Browsing by Author "Latham-Mintus, Kenzie"
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Item Aging With Incarceration Histories: An Intersectional Examination of Incarceration and Health Among Older Adults(Oxford University Press, 2024-12-31) Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Deck, Monica; Nelson, Elizabeth; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsObjectives: Experiences with incarceration are linked to poor mental and physical health across the life course. The purpose of this research is to examine whether incarceration histories are associated with worse physical and mental health among older adults. We apply an intersectionality framework and consider how the intersection of sexism and racism leads to unequal health outcomes following incarceration among women and people of color. Methods: We employ 2 measures of health (i.e., number of depressive symptoms and physical limitations) to broadly capture mental and physical health. Using data from Waves 11 and 12 of the Health and Retirement Study, we estimated a series of general linear models to analyze differences in health by incarceration history, gender/sex, and race/ethnicity. Results: Findings suggest that experiences with incarceration are associated with a greater number of physical limitations and more depressive symptoms among older men and women, net of sociodemographic characteristics, early-life conditions, and lifetime stressful events. Formerly incarcerated women, particularly women of color, had more physical limitations and depressive symptoms relative to other groups. Discussion: These findings suggest that incarceration histories have far-reaching health implications. Older women of color with incarceration histories experience markedly high levels of physical limitations and depressive symptoms in later life.Item Aging With Incarceration Histories: An Intersectional Examination of Incarceration and Health Outcomes Among Older Adults(Oxford, 2023-05) Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Deck, Monica M.; Nelson, Elizabeth; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsObjectives Experiences with incarceration are linked to poor mental and physical health across the life course. The purpose of this research is to examine whether incarceration histories are associated with worse physical and mental health among older adults. We apply an intersectionality framework and consider how the intersection of sexism and racism leads to unequal health outcomes following incarceration among women and people of color. Methods We employ 2 measures of health (i.e., number of depressive symptoms and physical limitations) to broadly capture mental and physical health. Using data from Waves 11 and 12 of the Health and Retirement Study, we estimated a series of general linear models to analyze differences in health by incarceration history, gender/sex, and race/ethnicity. Results Findings suggest that experiences with incarceration are associated with a greater number of physical limitations and more depressive symptoms among older men and women, net of sociodemographic characteristics, early-life conditions, and lifetime stressful events. Formerly incarcerated women, particularly women of color, had more physical limitations and depressive symptoms relative to other groups. Discussion These findings suggest that incarceration histories have far-reaching health implications. Older women of color with incarceration histories experience markedly high levels of physical limitations and depressive symptoms in later life.Item American Muslim Well-Being in the Era of Rising Islamophobia: Mediation Analysis of Muslim American Social Capital and Health(2023-04) Miller, Keith Matthew; Kondrat, David; Khaja, Khadija; Fukui, Sadaaki; Latham-Mintus, KenzieThis study aims to examine American Muslim well-being and social capital in the face of Islamophobia. Ecological frameworks and social capital theory were synthesized to provide an approach for research, analysis, and social work practice. A mediation analysis was conducted to test the mediating effect of cognitive social capital on the relationship between structural social capital and distress. The paths of structural social capital, cognitive social capital, and distress were conceptualized using the ecological framework of Berkman and colleagues. Special attention was paid to how experiences of Islamophobic discrimination affect cognitive social capital and distress. Structural social capital was operationalized as the number of active memberships in civic organizations; Cognitive social capital was operationalized as trust in major institutions such as schools and the local police and Distress was operationalized using the Kessler Distress Scale. It was hypothesized that an increase in structural social capital would show a decrease in distress with cognitive social capital mediating the path. Results showed that cognitive social capital mediates the relationship between structural social capital and distress. However, an inconsistent mediation was found where an increase in cognitive social capital shows a decrease in distress, but higher levels of structural social capital show an increase in distress. Lastly, the results of the analysis were interpreted to inform current interventions with the American Muslim community through a social work lens.Item CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, AND MOBILITY LIMITATION(Oxford University Press, 2019-11) Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Doshi, Simit; Moorthi, Ranjani; Medicine, School of MedicineObjectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased mobility limitation. Prior research has documented that peripheral nerve abnormalities occur early in CKD and progressively worsen. Loss of balance, impaired muscle strength, and slow gait predispose older adults to falls and frailty. However, the current literature is limited by a lack of nationally representative data that includes objective measures of kidney disease and physical functioning. Thus, this research examines whether CKD is associated with muscle strength, balance, gait, and self-reported mobility limitations. Methods: Data come from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Estimated GFR, a measure of kidney functioning derived from creatinine levels in the blood, was used to classify CKD (i.e, eGFR<45 or Stage 3b CKD). Logistic and linear regression models were generated to examine the association of CKD with physical functioning, net of demographic characteristics (i.e., age, sex, race, and education) and comorbidities (i.e., obesity, pain, and number of diagnosed medical conditions). Results: In unadjusted models, CKD was significantly associated (p<0.05) with more mobility limitations, slower walking speeds, stronger grip strengths, and non-participation in balance tests. After adjusting for covariates, CKD (β=-1.43, p=0.01) was negatively associated with grip strength. In sex-stratified models, CKD was associated with slower walking speeds among men, whereas CKD was associated with more mobility limitations among women. Discussion: In a nationally representative sample of older adults, CKD was associated with poorer physical functioning on multiple measures. After adjusting for demographic characteristics and comorbidities, CKD was associated with increased muscle weakness.Item Disney and Disability: Media Representations of Disability in Disney and Pixar Animated Films(Society for Disability Studies, 2022-08-18) Holcomb, Jeanne; Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsSince the merger of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disney has been lauded for creating more progressive content that includes representations of main characters from diverse backgrounds. However, progressive representations of disability (both physical and mental disability) have been slow to emerge in most mediums. The objective of this research is to examine whether portrayals of illness and disability in recent animated feature films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios or Pixar Animation Studios depict progressive (or multicultural) narratives of disability versus traditional narratives of disability. We analyzed 20 of the most recent (i.e., 2008-2018) animated films from both studios with 9 films from Walt Disney Animation and 11 films from Pixar Animation Studios. Using thematic content analysis, a combination of pre-identified and emergent disability- and illness-related themes are described. Overwhelmingly, disability portrayals were traditional, with disability used to elicit pity or humor from the viewer and to indicate that characters were evil or old. Out of the 20 films, few progressive portrayals of disability were observed. Although Disney has been lauded for being more inclusive in their representations of characters, disability representations continue to perpetuate and reaffirm the stigmatization of disability.Item An exploration of diagnosis and illness experiences of women and men living with Celiac Disease(2017-12) Horn, Amanda J.; Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Foote, Carrie; Schall, CarlyThis research explores the illness experiences of women and men who received a Celiac Disease Diagnosis as an adult in addition to the impact it had on their social interactions and every-day lives. Investigation of illness experiences were conducted through the use of semi-structured interviews which explored diagnosis experiences, gendered experiences, and life style impact. Significant findings of this research indicated that there are gendered diagnosis experiences among women and men who are diagnosed with this disease. More specifically, female participants reported diagnosis experiences similar to that of a contested illness. In contrast, male participants reported diagnosis experiences that reflect a routinely defined illness. Despite these results, additional research is necessary in order to better understand gendered experiences among those who are diagnosed with Celiac Disease as an adult.Item The Health Care Encounters of Pregnant and Postpartum Women With Substance Use Disorders(2020-06) Renbarger, Kalyn Marie; Draucker, Claire Burke; Shieh, Carol; Moorman, Meg; Latham-Mintus, KenziePregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders (SUDs) are likely to experience adverse health care encounters that contribute to poor health outcomes for them and their infants. The purpose of this dissertation is to describe the health care encounters of pregnant and postpartum women with SUDs. This dissertation includes two studies. The first study is a metasynthesis of published qualitative studies using a metasummary approach to classify the types of health care encounters experienced by pregnant and postpartum women with SUDs. A taxonomy of health care encounters was developed. Five types of adverse encounters were identified and labeled as (a) judgmental, (b) disparaging, (c) scrutinizing, (d) disempowering, and (e) deficient care. Three types of beneficial encounters were identified and labeled as (a) recovery-based, (b) accepting, and (c) effective care. The second study was a qualitative descriptive study conducted to describe factors that influence the formation of trusting relationships between maternity nurses and pregnant and postpartum women with SUDs. Interviews with 15 maternity nurses and 10 pregnant and postpartum women with SUDs were conducted. Content analysis of the participant narratives revealed a number of characteristics of maternity nurses and pregnant and postpartum women with SUDs that helped or hindered trusting relationships. Six characteristics of maternity nurses were identified and labeled as (a) rapport-building with women, (b) demeanor toward women, (c) provision of care, (d) provision of information, (e) attitude toward substance use, and (f) addiction expertise. Five characteristics of the women were identified and labeled as (a) engagement with nurses, (b) demeanor toward nurses, (c) acceptance of care, (d) investment in recovery, and (e) bonding with infant. Adverse encounters were often associated with provider stigma related to substance use during pregnancy and limited provider knowledge related to addiction. The findings will contribute to the development of strategies to improve the health care encounters of this population by promoting stigma awareness and communication skills training.Item Linked Lives: Does Disability and Marital Quality Influence Risk of Marital Dissolution among Older Couples?(MDPI, 2022) Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Holcomb, Jeanne; Zervos, Andrew P.; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsUsing fourteen waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal panel survey with respondents in the United States, this research explores whether marital quality—as measured by reports of enjoyment of time together—influences risk of divorce or separation when either spouse acquires basic care disability. Discrete-time event history models with multiple competing events were estimated using multinomial logistic regression. Respondents were followed until they experienced the focal event (i.e., divorce or separation) or right-hand censoring (i.e., a competing event or were still married at the end of observation). Disability among wives was predictive of divorce/separation in the main effects model. Low levels of marital quality (i.e., enjoy time together) were associated with marital dissolution. An interaction between marital quality and disability yielded a significant association among couples where at least one spouse acquired basic care disability. For couples who acquired disability, those who reported low enjoyment were more likely to divorce/separate than those with high enjoyment; however, the group with the highest predicted probability were couples with low enjoyment, but no acquired disability.Item Linking Mastery Across the Life Course to Mobility Device Use in Later Life(Oxford University Press, 2017-05-04) Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Clarke, Philippa J.; Sociology, School of Liberal ArtsObjectives Mastery in older ages is shaped by earlier-life experiences. Prior research has demonstrated that mastery is associated with health-promoting behaviors; however, little research has examined whether mastery histories influence health behaviors such as mobility device use in later life. Method Using 25 years of data from the Americans’ Changing Lives Survey (N = 1,427), this research explores whether different trajectories of life course mastery influence the odds that an older adult will use a mobility device when experiencing functional impairment. We used growth mixture models with a distal outcome and examined the relationship between functional limitations and mobility device use as it varies across latent classes of life course mastery, controlling for social and health factors. Results The odds of device use in the face of functional limitations were significantly higher among those with a history of high life course mastery, relative to those with low life course mastery, all things being equal. Discussion Our findings suggest that mastery over the life course is a source of psychological human capital that is associated with health-promoting behaviors in later life among those with functional limitations.Item Qualitative analysis of older adults' experiences with sepsis(2018-04-04) Hancock, Rebecca D.; Buelow, Janice; Miller, Wendy R.; Latham-Mintus, Kenzie; Brooks, JoAnnAtypical symptoms, multiple co-morbidities and a lack of public awareness make it difficult for older adults to know when to seek help for sepsis. Diagnosis delays contribute to older adults’ higher sepsis mortality rates. This research describes patients’ and caregivers’ experiences with the symptom appraisal process, self-management strategies, provider-nurse-patient interactions, and barriers when seeking sepsis care. Convenience and purposive stratified sampling were utilized on two data sources. A nurse-patient and nurse-family caregivers were interviewed. Online stories by older adult patient survivors or family members from the Faces of Sepsis ™ Sepsis Alliance website were analyzed. Emergent themes were identified using qualitative descriptive methods. Listlessness and fatigue were most bothersome symptoms for the nurse-family caregivers. Fever, pain and low blood pressure were most common complaints, followed by breathing difficulty, mental status changes and weakness. Patients expressed “excruciating pain” with abdominal and soft tissue sources of infection, and with post-operative sepsis. Concern was expressed that self-management strategies and medications create barriers by masking typical sepsis signs. Health care providers’ interpersonal interactions, lack of awareness of sepsis symptoms and guidelines, complacency towards older adults, and denial by patients were barriers. Further barriers were staff inexperience, delays, care omissions, and tension between health care providers, patients and caregivers—with emerging advocacy by patients and family. In conclusion, providers should assess previous self-management strategies when evaluating symptoms. At primary care visits or hospital discharge, older patients with risk factors need anticipatory guidance for sepsis symptoms and possible emergent infections--specifically patients with pre-existing risk factors such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or operative events. Public and professional education are needed to overcome a lack of urgency and understanding of symptoms for diagnosis, treatment and guideline adherence for inpatients and outpatient clinics. Further research on subjective sepsis symptoms may improve patient-clinician communications when evaluating sepsis in older adults.