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

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 195

Cultural foundations of global health: a critical examination of universal child feeding recommendations
(BMC, 2025-01-23) Scheidecker, Gabriel; Funk, Leberecht; Chaudhary, Nandita; Chapin, Bambi L.; Schmidt, Wiebke J.; El Ouardani, Christine
There has been a rising call to decolonize global health so that it more fully includes the concerns, knowledge, and research from people all over the world. This endeavor can only succeed, we argue, if we also recognize that much of established global health doctrine is rooted in Euro-American beliefs, values, and practice rather than being culturally neutral. This paper examines the cultural biases of child feeding recommendations as a case in point. We argue that the global promotion of Responsive Feeding—a set of allegedly best practices for child feeding promulgated by the WHO and others—is based on a tacit conviction that certain Western middle-class feeding practices are universally best, along with a promise that future evidence will demonstrate their superiority. These recommendations denounce feeding practices that diverge from this style as Non-Responsive Feeding, thereby pathologizing the many valued ways of feeding children in communities all over the world without sound scientific evidence. Drawing on ethnographic research, we show that there is a wide variety in feeding practices around the world and these are closely interlinked with the understandings and priorities of caregivers, as well as with favored forms of relationships and ways of maintaining them. For global health nutrition interventions to be justified and effective, they would need to be based on more pertinent, culturally responsive research than they currently are. We suggest the use of ethnographic research as an important tool in building empirically grounded, epistemically inclusive, and locally meaningful approaches to improving nutritional support for children in communities around the world and to global health efforts more broadly.
Digital skills use profiles among older workers in the United States: a person-centered approach
(Taylor & Francis, 2024-12-22) Yamashita, Takashi; Narine, Donnette; Ojomo, Adeola; Chidebe, Runcie C. W.; Cummins, Phyllis A.; Kramer, Jenna W.; Karam, Rita; Smith, Thomas J.
Considering the digitalisation of the workplace and increasingly crucial digital skill proficiency in the technology-rich labour market, the objectives of the present study are to develop digital skill use profiles and to identify specific individual characteristics that are linked with digital skill use patterns among older workers in the United States. However, relatively little is known about older workers’ digital skill use patterns and skill use opportunity structures. Data of the U.S. older workers (age 50 years and older; n = 1,670) were obtained from the 2012/2014/2017 International Assessment of the Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Latent class analysis – a form of person-centred approach that identifies subgroups based on distinctive digital skill use patterns, showed that there were two underlying subgroups of older workers, including more frequent and less frequent digital skill users. More frequent users practiced a greater variety of digital skills both at work and outside of work than their counterparts. Also, logistic regression analysis showed that higher digital skill proficiency and full-time employment (vs. part-time) were associated with belonging to the more frequent digital skill use subgroup. The digital skill use profiles of U.S. older workers, subgroup characteristics, and implications for adult education and labour policies are evaluated.
Nursing Facility Characteristics Are Differentially Associated With Family Satisfaction and Regulatory Star Ratings
(Southern Gerontological Society, 2025-01-08) Millar, Roberto J.; Diehl, Christin; Kusmaul, Nancy; Stockwell, Ian
Research suggests that nursing facility structural characteristics are important contributors toward residents’ quality of care. We use 2021 data from 220 Maryland nursing facilities to examine associations between two different quality-of-care metrics: family satisfaction and Care Compare five-star quality ratings. We used descriptive statistics to explore differences in quality metrics across facility ownership (for-profit vs. non-profit), geographic location (urban vs. rural), and resident census (1–60, 61–120, and 121+). Relationships were examined across overall ratings, as well as across subdomains of the two frameworks (e.g., staffing). Family members of residents in non-profit, rural, and low-census facilities rated facilities higher. Non-profit and low-resident census facilities were more likely to be rated four or five stars, while no significant association was observed across geographic location, or interactions across structural factors. Findings emphasize the need for comprehensive quality-of-care frameworks that explore quality care across stakeholders and types of facilities.
Qualitative Descriptions of Developer Changes or Consistency Over Time
(UNM Mentoring Institute, 2024-10-08) Roesch, A.; Brakey, H.R.; Tigges, B,; Sood, A.; Soller, Brian
Developmental networks comprise individuals (i.e., developers) who take an active interest in and concerted action to advance protégé’s career. Research demonstrates that the social composition and characteristics of developmental networks change over time as protégés’ careers evolve. However, little qualitative research explores if, how, and why developmental networks change. This analysis examines why protégés change or maintain connections to their developers, focusing on social constraints and deliberative actions. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, we explored the reasons that university faculty respondents changed their developmental networks over time. We considered the potential for individual/developer characteristics and structural constraints on relations between developers and protégés (e.g., job change) to understand how and why respondents added, maintained, or dropped developers from their networks. We conducted 56 semi-structured interviews with faculty mentors and mentees from three universities and the Mountain West Clinical and Translational Research Infrastructure Network, enrolled in a larger study of mentor training interventions. Respondents discussed how their developmental networks changed over 30 months. Self-reported network maps at baseline, 12, and 24 months were used to augment these interviews by showing who was in their network at these time points. Decisions about stability or change in networks mainly appeared unrelated to strategic decisions based on respondents’ goals or identified network gaps. Instead, themes related to consistency or change included personal reasons (e.g., position change by respondent), or the personal or situational characteristics of the developer such as: being supportive and trustworthy; a collaborator on projects; genuinely caring; having similar experiences, goals, or values as respondent; social and work overlap; and time or capacity changes (e.g., developer retiring). Our findings establish the rationale for developing and implementing a structured, evidence-based networking intervention to educate faculty on intentionally changing developmental networks based on action plans.
Adult Literacy Skills and Risk of Job Automation Among Middle-Aged and Older Workers in the United States
(2024-12-13) Narine, Donnette; Yamashita, Takashi; Chidebe, Runcie C. W.; Cummins, Phyllis A.; Kramer, Jenna W.; Karam, Rita
Job automation can undermine economic security for workers in general, and older workers, in particular. In this respect, consistently updating one’s knowledge and skills is essential for being competitive in a technology-driven labor market. Older workers with lower adult literacy skills experience difficulties with continuous education and skills development, which can contribute to their economic uncertainty. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the correlation between adult literacy skills and job automation risk. We analyzed a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older workers (age 50+ years; n = 1,880) from the 2012/2014/2017 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) dataset. The survey-weighted linear regression results showed that lower job automation risks (0%–100%) were a function of higher adult literacy skills (score 0–500 points: b = −.052, p < .05), after adjusting for relevant covariates (R-squared = .19).
Care Compare Star Ratings and Family Satisfaction in Maryland Nursing Facilities: A Comparison by Facility Structure
(2024-02-22) Millar, Roberto; Diehl, Christin; Kusmaul, Nancy; Stockwell, Ian
These findings were presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) 2023 meeting in Tampa, Florida. Part of a Center and Institute Departmentally-Engaged Research (CIDER) award, this is part of several studies focused on examining quality of care in Maryland nursing facilities.
Nurse Staffing in Nursing Facilities and Family Members' Appraisal of Resident Care
(2024-06-29) Millar, Roberto; Diehl, Christin; Cannon-Jones, Stephanie; Kusmaul, Nancy; Stockwell, Ian
THE ROLE OF DISASTER SUBCULTURES IN LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS: A CASE STUDY OF STAKEHOLDERS IN COASTAL MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
(MSAAG, 2024) Howell, Nyla; Leichenko, R.; Clemens, M.; Cann, K.; Madajewicz, M.; Solecki, W.; Kaplan, M.; Herb, J.
Extreme weather events are increasingly affecting coastal communities, often leading to economic and social disruption within these areas. The businesses located within coastal communities are especially vulnerable to climate-related shocks, yet relatively little is known about how the experience of prior disaster events affects business preparedness and planning for future extreme events. This study applies the concept of a disaster subculture to investigate whether and how prior extreme events affect climate resilience practices among small and mediumsized businesses in coastal New Jersey. The methods for the study entailed qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with businesses and related stakeholders during the Spring of 2022. The results of the study indicate that elements of four possible disaster subcultures are present in the region and that these subcultures are influencing business mitigation and preparedness practices and community recovery. A future research direction could consider disaster subculture influence on an individual level and how subcultures may influence household preparedness.
Immigrant Status and Social Ties: An Intersectional Analysis of Older Adults in the United States
(Springer Nature, 2024-11-21) Nayak, Sameera Shukanta; Mair, Christine A.; Adewuyi, Suliyat O.
Diverse social ties are critical facilitators of well-being among older adults. Social ties might be especially important for aging immigrants who face multiple social and economic vulnerabilities over the life course. We investigated social ties (e.g., partners, children, other family, and friends) by immigrant status among older adults in the United States (U.S.). Data come from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study (N?=?4,006), a national sample of older adults in the U.S. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare social ties (e.g., partners, children, other family, and friends) by immigrant status. We further explored interactions with sex and race/ethnicity. Older immigrants are more likely to report that they can rely a lot on their partners (aOR?=?1.84, 95% CI 1.27, 2.68) but less likely to rely on friends (aOR?=?0.72, 95% CI, 0.55, 0.94) compared to non-immigrants. Older immigrants are also less likely to meet frequently with friends (aOR?=?0.66, 95% CI, 0.51, 0.86) and with other family (aOR?=?0.71, 95%, CI, 0.55, 0.91) compared to non-immigrants. Lastly, older immigrant men are significantly less likely to meet with friends compared to non-immigrant men (aOR?=?0.48, 95% CI, 0.32, 0.73). As the older population in the U.S. continues to diversify and immigrant older adults navigate their support options, older immigrants–especially men–may be at risk for less variation in their social support options, particularly from extended family members and friends.
Association Between Prehip Fracture Antidepressant Use and Posthip Fracture Length of Hospital Stay in Medicare Beneficiaries and Assessing Sex Differences
(Elsevier, 2024-11-14) Mehta, Rhea; Falvey, Jason R.; Chen, Chixiang; Dong, Yu; Shardell, Michelle D.; Yamashita, Takashi; Orwig, Denise L.
ObjectiveAntidepressants are the first-line treatment for depression among older adults. While antidepressants are associated with increased risk of falls and fractures in older adults, their effect on outcomes after fall-related injuries such as hip fracture, and whether these effects differ by sex, is unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between prefracture antidepressant use and hospital length of stay (LOS) among hip fracture survivors, and related sex differences.MethodsParticipants included 17,936 community-dwelling Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with depression and hospitalization claim for hip fracture surgery between 2010 and 2017. Ordinal logistic regression estimated the association between prefracture antidepressant use and hospital LOS in days, categorized into three groups (1-4, 5-8, and 8+ days) during the 30-day postfracture period, adjusting for demographic, medical, facility, and geographic factors. A sex-by-antidepressant use interaction term was included to examine effect heterogeneity by sex.ResultsPrefracture antidepressant users (47%, n = 8,350) were more likely to be younger, White females. The adjusted ordinal logistic regression showed beneficiaries who used antidepressants had 8% higher odds of being in a shorter hospital LOS category compared to non-users (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.14; p=0.01). The sex-by-antidepressant use interaction was not statistically significant (p=0.92).ConclusionsAmong older adults with depression who subsequently experienced a hip fracture, antidepressant use of >30 days in the 6 months prior to fracture was associated with a shorter hospital LOS. These findings indicate that use of antidepressants does not prolong early recovery from hip fracture and may be protective.
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.

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