UMBC Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health Department

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/46

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health is home to undergraduate programs in Sociology (SOCY), Anthropology (ANTH) and Public Health (PBHL, formerly HAPP). We offer minors in Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health, a Master’s in Applied Sociology, as well as Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in the Nonprofit Sector, and Social Dimensions of Health. An Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s is available, as well as special options for double majors in Sociology and Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology, Sociology and Social Work, and Public Health and Social Work. The department collaborates with three outstanding Ph.D. programs, including Gerontology (GERO), Public Policy (PUBL) and Language, Literacy & Culture (LLC) and hosts the Center for Aging Studies (CAS), a research center that conducts large scale, federally-funded research.

Throughout these programs, the department emphasizes three core areas: health & aging in society; diversity, gender & culture; and applied social science research. Consistent with UMBC’s goals, the department focuses its core strengths to:

Provide a distinctive undergrad experience
Support the development of graduate education
Conduct faculty research that contributes to both undergraduate & graduate education

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 185

The Social Science of Living Alone w/ Dr. Jun Chu
(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2024-09-26) Anson, Ian; Chu, Jun
On today's episode I speak with Dr. Jun Chu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health at UMBC. Dr. Chu shares information about his ongoing research agenda into aging alone.Check out the following links for more information on UMBC, CS3, and our host:The UMBC Center for the Social Sciences ScholarshipThe University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyIan G. Anson, Ph.D.Retrieving the Social Sciences is a production of the UMBC Center for Social Science Scholarship. Our podcast host is Dr. Ian Anson, and our Acting director is Dr. Eric Stokan. Our production intern is Jean Kim. Our theme music was composed and recorded by D’Juan Moreland (UMBC '24). Special thanks to Amy Barnes and Myriam Ralston for production assistance. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where you can find full video recordings of recent UMBC events.
County-level political group density, partisan polarization, and individual-level mortality among adults in the United States: A lagged multilevel study
(Elsevier, 2024-06-01) Nayak, Sameera Shukanta; Fraser, Timothy; Aldrich, Daniel P.; Panagopoulos, Costas; Kim, Daniel
ObjectiveTo investigate the associations between county-level political group density, partisan polarization, and individual-level mortality from all causes and from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the United States.MethodsUsing data from five survey waves (1998–2006) of the General Social Survey-National Death Index dataset and the County Presidential Election Return 2000 dataset, we fit weighted Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the associations between (1) political group density and (2) partisan polarization measured at the county level in 2000 (n = 313 counties) categorized into quartiles with individual-level mortality (n = 14,983 participants) from all causes and CHD, controlling for individual- and county-level factors. Maximum follow-up was from one year after the survey up until 2014. We conducted these analyses using two separate measures based on county-level vote share differences and party affiliation ideological extremes.ResultsIn the overall sample, we found no evidence of associations between county-level political group density and individual-level mortality from all causes. There was evidence of a 13% higher risk of dying from heart disease in the highest quartile of county-level polarization (hazards ratio, HR = 1.13; 95% CI = 0.74–1.71). We observed heterogeneity of effects based on individual-level political affiliation. Among those identifying as Democrats, residing in counties with high (vs. low) levels of polarization appeared to be protective against mortality, with an associated 18% lower risk of dying from all causes (HR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.71–0.94). This association was strongest in areas with the highest concentrations of Democrats.ConclusionsAmong all study participants, political group density and polarization at the county level in 2000 were not linked to individual-level mortality. At the same time, we found that Democratic party affiliation may be protective against the adverse effects of high polarization, particularly in counties with high concentrations of Democrats. Future research should further explore these associations to potentially identify new structural interventions to address political determinants of population health.
REIMAGINING THE HARBOR AS A HUB
(UMBC Shriver Center, 2021-12) Scott, Sally; Taylor, Joby
COVID-19 AND HOMEOWNERSHIP IN BALTIMORE
(NNIP, 2024-01) Knott, Cheryl; Scott, Sally
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed stark disparities in health and housing, highlighting the importance of stable and affordable housing for all. The National Fair Housing Alliance's (NFHA) Keys Unlock Dream Initiative (KUDI) seeks to provide greater access to homeownership for underserved communities affected by redlining and disinvestment. By advancing equity-building solutions based on sound, robust research, KUDI aims to reduce the racial wealth and homeownership gaps. NFHA is proud to support community-driven organizations working to increase opportunities for Baltimore residents. Let's continue to partner toward a future where everyone has access to safe, affordable, and fair housing.
The gendered ecology of violent victimization and the stress process
(Elsevier, 2024-01-01) Jackson Soller, Aubrey; Coleman, Erin R.
We draw on the stress process model to investigate how local gender dynamics related to patriarchal violence and socioeconomic resources shape the link between violent victimization and youth mental health. Using multilevel longitudinal data on 1,632 youth we tested whether respondents exhibited fewer psychological distress symptoms following violent victimization when they resided in neighborhoods characterized by less subjective or objective gender stratification. We find that neighborhood-level gender disparities in socioeconomic resources modify the detrimental impact of victimization on girls' and boys' internalizing symptoms. We elaborate on these conditional influences and conclude with a discussion of how our findings advance scholarship on the role of gender and space in the stress process.
Erin Roth - Review of Philip B. Stafford, Elderburbia: Aging with a Sense of Place in America
(Indiana University, 2010-09-15) Roth, Erin
Building Equitable Research Partnerships: Learning From a Community Climate Resilience Grant Program
(Wiley, 2024-08-20) Cann, K.; Leichenko, R.; Herb, J.; Kaplan, M.; Howell, Nyla
Calls for the co-production of climate knowledge and services are increasingly prominent in research and funding proposals, including within federally funded programs. While co-production has led to more accessible and relevant climate services for frontline communities, scholars have identified numerous barriers to equitable relationships and outcomes within co-production partnerships. In an effort to support the development of climate services through equitable research partnerships, the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast, a NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnership team, collaboratively designed and launched the Community Climate Resilience (CCR) Grant competition in 2022. The CCR program serves to provide funding and build capacity among community-based organizations (CBOs) responding to climate variability in historically disinvested communities in the urban Northeast, as well as foster co-production partnerships between the organizations and local university-based researchers. This paper assesses the design and implementation of the program based on data collected through a survey of research partners, discussions with key stakeholders, and observation of relevant project meetings. Despite the incorporation of lessons from similar co-production projects, program designers found several persistent impediments to equitable partnerships, including time constraints, funding limitations, and burdensome institutional requirements. We reflect on these challenges and offer strategies for overcoming barriers to equitable partnerships, including streamlining funding pass-through structures, increasing transparency in funding competitions, promoting flexible funding options, and fostering communities of practice among CBOs and university partners. The findings are relevant for researchers and practitioners implementing equity-focused co-production partnerships and small grant programs in climate services and related fields.
The Health Status of Undocumented Immigrants from Asian Countries in the United States: A Scoping Review and Recommendations for Future Directions
(Springer, 2024-08-24) Nayak, Sameera Shukanta; Cardone, Amanda; Soberano, Kina; Dhond, Meghan
Immigrants from Asian countries are the fastest-growing undocumented population in the United States (U.S.), yet not much is known about their health. This scoping review identifies the nature and extent of scientific literature on the health of undocumented Asian immigrants in the U.S. We conducted a comprehensive search of six electronic databases in 2024. Inclusion criteria were empirical articles written in English, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals from 2010 to 2024, and focused on a health outcome or health-related issue involving undocumented Asian immigrants. Results are summarized narratively. We identified 13 peer-reviewed publications. Nine studies were quantitative, and four were qualitative. Eight studies were conducted in California; two studies used national secondary data sources. Studies were mixed in their research focus. They covered a range of health outcomes and issues, such as mental health (n=4), health services and access (n=2), contraceptive use (n=1), COVID-19 (n=2), and HIV (n=1). Three studies measured self-rated health alongside other conditions, such as disability, health insurance coverage, chronic health conditions, and obesity. Scholarship on the health of undocumented Asian immigrants is a growing research area. Given the small number of studies identified, future research with larger diverse samples, more robust methodology, and greater topical variety are warranted to understand the health of this population better and reduce potential inequities.
‘Successfully’ Aging ‘Alone’?: Unequal Global Opportunities and Rising Risks in Family-Based Models of Care Cross-Nationally
(Oxford University Press, 2024-08-10) Mair, Christine A.
For the first time in human history, older adults will outnumber children and a substantial and growing proportion will live alone and lack one or more nuclear family tie. Such unprecedented shifts require a reevaluation of existing models of “successful aging”, particularly in terms of long-term care policies.This paper draws on country-level data from multiple publicly available sources (e.g., World Bank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Our World in Data, and the World Values Survey) to examine cross-national patterns of development, health, demography, resources and policies, and cultural values in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.Although there exists substantial heterogeneity across countries, country-level patterns illustrate the economic privilege of living alone and the dominance of “successful aging” opportunities in high income countries. Cultural values about family reflect standard patterns of economic development, yet friendship emerges as a particularly consistent global value. At the country-level, living alone and health are associated in higher income countries with lower within-country inequality.Aging “alone” is a risk factor in some contexts, yet a marker of privilege in others. Models of “successful aging” are largely unobtainable in lower income countries or high inequality countries, and therefore require a thorough incorporation of global realities, or final abandonment in favor of more nuanced structural perspectives. Long-term care policies that assume the presence of family will yield increasing risk over time across all global contexts and represent a key vulnerability in the future of healthy aging policy.
A Look at External Political Efficacy and the Role of Digital Skills in the Adults U.S. Population
(Sage, 2024-07-23) Punksungka, Wonmai; Yamashita, Takashi; Narine, Donnette; Helsinger, Abigail; Cummins, Phyllis A.; Kramer, Jenna W.; Karam, Rita
The ability to effectively use digital technology and problem-solve are critical skills for maintaining democratic health, particularly as civil society and the modern digital landscape continuously evolve. However, information on whether individuals have the critical problem-solving skills to use digital technology and confidently affect change is yet to be further explored. Using data from the 2017 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (n = 2749), we examined the associations between digital problem-solving skills and the three levels (low, neutral, high) of external political efficacy in the U.S. adult population. We used multinomial logistic regression and found a positive association between digital problem-solving skills and external political efficacy, while explanations for the three levels of efficacy are nuanced. Continuous development of digital problem-solving skills through adult education has implications for political efficacy, and ultimately for the promotion of a variety of civic engagement in the adult life stages.
URCAD 2024
(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2024-05-01) Anson, Ian; Kim, Jean; Awan, Pakeeza; Joslow, Rachael; Hoang, Lien; Osei, Emmanuella; Cline, Carrington; Byrd, Ziegfried; Anson,Ian; Mallinson,Christine; Filomeno,Felipe; Kim,Jean; Moreland,D’Juan; Barnes,Amy; Ralston,Myriam
On today’s episode we hear about a series of fantastic presentations from UMBC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day, also known as URCAD. During URCAD, students from across the social science disciplines presented their excellent research to the campus community and beyond. Our special host for today’s episode is our production assistant, Jean Kim. Stay tuned for this wonderful celebration of undergraduate achievement–in podcasting as well as in social science research!
Association between pre-hip fracture depression and days at home after fracture and assessing sex differences
(Wiley, 2024-07-20) Mehta, Rhea; Orwig, Denise L.; Chen, Chixiang; Dong, Yu; Shardell, Michelle D.; Yamashita, Takashi; Falvey, Jason R.
Background Hip fracture and depression are important public health issues among older adults, but how pre-fracture depression impacts recovery after hip fracture is unknown, especially among males who often experience greater depression severity. Days at home (DAH), or the days spent outside a hospital or healthcare facility, is a novel, patient-centered outcome that can capture meaningful aspects of fracture recovery. How pre-fracture depression impacts DAH after fracture, and related sex differences, remains unclear. Methods Participants included 63,618 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65+ years, with a hospitalization claim for hip fracture surgery between 2010 and 2017. The primary exposure was a diagnosis of depression at hospital admission, and the primary outcome was total DAH over 12 months post-discharge. Longitudinal associations between pre-fracture depression and the count of DAH among beneficiaries were estimated using Poisson regression models after adjustment for covariates; sex-by-depression interactions were also assessed. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reflecting relative differences were estimated from these models. Results Overall, beneficiaries with depression were younger, White females, and spent 11 fewer average DAH compared to counterparts without depression when demographic factors (age and sex) (IRR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.90, 0.92; p < 0.0001) and social determinants of health (race, Medicaid dual eligibility, and poverty) were adjusted for (IRR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.91, 0.93; p < 0.0001), but this association attenuated after adjusting for medical complexities (IRR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.98, 1.01; p = 0.41) and facility and geographical factors (IRR = 1.0037; 95% CI = 0.99, 1.02; p = 0.66). There was no evidence of effect modification by sex. Conclusions The comorbidity burden of preexisting depression may impact DAH among both male and female Medicare beneficiaries with hip fracture. Results suggest a holistic health approach and secondary prevention of depressive symptoms after hip fracture.
Family Ties and Health Cross-Nationally: The Contextualizing Role of Familistic Culture and Public Pension Spending in Europe
(Oxford University Press, 2013-09-16) Mair, Christine A.
Objectives. Although previous research theorizes that cross-national variation in the relationship between family ties and health is due to nation-level differences in culture and policy/economics, no study has examined this theorization empirically. Method. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), this study uses multilevel modeling to analyze individual-, nation-, and cross-level effects for 30,291 older adults in 14 nations. Results. Family ties to spouses/partners and parents are associated with better health, but ties to coresident children are associated with poorer health in certain contexts. Familistic culture and public pension spending have a weak but statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between intergenerational family ties and health. Discussion. This article underscores the complexity of family and highlights the need for continued theorization and measurement at the nation level to promote older adults’ health in diverse contexts.
Teaching Community Networks: A Case Study of Informal Social Support and Information Sharing among Sociology Graduate Students
(American Sociological Association, 2012-04-25) Hunt, Andrea N.; Mair, Christine A.; Atkinson, Maxine P.
Despite the prominence of teaching in academia, we know little about how graduate students learn to teach. We propose the concept of a teaching community network (TCN), an informal social network that facilitates the exchange of teaching-specific resources. We explore the role of TCNs through a case study of a sociology doctoral program at a large state university. Results reveal that students rely heavily on informal ties within the graduate student community and existing formal programs to share teaching-related resources (e.g., information and social support) and develop their identities as instructors. We suggest that graduate programs facilitate TCNs through formal teacher-training programs and structural conditions that encourage informal, one-on-one interactions (e.g., shared offices). By cultivating TCNs, graduate programs can assist students in developing their teaching skills and identities as instructors, thus training students to balance the demands of research and teaching within an academic culture.
Care Preferences Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Chronic Disease in Europe: Individual Health Care Needs and National Health Care Infrastructure
(Oxford University Press, 2015-01-30) Mair, Christine A.; Quiñones, Ana R.; Pasha, Maha A.
The purpose of this study is to expand knowledge of care options for aging populations cross-nationally by examining key individual-level and nation-level predictors of European middle-aged and older adults’ preferences for care.Drawing on data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, we analyze old age care preferences of a sample of 6,469 adults aged 50 and older with chronic disease in 14 nations. Using multilevel modeling, we analyze associations between individual-level health care needs and nation-level health care infrastructure and preference for family-based (vs. state-based) personal care.We find that middle-aged and older adults with chronic disease whose health limits their ability to perform paid work, who did not receive personal care from informal sources, and who live in nations with generous long-term care funding are less likely to prefer family-based care and more likely to prefer state-based care.We discuss these findings in light of financial risks in later life and the future role of specialized health support programs, such as long-term care.
Spousal Characteristics and Older Adults' Hospice Use: Understanding Disparities in End-of-Life Care
(Mary Ann Liebert, 2016-05-03) Ornstein, Katherine A.; Aldridge, Melissa D.; Mair, Christine A.; Gorges, Rebecca; Siu, Albert L.; Kelley, Amy S.
Background: Hospice use has been shown to benefit quality of life for patients with terminal illness and their families, with further evidence of cost savings for Medicare and other payers. While disparities in hospice use by patient diagnosis, race, and region are well documented and attention to the role of family members in end-of-life decision-making is increasing, the influence of spousal characteristics on the decision to use hospice is unknown.Objectives: To determine the association between spousal characteristics and hospice use.Design: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a prospective cohort study, linked to the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care and Medicare claims.Setting: National study of 1567 decedents who were married or partnered at the time of death (2000–2011).Measures: Hospice use at least 1 day in the last year of life as measured via Medicare claims data. Spousal factors (e.g., education and health status) measured via survey.Results: In multivariate models controlling for patient factors and regional variation, spouses with lower educational attainment than their deceased spouse had decreased likelihood of hospice use (odds ratio [OR] = 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.40–0.82). Health of the spouse was not significantly associated with likelihood of decedent hospice use in adjusted models.Implications: Although the health of the surviving spouse was not associated with hospice use, their educational level was a predictor of hospice use. Spousal and family characteristics, including educational attainment, should be examined further in relation to disparities in hospice use. Efforts to increase access to high-quality end-of-life care for individuals with serious illness must also address the needs and concerns of caregivers and family.
Alternatives to Aging Alone?: “Kinlessness” and the Importance of Friends Across European Contexts
(Oxford University Press, 2019-03-11) Mair, Christine A.
Increasing numbers of older adults cross-nationally are without children or partners in later life and therefore likely have greater reliance on nonkin (e.g., friends). This pattern may be particularly pronounced in country contexts that emphasize friendship. This article hypothesizes that those who lack kin (e.g., children, partners) and/or who live in countries with a stronger emphasis on friendship have more friends in their networks. Although these hypothesized patterns are consistent with interdisciplinary literatures, they have not been tested empirically and therefore remain overlooked in current “aging alone” narratives.This study combines individual-level data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (Wave 6) with nation-level data from the European Values Survey to estimate multilevel negative binomial models exploring number of friends among those aged more than 50 years who lack kin across 17 countries.Older adults who lack kin or whose kin are unavailable report more friends in their networks, particularly in countries with a higher percentage of people who believe that friends are “very important” in life.This article challenges dominating assumptions about “aging alone” that rely heavily on lack of family as an indicator of “alone.” Future studies of “kinlessness” should consider the extent to which friendship is correlated with lack of kin, particularly in more socioeconomically developed countries. Previous research on “aging alone” may have overestimated risk in more privileged countries that already emphasize friendship, but underestimated risk in family-centered countries where “kinlessness” and alternative sources of support are less common.
Allostatic load in an environmental riskscape: The role of stressors and gender
(Elsevier, 2011-04-06) Mair, Christine A.; Cutchin, Malcolm P.; Kristen Peek, M.
Stressors are theorized to be associated with higher allostatic load (AL), a concept of physiological wear measured as a composite of physical biomarkers. Risk of high AL may vary by gender and may be intensified in places with significant environmental risks, otherwise known as ‘environmental riskscapes’. Yet, no study has examined the relationship between stressors, gender, and allostatic load in an environmental riskscape. Using primary data collected in a sample (N=1072) exposed to various environmental and social stressors, we find that long-term residence in Texas City (30 or more years), residential proximity to petrochemical plants, perceived poor neighborhood conditions, and daily hassles are associated with higher allostatic load components. Variation in AL differs by gender and the types of biomarkers examined. Gender moderates the effect of length of residence in Texas City on cardiovascular health risk. We discuss our findings in light of current research on stressors, gender, allostatic load, and double jeopardy within environmental riskscapes.
The socio-spatial neighborhood estimation method: An approach to operationalizing the neighborhood concept
(Elsevier, 2011-06-07) Cutchin, Malcolm P.; Eschbach, Karl; Mair, Christine A.; Ju, Hyunsu; Goodwin, James S.
The literature on neighborhoods and health highlights the difficulty of operationalizing “neighborhood” in a conceptually and empirically valid manner. Most studies, however, continue to define neighborhoods using less theoretically relevant boundaries, risking erroneous inferences from poor measurement. We review an innovative methodology to address this problem, called the socio-spatial neighborhood estimation method (SNEM). To estimate neighborhood boundaries, researchers used a theoretically informed combination of qualitative GIS and on-the-ground observations in Texas City, Texas. Using data from a large sample, we assessed the SNEM-generated neighborhood units by comparing intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and multi-level model parameter estimates of SNEM-based measures against those for census block groups and regular grid cells. ICCs and criterion-related validity evidence using SF-36 outcome measures indicate that the SNEM approach to operationalization could improve inferences based on neighborhoods and health research.
Intergenerational Ties in Context: Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren in China
(Oxford University Press, 2011-12-22) Chen, Feinian; Liu, Guangya; Mair, Christine A.
Guided by theories and empirical research on intergenerational relationships, we examine the phenomenon of grandparents caring for grandchildren in contemporary China. Using a longitudinal dataset (China Health and Nutrition Survey), we document a high level of structural and functional solidarity in grandparent-grandchildren relationships. Intergenerational solidarity is indicated by a high rate of coresidence between grandchildren and grandparents, a sizable number of skipped-generation households (no parent present), extensive childcare involvement by non-coresidential grandparents, and a large amount of care provided by coresidential grandparents. Multivariate analysis further suggests that grandparents' childcare load is adaptive to familial needs, as reflected by the characteristics of the household, household members and work activities of the mothers.

Browse

Recent Submissions