White Respondents Research Articles

National Benchmarks to Understand How Doctor of Physical Therapy Learners From Minoritized Race and Ethnicity Groups Perceive Their Physical Therapist Education Program.

The demographic homogeneity of the physical therapist workforce and its educational pathway may undermine the profession's potential to improve the health of society. Building academic environments that support the development of all learners is fundamental to building a workforce to meet societal health care needs. The Benchmarking in Physical Therapy Education study uses the Physical Therapy Graduation Questionnaire to comprehensively assess learner perceptions of the physical therapist academic environment. The present report examined whether racial and ethnic minoritized (REM) physical therapist learners perceive their doctor of physical therapy education differently from their non-REM peers. Five thousand and eighty graduating doctor of physical therapy learners in 89 institutions provided demographic data and perceptions of a range of learning environment domains. Analyses included REM versus non-REM comparisons as well as comparisons among individual race and ethnicity groups. Compared with their non-minoritized peers, REM respondents expressed less satisfaction with their education and lower confidence in their preparedness for entry-level practice. REM respondents observed more faculty professionalism disconnects and demonstrated less agreement that their program had fostered their overall psychological well-being. REM respondents experienced higher rates of mistreatment than their peers and reported higher rates of exhaustion and disengagement, the 2 axes of academic burnout. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino/a/x (Hispanic, Latino, Latina, and/or Latinx) respondents incurred significantly more educational debt than Asian and White respondents. REM respondents reported greater empathy and greater interest in working in underserved communities. REM respondents perceived the physical therapist learning environment more negatively than their non-minoritized peers but expressed strong interest in serving people from underserved communities. These national benchmarks offer academic institutions the opportunity to self-assess their own environment and to work to improve the quality of the educational experience for all learners. In a nationwide benchmarking study, learners from minoritized race and ethnicity backgrounds reported more negative experiences and outcomes during physical therapist education than their non-minoritized peers. These same learners demonstrated high empathy and interest in serving people from underserved (under-resourced) communities. Learning environments that permit all individuals to thrive may be an essential avenue to improve the health of a rapidly diversifying society.

Abstract 814: Bridging the gap: Informal caregivers' access to information on genetic testing for cancer risk

Abstract Introduction: Cancer risk genetic testing (referred to as genetic testing thereafter) benefits patients by allowing them to make informed behavioral and medical decisions to reduce cancer risk and by facilitating surveillance and earlier detection. Informal caregivers, who often serve as primary advocates for those at risk, play a pivotal role in supporting behavioral and medical decisions based on genetic testing information. Assessing caregivers’ knowledge of genetic testing can guide future interventions supporting informed decision-making to ensure that all groups benefit equally from advances in genetic testing. We examined the association between caregiving and knowledge of genetic testing as well as other individual and socioeconomic factors. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5 Cycle 4). HINTS is a nationally representative survey of adults in the civilian non-institutionalized US population. Exposure variable was caregiving (yes/no) assessed with the question “Are you currently caring for or making health care decisions for someone with a medical, behavioral, disability, or other condition?”. The outcome variable was genetic testing knowledge (yes/no) assessed with the question “have you heard of high-risk cancer genetic testing - e.g., BRCA 1/2". Weighted, multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between caregiving and genetic testing knowledge adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education level, having a regular provider, rural-urban residence, and self-reported general health status. Results: A total of 3,136 participants aged ≥18 were included in the study, of whom 16.4% were caregivers and 35.9% had heard of genetic testing. In the adjusted analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between caregivers and non-caregivers in relation to genetic testing knowledge (P=0.7881). However, respondents who were ≥65 years old (aOR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.40-0.72) were less likely to have heard about genetic testing compared to those aged 18-49, as were respondents who had no regular provider (aOR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.95) compared to those with a regular provider. Compared to non-Hispanic White respondents, non-Hispanic Black (aOR=0.45, 95% CI: 0.31-0.66) or Hispanic respondents (aOR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.29-0.68) were less likely to have heard about genetic testing. Female respondents (aOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.55-2.61) were twice as likely to have heard about genetic testing than their male counterparts. Conclusions: We found that about a third of Americans had heard about genetic testing; patients who were younger, female, White, and those who had access to a regular provider were more likely to be aware of testing. Interventions targeting under-resourced caregivers are urgently needed to promote equity in genetic testing and its benefits. Citation Format: Eric Adjei Boakye, Pranali G. Patel, Chaitali S. Dagli, Sarah Wagoner, Mrudula Nair, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Veronica Bernacchi, Samantha H. Tam. Bridging the gap: Informal caregivers' access to information on genetic testing for cancer risk [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 814.

A theory-based assessment of mpox: Findings from a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults.

The purpose of this research was to examine individual differences related to fear of, perceived susceptibility to, and perceived severity of mpox as well as mpox knowledge, fear, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity as predictors of vaccine intention in a national survey of U.S. adults (aged ≥18 years). Address-based sampling (ABS) methods were used to ensure full coverage of all households in the nation, reflecting the 2021 March Supplement of the Current Population Survey. Internet-based surveys were self-administered by Ipsos between September 16-26, 2022. N = 1018 participants completed the survey. The survey included items, based partially on the Health Belief Model, assessing vaccine intention (1 item; responses from 1 [Definitely not] to 5 [Definitely]), fear of mpox (7-item scale; α = .89; theoretical mean = 7-35), perceived susceptibility to mpox (3-item scale; α = .85; theoretical mean = 3-15), and perceived severity of mpox (4-item scale; α = .65; theoretical mean = 4-20). Higher scores indicate greater fear, susceptibility, and severity. One-way ANOVAs were run to examine mean score differences by demographic groups (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation), and multiple regression analyses assessed the relationship between predictors (mpox knowledge, susceptibility/severity, fear) and a single outcome (vaccination intention), while controlling for demographic covariates. Sampling weights were applied to all analyses. Only 1.8% (n = 18) of respondents reported having received the mpox vaccine. While mpox vaccine intention was low (M = 2.09, SD = 0.99), overall differences between racial/ethnic, sexual orientation, education, and household income groups were statistically significant. Fear of mpox was very low (M = 13.13, SD = 5.33), and there were overall statistically significant differences in both fear and perceived severity among gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, and household income groups. While respondents reported not feeling very susceptible to mpox (M = 5.77, SD = 2.50), they generally rated mpox as just above the theoretical mean in terms of severity (M = 11.01, SD = 2.85). Mpox knowledge, fear, severity, and susceptibility, as well as race/ethnicity, were all statistically significant predictors of intention to vaccinate, with susceptibility representing the strongest predictor. Overall, Americans' vaccination for mpox/vaccine intent was low. Gay/lesbian and racial/ethnic minority respondents felt more susceptible to and viewed mpox more severely, compared with heterosexual and White respondents, respectively. These data may be used to tailor risk and prevention (e.g., vaccination) interventions, as cases continue to surge in the current global mpox outbreak. Greater perceptions of susceptibility, severity, and fear about mpox exist largely among minority populations. While public health messaging to promote mpox vaccination can focus on improving knowledge, as well as addressing fear and perceived severity of, and susceptibility to, mpox, such messages should be carefully crafted to prevent disproportionate negative effects on marginalized communities.

Understanding the effects of firms' unresponsiveness on social media toward customer feedback on customers' engagement: the impact of ethnicity

PurposeThis article explores how firms' unresponsiveness to Black customer feedback influences Black (vs. White) customers' perceived firm-based discrimination and brand engagement.Design/methodology/approachTwo experimental studies (Study 1(N1) = 254) and Study 1(N2) = 484) are conducted to test the modeled relationships. The data are analyzed using ANOVA, PROCESS Model 4 and PROCESS Model 7.FindingsThe findings suggest that though perceived discrimination remains modest in all conditions, Black (vs. White) respondents report higher perceived discrimination when the firm fails to respond to a Black customer's negative or neutral (but not positive) brand-related feedback on social media. The results also indicate that Black (vs. White) customers exhibit lower engagement through perceived discrimination in the case of the firm's unresponsiveness to a Black customer's negative and neutral (but not positive) brand-related feedback regardless of the manager's race.Originality/valuePrior research on intercultural service encounters and ethnic differences in consumer engagement on social media are combined to examine the relationship between customer race and perceived discrimination based on the firm's unresponsiveness to customers' social media posts.Research limitations/implicationsManipulations were created based on a fictitious e-tailer. Thus, it is recommend that future researchers examine the extent to which the findings hold for existing (r)etailers. In addition, future studies using secondary data could provide additional evidence for the findings.Practical implicationsManagerial attention is accentuated among customer feedback responsiveness, engagement and perceived firm discrimination. Managers are encouraged to adopt communication strategies that complement the firm's strategy and social media presence.

Public support for and concerns regarding pediatric dose optimization for seizures in emergency medical services: An exception from informed consent (EFIC) trial.

Federal regulations allow exception from informed consent (EFIC) to study emergent conditions when obtaining prospective consent is not feasible. Little is known about public views on including children in EFIC studies. The Pediatric Dose Optimization for Seizures in EMS (PediDOSE) trial implements age-based, standardized midazolam dosing for pediatric seizures. The primary objective of this study was to determine public support for and concerns about the PediDOSE EFIC trial. The secondary objective was to assess how support for PediDOSE varied by demographics. We conducted a mixed-methods study in 20 U.S. communities. Participants reviewed information about PediDOSE before completing an online survey. Descriptive data were generated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with support for PediDOSE. Reviewers identified themes from free-text response data regarding participant concerns. Of 2450 respondents, 79% were parents/guardians, and 20% had a child with previous seizures. A total of 96% of respondents supported PediDOSE being conducted, and 70% approved of children being enrolled without prior consent. Non-Hispanic Black respondents were less likely than non-Hispanic White respondents to support PediDOSE with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.57 (95% CI 0.42-0.75). Health care providers were more likely to support PediDOSE, with strongest support among prehospital emergency medicine clinicians (aOR 5.82, 95% CI 3.19-10.62). Age, gender, parental status, and level of education were not associated with support of PediDOSE. Common concerns about PediDOSE included adverse effects, legal and ethical concerns about enrolling without consent, and potential racial bias. In communities where this study will occur, most respondents supported PediDOSE being conducted with EFIC and most approved of children being enrolled without prior consent. Support was lowest among non-Hispanic Black respondents and highest among health care providers. Further research is needed to determine optimal ways to address the concerns of specific racial and ethnic groups when conducting EFIC trials.

Public support for reinvesting resources from enforcing drug possession to health-promoting alternatives: A nationally representative poll of adults in the United States

BackgroundThe legal enforcement of drug possession is associated with a host of negative consequences for people who use drugs (PWUD), has demonstrated little effectiveness at curbing drug use, and has contributed to lasting financial, social, and health-related racial disparities in Black and Brown communities in the United States (U.S.). One policy alternative is reinvesting resources typically used for enforcing drug possession into health-promoting services such as drug treatment or harm reduction that can better serve the needs of PWUD than the criminal legal system. We sought to characterize the prevalence and correlates of national public support for this reinvestment in the U.S. MethodsA nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 1,212) completed the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Civic Life and Public Health Survey (wave three, fielded November 11–30, 2020). The outcome is support for reinvestment of resources spent on enforcing drug possession into health-promoting alternatives (i.e., drug treatment, harm reduction, housing support, or community-based resources). We measured potential correlates including socio-demographics and social/political attitudes, including political ideology (conservative, moderate, liberal) and racial resentment toward the Black community. Analyses accounted for complex survey weights. ResultsWeighted prevalence of support for reinvestment of resources was 80 %. Multivariable logistic regression (controlling for confounders) showed that white respondents were more likely than Black (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.08, 5.87) to favor reinvestment. Respondents with moderate (OR = 0.34, 95 % CI = 0.15–0.79) or conservative (OR = 0.21, 95 % CI = 0.09–0.50) political ideology (compared to liberal) and medium (OR = 0.26, 95 % CI = 0.09–0.74) or high (OR = 0.12, 95 % CI = 0.04–0.35) levels of racial resentment (compared to low) were less likely to support reinvestment. ConclusionThere is substantial national support for reinvesting resources into health-promoting alternatives, though political ideology and racial resentment temper support. Results can inform targeted messaging to increase support for moving drug policy from the criminal legal sphere toward public health.

Examining sleep characteristics in Canada through a diversity and equity lens

ObjectiveTo examine specific sleep characteristics of adults living in Canada according to sex, gender, ethnoracial background, socioeconomic status, immigration status, sexual orientation, and language spoken at home. MethodsThis cross-sectional and nationally representative study used self-reported data from the 2021 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 39,346 adults aged 18 years and older). Sleep characteristics (sleep duration, nighttime insomnia symptoms, unrefreshing sleep, and difficulty staying awake) were assessed and compared across groups. ResultsFemales were more likely than males to report nighttime insomnia symptoms (23.1% vs. 14.8%) and unrefreshing sleep (17.2% vs. 13.5%). The same was also observed for gender identity. Although White respondents were more likely to meet sleep duration recommendations (58.3%), they had the highest prevalence of nighttime insomnia symptoms (20.9%) compared to respondents with other ethnoracial backgrounds. Respondents coming from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to report poorer sleep compared to those coming from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Insomnia symptoms were lower among immigrants (13.9%) compared to nonimmigrants (21.1%). Respondents with a sexual orientation not classified as heterosexual, gay, or lesbian reported poorer sleep. Finally, for language spoken at home, those who responded “French only” were more likely to meet sleep duration recommendations (64.1%) and were less likely to report unrefreshing sleep (8.8%). Nighttime insomnia symptoms were the lowest among those who reported speaking a language other than French or English at home (9.5%). ConclusionThis study highlights important sleep disparities among Canadians. Future intervention strategies should aim to reduce sleep health disparities.

"I Was Told to Think Like a Middle-Aged White Woman": A Survey on Identity and the Association of Social Work Boards Exam.

The release of the 2022 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam passage rate report confirmed what many test takers who failed their exam believe. The ASWB exams are biased, with differential passage rates based on the test taker's race, age, and "English as a second language" status. However, the report only offered basic descriptive statistics and lacked insight into the test takers' experience. The present study addresses this gap. Results are from a 2022 survey of individuals who had taken the ASWB master's level licensing exam (N = 1,045) highlighting test taker identity and experience. Thirty percent of the study sample identified as neurodivergent, 29.1 percent as primary caregivers, and 27.1 percent as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color. White respondents had the highest first-attempt passing rates (95.7 percent), followed by Latinx and Black respondents (84.9 percent and 78.2 percent, respectively). Forty-four respondents reported taking the test three or more times before passing. Among this group, 52 percent identified as Black, 25 percent as White, and 18 percent as Latinx. Respondents were asked how they felt their identity impacted their experience, and three interrelated themes emerged: privilege, challenges, and critique of the exam. Respondents discussed the impact of having or not having privilege; the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of preparing for the exam; and the ways in which they experienced the exam as biased.

Officer-Involved Killings of Unarmed Black People and Racial Disparities in Sleep Health

Racial disparities in sleep health may mediate the broader health outcomes of structural racism. To assess changes in sleep duration in the Black population after officer-involved killings of unarmed Black people, a cardinal manifestation of structural racism. Two distinct difference-in-differences analyses examined the changes in sleep duration for the US non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) population before vs after exposure to officer-involved killings of unarmed Black people, using data from adult respondents in the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS; 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018) and the American Time Use Survey (ATUS; 2013-2019) with data on officer-involved killings from the Mapping Police Violence database. Data analyses were conducted between September 24, 2021, and September 12, 2023. Occurrence of any police killing of an unarmed Black person in the state, county, or commuting zone of the survey respondent's residence in each of the four 90-day periods prior to interview, or occurence of a highly public, nationally prominent police killing of an unarmed Black person anywhere in the US during the 90 days prior to interview. Self-reported total sleep duration (hours), short sleep (<7 hours), and very short sleep (<6 hours). Data from 181 865 Black and 1 799 757 White respondents in the BRFSS and 9858 Black and 46 532 White respondents in the ATUS were analyzed. In the larger BRFSS, the majority of Black respondents were between the ages of 35 and 64 (99 014 [weighted 51.4%]), women (115 731 [weighted 54.1%]), and college educated (100 434 [weighted 52.3%]). Black respondents in the BRFSS reported short sleep duration at a rate of 45.9%, while White respondents reported it at a rate of 32.6%; for very short sleep, the corresponding values were 18.4% vs 10.4%, respectively. Statistically significant increases in the probability of short sleep and very short sleep were found among Black respondents when officers killed an unarmed Black person in their state of residence during the first two 90-day periods prior to interview. Magnitudes were larger in models using exposure to a nationally prominent police killing occurring anywhere in the US. Estimates were equivalent to 7% to 16% of the sample disparity between Black and White individuals in short sleep and 13% to 30% of the disparity in very short sleep. Sleep health among Black adults worsened after exposure to officer-involved killings of unarmed Black individuals. These empirical findings underscore the role of structural racism in shaping racial disparities in sleep health outcomes.

Measuring and Modeling Neighborhoods

Granular geographic data present new opportunities to understand how neighborhoods are formed, and how they influence politics. At the same time, the inherent subjectivity of neighborhoods creates methodological challenges in measuring and modeling them. We develop an open-source survey instrument that allows respondents to draw their neighborhoods on a map. We also propose a statistical model to analyze how the characteristics of respondents and local areas determine subjective neighborhoods. We conduct two surveys: collecting subjective neighborhoods from voters in Miami, New York City, and Phoenix, and asking New York City residents to draw a community of interest for inclusion in their city council district. Our analysis shows that, holding other factors constant, white respondents include census blocks with more white residents in their neighborhoods. Similarly, Democrats and Republicans are more likely to include co-partisan areas. Furthermore, our model provides more accurate out-of-sample predictions than standard neighborhood measures.

Vaccination during pregnancy by race/ethnicity: a focus on American Indians/Alaska Natives

Vaccination during pregnancy reduces the incidence of infections and their associated adverse outcomes in both mothers and infants. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has recommended influenza and Tdap vaccination during pregnancy since 2004 and 2013, respectively. Several studies have examined disparities in vaccination rates during pregnancy by race/ethnicity. However, none have included American Indians/Alaska Natives as a specific racial/ethnic group on a national level. Current literature suggests that American Indian/Alaska Native infants experience increased morbidity and mortality from both influenza and pertussis infections compared with most other groups in the United States. This study aimed to evaluate the uptake of influenza and Tdap vaccinations during pregnancy by race/ethnicity, with a specific focus on American Indian/Alaska Native people. This cross-sectional study used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Comparisons of vaccine uptake across racial/ethnic groups (American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, and "None of the above") were evaluated using weighted logistic regression analyses to estimate prevalence odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Models were adjusted for maternal age, parity, maternal education, marital status, payment method at delivery, prenatal care in first trimester, maternal smoking status, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participation, and receipt of influenza vaccine reported by a health care provider. For both vaccines, Asian respondents had the highest uptake (influenza, 70.1%; Tdap, 68.2%), whereas Black respondents reported the lowest uptake (influenza, 44.4%; Tdap, 57.9%). For the influenza vaccine, American Indian/Alaska Native respondents demonstrated a higher uptake compared with White respondents, and the magnitude of difference increased markedly after adjusting for respondent characteristics (adjusted odds ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-1.90). In the unadjusted analyses, Black individuals reported influenza vaccination at approximately half the rate of their White counterparts during pregnancy. This effect was attenuated but remained lower after adjustment for respondent characteristics (adjusted odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.76). For the Tdap vaccine, American Indian/Alaska Native respondents reported lower uptake than White respondents; however, this difference disappeared when adjusted for respondent characteristics (adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.19). Asian and Hispanic respondents displayed a similar uptake compared with their White counterparts for both vaccines. Our findings indicate that there are racial/ethnic disparities in influenza and Tdap vaccination rates among pregnant individuals in the United States. Demonstration of increased uptake among American Indian/Alaska Native people in the crude analysis may reflect the success of various public health interventions through Tribal and Indian Health Service hospitals. Nonetheless, vaccination status during pregnancy remains seriously below national guideline recommendations. Greater measures must be taken to support preventative care in marginalized populations, with particular emphasis on community-driven solutions rooted in justice.

Differences in Time to Reported First Arrest by Race, National Origin, and Immigrant Generation: A Test of Assimilation Theories

This study examines immigrant assimilation theories by focusing on arrest during adolescence and adult life using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, a nationally representative panel study that follows children from adolescence through adulthood. The analysis compares outcomes for the first and second-generation of Mexican origin and other parts of Latin America to third- and fourth-plus generation (1) non-Hispanic white, (2) non-Hispanic black, and (3) Hispanic respondents. This investigation employs survival analyses to account for the timing of arrest and other events (e.g., graduation, childbirth, and employment). Results indicate the first generation, both of Mexican and Other Hispanic origin, are less likely to experience arrest than their higher-generation counterparts, regardless of race/ethnicity of the comparison group.

Factors Associated with Condom Use among Community College Students

The incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have increased over the past decade, with half of all new diagnoses occurring in young people ages 15-24 years. Despite the risk, college students report low rates of condom use during sex. This study investigated factors associated with condom use in college students with the intent to inform health education strategies. In this cross-sectional study, a 40-item survey was administered to a random sample of classes at a community college in Central California. A total of 883 students participated. A multivariate logistic regression model identified factors associated with condom use, controlling for demographics, knowledge, and perceptions about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and condoms.Hispanic/Latino respondents had higher rates of condom use compared to non-Hispanic/Latinos, as did non-White respondents compared to White respondents, non-females, and individuals who were not in a relationship. Regression results revealed that assertive negotiation (i.e., directly requesting to use condoms) was the most significant influencer of condom use. STI knowledge was not associated with condom use, nor was perceived seriousness or susceptibility to STIs.While traditional health promotion programs focus on knowledge and access to condoms, these results suggest that additional factors influence condom use, including the ability to directly request condom use with partners. In addition to topics such as STIs, contraception, and pregnancy, comprehensive sexual health education should also include communication and negotiation strategies between partners, through a lens that includes all sexualities and gender identities.

Unequal loss: Disparities in relational closeness to a COVID-19 death among U.S. older adults.

COVID-19 mortality occurred unevenly across U.S. demographic subgroups, leaving some communities harder hit than others. Black and Hispanic/Latino older adults are among those disproportionately affected by COVID-19 mortality, and in turn, COVID-19 bereavement. Because disparities in COVID-19 mortality may extend to COVID-19 bereavement, it is important to understand the incidence of COVID-19 bereavement among older adults at various degrees of relational closeness (e.g., spouse vs. household member vs. friend). We used the National Social Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) COVID Study to evaluate disparities in loss of a social network member to COVID-19 among U.S. older adults by race/ethnicity, language, and relational closeness. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of experiencing a COVID-19 death in one's social network. None of the English-speaking, non-Hispanic White respondents reported the loss of a household member or spouse to COVID-19. English-speaking, non-Hispanic Black and English-speaking, Hispanic older adults were overrepresented in reporting a death at every degree of relational closeness. However, close COVID-19 bereavement was most prevalent among Spanish-speaking older adults of any race. Although Spanish speakers comprised only 4.8% of the sample, half of the respondents who lost a spouse to COVID-19 were Spanish speakers. Language and ethnoracial group disparities persisted after controlling for age, sex, marital status, and education. Known ethnoracial disparities in COVID-19 mortality extend to COVID-19 bereavement among older adults. Because bereavement impacts health, Black, Latino, and Spanish-speaking communities need greater protection and investment to prevent disparities in bereavement from exacerbating disparities in later-life mental and physical health.

Testing the effectiveness of interactive training on sexual harassment and assault in field science

Fieldwork is a critical tool for scientific research, particularly in applied disciplines. Yet fieldwork is often unsafe, especially for members of historically marginalized groups and people whose presence in scientific spaces threatens traditional hierarchies of power, authority, and legitimacy. Research is needed to identify interventions that prevent sexual harassment and assault from occurring in the first place. We conducted a quasi-experiment assessing the impacts of a 90-min interactive training on field-based staff in a United States state government agency. We hypothesized that the knowledge-based interventions, social modeling, and mastery experiences included in the training would increase participants’ sexual harassment and assault prevention knowledge, self-efficacy, behavioural intention, and behaviour after the training compared to a control group of their peers. Treatment–control and pre-post training survey data indicate that the training increased participants’ sexual harassment and assault prevention knowledge and prevention self-efficacy, and, to a lesser extent, behavioural intention. These increases persisted several months after the training for knowledge and self-efficacy. While we did not detect differences in the effect of the training for different groups, interestingly, post-hoc tests indicated that women and members of underrepresented racial groups generally scored lower compared to male and white respondents, suggesting that these groups self-assess their own capabilities differently. Finally, participants’ likelihood to report incidents increased after the training but institutional reports remained low, emphasizing the importance of efforts to transform reporting systems and develop better methods to measure bystander actions. These results support the utility of a peer-led interactive intervention for improving workplace culture and safety in scientific fieldwork settings.Protocol registration"The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on August 24, 2022. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21770165.

Examining the Entrepreneurial Intentions of U.S. Ethnic Minorities During the Covid-19 Pandemic

We examine minority entrepreneurial intentions in the U.S. and seek to make business leaders and business educators aware of minority students’ interest in entrepreneurship activity. Utilizing the theory of planned behavior, we investigated if demographic and behavioral factors are related to entrepreneurial intentions. A major contextual factor was that we performed our research during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed the entrepreneurial intentions of 400 U.S. business college students, comparing minority respondents (n=137) with white respondents (n=263). The minority respondents belonged to the three predominant minority entrepreneur groups in the U.S. -- African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. Minority respondents had significantly greater entrepreneurial intentions than their white counterparts. We investigated contextual factors affecting minority entrepreneurial intentions and found that a significant difference existed regarding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in that it counter-intuitively increased minority entrepreneurial intentions. Significant personal factors included having family members who own a business and having a role model.

The Impact of Race and Skin Color on Police Contact and Arrest: Results From a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study

Racial inequality in arrest is a social problem that has challenged the United States for as long as police records have been kept. Prior work documents the extent of the disparity and observational studies have attempted to sort out the mechanisms that explain why the disparity exists. Building on the “constructivist” perspective of race, the current study draws on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to assess the degree to which race and skin color explain the observed racial disparity in criminal justice contact and arrest. Results revealed that controlling for criminal behavior and a host of covariates, neither race nor skin color increased the likelihood of police contact. Race, however, was predictive of an increase in the odds of arrest—with Black respondents being 92% more likely to experience arrest than White respondents—and this relationship remained controlling for the effects of skin color, police contact, and prior criminal behavior. These findings suggest that the “race effect” may be due to unobserved biases not related to skin color.

Factors associated with attitudes toward research MRI in older Asian Americans.

South Asian (SA) and East Asian (EA) older adults represent the fastest-growing racial/ethnic groups of Americans at risk for dementia. While recruiting older SA adults into a brain health study, we encountered unexpected hesitancy toward structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis and stigmatizing attitudes related to internal locus of control (LoC) for future dementia risks. We hypothesized that support for MRI-related research was influenced by these attitudes as well as personal MRI experience, perceived MRI safety, and concerns for personal risk for future dementia/stroke. We developed a brief cross-sectional survey to assess older adults' MRI experiences and perceptions, desire to learn of six incidental findings of increasing impact on health, and attitudes related to dementia (including LoC) and research participation. We recruited a convenience sample of 256 respondents (74% reporting as 50+) from the New Jersey/New York City area to complete the survey (offered in English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish) and modeled the proportional odds (PO) for favorable attitudes toward research activities. Seventy-seven SA and 84 EA respondents were analyzed alongside 95 White, Black, or Hispanic adults. White (PO = 2.54, p = 0.013) and EA (PO = 2.14, p = 0.019) respondents were both more likely than SA respondents to endorse healthy volunteers' participation in research, and the difference between White and SA respondents was mediated by the latter's greater internal LoC for dementia risks. EA respondents had more worries for future dementia/stroke than SA respondents (p = 0.006) but still shared SA respondents' lower wish (measured by proportion of total) to learn of incidental MRI findings. SA-and EA compared to SA-older adults had low desire to learn of incidental MRI findings but had different attitudes toward future dementia/stroke risks. A culturally appropriate protocol to disclose incidental MRI findings may improve SA and EA participation in brain health research. Older Asian Americans have limited interest in incidental findings on research MRISouth Asians are most likely to attribute dementia to people's own behaviorsSouth Asians' attitudes mediate lower support for healthy volunteers in researchSouth and East Asians differ in dementia worries and research-related attitudes.

Racial Disparities in Health Care Use in Gentrifying Neighborhoods.

Racial disparities in health outcomes are a persistent threat in gentrifying neighborhoods. A contributor to health outcomes is health services utilization, the extent to which people receive care from a medical professional. There are documented racial disparities in health services utilization in the general population. We aim to determine whether racial disparities in health services utilization exist in gentrifying neighborhoods. We used data from the American Community Survey to identify gentrifying neighborhoods across the United States from 2006 to 2017. We collected data on three measures of healthcare services utilization (office-based physician visits, office-based nonphysician visits, and having a usual source of care) for 247 Black and 689 White non-Hispanic respondents of the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey living in gentrifying neighborhoods. We used modified Poisson models to determine whether there is a difference in the prevalence of health services utilization by race among residents of gentrifying neighborhoods. After adjusting for age, gender, education, income, employment, insurance, marital status, region, and self-rated health, Black residents of gentrifying neighborhoods demonstrated a similar prevalence of having an office-based physician visit, a lower prevalence of having an office-based nonphysician visit (prevalence ratio: 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.91), and a lower prevalence of having a usual source of care (prevalence ratio: 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 0.98) than White residents. The existence of racial disparities in health services utilization in US gentrifying neighborhoods demonstrates a need for policy-relevant solutions to create a more equitable distribution of health resources.

Minorities’ diminished psychedelic returns: Cardio-metabolic health

Although there is a growing support for the protective factor of psychedelics to improve mental and physical health, these effects may differ across racial and ethnic groups. Race differences remain a critically understudied gap in psychedelic literature. Recent empirical research into Minority Diminished Psychedelic Returns suggests that Black Americans may gain little health benefits from psychedelic use. This study tests race differences in the association between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and multiple indicators of cardio-metabolic health including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and Body Mass Index. This project uses pooled data of Black and White adults respondents from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2005 to 2019) (N = 421,477). The analysis includes a series of logistic and ordinary least square regression models conducted in Stata 18. Results demonstrate that Lifetime Psychedelic Use is associated with better cardio-metabolic health. However, regression models by race find that there is no association between LCPU and cardio metabolic health for Black people, while the positive associations remain significant for white people. Overall, results lend support for the MPDR theory.