Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Longitudinal Sequencing Of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity Among Older Adults And Association With Subsequent Dementia Onset, Corey L. Nagel, Siting Chen, Heather G. Allore, Anda Botoseneanu, Jason T. Newsom, Nick Bishop, David A. Dorr, Jeffrey Kaye, Ana R. Quiñones

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Patterns of development of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and the impact of specific cardiometabolic disease combinations on cognitive function are not well understood. This study utilizes sequence analysis to describe the ordering and timing of cardiometabolic disease accumulation over a five-year period and to assess both sociodemographic predictors and cognitive outcomes of typical cardiometabolic disease sequences.

Our Ethical Duty: Assessing The Competencies Of Counselors-In-Training For Counseling With Transgender And Gender Expansive Clients, Deanna N. Cor, M. N. Saltis, Megan Doughty Shaine, Lauren Streeter

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Counselors report a lack of competence in working with transgender and gender expansive (TGE) individuals. TGE people report a lack of competent and affirming care. This study used the Gender Identity Counselor Competency Scale- Revised (GICCS-R) to understand self-reported competence and training levels in working with this population. Participants were 90 masters-level counselors in training who had at least started practicum in CACREP-accredited programs. Hierarchical linear regression was utilized to determine factors that predict competence including identities and training levels. Results highlight a lack of perceived competence in skill-based training. Counselor education programs must focus on improving TGE affirmative skills.

Home Visitor Well-Being In Oregon: Influences On Stress, Mental Health And Risk For Staff Turnover Oregon’S 2023 Home Visiting Workforce Survey, Beth L. Green, Yumi Lee, Nicole Lauzus, Ron Joseph, Erin Gaines

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

This learning brief is the fourth in a series to share findings from a 2023 statewide survey of over 700 members of Oregon’s home visiting workforce. In this brief, we share information about home visitors’ well-being across several dimensions, including 1) job-related well-being (job satisfaction, feelings of emotional/physical safety on the job, work-related stress, and job burnout); 2) personal well-being (financial strain, depression and anxiety); and 3) risk of staff turnover.

Second, we explore whether there are differences in these aspects of well-being for home visitors who have different backgrounds and life experiences. We then ask the question, “What things …

Who Bears The Burden? An Assessment Of Vulnerability And Resilience To Consecutive Disasters In The Portland Metro Region, Idowu Ajibade, Jason Sauer, Matthew Walter, James M. Done, Ming Ge, Elliot Gall, Aswatha Raghunathasami, Paul C. Loikith, Chris Lower, Heejun Chang, Arun Pallathadka, E Mae Sowards

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Climate-related disasters threaten urban areas worldwide, yet gaps remain in understanding how multiple stressors interact to shape resilience. This study examines exposure, vulnerability, and resilience across three consecutive extreme events in the Portland metro area: the September 2020 wildfire-related air pollution, the February 2021 snowstorm, and the June 2021 heatwave. We used geographically weighted regression and Spearman rank correlation analysis to investigate relationships between hazard impacts, the social vulnerability index (SoVI), Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities (BRIC), and proximity to community-based organizations (CBOs) in 416 census tracts. Our analysis reveals strong spatial correlations between wildfire-related air pollution, winter storm impacts, …

Surges In The Shadows: Stock-Flow Adjustments And Public Debt Spikes, Leandro Andrian, Cesar Rodriguez, Oscar M. Valencia

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper investigates the drivers of public debt surges in 172 countries from 1980 to 2021, focusing on stock-flow adjustments (SFA)—discrepancies between annual debt changes and budget deficits. Using survival analysis methods, we find that a one percentage point increase in the SFA to GDP ratio raises the hazard rate of a debt surge by 16%, with stronger effects in advanced economies (28%) compared to emerging markets (15%). Conditional on an increasing debt trend, higher SFA significantly increase the probability of a debt spike materializing. We address potential self-selection with an IV approach based on fiscal transparency, emphasizing that accurate …

Religious Identity, Linked Fate, And Political Ideology: Explaining Civil Rights Philanthropy Among Muslim And Jewish Americans, Rafeel Wasif, Afshan Paarlberg, Shariq Siddiqui, David King

Public Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social identity theory predicts that individuals prefer to give to people with the same identity as themselves. However, individuals have multiple identities that interact simultaneously. For instance, religion is an essential identity for many individuals, particularly those from racialized minority groups, such as Muslims and Jews, who are often discriminated against due to these identities. Moreover, individuals like to support faith-based causes. However, they may also feel that they have a linked fate identity, where they perceive a commonality with other persecuted minorities due to similar experiences of discrimination. Moreover, political ideology is another vital identity marker for many individuals. …

Accounting For Stillbirths In Maternal Health Metrics: A Cross-Country Analysis Research In Context, Ursula Gazeley, Hallie Eilerts-Spinelli, Joshua Wilde, Hannah Blencowe, Li Liu, Wendy Graham, Veronique Filippi

Publications, Reports and Presentations

Background: Live birth is only one of four potential pregnancy outcomes, alongside stillbirth, miscarriage, and induced abortion. While morbidity and mortality associated with all pregnancy outcomes are included in the numerator of many maternal metrics, often only live births are included in the denominator. This inconsistency makes interpreting trends challenging and may exacerbate the deprioritisation of monitoring other pregnancy outcomes. We assess the effect of using (1) total births (live births and stillbirths) or (2) total pregnancies (total births plus miscarriages/induced abortions) as the denominator on estimates of maternal and pregnancy-related mortality ratios (MMR and PRMR). Methods: Using data from …

Strengthening Connections: A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining The Impact Of A Supervisor Support Intervention On Loneliness And Military Couple Relationships, Cynthia D. Mohr, Annamarie S. O'Neill, Jacquelyn M. Brady, Todd E. Bodner, Tori L. Crain, Leslie B. Hammer

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social connection has been declining across the general population (i.e., the “loneliness epidemic”), though some groups, including military personnel, are experiencing particularly high rates. This has led to calls for a multilevel national strategy, including workplaces, to build social connection (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023). To answer this call, the present study draws on the wise intervention approach (Walton, 2014), multidimensional model of social connection (Holt-Lunstad, 2022), and models of the bidirectional relationship between sleep health and relationship functioning (Gordon et al., 2017; Troxel et al., 2007), to deliver a workplace intervention that builds social connection for military employees and their …

Heightened Risk: Childhood Trauma And Anticipatory Grief Exacerbate The Impact Of Loneliness On Depressive Symptoms And Lps-Stimulated Cytokines In Dementia Caregivers, Kelly N. Brice, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, E Lydia Wu-Chung, Vincent D. Lai, Daniel L. Argueta, Michelle A. Chen, Itee Mahant, Bryan T. Denny, Charles Green, Luis D. Medina, Multiple Additional Authors

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dementia spousal caregivers are at a disproportionate risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Loneliness is associated with depressive symptoms and proinflammatory cytokine production among caregivers. Additionally, childhood trauma, anticipatory grief, and poor sleep quality are all associated with enhanced stress reactivity. This study used a cross-sectional design to investigate whether loneliness is associated with proinflammatory cytokine production and depressive symptoms in caregivers, and whether these relationships are strongest among caregivers who report high levels of childhood trauma, high amounts of anticipatory grief, or poor sleep quality. A sample of 111 dementia spousal caregivers provided blood samples and completed …

Mindful Marcelo: The Process Of Writing And Illustrating A Culturally-Specific Children's Book For Early Psychoeducation, Liz Romero-Herrera

University Honors Theses

Socio-emotional learning (SEL) is imperative for young children to learn prosocial skills and how to identify and regulate their emotions. Most children begin to develop these skills in early childhood and depend on caregivers and teachers to model them. However, caregiver and teacher biases related to child gender and race can limit equitable access to high-quality SEL, placing male students of color at higher risk for maladaptive coping strategies. To address this gap, this thesis documents the creation of a culturally sensitive children's book focused on SEL concepts for young Latino boys. Throughout this thesis, I documented the process of …

Beyond The Genome: The Racialized Exposome, Flourishing, And Stress Biology In African Americans, A Non-Exhaustive Review, Enye Washington

University Honors Theses

Racial health disparities remain an enduring challenge in the United States, disproportionately impacting African American communities through higher rates of chronic disease and premature mortality. This non-exhaustive literature explores how the racialized exposome - a term denoting the totality of social, environmental, and structural stressors rooted in systemic racism - biologically embeds itself via stress-responsive pathways. Specifically, it examines the interaction between racial stress, flourishing, and key biological markers, including allostatic load and telomere length, considering the gut-brain axis. The review highlights robust evidence that chronic exposure to racial discrimination and structural adversity contributes to multisystem dysregulation and accelerated cellular …

The Role Of Neuroscience In Mental Health Management Within The Adhd Population, Kadi Rae Smith

University Honors Theses

Neuroscience-based educational interventions play a role in the management of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), including the regulation of ADHD-correlated depression and anxiety. Existing research shows that elevated rates of depression correspond to anxiety within the ADHD community; approximately 8.83% of the global population. Social ostracization and isolation are established contributors to depression and anxiety which are commonly comorbid with ADHD. The need exists for further investigation of the beneficial impact that an accurate, biological understanding of how the brain works has on the mental health of the ADHD population, and by extension their families, education systems, and medical industries. …

A Qualitative Case Study On Nature Relatedness In Advanced Alpinists And Members Of Subsistence Communities, Devon Martin

University Honors Theses

In light of the current possibility of climate disaster and ecological destruction, a branch of psychology has formed to investigate the human relationship with nature. Scaled surveys have been created to gauge nature relatedness with the hope that this construct might help predict environmental awareness and action towards environmental change. This undergraduate thesis aims to explore the concept of connection to nature through a detailed case study on two participants who are both advanced alpinists (high risk mountain recreationalists) and members of subsistence communities (procuring food directly from the environment). The participants were given scaled surveys of nature relatedness and …

Trauma In The Middle Ages: The Viking Experience Of Trauma Through Saga, Kagan L. Vogt

University Honors Theses

Trauma is a fundamental part of human experience and the ways in which human beings experience trauma differs drastically depending on the time and culture represented. Research on trauma in the Middle Ages does exist, however, often offers windows into very narrow intersections within the study of historical trauma. Other cultures and particularly oral traditions lack the same attention from scholars in trauma. The specific experience of Vikings as referenced in the oral tradition of sagas offers a unique window into the traumatic experience of Vikings as well as how they responded to trauma. This unique response to trauma is …

Working Paper No. 100, Social Realism And Socialist Realism, Amanda F. Worman

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry sees to establish that as a genre, “social realism” reflected values of the American system of market capitalism out of which this art style emerged. During the same timeframe, what has been categorized as “socialist realism” reflected values of the Soviet system out of which this art style also arose. The “Great Depression” that dogged the American economy and society through the 1930s, as well as the “Iron Fist” rule characteristic of Joseph Stalin’s heavy industrialization drive for Soviet Russia, appears to have promoted and shaped these two distinct but similar art styles under consideration, as responses to …

Exploring The Effects Of Anthropogenic Habitat Change On Euplerid Carnivore Occupancy In A Humid Evergreen Forest, South-East Madagascar, C. Cardinal, Timothy M. Eppley, M. Andriamorasata, G. Donati

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mammalian carnivores are vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, including habitat modifications, disturbance, and the introduction of non‐native species. Forests throughout Madagascar are under persistent pressure from extraction of timber and non‐timber products, and conversion of forest habitat to agriculture. Yet research into the impact of anthropogenic pressures on endemic carnivores is only recent, and relatively little is known about their populations in the extreme south of the island. We sought to explore how disturbance affects the occurrence of small carnivores in lowland humid forests and their varying degrees of adaptability to human‐modified landscapes. To answer this, we conducted exploratory camera trap …

The Potential For Improv As A Therapeutic Tool In The Context Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Suggestions For Dbt Clinicians, Jocelyn Borden

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores the theoretical and practical intersections between improvisational theater and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), proposing that the core tenets of improv closely align with the philosophical foundation and therapeutic goals of DBT. Aimed at mental health professionals, this work provides a conceptual framework and praxis for incorporating improv-based activities into DBT skills training to enhance client engagement, experiential learning, and emotional resilience. Through an examination of improv theory, parallels with DBT principles, and practical suggestions for integration, the thesis outlines how applied improvisation can be used as a supplemental tool in traditional DBT treatment. The final section includes …

Self-Representation In Manga: The Importance Of Gay & Lesbian Visibility In Japanese Society, Rylan Newsom

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the evolving landscape of gay and lesbian self-representation in Japanese manga through a hermeneutic analysis of three key texts: My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata, and My Brother's Husband and Our Colors by Gengoroh Tagame. It investigates how manga functions not only as a storytelling medium but as a sociocultural mirror, uniquely positioned to illuminate the often-invisible negotiations of identity, shame, and social position that queer individuals experience in Japan. Through the lens of Takie Lebra's concept of bun (role or place in society), this project explores the ways in which queer characters seek legitimacy, …

The Correlation Of Trauma-Informed Classrooms Without Support Infrastructure And Teacher Burnout, Sunshine O'Connor

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) implementation in classrooms on teacher burnout, specifically focusing on settings with insufficient support infrastructure. While TIC is recognized as beneficial for all students, not just students affected by trauma, a synthesis of scholarly literature highlights the significant challenges faced by educators when proper resources, training, and institutional backing are lacking. Existing research indicates that teachers implementing TIC in inadequately supported environments report higher levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and overall burnout. These challenges appear most acute for teachers in schools with limited professional development, insufficient mental health resources, and weak administrative …

Translating Legalese: Deconstructing Lease Language For New Renters, Erin Clarke

University Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between legal English and the general public, focusing on the challenges laypersons encounter in reading contract language. By examining specific linguistic features of legal writing, along with the systems and practices of US law, this research highlights the problematic disconnect between the complexity of legalese and the fluency level of average citizens in this specialized variety of English. This issue is particularly salient in the realm of rental agreements for housing, given the mounting housing crisis and historically high eviction rates in the state of Oregon. The culmination of this research is a digital guidebook …

Testing Their Limits: Impact And Intentions Of Standardized Testing In K-12 Schools, Grace O. Herd

University Honors Theses

The integration of High-Stakes standardized testing into U.S. public education to serve as an accountability system has been a disputed issue since the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated these assessments nationwide in 2002. NCLB aimed to locate and identify schools failing to reach Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and trigger a chain of interventions based on student performance, as an effort to track measurable outcomes from federal education funding. While supporters view these standardized tests as quantifiable data for school effectiveness in academics, critics challenge the claim of validity.

This review integrates current psychological research in the area of …

Working Paper No. 95, Jeremy Bentham And English Common Law, Anastasia Klingler

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that in his book, The Theory of Legislation [1802], author Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) critiqued English Common Law while also posing solutions and alternatives. The first part of this inquiry considers Bentham’s critique of the degrees of vagueness and confusion that could be associated with what is noted as “Common Law” with its emphasis upon the “principle of expectation.” In addition, this inquiry introduces and considers Bentham’s warnings against uses associated with the English legal system and its emphasis upon the importance of “precedent,” as this emphasis is argued to open risks for abuse by courts …

Working Paper No. 97, Business Sabotage In Theory And Practice, Nathan Lewis-Lusso

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that theoretical advances offered earlier on by one Karl Marx and some decades later by one Thorstein Veblen offer insights into forms of business sabotage. Drawing upon their writings, this inquiry considers how in the writings of Marx, already in the mid-nineteenth century surplus value extraction and pecuniary sabotage serve as structural features found in a market-based economy. Marx’s consideration of surplus labor and artificial scarcity reveals how private investment seeks to constrain production in order to preserve and enhance profitability. Veblen’s theory of institutional sabotage complements Marx’s view by showing how firms could delay …

Working Paper No. 98, Selma Mushkin And The Emergence Of The Field Of Health Economics, Sadie Kautz

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that through her effective efforts, Selma Mushkin promoted and shaped the field of Health Economics. Perhaps most importantly, she redefined health as a form of human capital that needed to be considered as both essential and integral to economic growth. In her 1958 paper: “Toward a Definition of Health Economics,” she defined the scope of this emerging field through emphasizing how improved resource allocation could lead to efficiency gains. Appearing as her 1962 article in the Journal of Political Economy, with “Health as an Investment” Mushkin advanced the idea that--much like education--public spending on health …

Working Paper No. 102, Knowledge And Power: Towards Anintellectual Biography Of Michel Foucault, Amanda Bergeson

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that in his efforts as an intellectual, scholar, and author of books that would include Discipline and Punish [1975], Michel Foucault emphasizes the importance of power and power relations, especially of an authority (such as a sovereign) over the common people. Drawing from Discipline and Punish [1975], this inquiry considers how Foucault’s understanding of genealogy got rooted and shaped by Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of history; a view which altogether challenged the idea of historical progress, while also revealing the contingent nature of truth. The second section considers how sovereign power evolves into disciplinary mechanisms embedded …

Working Paper No. 103, Russia And The Myriad Of Challenges Associatedwith ‘Relative Backwardness’, Jacob Wood

Working Papers in Economics

This inquiry seeks to establish that over recent of centuries Russia exhibits signs of what is termed as ‘relative backwardness.’ Drawing from Alexander Gershenkron’s (1962, 62-70) understanding of ‘backwardness in historical perspective,’ as well as Karl Marx’s ([1845] 1977, 39-43) concept of ‘historical materialism,’ this inquiry examines how successive Russian regimes sought to close the developmental gap with western countries through state-led modernization efforts. What stands out is that when confronted with attempting deep structural challenges, each leader turned to centralized authority and coercive reforms—not by choice, but out of necessity. Our inquiry considers Nicolas II’s failure to modernize Russia’s …

Intrapersonal And Interpersonal Factors Of Participation In Physical Activity And Resistance Training In Adolescent Girls: A Narrative Review, Ben Banse-Fay

University Honors Theses

Low rates of participation in physical activity and resistance training among adolescent girls are a concern due to increased health and injury risks. Adolescent girls participate in physical activity and resistance training at a lower rate than boys, which may explain higher rates of injury. Research examining physical activity of adolescent girls often utilizes an ecological framework, identifying intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors. Of these ecological levels, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors are modifiable without large costs.

Therefore, this review aimed to identify and summarize recent research that explores the intrapersonal and interpersonal factors associated with participation in physical activity and …

Working Paper No. 99, Adam Smith And The American Experiment, Cole Soliz

Working Papers in Economics

As the noted author of a tome titled An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith [1776] is often cited as a proponent of Laissez-faire capitalism. However, the reality is that his writings offer a more nuanced vision that includes suggesting constraints on economics activity, while encouraging the importance of what he views as state or public institutions. In Smith's writings we find that he speculates that for a perfectly functioning market system to operate effectively depends upon the enforcement of contracts, the protection of property rights, and the maintenance of justice. These, along …

We Are Still Here: Intersectional Collaborations In Research, Practice, And Resistance Among Mfp Scholars, Antonia R.G. Alvarez, Sameena Azhar, Tyrone M. Parchment, Judith Perrigo, Anne S. J. Farina, Tania Paredes, Jonathan P. Edwards, Susan Klumpner

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

As Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) scholars, we formed meaningful connections as academics, students, and friends. Throughout this reflective article, we explore the profound impact of our intersectional and critical race-informed scholarship on our professional practice and pedagogy while highlighting the ways that collaborating on this work enriched our journeys as scholars of color. These collaborations have expanded our perspectives and fostered new ways of thinking about the unique health and mental health experiences of ethnoracial communities. Through these partnerships, we have advanced diverse scientific literature and addressed critical gaps within the existing canon of …

Effect Of Ipv On Latino Children's Perspectives Of Fatherhood, Elizabeth Berks

University Honors Theses

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can be found in many cultures throughout the world, with varying levels of acceptability, victimization, and perpetration. Approximately one in five couples report experiencing at least one instance of IPV in a given year. Women are victims of IPV more frequently than men, and experience more severe injuries. 20% of women report a lifetime history of physical IPV victimization by their current or past partners. Further, women are also ten times more likely to be killed due to IPV than men are. Presently, empirical research literature surrounding the dynamics and impacts of IPV is heavily focused …