Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

“Everybody Is Scared To Eat The Food”: Exploring Food Sovereignty Applications In A Refugee Agricultural Program, Cheyenne Rose Schoen

Theses - ALL

This research documents some of the goals and challenges of refugee farmers and gardeners who participated in an organized agriculture project in Syracuse, New York. During the 2018 harvest season I observed and interviewed nine refugee farmers from Somalia, Bhutan, Nepal, and Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as four organizational staff members who were recruited through their affiliation with the Syracuse Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (SyRAPP) and the Refugee and Immigrants Self-Empowerment (RISE) organization. Refugee farmers expressed distrust of the conventional food system, they valued control over the food supply through farming, and many desired to live at or …

Precarity Beyond Food: How The Closure Of An Independent Grocery Store Shed Light On The Limitations Of Food Access Efforts In Syracuse, New York, Katherine Louisa Ravene Mott

Theses - ALL

On September 11, 2017, the owner of an independent grocery store in Syracuse, New York’s Near Westside neighborhood announced that the store would close within the month. The Near Westside is often characterized by its high levels of concentrated poverty for African American and Hispanic neighborhood residents. Nojaim Brothers Supermarket opened in 1919 and persisted for 97 years amidst an unfavorable political and economic landscape marked by the creation of both chain grocery stores and supermarkets as well as the effects of urban renewal and disinvestment. I argue that Nojaim’s endurance can be attributed to the embeddedness of the grocery …

Destress For Success: Improving Student Mental Health With A New Healthy Monday Program, Mary Kate Schutt

Population Health Research Brief Series

College students’ mental health is declining at alarming rates. Rates of depression and suicidal ideation among students have doubled since 2007. This causes campus counseling centers and staff to become overburdened and under resourced. This issue brief describes the launch of the DeStress for Success program, a new Healthy Monday program that provides a positive resource for students to help increase mental health and improve academic performance.

We Need To Change The Language We Use To Describe Individuals With Substance Use Issues, Austin Mcneill Brown

Population Health Research Brief Series

People with substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly stigmatized worldwide. This research brief describes the results from several studies on unconscious bias and negative language used to describe individuals with SUDs.

Results From The Su Health & Wellness Goal Survey, Shannon M. Monnat, Mary Kate Schutt, Ashley Van Slyke, Alexandra Punch

Population Health Research Brief Series

In Spring 2019, SU’s Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion surveyed over 600 SU faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students to identify their goals related to health and wellness. This research brief summarizes the top ranked goals, including increasing physical activity, improving diet and nutrition, and better managing stress. There were interesting differences in goals across SU roles, sexes, and racial/ethnic groups.

Marijuana Legalization: Beyond Yes Or No., Keith Humphreys

Center for Policy Research

This paper will first go over some basic terms and concepts, then discuss what’s going on in the world around cannabis with a focus on the United States. I will then offer some policy options to consider if New York chooses to legalize recreational cannabis.

There Are Costs From Spending Too Much Time On Social Media, Sean Withington, Alexandra Punch

Population Health Research Brief Series

Ninety percent of young adults in the U.S. are on social media, with the majority using these sites at least once a day. This issue brief explores how excessive use of social media can lead to addiction, loneliness, depression, decreased self-esteem, and unfulfilling relationships.

Adolescent And Young Adult Mental Health Is Better In States That Mandate More School Mental Health Policies, Stephanie Spera, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Mental health problems and suicide rates have increased among adolescents and young adults over the past several years. This research brief shows that adolescent and young adult mental health is better in states that mandate more school mental health policies, including school-based mental health centers, professional development in suicide prevention, and social-emotional curricula.

Vascular Health And Mental Health In Collegiate Female Varsity Athletes, Club Sport Athletes And Recreationally Active Women, Allison Keller

Theses - ALL

The number of women participating in collegiate athletics has increased since Title IX was passed, which supports equal access to men and women in government-funded programs. Female student athletes are under increased pressure to maintain fitness while meeting academic standards, thus resulting in mental health concerns (i.e., depression and anxiety) and related poor lifestyle habits (i.e. problematic alcohol drinking and disturbed sleep quality). While high fitness imparts cardiovascular health benefits, such mental health concerns and poor lifestyle habits negatively impact cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular health is particularly concerning for women, as cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in this …

Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Truth Behind The Trauma, Alexandra Punch

Population Health Research Brief Series

There are many misconceptions about coping behaviors, laws, and regulations that make coming forward difficult and painful. This issue brief discusses the hurdles for child victims of sexual assault and the initiatives taking place across the country to combat stereotypes and bring justice to children and their families.

Understanding Opioid Users’ Views On Fentanyl Could Help Reduce Overdoses, Kate Mclean, Shannon M. Monnat, Khary Rigg, Glenn Sterner, Ashton Verdery

Population Health Research Brief Series

The opioid overdose crisis is a national public health emergency, made much worse in recent years by the widespread emergence of fentanyl – a highly potent synthetic opioid. This research brief summarizes the findings from their research conducted in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2017 and 2018. Results show that the majority of interviewees who use opioids are fearful of and want to avoid fentanyl and would utilize harm reduction strategies such as fentanyl test strips if they were made more widely available.

How Well Do We Understand Mental Health?, Ashley Van Slyke

Population Health Research Brief Series

Roughly 9.8 million adults in the United States, representing 4% of the U.S. adult population, have a diagnosis of a serious mental illness (SMI). An additional 16.1 million (6.7%) have a diagnosed depressive disorder. Millions more know people with serious mental illness or depression. Poor mental health is a massive and growing public health crisis. Its looming presence begs the question: Do we, as a society, truly understand different mental illnesses?

There Are Multiple And Geographically Distinct Opioid Crises In The U.S., Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Rates of fatal drug overdose increased 250% in the U.S. between 1999 and 2017, due in large part to a massive surge in overdoses involving opioids. However, there is substantial geographic variation in fatal opioid overdoses, and prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl are differentially responsible for high overdose rates across different parts of the U.S. This research brief summarizes the findings from a study just published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study shows that there are at least four geographically distinct opioid overdose crises in the U.S.

Gratitude As An Antidote To Anxiety And Depression: All The Benefits, None Of The Side Effects, Mary Kate Schutt

Population Health Research Brief Series

Despite efforts among health care professionals, schools, and workplaces to address mental health issues, anxiety and depression remain pervasive public health concerns. This issue brief discusses how emerging research suggests practicing Gratitude may be an alternative antidote to battling anxiety and depression.

The Stories Behind The Struggle: A Closer Look At First Experiences With Opioid Misuse, Khary Rigg, Shannon M. Monnat, Kate Mclean, Ashton Verdery, Glenn Sterner

Population Health Research Brief Series

Opioid use disorders and overdoses from prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl have become a national public health crisis. Improving our knowledge about how people first come to misuse opioids can help to inform prevention and treatment interventions. This research brief dives into the stories behind opioid use initiation and provides intervention strategies.

Lunch Money: Understanding Community-Led School Food Programs In Regina, Saskatchewan, Maegan Krajewski

Theses - ALL

Unlike many countries throughout the world, Canada does not have a national school food program (Rutledge, 2016). As such, school meals in Canada are typically provided by community-led organizations or are paid for out of individual school budgets, if they are provided at all (Gougeon, Henry, Ramdath, & Whiting, 2011). In the absence of a national program, community-led organizations can be effective at providing nutritionally-adequate meals to students in need (Gougeon et al., 2011). Across the country, community members are participating in these organizations as staff and volunteers to meet the food needs of schoolchildren (Gougeon et al., 2011). However, …

Evaluating Maternal Eating Competence In Relation To Maternal And Child Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Rachel Watkins

Theses - ALL

Introduction: Nutritional intake is often controlled and rationalized through an individual’s status of eating competence (EC). EC is defined as allowing oneself to be comfortable, flexible, and positive with eating while respecting personal desires and enjoying nourishing food. EC is divided into 4 sub categories: eating attitudes, food regulation, food acceptance and contextual skills. Competent eaters are more likely to consume more essential vitamins and minerals for functional health, compared to those whose were not competent eaters. Researchers have examined the role mothers play on influencing children’s eating pattern development and have found that modeling is thought to be a …

Healthcare’S Responsibility To Care: The Call To Support Both Patients And Their Families Through Illness, Madeline Merwin

Honors Capstone Projects - All

The contemporary healthcare institution operates on the philosophy of patient-centered care [PCC], growing from the medical culture of the past: care centered around an omniscient provider, defining the patient by their illness versus their identities. While this widely practiced philosophy succeeds in meeting the chief complaint and needs of a patient, it neglects to care for the patient in the context of his or her broader life constituents: the family and loved ones. Health care providers and their institutions are stopping short of adequate, all-encompassing healthcare when the family is not regarded as an equal member of the care team. …

Targeted Advertising Can Increase Healthy Food Choices Among College Students, Stephanie Spera

Population Health Research Brief Series

Poor nutrition in young adulthood can increase risk of obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in mid- and later life. Targeted nutrition programs for young adults are essential to reduce the burden of chronic disease in the U.S. over the next several decades. This research brief describes a successful healthy food marketing strategy that was used at Syracuse University to promote healthy food purchasing among college students.

A Simple Mindfulness Practice Can Improve Mental Health, Mary Kate Schutt

Population Health Research Brief Series

Depression, anxiety, and related mental distress are rising at alarming rates in the U.S. This issue brief discusses the impacts of practicing mindfulness on mental health and well-being.

The Increase In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome From Opioids Affects Us All, Sean Withington, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Opioid use during pregnancy has increased dramatically in the U.S. over the past decade, leading to a surge in cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) – babies born dependent on opioids. This issue brief discusses the impacts of NAS in the U.S. and ways we can address this important population health problem.

More Kindergarteners Are Exempted From Required School Vaccinations Than In The Past, Kent Jason G. Cheng

Population Health Research Brief Series

The percentage of kindergarteners being granted exemption from vaccination is growing across the U.S. as parents increasingly request exemptions for philosophical reasons. During the 2017-18 school year, 2.2% of kindergartners were exempted from vaccination. This is up from 1.6% during the 2011-12 school year.

An Apple A Day Keeps Diabetes At Bay: Incentivizing Participation In Diabetes Self-Management Education With Fruit & Vegetable Vouchers, Angie Mejia, Mary Katherine A. Schutt, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Diabetes is an urgent public health problem in the U.S., with 30.3 million people currently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This research brief describes the results of a 12-month, diabetes self-management education and fruit and vegetable purchase assistance intervention designed to improve diabetes self-management knowledge and health outcomes among adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Findings suggest that small incentives for fruit and vegetable purchases are associated with higher educational program attendance, increased fruit and vegetable consumption, and decreased weight and blood sugar among low-income adults with Type 2 diabetes.

Young Children’S Family History Of Stuttering And Their Articulation, Language And Attentional Abilities: An Exploratory Study, Victoria Tumanova, Dahye Choi, Edward G. Conture, Chagit E. Clark, Tedra A. Walden, Robin M. Jones

Communication Sciences and Disorders - All Scholarship

Purpose—The purpose of this study was to determine whether young children who do (CWS) and do not stutter (CWNS) with a positive versus negative family history of stuttering differ in articulation, language and attentional abilities and family histories of articulation, language and attention related disorders.

Method—Participants were 25 young CWS and 50 young CWNS. All 75 participants’ caregivers consistently reported a positive or negative family history of stuttering across three consecutive time points that were about 8 months apart for a total of approximately 16 months. Each participant’s family history focused on the same, relatively limited number of generations (i.e., …

Autonomic Nervous System Response To Speech Production In Stuttering And Normally Fluent Preschool-Age Children, Victoria Tumanova, Nicole Backes

Communication Sciences and Disorders - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.