemic that remain controversial and hot topics of debate. Perhaps among one of the most debated subjects is the question of whether vaccinations are necessary and if they truly had an impact on eliminating the virus. The concept of vaccine hesitancy has become a growing concern and threatens the health of communities around the world.

This project employed a mixed-methodology research design to investigate attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine constructed by community members living in the townships of Cato Manor and Chesterville. …

The Social Determinants Of Ideal Cardiovascular Health: A Global Systematic Review, Farah Qureshi, Kelb Bousquet-Santos, Sakurako S. Okuzono, Elaine Tsao, Scott Delaney, Anne-Josie Guimond, Julia K. Boehm, Laura D. Kubzansky

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

This systematic review synthesizes research published from January 2010-July 2022 on the social determinants of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) carried out around the world and compares trends in high-income countries (HICs) to those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). 41 studies met inclusion criteria (n = 28 HICs, n = 13 LMICs). Most were from the United States (n = 22) and cross-sectional (n = 33), and nearly all evaluated associations among adults. Among studies conducted in LMICs, nearly all were from middle-income countries and only one was carried out in low-income country. Education (n = …

Examining The Power Dynamics In The Patient-Doctor Relationship In Bio-Medicalized Countries: A Historical And Sociocultural Framework, Molly Dickerson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Medical humanities research is an increasingly important field of study for medical care. Power dynamics that exist between doctor and patient during the clinical encounter are an integral factor for improving health outcomes and patient satisfaction with their clinician. This research study sought to determine the power dynamics that exist within the patient-doctor relationship in Switzerland and other bio-medicalized countries with similar patient-provider experiences through a historical and sociocultural lens. Four interviews were conducted alongside preliminary research, and the power dynamics identified through this study were social, economic, knowledge-based, and communication. Historical human philosophies about the universe, the role of …

Socioeconomic And Comorbid Factors Affecting Mortality And Length Of Stay In Covid-19 Patients, Adam Delora, Ashlynn Mills, David Jacobson, Brendon Cornett, William F Peacock, Anita Datta, Shane P Jenks

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic exposed and exacerbated health disparities between socioeconomic groups. Our purpose was to determine if age, sex, race, insurance, and comorbidities predicted patients' length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and in-hospital mortality in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the early pandemic. Methods Utilizing retrospective, secondarily sourced electronic health record (EHR) data for patients who tested positive for COVID-19 from HCA Healthcare facilities, predictors of LOS and in-hospital mortality were assessed using regression. LOS and in-hospital mortality were assessed using logistic regression and negative binomial regression, respectively. All …

The Lived Social Experience Of Covid-19 Survivors In Southwestern Nigeria, Endurance Uzobo, Ijeoma Nwanwene, Tolulope Funmilola Ojo

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The traditional perceptions of disease causation often reinforce the feelings of stigmatization and discrimination towards individuals who have recovered from an illness. This study investigated the existing social practices with regard to stigmatization and discrimination against COVID-19 survivors in Southwest Nigeria. Using the Psychoanalytic Theory, this phenomenological qualitative study utilized the snowball sampling method and an in-depth interview to sample 25 COVID-19 survivors in Southwest Nigeria. Collected data for this study were analyzed thematically, using content analysis with the aid of the ATLAS.ti software. Findings from the study indicated that COVID-19 survivors generally experience sympathy, hostility, mockery, and social exclusion. …

Predictors Of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data From 93 Countries, Marta Kowal, Piotr Sorokowski, Katarzyna Pisanski, Jaroslava V. Valentova, Marco A.C. Varella, David A. Frederick, Laith Al-Shawaf, Felipe E. García, Isabella Giammusso, Biljana Gjoneska, Luca Kozma, Tobias Otterbring, Marietta Papadatou-Pastou, Gerit Pfuhl, Sabrina Stöckli, Anna Studzinska, Ezgi Toplu-Demirtaş, Anna K. Touloumakos, Bence E. Bakos, Carlota Batres, Solenne Bonneterre, Johanna Czamanski-Cohen, Jovi C. Dacanay, Eliane Deschrijver, Maryanne L. Fisher, Caterina Grano, Dmitry Grigoryev, Pavol Kačmár, Mikhail V. Kozlov, Efisio Manunta, Karlijn Massar, Joseph P. Mcfall, Moises Mebarak, Maria Rosa Miccoli, Taciano L. Milfont, Pavol Prokop, Toivo Aavik, Patrícia Arriaga, Roberto Baiocco, Jiří Čeněk, Hakan Çetinkaya, Izzet Duyar, Farida Guemaz, Tatsunori Ishii, Julia A. Kamburidis, Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree, Linda H. Lidborg, Hagar Manor, Ravit Nussinson, Mohd Sofian B. Omar-Fauzee, Farid Pazhoohi, Koen Ponnet, Anabela Caetano Santos, Oksana Senyk, Ognen Spasovski, Mona Vintila, Austin H. Wang, Gyesook Yoo, Oulmann Zerhouni, Rizwana Amin, Sibele Aquino, Merve Boğa, Mahmoud Boussena, Ali R. Can, Seda Can, Rita Castro, Antonio Chirumbolo, Ogeday Çoker, Clément Cornec, Seda Dural, Stephanie J. Eder, Nasim Ghahraman Moharrampour, Simone Grassini, Evgeniya Hristova, Gözde Ikizer, Nicolas Kervyn, Mehmet Koyuncu, Yoshihiko Kunisato, Samuel Lins, Tetyana Mandzyk, Silvia Mari, Alan D.A. Mattiassi, Aybegum Memisoglu-Sanli, Mara Morelli, Felipe C. Novaes, Miriam Parise, Irena Pavela Banai, Mariia Perun, Nejc Plohl, Fatima Zahra Sahli, Dušana Šakan, Sanja Smojver-Azic, Çağlar Solak, Sinem Söylemez, Asako Toyama, Anna Wlodarczyk, Yuki Yamada, Beatriz Abad-Villaverde, Reza Afhami, Grace Akello, Nael H. Alami, Leyla Alma, Marios Argyrides, Derya Atamtürk, Nana Burduli, Sayra Cardona, João Carneiro, Andrea Castañeda, Izabela Chałatkiewicz, Wiliam J. Chopik, Dimitri Chubinidze, Daniel Conroy-Beam, Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Diana Ribeiro Da Silva, Yahya B. Don, Silvia Donato, Dmitrii Dubrov, Michaela Duračková, Sanjana Dutt, Samuel O. Ebimgbo, Ignacio Estevan, Edgardo Etchezahar, Peter Fedor, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Tomasz Frackowiak, Katarzyna Galasinska, Łukasz Gargula, Benjamin Gelbart, Talia Gomez Yepes, Brahim Hamdaoui, Ivana Hromatko, Salome N. Itibi, Luna Jaforte, Steve M.J. Janssen, Marija Jovic, Kevin S. Kertechian, Farah Khan, Aleksander Kobylarek, Maida Koso-Drljevic, Anna Krasnodębska, Valerija Križanić, Miguel Landa-Blanco, Alvaro Mailhos, Tiago Marot, Tamara Martinac Dorcic, Martha Martinez-Banfi, Mat Rahimi Yusof, Marlon Mayorga-Lascano, Vita Mikuličiūtė, Katarina Mišetić

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using …

Reducing The Digital Divide: Why Culturally Relevant Ehealth Interventions Can Reduce Latino Health Disparities, Blanca Flor Garcia-Silva

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objectives: This paper systematically reviews the recent literature on incorporating culturally relevant material in electronic health (eHealth) tools for Latinos. Latinos are a fast-growing ethnic population set to reach 119 million individuals by 2060 (Velasco-Mondragon et al., 2016). Latinos are also disproportionately affected by comorbidities and other poor health outcomes. Developing a culturally sensitive eHealth tool can lead to positive health outcomes among Latinos. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles and analyses were extracted to identify whether eHealth was associated with positive health outcomes among Latino adults. Four literature databases were used to extract English-language articles published from 2001 to 2022. …

Human Mobility, Hospitality, And Tourism Industries: A Perspective On Catastrophes, Asif Hussain

Journal of Sustainability and Resilience

The coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a significant reduction in peoples’ movements, migration and trade at both local and global levels. Lockdowns and travel restrictions all over the world have led to a rapid retrenchment of the world’s hospitality and tourism sector. This is not new. Historically, catastrophes impacted human mobility. Drawing from the historical connections between catastrophes, especially health crises, this paper highlights the impacts of catastrophes on the hospitality and tourism industries. This research shows that the relationship between pandemic and tourism is turbulent, and it explores the implications of the current health crisis for the travel industry …

How Domestic Violence Affects Incarcerated Women, Michelle Ryman

University Honors Theses

The incarceration of women has grown seven times since the 1980s, with up to 90% of incarcerated women being survivors of domestic violence. Women are five times more likely to be abused by an intimate partner. Intimate partner violence leads to unhealthy coping mechanisms like drug abuse and violence against perpetrators. While coercion in IPV can contribute to violent retaliation and drug abuse, it can also lead to criminal behavior prompted by the perpetrator. Whether IPV shows itself as violent attacks, sexual assault, coercion, financial withholding, threats, isolation, psychological abuse, or any other behavior that allows one person to control …

Using Poultry To Enhance Food Security In Stann Creek, Belize, Emily Spatz

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food insecurity is a growing issue in developing and developed countries alike, and in countries like Belize, the prevalence of hunger has soared in recent years. Not having access to diets with sufficient calories and nutrients leads to a host of developmental issues, including stunting and cognitive delays. The purpose of this work was to create an all-encompassing manual for small-scale broiler production, with the intention of another honors student overseeing the implementation of the ideas set forth in the manual, in order to provide nourishment for the students and staff of a school in Belize. After determining that the …

The Media Discourses On Organ Donation And Transplantation In Spain (1954-2020) And Their Implications For Spanish Nationalism, Rebeca Herrero Sáenz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Spain has been the global leader in organ donation and transplantation since 1992, an achievement that has become a source of national pride, in a country where national symbols are heavily contested. In this dissertation I examine the changing meanings that organ donation and transplantation have acquired in contemporary Spain, focusing specifically on their implications for different aspects of Spanish nationalism. To do so, I employ a modified version computational grounded theory, a mixed-methods approach that combines topic modeling with interpretive analysis, to identify and interpret the narratives around organ donation and transplantation circulated by the Spanish press between 1954 …

Treating Anonymous Patients : The Effectiveness, Costs, And Strategies Of Promoting The Use Of Expedited Partner Therapy, Andre Kiesel

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite decades of concerted efforts to prevent their spread, chlamydia andgonorrhea remain two of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in the United States (U.S.) — exacting a high toll in terms of human health and healthcare expenditure. Though easily cured with antibiotics, both infections may lead to damaging secondary health conditions – known as sequelae – if untreated, including infertility among females. However, treating diagnosed individuals (known as “index patients”) is not enough—it is critical to also care for their recent sex partners as well, lest they reinfect the treated patient. Partner referral is the traditional approach to partner …

Concerns With Taking The Covid-19 Vaccine, Kaela Bellamy, Robert S. Keyser

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

This IRB-approved descriptive study provides an overview of the concerns associated with receiving a COVID-19 vaccination within the Kennesaw State University community, an R2 university with over 41,000 students, and uses a survey to provide insight into how students, faculty, staff, and administrators are responding to the vaccinations for COVID-19, both available and unavailable, and their preferences. Our research findings indicate that: 1) Most of the population at Kennesaw State University intends to receive the vaccine, regardless of their concerns; 2) The majority of the participants who are either employed or provided an education by Kennesaw State University plan to …

The Experiences Of Older Formerly Incarcerated Adults In A Specialized Reentry Program During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Robin O'Hanlon, Jessica Broome

Publications and Research

A growing area of concern among prison reform advocates and human rights activists is the “greying prison population” or the continuous, unified growth in the number of older incarcerated individuals. Older individuals experience an accelerated aging process while incarcerated, but are less likely to reoffend upon release. While the aging prison population has in recent years become a focus of criminological and gerontological scholars, the lived experience of older formerly incarcerated individuals during the reentry process remains understudied. Using a qualitative approach, this cohort study seeks to further elucidate the unique needs, beliefs, and perceptions of this population within the …