The Creightonian, 2025-04-04

711

Journal of Religion and Society

Religious differences in socioeconomic status (SES) are crucial for understanding inequality and the religious landscape in the United States. This paper updates the state of the field on SES rankings by examining income and wealth disparities across seven major religious groups: white Catholics, Latino Catholics, white mainline Protestants (MPs), white conservative Protestants (CPs), religious nones, Black mainline Protestants, and Black conservative Protestants. Findings reveal that: (1) white Catholics have SES parity with white MPs, with some indications that white Catholics could surpass white MPs on key income and wealth measures; (2) white Catholics have significantly higher income and wealth than Latino Catholics, underscoring SES disparities among Catholics; (3) white CPs have higher SES than in the past, surpassing Latino Catholic SES; (4) white religious nones and white Catholics have comparable SES; and (5) Black Protestants have significantly lower income and wealth than other religious groups. This study offers a comprehensive, contemporary view of how religion intersects with economic status, providing insights into how religious identity and SES are associated.2

Improving Psychosocial Care of Adolescent Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to identify adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at risk for mental health comorbidities and promote psychosocial referrals. Background: Adolescents with T1D are twice as likely to experience depression as their peers without diabetes, and one in three report significant diabetes-related distress. Untreated depression and diabetes distress can worsen diabetes self-management, leading to higher A1C levels, reduced quality of life, suicide ideations, and chronic complications. Validated screening measures can improve access to psychosocial services. Sample/Setting: Adolescent T1D patients (ages 12-18) receiving pediatric diabetic specialty care in two outreach endocrine clinics in the Pacific Northwest. Methods: To identify youth at risk for depression or diabetes distress, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey Teen (PAID-T) were administered during routine endocrine visits. Project developed clinical care algorithm guided social work and psychology care escalation for those who scored at risk (PAID-T ≥ 44 and PHQ-9 ≥ 5). Results: Over eight weeks, 67 eligible patients were screened. In total, 37 (55.2%) were screened using the PAID-T, and 28 (41.8%) with the PHQ-9. Six patients (16.2%) scored 44 or higher on the PAID-T, indicating diabetes distress, and 14 patients (50%) scored 5 or higher on the PHQ-9, indicating depression risk. There was a strong relationship between PHQ-9 scores and PAID-T scores (r(26) = 0.70, p < 0.001). No patients screened positive for diabetes distress without screening positive for depression. Fourteen patients (37.8%) met referral criteria for care escalation; 85% of patients who received referrals were contacted within 24 hours. The PHQ-9 identified three (10.7%) youth with suicide ideation. According to the PAID-T screening tool, sadness, overwhelm, anger, and social support challenges were identified as the most prevalent themes of diabetes-distress. Conclusion: The PHQ-9 and PAID-T are both effective methods for identifying adolescents with T1D who may be at risk for depression and diabetes-related distress. PHQ-9 scores of 5 or higher also identified youth with diabetes distress, suggesting that the PHQ-9 can be used as a stand-alone screening tool for both depression and diabetes distress. Assessing suicidality is essential for this vulnerable population. Prompt psychosocial referrals in outpatient endocrine clinics are likely to enhance long-term diabetic outcomes for adolescents diagnosed with T1D. Keywords: type 1 diabetes, adolescents, depression, diabetes distress, psychosocial comorbiditie

Journal of Religion and Society

Between January to April 2023, at least 417 anti-LGBTQ bills had been introduced in state legislatures in the United States. Many of these bills focus on transgender care or gender affirming care and attempt to legislate against such care. The contemporary social change in the United States and elsewhere towards recognition of the reality and lived experience of transgender people and the medical treatment and care which they seek often conflicts with, and is opposed legally and morally by, religious perspectives on human sexuality and traditional doctrinal teachings. That conflict is clearly on display in recent official Catholic teaching. On March 20, 2023, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) weighed in on this culture-war issue and issued its own statement, a Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits of Technological Manipulation of the Human Body. In this essay, we analyze that Note and agree with Daniel Horan’s assessment that the Note is a “disaster.” We offer theological, biblical, anthropological, scientific, and experiential critiques of it to sustain that charge.2

American Bar Association, Law Student Division, Negotiation, Regional Co-Champion, 2024-2025.

ABA American Bar Association Law Student Division Negotiation Regional Co-Champion 2024-202

An Examination of How On-Campus Traditional, Hybrid, and Remote Locations Can Affect Job Satisfaction of Academic Librarians

2025This dissertation in practice investigated whether the work locations of on-campus traditional, hybrid, and remote settings would impact job satisfaction among academic librarians. The profession of librarianship in the academic environment is often overlooked, and this study aimed to contribute to providing a greater understanding and enhancing job satisfaction through authentic leadership. A quantitative method was used to explore if there was a significant difference in job satisfaction across the work locations of on-campus traditional, hybrid, and remote settings. The study implemented the Paul Spector Job Satisfaction Survey to gather data. By examining if there was a difference, the study hoped to uncover how work location affected librarian satisfaction and to create an underlying building block for how authentic leadership could support job satisfaction in multiple work location settings. The finding was that job satisfaction did seem to be affected by work location. The results show a need to research and develop more awareness of how work location affects job satisfaction, not only in the library environment but beyond