Browsing by Subject "Health"
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Item Amino acid nutrition for growth and health of neonatal pigs(2007-05) Lin, Carol; Kim, Sung W.; Wu, Guoyao; Galyean, Michael L.Raising healthy and fast-growing neonatal pigs improve overall productivity of swine production. High-lean type neonatal pigs have a large body size and a healthy body to resist disease but are fed with a low- protein diet. Providing required profiles of amino acids in a well-designed diet to neonatal pigs will allow more efficient swine production and decrease morbidity, mortality, feed cost, and nitrogen excretion. The main concern in sow-reared neonatal pigs is that less energy is provided by sows for piglet growth compared with artificially reared piglets. The nutrients from sow¡¦s colostrum and milk may not be able to provide maximum growth for neonatal pigs. Therefore, understanding the digestibility of dietary nutrients and the mechanism for regulating their utilization in neonatal pigs is crucial for improving the growth performance and health of the animals. This thesis covers: 1) determining the digestibility of nutrients in colostrum by neonatal pigs; and 2) the usefulness of N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG) as a dietary additive for neonatal pigs. In the first study, 12, 1-d-old male piglets were selected from three litters (four per litter) and housed individually in metabolism crates. All piglets were fed colostrum containing 0.25% chromium oxide as an external marker based on the following feeding program: 6 meals per day for an entire 3-d period, with 40 mL/meal for d 1 (240 mL/d), 55 mL/meal for d 2 (330 mL/d), and 70 mL/meal for d 3 (420 mL/d). Excreted feces and blood samples were collected for chemical analysis and immunoglobulin (Ig) G analysis, respectively. The apparent digestibility of protein, DM, and total amino acids in colostrum was calculated. Protein-bound and free amino acids in sow's colostrum were highly digestible (98.3 „b 0.1%) by neonatal pigs. In the second study, 27, 7-d old piglets were weaned from sows and assigned randomly to 3 dietary treatments; 1) the positive control dietary treatment (CON) containing 66.8% whey protein concentrate without N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG) and glutamic acid providing 26% CP; 2) additional NCG supplementation (NCGS) containing 56.8% whey protein concentrate with 0.08% NCG and 3.83% glutamic acid providing 25% CP; and 3) with additional glutamic acid (GLU) containing 56.8% whey protein concentrate with 3.91% glutamic acid providing 25% CP. Fresh liquid milk replacer was provided daily to piglets. Body weights of piglets were recorded and jugular venous blood samples were collected at d 7, 14, and 21 of age. Dietary of NCG supplementation might have effect on the growth performance of neonatal pigs by elevating concentrations of essential amino acids. Adding NCG and/or glutamic acid supplementation might reduce the usage of protein in the diet. However, further research is needed with regard to increasing the sample size in order to have a "true" negative control.Item An explication of the reactance processing model(Texas A&M University, 2005-11-01) Quick, Brian LeeThe present dissertation applied the theoretical assumptions of Psychological Reactance Theory into a model depicting how individuals cognitively process reactanceinducing print messages utilizing a communication framework, the Reactance Processing Model (RPM). Specifically, the RPM conceptualizes reactance as a motivational state, investigates the degree of reactance arousal elicited by threat-tochoice, vivid, and explicit language (along with an additive effect of the aforementioned message features), empirically measures reactance restoration, and explores the role of issue involvement on message processing of reactance-inducing print messages advocating exercise and sunscreen usage by college students (N = 550). The RPM was tested using an experimental 2 (implicit vs. explicit) X 2 (non-vivid vs. vivid) X 2 (lowthreat- to-choice language vs. high-threat-to-choice language) posttest only design. Four general conclusions are drawn from this investigation. First, results support operationalizing reactance as a latent construct comprised of unfavorable cognitions and state anger. Second, of the three message features examined, high threat-to-choice and vivid language, along with a combination of both were found to elicit reactance. Explicit language did not trigger reactance in this study. Third, perceived high threat-tochoice language was positively associated with reactance whereas perceived vivid and explicit language was either negatively or not associated with reactance. Fourth, reactance was positively related to three types of restoration including ??Boomerang,?? ??Related Boomerang,?? and ??Vicarious Boomerang.?? Specifically, ??Boomerang?? restoration appears to be triggered regardless of threat attractiveness whereas ??Related Boomerang?? and ??Vicarious Boomerang?? require an attractive threat before being set into motion. Results from this investigation along with the limitations and heuristic value of the RPM are provided.Item Beyond credential : postsecondary education and health in early adulthood(2015-08) Humphries, Melissa Hope; Muller, Chandra; Raley, Ruthine Kelly; Riegle-Crumb, Catherine; Hummer, Robert; Frisco, Michelle; Hayward, MarkThe positive association between education and health is well documented across time, place and population. Those with higher levels of education and/or more years of schooling are healthier than individuals with lower amounts of education (Mirowsky and Ross 2003). Even controlling for income, researchers find health benefits for individuals with higher education, suggesting that education itself has an effect on health beyond its economic benefits (Cutler and Lleras-Muney 2010; Mirowsky and Ross 1998b). The disparities between the highest and lowest educated are growing, and the role that education plays in maintaining a healthy life is increasing across cohorts (Lynch 2003). Although decades of research have investigated the relationship between education and health using different health outcomes and varying measures of education, the actual educational mechanisms through which health is affected are poorly understood. In this dissertation, I focus more deeply on the postsecondary education process itself through examination of enrollment, attainment and type of institution attended and how these attributes relate to young adult self-rated health. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), I investigate how the postsecondary experience is associated with young adult health. The longitudinal nature of the data also allow for consideration of prior health, SES and educational factors which sharpens the analyses to better highlight the actual association between postsecondary schooling and early adult health. In the first analytic chapter, I find that when time enrolled and degree earned are modeled concurrently, degree attainment retains an independent effect on both self-rated health and work limitations. However, for respondents who enter postsecondary schooling, but do not earn a degree, time enrolled in four-year institutions, but not two-year institutions, is associated with a higher probability of reporting better self-rated health. The second analytic chapter shows that students who attend selective four-year schools have a health advantage to those who enroll in less selective schools. Interestingly, the better health of those in elite colleges is explained by their lower BMIs. The remaining chapter of my dissertation explores how the relationships between education and health differ across gender.Item Beyond sports : a guidebook for potential collegiate female student-athletes(2013-05) Bauerkemper, Paige Elizabeth; Tharinger, Deborah J.Female student-athletes are a growing population on most college campuses. While incorporated into a historically male model, their experiences and outcomes are unique. This report guides potential female student-athletes in the process of deciding to participate by providing information about the female student-athlete experience. Issues to be explored include decision-making, academics, health, and stress. Sports can be a rewarding experience despite the challenge of balancing academics with athletic commitments.Item Black and white : does race matter for health outcomes among Hispanics?(2012-05) Chinn, Juanita Jeanne; Hummer, Robert A.Heterogeneity within the Hispanic population in the United States (US) has important implications for health. Despite the empirical work examining heterogeneity in Hispanic health and mortality by nativity, generational status, and country of origin, relatively little research has been devoted to understanding if and how racial identification impacts Hispanic health outcomes. Racial differences in health and mortality are well documented throughout the literature, particularly for non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites. Meanwhile, current socio-demographic and health literature commonly compares US non-Hispanic racial groups with people who claim Hispanic ethnicity, the latter of whom are comprised of multiple racial groups. Thus, this dissertation examines the racial heterogeneity of the Hispanic population and the implications of race for physical health among Hispanics. Using the National Health Interview Survey and the National Centers for Health Statistics Linked Birth/Infant Death Cohort Files, the key findings of this dissertation are (1) racial identity is associated with socioeconomic status among Hispanics, (2) infants born to Hispanic black mothers displayed statistically significant higher odds of being born with low birth weight when compared to infants born to Hispanic white mothers, (3) there is evidence of weathering in the infant health of Hispanics, as measured using birth weight, (4) black-white disparities in the risk of infant mortality exist within the Hispanic population, (5) both Hispanic blacks and those of other races have greater odds of functional limitations than Hispanic whites and for Hispanic blacks; moreover, this disadvantage increases with age, (6) I show no race differences in the odds of hypertension or poorly self-assessed health status. In short, the results of this dissertation suggest that the social experience for Hispanic blacks and whites is different and that this difference affects health outcomes. It is imperative that future research and health policy recognize the racial heterogeneity of this population, in both empirical analyses and policy decisions regarding social influences on physical health.Item Breast is best but bottle is next: Mothers’ perception of the portrayals of breastfeeding in the media(2012-01-10) Leigh, Jemine; Olson, Beth; Yamasaki, Jill; Shulsky, DebraThe ideology that breastfeeding is a recommended form of nutrition for babies has become widely popular in the United States. However, some social norms like the baring of the breasts make it difficult for the mother to feel comfortable in her nursing practices. The media are often argued to be an influencing factor in public perceptions, and this study considers the media as well as interpersonal sources as influential factors in a woman’s choice to breastfeed. The importance of this study lies in the need to hear from the mothers and their experiences. Concepts and ideas from social cognitive theory, and two-step flow theory were applied in the discussions and findings. This study included eleven face-to-face interviews of women with children and women who are pregnant. This qualitative approach was designed so individual women’s voices could be heard.Item Building healthy affordable homes : an assessment of the health dimensions of green communities’ building standards(2010-05) Jang, In Young; Mueller, Elizabeth J.; Paterson, RobertDespite the considerable improvements in housing conditions during the last decade, housing still remains a critical determinant of one’s health. Broader social and environmental issues that are associated with housing and health problems have emerged. Such issues include neighborhood characteristics, individual behaviors and associated health outcomes, social backgrounds, and housing affordability as well as the physical conditions of housing. Many low-income families’ substandard housing conditions make them suffer from housing-related health problems more seriously. This report suggests a green affordable housing program, in particular Green Communities, as one of the solutions to address this issue. To understand how Green Communities affects one’s health, this report evaluates existing Green Communities’ criteria against housing health performance criteria that are developed based on a literature review. After the evaluation, this report suggests how current green affordable housing practices can be improved to be a health promotion tool.Item A cohort perspective of U.S. adult mortality(2011-05) Masters, Ryan Kelly; Hummer, Robert A.; Hayward, Mark D.; Powers, Daniel A.; Umberson, Debra J.; Krueger, Patrick M.This dissertation advances a cohort perspective to analyze trends in racial and educational disparities in U.S. adult mortality. The project is organized around three themes. First, I emphasize that recent temporal changes in U.S. adult mortality risk are rooted in cohort forces. Unfortunately, much of the mortality literature has failed to account for the fact that the sociohistorical conditions of U.S. cohorts have changed dramatically, and these changes have tremendous implications for population health and mortality trends. My work clearly shows the pitfalls of omitting these cohort effects from analyses of U.S. adult mortality risk. Second, I illustrate that because exposure to social and health conditions have changed over time, resources in adulthood are growing increasingly important in shaping U.S. adult mortality risk. In this regard, my findings also highlight growing disparities in U.S. mortality across race/ethnic gender groups. Third, I advance a cohort theory of U.S. mortality, drawing from both “fundamental cause” theory and a life course perspective of mortality but couching them in a cohort framework to highlight the importance of historical changes in U.S. social and health contexts in both childhood and adulthood. This cohort perspective is then used to analyze three central topics in the U.S. mortality literature: the black-white crossover in older-adult mortality, the growing educational gap in U.S. adult mortality, and the origins and persistence of black-white inequalities in U.S. adult mortality. I estimate hierarchical age-period-cohort cross-classified random effects models using National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files between 1986 and 2006 to simultaneously analyze age, period, and cohort patterns of U.S. adult mortality rates. I find (1) the black-white crossover is a cohort-specific phenomenon, (2) educational disparities in U.S. adult mortality rates are growing across birth cohorts, not time periods, and (3) racial disparities in U.S. adult mortality rates stem from cumulative racial stratification across both cohorts and the life course. Such findings have direct consequences for both mortality theories and policy recommendations. Only by considering the disparate sociohistorical conditions that U.S. cohorts have endured across their life courses can we fully understand and address current and future health disparities in the United States.Item Conflict and cortisol in newlyweds’ natural environments : the stress-buffering role of perceived network support(2013-12) Keneski, Elizabeth Rose; Loving, Timothy J.; Neff, Lisa A.Relationship conflict is robustly linked to negative physiological responses that have serious implications for partners’ overall physical health. The link between relationship conflict and physiological reactivity, however, has been studied almost exclusively in a laboratory setting. The first aim of this study was to assess the link between conflict and physiological function in couples’ home environments. Newlywed spouses reported occurrences of marital conflict in a daily diary and concurrently provided morning and evening saliva samples for the calculation of daily diurnal cortisol slopes. Spouses experienced less steep (i.e., less healthy) diurnal cortisol slopes on days of greater marital conflict. The second aim of this study was to examine whether spouses’ connections with close others outside their marriages (i.e., quantity and quality of perceived network support) moderate physiological responses to marital conflict. Whereas the quantity of network support did not influence spouses’ responses to conflict, the quality of spouses’ network support attenuated the association between daily marital conflict and diurnal cortisol. Specifically, whereas those spouses who were less satisfied with their network support experienced less steep diurnal cortisol on days of greater marital conflict, those spouses who were more satisfied with their network support exhibited no effects of daily marital conflict on diurnal cortisol. Implications for maintaining quality social relationships outside a marriage are discussed.Item Consumer interactions with online genetic testing results : a lesson in health literacy(2011-12) Floyd, Alix Elizabeth; Mackert, Michael; Love, BradThis article reports on consumer interactions with and impressions of self-administered online genetic testing results through a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing service, 23 and Me. Participants in this study point out a clear need for greater education about genetic testing services, increased considerations of health literacy barriers in results communication, and point to larger marketing, advertising, and public health industry implications as they relate to DTC genetic testing.Item CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON THE CHARACTERIZATIONS OF HEALTH BY KOREAN WOMEN LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES(2012-04-19) Cho, Gayoung; Lee, Jaesub; Xiao, Zhiwen; Kwan, SamanthaThe number of Korean migrants in the United States is continuously on the rise. As immigrants, they adapt to their new environment, including their understanding of health. This study explored the experience of Korean women living in the United States with respect to their perceptions of health and attempted to develop a substantive theory that explains the basic social process of adjusting to new life. Specifically, this study was undertaken to address the following questions: "How do Korean women living in the United States characterize health? and “To what extent does Korean and/or American culture affect such characterization?” This descriptive qualitative study utilized the grounded theory design. Accordingly, data collection comprised of purposive and theoretical sampling methods. In-depth, semi-structured, audio-taped interviews were conducted with a total of 20 Korean women in 20’s who have lived in the United States for at least two years. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's constant comparative method. Findings indicated that Korean women use various methods of coping with new cultural environment and understanding toward health. Three main categories of health perceptions emerged: Physical health, mental and emotional health, and social health.Item Education gradients in health for Asian immigrant adults in the United States(2015-05) Wang, Ying-Ting; Hummer, Robert A.; Cubbin, Catherine; Hayward, Mark D; Powers, Daniel A; Yu, Wei-hsinThis dissertation examined the association between education and health among Asian immigrants in the United States. Despite being the second-largest immigrant population and the largest new immigrant group in the United States since 2009, Asian immigrants in the United States have received limited, although growing, attention in the literature on immigrants' health. Asian immigrants have a weaker education gradient in health in comparison to non-Hispanic whites, and this weak gradient raises questions on the role of education for Asian immigrants and, more broadly, on Asian immigrants' health. In this dissertation, I first documented the relationship between education and adult health for Asian immigrants and examined whether the education gradient in health for Asian immigrants' is weaker than that for U.S.-born whites. Second, I studied the underlying reasons for the modest education gradient in health for Asian immigrants. Using the National Health Interview Survey, the New Immigrant Survey, and the China Health and Nutrition Survey, I found that Asian immigrants do have a weaker education gradient in health than U.S.-born whites. This weaker gradient is mostly due to the fact that Asian immigrants with high education have worse health than their U.S.- born white counterparts, while Asian immigrants with low education are healthier than their U.S.-born white counterparts. Lower economic returns to education and a positive association between education and health behaviors can account for some health disadvantages for highly educated Asian immigrants. Also, some of the health advantage of less-educated Asian immigrants may be attributed to positive health selection among Asian immigrants. This dissertation provides a much-needed understanding of Asian immigrants' health and has implications for immigration policies and public health programs.Item The effects of physical constraint and community social capital on mental distress in older adults : a latent interaction model(2015-08) An, Sok; Jang, Yuri; Schwab, A. James; DiNitto, Diana M; von Sternberg, Kirk; Angel, Jacqueline LPhysical constraints such as functional disability and chronic disease are prevalent in older adults. These conditions are known to decrease ones quality of life and may lead to mental health problems for the older population. Research shows that individual social resources such as social networks and support from family and friends improve individual health and buffer the negative impact of chronic stress. Yet, few studies have examined the protective role of community social capital in improving older adults’ mental health. This study highlights community social capital as a critical coping resource for older adults with physical constraints. Building upon the previous literature on the link between physical and mental health in later life, the present study explored the buffering effects of community social capital (indicated by social cohesion, social ties, and safety) in the relationship between physical constraints (indicated by chronic disease and functional disability) and mental distress (indicated by depression and anxiety). Using data from 2,362 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 2, a latent moderated structural equation modeling was tested. The fit of the model including both direct effects of physical burden and social capital and their latent interaction was excellent. Both physical constraints (β =. 382, p <. 001) and community social capital (β = -.059, p < .01) had a direct effect on mental distress, and their interaction was also found to be significant (β = -.306, p < .001). The group with high social capital presented a relatively stable slope in the prediction of physical burden on mental distress, suggesting their resilience. On the other hand, the group with a low social capital demonstrated a steep slope, indicating heightened vulnerability to mental distress when faced with stress caused by physical constraints. Given its buffering role, further attention need to be paid to enhance the ways community social capital can promote the health and well being of older adults.Item Endogenous variables and weak instruments in cross-sectional nutrient demand and health information analysis: a comparison of solutions(Texas A&M University, 2004-09-30) Bakhtavoryan, Rafael GagikIn recent years, increasing attention has turned toward the effect of health information or health knowledge on nutrient intake. In determining the effect of health information on nutrient demand, researchers face the estimation problem of dealing with the endogeneity of health information knowledge. The standard approach for dealing with this problem is an instrumental variables (IV) procedure. Unfortunately, recent research has demonstrated that the IV procedure may not be reliable in the types of data sets that contain health information and nutrient intakes because the instruments are not sufficiently correlated with the endogenous variables (i.e., instruments are weak). This thesis compares the reliability of the IV procedure (and the Hausman test) with a relatively new procedure, directed graphs, given weak instruments. The goal is to determine if the method of directed graphs performs better in identifying an endogenous variable and also relevant instruments. The performance of the Hausman test and directed graphs are first assessed through conducting a Monte-Carlo sampling experiment containing weak instruments. Because the structure of the model is known in the Monte-Carlo experiment, these results are used as a guideline to determine which procedure would be more reliable in a real world setting. The procedures are then applied to a real-world cross-sectional dataset on nutrient intake. This thesis provides empirical evidence that neither the IV estimator (and Hausman test) or the directed graphs are reliable when instruments are weak, as in a cross-sectional dataset.Item Essays in health economics(2012-05) Mulligan, Karen Michelle; Abrevaya, Jason; Black, Sandra; Hamermesh, Daniel; Trejo, Stephen; Hayward, MarkThis dissertation consists of three chapters on health economics, two of which focus on contraception and the third on vaccination. Chapter one examines the impact of state-level contraception insurance coverage mandates on women's fertility outcomes. It utilizes variation in mandated insurance coverage for contraception across states and over time to determine the causal impact of insurance coverage of contraception on fertility outcomes, specifically abortion rates and birth rates. State-level results indicate that a mandate decreases abortion rates by 6% in the year of introduction and decreases birth rates by 3% two years following introduction, with the magnitude of both effects remaining steady over the long run. Chapter two utilizes longitudinal data on varicella (chicken pox) immunizations in order to estimate the causal effects of state-level school-entry and daycare-entry immunization mandates within the United States. We find significant causal effects of mandates upon vaccination rates among preschool children aged 19-35 months; these effects appear in the year of mandate adoption, peak two years after adoption, and show a minimal difference from the aggregate trend about six years after adoption. For a mandate enacted in 2000, the model and estimates imply that roughly 20% of the short-run increase in state-level immunization rates was caused by the mandate introduction. We find no evidence of differential effects for different socioeconomic groups. Combined with the previous cost-benefit analyses of the varicella vaccine, the estimates suggest that state-level mandates have been effective from an economic standpoint. Chapter three utilizes variations in access to emergency contraception (EC) across states to determine the impact of over the counter access on abortion rates, birth rates, and risky sexual behavior. Using state-level data, a flexible time specification finds that giving individuals over the counter access to EC reduces births and increases risky behavior, which is captured by STD rates. These effects are larger for adults compared with teenagers, however, there are not significant differential effects by race. Finally, the effects are increasing over time following the legislation.Item Evaluating predictors of physician visits among children with symptoms of diabetes(Texas Tech University, 2003-05) Venati, GirikumarNot availableItem Evaluating service supply in conditional cash transfers(2015-05) Sabat Pereyra, Nadia Melina; Heinrich, Carolyn J.; Linden, Leigh L., 1975-Conditional cash transfers are poverty reduction mechanisms that seek to increase demand of social services by combining an income effect with a health or education requirement. This demand-side strategy relies on a tacit assumption about the quality of and access to those services as a path to improve human capital outcomes. Some conditional cash transfers have included supply-side complementary incentives to ensure that services are suitable to deliver a good education and better health. This study reviews the existing evidence on the impact of supply-side incentives in the context of conditional cash transfers. The review finds that a limited number of studies estimate effects of supply in human capital outcomes and only a few impact evaluations consider the role of schools or health centers in enabling access. The evaluations revised find no evidence that supply side interventions coupled with conditional cash transfers directly improve program outcomes. Nonetheless, several studies highlight the relevance of school organization, in terms of school modalities and student/teacher ratios in school enrollment and attendance. Impact estimations as well as the implementation of the supply-side programs also signal the need for a more nuanced understanding of how school management influences a variety of schooling outcomes. In general, the small number of impact estimations and the restricted set of variables used limits the generalizability of the results. For this reason, a principal conclusion of the review is the need for further research on the topic, as well as consistency across impact measures and a more in-depth analysis of school supply and their influence on learning outcomes.Item Evaluation of Immune Response and Performance in Steers of Known Genetic Background Vaccinated and Challenged with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus(2011-02-22) Runyan, ChaseThis research was directed at investigating the variation in immune response of cattle when administered a known challenge from Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) following different Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) vaccine treatments. Cattle were assigned vaccine treatments with sire and cow family was stratified across treatments to assess the role genetic differences may impact immune function. The same BVDV strain and challenge technique were used in two trials (2008 and 2009) in Angus-sired yearling steers. Data from these two years were analyzed separately because the cattle were managed and fed differently. Blood antibody Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) titers for IBR, BVD Type 1 and BVD Type 2 were higher for cattle in the Killed vaccine group than the MLV or NON vaccinated groups (P < 0.05) in both years. In the 2008 study, average daily gain (ADG) was higher for cattle from the Killed vaccine group (P < 0.05) for the 28 d following BVDV challenge, but no cattle were classified as morbid based on rectal temperature. In the 2009 study, differences in rectal temperatures were observed, and a total of 35 of 93 having over 40.0 degrees C (28 in the first 14 d following challenge). Cattle in the MLV vaccine group had lower overall mean temperatures, with no animals having rectal temperatures over 40 degrees C 14 d following viral challenges. Differences in rectal temperature were also observed due to sire. Differences in feed intake also occurred due to treatment, day, treatment ? day interaction, and maternal-grandsire. The MLV vaccine group maintained more constant levels of intake as compared to Killed and NON vaccinated cattle at days 5 to 12. Although large differences in titers following BVDV challenge were observed, the relationships of this immune response with animal health and performance appears very complex.Item Gender differences in the life course origins of adult functioning and mortality(2011-08) Montez, Jennifer Karas; Hayward, Mark D.; Hummer, Robert A.; Umberson, Debra J.; Pudrovska, Tetyana; Osborne, CynthiaA high degree of physical functioning is necessary for independently performing the numerous routine and valued tasks of daily life. Poor functioning not only hinders independent living, it can lower the quality of life, impede full social participation, and elevate the risk of death. However, not all adults are at equal risk of poor functioning: women experience worse functioning and live a greater number of years functionally impaired compared with men. Studies of this gap have focused on inequities in adult circumstances, such as socioeconomic status, but have generally fallen short of fully accounting for it. Recasting this research within a life-course, epidemiological framework points to the potential role of early-life circumstances. Early-life circumstances may impart a biological imprint, and they may also launch long-term trajectories of social circumstances, that could differentially shape functioning for men and women. Thus, this dissertation examines the life course origins of the gender gap in functioning and active life expectancy among older U.S. adults using two nationally-representative datasets: the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States and the Health and Retirement Study. In sum, the findings reveal that: (a) a host of early-life circumstances, such as parents’ education levels, leave an indelible stamp on functional ability and active life expectancy for women and men, irrespective of adult circumstances, (b) while some early-life adversities, such as extreme poverty, were marginally more consequential for women’s than men’s functioning, they appear to be primarily more consequential for precipitating metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity rather than directly impacting functioning, (c) explanations of the gap must incorporate endogenous biological differences between men and women; explanations that focus exclusively on socially-structured inequities are insufficient, and (d) exposures to socioeconomic resources accumulate across the life course to shape functioning differently for men than women; particularly between white men, who enjoy better functioning with higher educational attainment irrespective of early-life socioeconomic exposures, and white women whose functioning gains plateau if they experienced early-life socioeconomic adversities. Overall, the results underscore the importance of a life course perspective in explicating gender disparities in functioning, longevity, and active life expectancy.Item "Green famine" : mothers' education and children's nutritional outcomes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(2014-08) Ebot, Jane Ofundem; Hummer, Robert A.Undernourishment is considered the underlying cause for more than one-half of all child deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. Undernourishment not only increases children’s risk of mortality, but also has negative long lasting health effects including developmental deficits, increased levels of hunger-related and chronic illnesses in adulthood, and adverse pregnancy outcomes for women. Studies analyzing determinants of child undernourishment have shown women’s individual-level educational attainment to be a key predictor of children’s nutritional outcomes, but have fallen short of fully considering community-level socioeconomic characteristics as determinants. Accounting for community-level characteristics points to the role that children’s external household factors and surroundings play in shaping their early-life health and nutrition outcomes. Additionally, substantial health and nutrition variation across urban and rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa raises the need for researchers to not only study how the combination of individual-level and community-level factors affect children’s nutritional outcomes, but also how this relationship differs by urban-rural residential location. Therefore, this dissertation examines the relationship between individual-level and community-levels of women’s educational attainment and urban and rural children’s nutritional outcomes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo using a nationally-representative dataset: the 2007 Democratic Republic of the Congo Demographic and Health Survey. In sum, the findings reveal that: (a) rural Congolese children are more likely to be nutritionally deficient compared to urban Congolese children, yet the highest percentage of nutritionally deficient Congolese children reside in low educated urban communities; (b) whereas urban Congolese communities exhibit substantial variation in child nutritional outcomes by maternal education, rural Congolese communities show little variation in children’s nutritional status; (c) individual-level and community-level women’s education are associated with urban children’s nutritional outcomes, though this association narrows after taking into account women’s socioeconomic status; and (d) individual-level and community-level education are not associated with rural Congolese children’s nutritional outcomes. Overall, the results underscore the importance of a community-context perspective in understanding educational and urban-rural disparities in children’s nutritional outcomes.
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