A Case for Friendship: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Close Friendships in Adulthood

Social connections profoundly impact mental and physical health, identity development, and overall well-being. The landscape of personal relationships has changed dramatically over the past decades. Formalized connections and older social structures are evolving (Smock and Schwartz 2020). Loneliness and social isolation are at epidemic proportions and rising, posing widespread societal consequences (Buecker et al. 2021; Cacioppo and Cacioppo 2018). Sociologists have studied relationships like kinship and romantic partnership extensively but have devoted substantially less attention to friendship as a means of providing connection (Eve 2002). My dissertation investigates the importance of platonic friendship bonds in adulthood and explores how these relationships are sustained across the lifespan within people’s wider social networks. In this study, I conducted semi-structured interviews and collected ego network data from adults aged 21 to 86 with self-reported important friendships (N=43). I use the life course perspective (Elder 1998) and symbolic interactionism (Blumer 1969) as theoretical backgrounds to explore the structural, cultural, and affective nature of friendships. These theories help demonstrate the ways in which our cultural understanding and valuation of friendship are shaped by available language and societal norms. In my first chapter, I discuss patterns in how people defined friendship and describe the purpose and value of friendship across study members’ lives. In the second chapter, I examine change and consistency in friendships over the life course, using the concept of turning points (Baxter and Buchanan 2015; Hutchison 2005). In the final chapter, I use mixed methods analysis (interviews and ego networks) to contextualize friendships within participants’ broader social worlds. Sociological research has focused on many types of interpersonal relationships (in organizational settings, social movements, and the workplace, as well as in romantic, familial and adolescent peer contexts). This dissertation demonstrates that friendship is also a meaningful form of connection in adulthood, and is a dimension of social life deserving of inclusion in mainstream sociology. The combined findings of my chapters deepen our understanding of this relationship type, advance the sociological literature on friendships across the life course, and offer avenues for future research on platonic social connections. Advisors: Julia McQuillan and Robin G. Gauthie

Nurturing a Culture of Responsible Conduct of Research to Support Safe Disclosure

Pressures to publish, which are prevalent in higher education, can lead to research misconduct and, in the absence of clear, safe disclosure policies—and mechanisms and structures to support them—individuals affected by research misconduct may fear retaliation when speaking up. This Organizational Improvement Plan examines how to foster a climate where individuals feel supported and are encouraged to speak up if they witness research misconduct at Forest University (a pseudonym), a research-intensive university in Ontario, Canada. In alignment with my values, the change process is guided by authentic and ethical leadership perspectives. The Change-Path Model, supported by Beckhard and Harris’ Change-Management Process, is the change framework to address the Problem of Practice (PoP). Krüger’s Iceberg Model of Change and an adapted readiness rubric have been used to deepen my understanding of the organizational culture and to identify expected and unexpected resistance points. The Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle will be used to determine where refinement is needed. Forest University has a large, diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. A working group will be assembled using shared equity leadership to ensure a range of lived and learned experience to address the PoP and support the change. The proposed solution takes a hybrid approach that focuses on introducing mechanisms and structures to support policy, including hiring a dedicated role to develop training and education, serve as an intake for research misconduct concerns, and to keep policy up to date

Social Networks and Science Identity: Does Peer Commitment Matter?

White men continue to be overrepresented in STEM fields compared to women and minorities, despite several decades of scholarly interest the disparity. Studies have shown that early adolescence is when children begin to lose interest in science. It is also in this period, that children start to develop ideas and stereotypes about who should be a scientist. It is essential that youth are able to see themselves as science kinds of people. Students who have strong science identities have been shown to perform better in science classes, retain interest in science and continue on to STEM careers. During adolescence, peer opinions take on increasing importance.. Peer support (or lack thereof) can impact students’ science identities. This work explores how students’ peer networks influence their subsequent commitment to a science identity, through the framework of identity theory. Data for this study comes from a multi-wave, longitudinal dataset, collected from a middle school in a mid-sized Midwestern city (The Science Identity Study (SIS)). I examine two aspects of identity commitment, using both survey (affective commitment) and network (relational commitment) measures. I find that both measures of commitment are positively related to science identity. Additionally, I find that identity commitment positively predicts science identity between waves. Race and gender reduce the strength of some of these associations, but largely processes of identity commitment remain significant. These findings suggest that the friend group is a place where science identity can be fostered. Support from peers can keep youth engaged in science, and help them maintain or strengthen their science identities. Peer networks should not be neglected by educators, policy makers and other STEM stakeholders as they seek to strengthen student science identities. Creating collaborative peer environments may be a key way to educate, mentor, and encourage the scientists of the future. Advisor: Robin Gauthie

Interventions for congenital talipes equinovarus

Congenital talipes equinovarus, or clubfoot, is a condition where the foot develops in equinus (pointing down), adductus (pointing in) and varus (twisting in). It occurs in 1 per 1000 births and without intervention leads to life-long disability and pain. This thesis examines several key areas in current research of clubfoot. Chapter 1 provides a broad overview of the definition, aetiology, assessment and management of clubfoot. Chapter 2 reports the findings of a 12 month prospective study comparing children with relapsing clubfoot requiring tibialis anterior tendon transfer to children with clubfoot not requiring tibialis anterior tendon transfer. Chapter 3 evaluates the differences in clinical severity between unilateral and bilateral cases of clubfoot and the statistical implications of examining data per foot rather than data per person. Chapter 4 examines the severity and correlation of right and left feet of bilateral cases of clubfoot and the unit of analysis error implications for future research in this sub-group. Chapter 5 presents a Cochrane Systematic Review examining all interventions for clubfoot utilising statistical models which account for the correlation in right and left feet of bilateral clubfoot cases. Chapter 6 summarises the results of Chapters 2-5 and discusses the implications for future research into the assessment, analysis and management of clubfoot deformity

The Long-Term Health and Developmental Impacts of Children Born at Low Birth Weight

The state of Mississippi currently has the highest incidence of low birth weight (LBW) births in the United States. LBW is a negative birth outcome which can lead to suboptimal pediatric health and development. The primary goals of this thesis are to identify the long-term outcomes associated with LBW and to present potential interventions to address LBW. A combination of literature review and quantitative data analysis were used to inform the objective of this thesis. A variety of physical health, behavioral health, and other long-term issues were found associated with LBW. The consequences of LBW place LBW children at a disadvantage early in life, and some of these disadvantages can create challenges throughout the duration of their life. Prenatal maternal prevention strategies, postnatal interventions involving the LBW child, and educational interventions are all promising tools for reducing the rate and implications of LBW. Although there is ample room for further research into the long-term effects of LBW, it is evident that LBW is closely associated with lasting negative impacts which can reduce overall health and quality of life for children born at LBW. Due to the large economic and social impact LBW can have, the State of Mississippi should seek to ensure the presence and funding of adequate resources aimed at mitigating the effects of LBW