Labor Studies Journal, Ahead of Print.
The history of US capitalism is one wherein occupations with higher concentrations of workers of color coincide with increased levels of exploitation. Recent studies in education show the way strained and precarious working environments led to the now infamous “teacher shortages.” I employ the lenses of critical studies of race and capitalism to examine the interest convergence dilemma vis-à-vis recent efforts to increase diversity amid substandard labor conditions in teaching. This analysis offers a cautionary note, and absent a major structural intervention, the interests of marginalized groups (i.e., stronger representation) might converge with the interests of capitalism (i.e., cheap labor).
‘Harm reduction’ takes centre stage as UN drug policy breaks free from the shackles of consensus
Teacher Diversity as Interest Convergence? A Cautionary Note
Ageism Healthcare: Implications for the Psychological Well-Being of Atlantic Canadian Healthcare Professionals
Journal of Applied Gerontology, Ahead of Print.
Ageism in healthcare is related to poor outcomes for older patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between ageism and various aspects of the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals in Atlantic Canada. In 2023, an online survey of 294 healthcare professionals from various disciplines was conducted. This survey included items to measure expectations of aging, stress, burnout, emotional dissonance, and well-being. Results indicated that aging expectations were significantly related to burnout, perceived stress, well-being, and emotional dissonance. With the use of a path analysis, emotional dissonance partially mediated relationships between burnout and well-being with stress. However, aging expectations did not significantly predict emotional dissonance. Differences were found across professional groups on ageism. Conclusions support the need for increased awareness to the relationship between ageist attitudes and professionals’ well-being, as well as the need for education and interventions to reduce false expectations about the aging process.
Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents
As a professor of psychology, I focus my research on substance use in adolescents and young adults. A major change during my time in research is the legalization and explosion of cannabis availability across the U.S. There are arguments for and against increasing legalization of cannabis for adult use in the U.S., but expanded access to legal cannabis also may have unintended consequences for adolescents.
Quality of Cities’ Networks of Plans and Prospects for Flood Resilience
Journal of Planning Education and Research, Ahead of Print.
Urban flood resilience is a function of the collective intent of all planning efforts or network of plans. Yet, most studies focus on single plan types; it is unclear whether plans work cohesively. We asked to what extent do networks of plans uniformly foster resilience to flooding. We adapted plan quality evaluation methodology to evaluate four cities’ networks of plans. All four networks uniformly state goals, including flood resilience and sustainability goals, but exclude details on flood exposure and vulnerability. Moreover, all four networks lack implementation guidelines. We identify opportunities for more integrated planning to tackle flooding and climate change.
Development and initial validation of the Multifaceted Instrument for Body Image Disturbance (MI-BoD).
Psychological Assessment, Vol 36(4), Apr 2024, 275-290; doi:10.1037/pas0001301
Specific facets of body image disturbance have an important role in eating disorder (ED) onset and maintenance yet have been assessed with single items and/or questionnaires predominantly developed in female samples to capture desire for a thinner body. The aim of this multipart study was to develop the multifaceted instrument for body image disturbance (MI-BoD) that will assess body image disturbance across gender and body size. In Study 1, interviews were conducted with 31 ED lived experience experts (45% females) to develop an initial item pool which was then rated for relevance and clarity by 59 international field experts, shortened and refined by the research team, and then rerated by 20 field experts and 91 ED lived experience experts. Of the 477 items developed from interviews, 46 were retained for the initial validation study. In Study 2, the MI-BoD was administered to undergraduate students (N = 937; 84% females), community adolescents (N = 208; 58% females), and individuals with self-reported ED diagnosis (N = 410; 77% females) to assess its preliminary psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis revealed six underlying factors, namely, Dissatisfaction, Overvaluation, Preoccupation, Fear of Weight Gain, Body Checking, and Body Exposure. No differential item functioning was detected for most MI-BoD items across gender, weight status, and ED status (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic). Overall, the MI-BoD showed good internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, concurrent validity, and test–retest reliability. In conclusion, the MI-BoD is a promising tool for assessment of important facets of body image disturbance across gender, body size, and ED symptomatology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)