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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Research on body dissatisfaction among women, focusing on the internalization of the thin body ideal, is not typically conducted among diverse groups of women. A significant body of research has shown that White women tend to internalize a thin body ideal, but Black women may be more likely to internalize a thick or curvy body ideal. However, research on Black women's thin ideal internalization remains limited and there is little research examining Black women's internalization of thick or curvy body ideals. Compared to prior research, the current study included a diverse sample, both in regards to participants' race and the body ideals examined. First, I hypothesize that there will be a negative relationship between Black women's internalization of the thick or curvy body ideal and their level of body dissatisfaction after viewing thin models of any race. In contrast, I hypothesize there will be a positive correlation between Black women's internalization of the thin ideal and their level of body dissatisfaction after viewing the model images. In regards to White participants, I hypothesize that there will be a positive relationship between White women's internalization of the thin ideal and their level of body dissatisfaction after viewing the model images of any race. In contrast, there will be a negative correlation between White women's internalization of the thick or curvy body ideal and their level of body dissatisfaction after viewing thin models of any race. Given the lack of prior research on the internalization of the thick/curvy ideal and White women's body dissatisfaction, rather than making a specific hypothesis, this is exploratory analysis. Linear regression was conducted to test each hypothesis, and none of the relationships found weresignificant. Due to sample size and measure limitations, future research should further analyze Black women's internalization of body ideals and body dissatisfaction.

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DigitalDocument

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

Rights Statement

In Alumni Files

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DigitalDocument

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In ARL Publications

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The Adirondack Chronology is intended to be a useful resource for researchers and others interested in the Adirondacks and Adirondack history.

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DigitalDocument

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In The Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies

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Welcome to volume 26 of the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies. Following our tagline: “Seeking Common Ground among A Multitude of viewpoints,” this issue contains a broad spectrum of topics and ideas. We cover birds, floods and climate change, history and politics, public safety, and we continue to shine a light on Adirondack archives. Table of Contents From the Editor by J. Douglass Klein, page 1 'The emotional recovery, I think, continues': An ethnography-style case study of Tropical Storm Irene's impact on the North Country by Hadar Pepperstone and Kimberly J. Coleman, page 7 Visualizing Warmer Adirondack Futures: How Virtual Reality influences Sense of Place in Climate Change Education by Stephane Tyski and Joseph A. Henderson, page 23 Creating an Interactive GIS-based Dashboard for Preventative Search and Rescue Efforts Using New York's Adirondack Park as a Case Study by Lindsay Ciurleo, page 41 Are Loons on Thin Ice with Climate Change? by Nina Schoch, Emily Prosser, and Jennifer Denny, page 55 Factors Influencing Avian Nest Success in Exurban Residential Areas in the Adirondack Park by Michale Glennon and Heidi E. Kretser, page 63 Adirondack Climate Stories: Storytelling and Art as Catalysts for Climate Discussions by Stephanie Ashenfelder and Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, page 77 Dalton-Loines Family Papers Available at the Adirondack Research Library by Matthew Golebiewski, page 81 The Adirondack Artist Interviews in the St. Lawrence University Adirondack Collection by Paul Doty, page 85 Power Struggle Over Preservation at Lake George by Ellen Apperson Brown, page 91

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Digital Publisher

In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Depression is frequently experienced at the end of life and can increase pain and suffering. Antidepressants can alleviate depression among the terminally ill; however, many patients have difficulty swallowing oral tablets as death approaches and may be at risk for antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS). This study retrospectively examined antidepressant prescription patterns among 227 hospice patients in a residential care home to determine the extent to which patients were prescribed antidepressants during their final month of life and at what time in the dying process patients may have stopped taking their medication. Results revealed that 67 (30%) of the hospice patients at the care home were prescribed one or more antidepressants. The vast majority (96.1%) of patients did not consume their prescribed antidepressant on their day of death. For those who died at the home, most (62.7%) did not receive their medication during their last 3 days whereas about a quarter of patients (23.6%) stopped receiving their medication 4-7 days prior to their death and a smaller percentage (13.9%) went without medication from 8-34 days prior to death. Records revealed that antidepressants were not consumed during patients' final days for a variety of reasons including difficulty swallowing, minimal consciousness, confusion, nausea, and patient refusal. These results suggest that hospice patients may be at risk for ADS, a factor that could add to suffering during patients' final days. Alternative routes of administering antidepressants at the end of life may be helpful in ensuring that patients are not suffering unnecessarily while they are dying.

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DigitalDocument

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In Honors Theses

Abstract

Depression is frequently experienced at the end of life and can increase pain and suffering. Antidepressants can alleviate depression among the terminally ill; however, many patients have difficulty swallowing oral tablets as death approaches and may be at risk for antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS). This study retrospectively examined antidepressant prescription patterns among 227 hospice patients in a residential care home to determine the extent to which patients were prescribed antidepressants during their final month of life and at what time in the dying process patients may have stopped taking their medication. Results revealed that 67 (30%) of the hospice patients at the care home were prescribed one or more antidepressants. The vast majority (96.1%) of patients did not consume their prescribed antidepressant on their day of death. For those who died at the home, most (62.7%) did not receive their medication during their last 3 days whereas about a quarter of patients (23.6%) stopped receiving their medication 4-7 days prior to their death and a smaller percentage (13.9%) went without medication from 8-34 days prior to death. Records revealed that antidepressants were not consumed during patients' final days for a variety of reasons including difficulty swallowing, minimal consciousness, confusion, nausea, and patient refusal. These results suggest that hospice patients may be at risk for ADS, a factor that could add to suffering during patients’ final days. Alternative routes of administering antidepressants at the end of life may be helpful in ensuring that patients are not suffering unnecessarily while they are dying.

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In Honors Theses

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As omnivores, humans have a deeply engrained appetite for meat. The methods for which we obtain this meat have vastly changed throughout our history. Today, meat is “farmed” in order to meet the demand of the ever-growing population. While the meat industry provides food at a relatively cheap price, there are many underlying consequences and costs that are not as transparent. The methods by which meat is grown are often deployable and inhumane. The sustainability of these farms and the meat industry as a whole is in question. The UN reported that as high as 18% of greenhouse gas emissions are directly linked to the meat industry. They proposed to switch to more sustainable food options, especially to combat global hunger and malnutrition. One such option is insect farming. Insects occupy a vast majority of the world, and yet are often overlooked as a viable source of protein and vitamins. Certain insects, such as crickets, are edible and easy to mass-produce. Many believe that insect farming will use fewer resources than the meat industry and is a viable route for sustainability in food. Also, because insect farming is dually economically savvy and environmentally achievable, insect-farming kits could be produced and distributed to developing nations. By having another sustained food source outlet, these local insect farmers would experience newfound independence, and combat hunger within their areas. With a proper business plan in place, insect farming could effectively transform and become the solution for bettering the world.

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In Honors Theses

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Economists often explain consumer utility and demand in terms of income and price, but fail to consider the psychological factors that simultaneously influence our everyday decisions to buy the products that we do. This thesis aims to meld consumer behavior findings from the economic and psychological disciplines by analyzing a set of actual consumer behavior data. The main objective of this thesis is to determine how consumer purchasing decisions are dependent upon economic, psychological and marketing variables. Part 1 of this thesis develops a comprehensive model to embody the effects of Price, Income, Marketing Strategy, Pre-Shopping Behavior, Brand Loyalty, Gender, Education Level, Age, Household Size, Number of Children, Marginal Value of Time and Willingness to Pay on a consumer's Decision to Purchase two target goods. A marketing survey was used to gather information pertaining to participants’ most recent purchases of Special K® cereal and Toyota® automobiles. Two probit models were developed for each good category, the first of which included all observations, the second of which excluded all Brand Loyal observations because Brand Loyalty was deemed to perfectly predict Decision to Purchase for both goods. Special K Model 1 revealed a significant effect of MSRP listing, Coupons and Other Pre-Shopping behaviors on one’s Decision to Purchase. Special K Model 2 revealed a significant effect of Coupons, Other Pre-Shopping behaviors and Willingness to Pay on one’s Decision to Purchase Special K® cereal. Toyota Model 1 revealed significant effects of Children, Advertisements, Rebates and Comparison Shopping on Decision to Purchase, while Toyota Model 2 revealed a significant effect of Children, Rebates and Comparison Shopping on Decision to Purchase a Toyota® automobile. Part 1 also employed a Chi Squared analysis to determine if the variables of Income, Age or Education were related to ones’ responsiveness to individual marketing strategies. Contingency results revealed a significant relationship between Income, Education and Age and many of the marketing strategies for both cereal and automobiles. Part 2 of this thesis is intended to provide a more in depth look at the effects of Gender on one’s Purchase Decisions, Pre-Shopping behaviors and responsiveness to individual marketing strategies. Prior literature focused on the Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion has suggested that there is a difference in the route by which males and females’ process persuasive information, suggesting that marketing strategies might be interpreted differently between genders. Statistically significant differences were found between the frequency at which males and females purchased cereal, responded to marketing strategies and engaged in pre-shopping behaviors, lending additional support to previous findings on the sex-role orientation of household products. The results of this thesis have important implications for marketers and retailers alike. By better understanding the purchasing tendencies of their specific customer base, this thesis will aide retailers in predicting customers’ future behaviors, allow them to employ more effective marketing strategies, and most importantly, increase their sales.

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In Honors Theses

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Ixodes scapularis, or the black-legged tick, is the major vector of Lyme disease in the U.S. I. scapularis has expanded its range in recent decades, making the study of factors affecting its distribution a high priority. Studying the effects of various conditions in the soil could help in predicting range expansions, because ticks spend the majority of their lives in contact with the soil. We investigated the effects of soil pH on the molting success of engorged I. scapularis nymphs collected from Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus). The experiment was conducted in a laboratory to control for covariates such as temperature and moisture. Soil was collected from two sites in upstate NY with different soil textures, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve (loam soil) and Wolf Hollow (silty-loam soil). High (6.0-6.5) and low (4.2-4.5) pH treatments were crossed with the two soil textures in a factorial design. Results suggest that nymphal tick molting success is not affected by soil pH or by soil texture. Additionally the nymphal chipmunk body burdens in this study did not deviate significantly from previous studies. Future experiments could incorporate higher pH values to predict the range expansion of I. scapularis to western states which have basic soils.

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In Honors Theses

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The traditional definition of leadership emphasizes the actions of individual leaders with culturally-ascribed masculine personality traits and behaviors who control all aspects of an organization. A new post-industrial paradigm, in contrast, defines leadership as interpersonal relationships. This evolving paradigm, with its emphasis on culturally-attributed feminine traits such as collaboration and participation, has allowed for a broader conceptualization of leadership that brings forth discussions on women leaders and their experiences. According to current research, while there is increasing involvement and empowerment of women leaders, their experiences continue to be hindered by gender stereotypes. This study attempts to explore the experiences of women student leaders at a co-educational liberal arts institution and to capture the changing conceptions and expectations for these women in the 2010s. The nine women interviewed equate leadership with passion; usually self-identify themselves as campus leaders after they have been identified as such by their peers; do not experience negative gender stereotypes during their collegiate years; but do foresee facing gender stereotypes and discrimination when exercising leadership once they have left the college setting and entered the workforce. The results of this study support and enhance the post-industrial paradigm, which emphasizes leadership as collaborative rather than individualistic.

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In Honors Theses

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Prior research on helicopter parenting suggests a hovering style of parenting may lead to engagement in risky behaviors including problematic drinking and drug use and risky sexual behavior. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between helicopter parenting during childhood and adolescence and later sexual behavior in emerging adults. Participants included 380 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 26 who anonymously completed a survey where they were asked to report retrospectively about their parents' parenting behavior during the time they were growing up and their sexual health histories during the past six months, utilizing the Helicopter Parenting Scale (HPS) and Sexual Risk Survey (SRS), respectively. Findings did not support a significant relationship between the experience of helicopter parenting and risky sexual behavior and were inconsistent with prior research. However, results show that there were some trends in the data with those who self-identified as part of the gender minority, Black or African American, and upper income groups exhibiting all positive correlation values and those who self-identified as part of the Hispanic or Latino and low income groups exhibiting all negative correlation values. These findings suggest a need for further research that seeks to better understand how demographic differences may influence the relationship between helicopter parenting and risky behaviors.

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In Honors Theses

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Dominica, a 750 km2 island in the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, has numerous volcanic centers. One of the more active volcanoes is Morne Diablotins, the proposed source of the Grande Savanne ignimbrite. However, reconnaissance geologic mapping suggests that several other pyroclastic deposits in northern Dominica erupted from Morne Diablotins (Smith and Roobol, 2013): Wesley ignimbrite, Bense ignimbrite, and Pointe Ronde ignimbrite. The Grande Savanne deposit is ~70 m thick and includes a block and ash flow overlain by a baked ash layer, and welded and unwelded tuff. The Wesley ignimbrite is a ~27 m thick, layered deposit with a basal unit of 8-10 cm rounded pumice clasts and an overlying layer containing pumice between 2-5 cm. The Bense ignimbrite is ~4 m of unconsolidated lithified crystal rich ash, abundant in andesite lithics (3-5cm). The Pointe Ronde ignimbrite is a ~5-6 m thick pumice rich unconsolidated deposit containing rounded pumice between 8-10 cm. Samples from each unit were characterized petrographically and geochemically to determine any variations within the eruptive sequence. The primary phase assemblage is plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, iron-titanium oxides, vesicles, and matrix. They contain no hornblende, which is distinctively different from the central Dominican deposits. All units are andesitic ranging from 57-62 wt% SiO2. Although there is some variation within each deposit, the major and trace element chemistry suggests that the samples from Grancde Savanne, Pointe Ronde, and Wesley may reflect differentiation from one source. Bense is the clear outlier from the other ignimbrites. It is unconsolidated lithified ash, distinct in trace elements and major elements, and therefore may be from a different source. For comparison, the data from the Morne Diablotins ignimbrites were examined with respect to a northern volcano (Quill) and southern volcano (Mt. Pelee) of the Lesser Antilles. Morne Diablotins is similar to volcanoes in the southern and northern part of the arc. Like Mt. Pelee and Quill, the volcanic rocks from Morne Diablotins are andesites, averaging from 57-62-wt % SiO2, and have major phenocryst phases of plagioclase, orthopyroxe, clinopyroxene, and magnetite. However, the samples from northern Dominica seem to be tracking more similarly to Mt. Pelee in trace elements. The samples from Mt. Pelee, central Dominica, and northern Dominica show evolution over time. Based on trace elements, the northern ignimbrites appear to have a significant contribution of both fluids from the subducting slab and terrigenous sediment.

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In Honors Theses

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This thesis builds on previous literature about the implications of zero tolerance policies, policing in schools, and the school-to-prison pipeline. I evaluate the evolution of disciplinary policies within public school districts since the abandoning of zero tolerance. Specifically, I use the Schenectady and Niskayuna districts and apply theories about discipline, class, race, and achievement to evaluate and compare the ways in which the school-to-prison pipeline and disciplinary policies function. Through a series of case studies, I found that both schools, like many others, have taken significant steps towards moving away from criminalizing and punitive disciplinary measures. However, because of the inherent challenges urban districts like Schenectady face, their struggle with the school-to-prison pipeline is more advanced, and, therefore, their changes to their codes of conduct are more complex. My research attempts to fill a gap due to lack of research conducted on these relatively new disciplinary practices and alternative approaches towards handling behavioral issues. Overall, alternatives and practices like restorative justice, transformative justice, and implicit bias and trauma-sensitive training seem to be most effective. I make more detailed suggestions as to which methods seem to work best, and how they are carried out based on my evaluations of each district and the limited findings of other scholars thus far.

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In Honors Theses

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Previous research has demonstrated that the magnitude and duration of the acoustic startle response can be modulated by a number of psychological factors. Mindfulness meditation, being a form of mental training known to produce benefits in affect and attention regulation as well as other domains, may modulate factors of the acoustic startle response. The present study investigated participants' skin conductance responses to an acoustic startle stimulus before and after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, and paired this assessment with self-reported trait mindfulness and positive and negative affect. There was significant startle habituation across the intervention, but no between groups differences on startle magnitude. Self-report measurement yielded significant increases in negative affect for the control group, and significant increases in trait mindfulness for the MBSR group, but this did not relate to changes in startle magnitude. Importantly, it was found that MBSR participants tended to be significantly more likely than controls to report mindful breathing at the post-intervention startle trial. Although startle magnitude was not significantly affected by MBSR enrollment, behavior during the startle trial may have been significantly affected.

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In Honors Theses

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Studies have found that young parents can experience domestic violence, lack of stable housing, and lower financial resources and that social support to improve these issues has been lacking. My double thesis in Sociology and Psychology is an in-depth case study of Young Parents United in Schenectady, NY, with the purpose of examining the social and psychological stresses that young parents face and the societal response to these problems from this organization. In doing so, this thesis identified the needs of young parents in society, gained more information about what contributes to parenting stress, and investigated how Young Parents United tries to address these problems. The case study used public records, guided conversations with the director of Young Parents United, and a questionnaire with responses from the clients at Young Parents United to gather information. The results from this thesis can help Young Parents United meet the specific needs of their clients more effectively and gather more insight into the stresses and needs of young parents.

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In Honors Theses

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This essay looks at the experience of Blacks during the early to mid-20th-century in Germany, Great Britain, and France. Drawing on the autobiographies of Black Germans and African-Americans living in France—as well as various secondary sources, government documents, newspaper articles, and accounts from African-American reporters visiting Europe—Blacks can be firmly placed within the context of early to mid-20th-century Europe and more generally European history. Due to the accessibility of primary accounts by mixed-race Europeans in the 20th century, special attention is paid to the experiences of mixed-race members of the Black community and their perception in each country. Coinciding with the discussion of individual members of the Black community's experiences, this essay will examine the ways in which mainstream white society in France, Germany, and Great Britain perceived race in the early to mid-20th-century by exploring the roots of the Eugenics movement in each case. Additionally, the experiences of members of the Black community in each respective country will be illuminated by framing them in the context of large-scale controversies related to race during the period, the possible presence of a colonial legacy in each country, and popular culture in the mid- 20th-century. Lastly, this paper gives special attention to the general composition of the Black communities in each country and the role of the entertainment industry in not only providing opportunities to members of the Black communities but aiding in their dehumanization and exoticization. The combination of state-sponsored discrimination, the eroticization of the Black body, mainstream societal stigmas, and colonial legacies were essential in the development of the Black experience as the "other" during the early to mid-20th-century in Great Britain, France, and Germany.

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In Honors Theses

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Prior research suggests that gender roles and gender are both related to mental health self-stigma and attitudes toward help seeking. In the present study, I explored whether espousal of gender roles and priming people with mental health stigma would interact to predict levels of mental health self-stigma and attitudes toward help-seeking. I also tested whether gender moderated this relationship. Some participants were primed with fake Twitter posts that promoted mental health stigma, while others were exposed to neutral Tweets. All participants then responded to questionnaires assessing espousal of gender roles, levels of mental health self-stigma, attitudes toward help-seeking, and gender identity. Results indicated that the prime increased mental health self-stigma among men. Among women, the prime increased mental health self-stigma for low gender role espousal-participants, but there was no such effect among high-espousal participants. I found a similar result for attitudes toward help-seeking, although this effect did not reach traditional levels of significance. My findings suggest that people are highly sensitive to discussion of mental health stigma. This means that, as a result of having a conversation with a friend who emphasizes mental health stigma, someone's mental health self-stigma might increase and their attitudes toward help-seeking could become more negative.

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