Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) and Psychological Wellbeing Among Young Black Gay/Bisexual Men (YBGBM)

The vast majority of research addressing the health needs of young Black gay/bisexual men (YBGBM) has focused on sexuality and HIV, and there is a deficit of research exploring issues related to racism and psychological wellbeing among this population. In this dissertation, I examine an understudied phenomenon that I define as Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), which describes the sexualized discriminatory treatment that gay and bisexual men are subject to in online social venues. I attempt to build upon the largely qualitative literature on this topic by applying a mostly quantitative methodological approach. First, I conducted an exhaustive review and synthesis of literature that examines gay/bisexual men of color's experience with RSD, as well as racial discrimination more broadly. I discuss this phenomenon in a stress and coping framework, and examine the ways in which RSD may contribute to poor psychological health outcomes. Next, I conducted a mixed methods research project to develop a scale to measure the full scope of the phenomenon, and evaluated the new scale using exploratory factor analysis. I successfully constructed the scale after conducting a series focus groups, and getting feedback from cognitive interviewees and a panel of expert reviewers. The results of the factor analysis revealed an eight-factor structure of RSD under three core domains: 1.) White-Centric Domain (white supremacy and white inferiority); 2.) Black-Centric Domain (white rejecting black, black rejecting black, white desiring black, and black desiring black); and 3.) Neutral/Non-directional Domain (Degradation and Role Assumptions). Finally, I sought to determine whether RSD was related to poor psychological health outcomes among a sample of YBGBM. To do so, I examined the association between six subscale across the Black-Centric and White-Centric domains on two psychological health outcomes (depressive symptoms and feelings of self-worth) by estimating twelve hierarchical linear regression models. The analyses revealed that (1) white supremacy, black rejecting black, white desiring black, and black desiring black were all significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms; and (2) white desiring black was significantly associated with lower feelings of self-worth. This study is among the first to explore the relationship between RSD and markers of psychological wellbeing using quantitative analyses, and provides preliminary evidence that RSD is negatively associated with psychological wellbeing among YBGBM. Implications and future directions for this work are discussed.PHDHealth Behavior & Health EducationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144046/1/wlryan_1.pd

Climate influence on the health of an Appalachian City

In 2008 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found Huntington, West Virginia, to be the unhealthiest city in America. A Gallup Poll conducted in 2010 found the Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area number one of 188 metro areas where depression diagnoses are most common. Manifestations of poor health in Huntington may be related to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs mainly in winter months. Symptoms of SAD are reported as a lack of energy, sleeping more, and consuming high amounts of carbohydrates and starchy foods. I theorize that these maladaptive behaviors may be a reaction to climate conditions present in the Huntington region which are present all year around. To test the likelihood of this theory, an online survey was distributed to a convenience sample of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in social science courses at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. The data was collected in four waves of the study corresponding to the seasons. Quantitative data on types of foods eaten, activity level, and feelings of lethargy were analyzed using the statistics which were collected from each season. The purpose of the research presented here is to examine if a relationship exists among lifestyle factors, seasonal variations in weather, and self-reported health that could be responsible for Huntington’s health issues. The results of the survey suggest that there is validity to the thesis that one of the factors leading to the unhealthy behaviors exhibited by the population of Huntington, West Virginia, could be due to previously unrecognized effects of year-around seasonal affective disorder caused by climate conditions

Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) in the Age of Online Sexual Networking: Are Young Black Gay/Bisexual Men (YBGBM) at Elevated Risk for Adverse Psychological Health?

Young Black gay/bisexual men (YBGBM) are a highly marginalized population across multiple health outcomes. Most research on YBGBM health has focused on HIV/sexual health, but there is a demonstrable need for research examining racism and psychosocial functioning among this population. Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), also known as sexual racism, is an important but under‐investigated phenomenon that may have implications for the psychological health and well‐being of YBGBM. This paper provides an overview of empirical research on RSD as experienced by gay/bisexual men of color in online partner‐seeking venues. First, the researchers discuss how racialized experiences are a documented online phenomenon, with a variety of manifestations, and identify the potential effects that this phenomenon may have on the psychosocial health of YBGBM, and gay/bisexual men of color as a whole. Second, the researchers synthesize the RSD literature with a broader literature examining psychological well‐being across race and sexual orientation. Third, the researchers present a theoretically grounded conceptual model detailing the pathways between RSD and psychological well‐being using a stress and coping framework. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research on this topic, including scale development and hypothesis testing.HighlightsRacialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD) is a multidimensional yet understudied construct.RSD, also known as sexual racism, is widely perpetuated in online hook‐up websites for gay men.RSD may negatively impact the psychological health of gay/bisexual men of color.There is an imperative to develop robust measurement tools to capture the full extent of RSD.A conceptual and analytic model to guide scientific inquiry into RSD is proposed.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155883/1/ajcp12401.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155883/2/ajcp12401_am.pd

Are there sex differences in reaction to different types of sexual infidelity?

Evolutionary theory based research shows that women and men can differ in their responses to sexual and emotional infidelity. However, research has not examined the question of whether men and women react similarly or differently to a partner’s engagement in different types of sexual infidelity. The present research sought to answer this question. Based on the aforementioned prior research, and short term mating desires, sex differences in reactions to different types of sexual infidelity were not expected. Both women and men were expected to report higher levels of upset when a partner engaged in sexual intercourse rather than when a partner engaged in oral sex, heavy petting, or kissing with another person. The results were consistent with the hypothesis. Both men and women were most upset by a partner’s engagement in sexual intercourse with another person. These findings are discussed in terms of prior research

Differential MicroRNA Expression in Glioblastoma as a Therapeutic Target or Potential Biomarker

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an epigenetic factor that plays an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene and protein expression. Recent research has shown that in many types of cancer, differentially expressed levels of certain types of miRNA are significantly correlated with the transformation of and ongoing issues caused by cancer cells. Specifically, in Glioblastoma, one of the most lethal and aggressive human cancers, differential levels of miRNAs contribute to the cell’s lack of pro-apoptotic gene presence and its high resistance to current treatments. Results from current studies could provide information about which microRNAs are differentially expressed in glioblastoma when compared to normal astrocytes. Differentially expressed microRNAs may be used as a biomarker for diagnosis or a potential therapeutic target for Glioblastoma treatment

The Cosmos Will Be Televised

I collect and create specific phenomena by taking everyday moments, and unveiling patterns and gestures within our contemporary world. I manipulate, compress, de-compose, amplify and distort scavenged materials in order to tease out abnormalities in the reality I know. By relating to my environment in new ways I form compositional inquiries. Much of my work incorporates video and sound based media, creating meditative spaces through simple actions and observations. Video is a space of inquiry, a space of translation between my body and some other body or field of energy. Video forms an extension between engaged and dissociated bodies. It becomes a perceptual prosthetic. During the first half of this text I discuss television culture and how It has shaped my perceptions of the world, as well as how the televised-media device is used as an artistic tool. Using video and sound based media allows for the chance to see alternative versions of my everyday, and in this way generates utopian thought. The second half of this text is dedicated to my artistic process and some of the work that has come from my studies. Following that I discuss my thesis exhibition work, The Distance Between (2013) relating it to perception, starlight, and television materiality. Within the larger scope of this thesis projectI focus on how I see rather than what I see, making connections to artist Tom Sherman and llya Kabakov. Beyond this I utilize Michel Foucault's conception of heterotopia as a mode of perception while arguing that key elements of utopian thought overlap with artistic praxis as actions of play, speculation, and technological augmentation.</p

LeaderShape: Creating a Vision, Living in Possibility

Leadership involves living in possibility, committing to a vision, forming relationships that will help visions take action, and upholding a high level of integrity. Leadership takes place in a community and allows positive changes to occur. The LeaderShape Institute is a six day experience which explores and develops such leadership skills. In the program, students address questions such as, “Who am I?” and “What kind of leader am I?” LeaderShape is a program with the mission of transforming the world with individuals who lead with integrity and have a healthy disregard for the impossible. Participants in this session will learn more about how they can be a part of the LeaderShape Institute and explore the leadership concepts of integrity and vision