School of Public Health

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633

The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Sport, Race, and Grassroots Activism: A Contextual Analysis of Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp as a Sporting Social Movement Organization
    (2024) Wallace, Brandon T.; Andrews, David L.; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This dissertation engages Know Your Rights Camp for Black Liberation (KYRC) – founded and led by athlete-activist Colin Kaepernick – as a case study for critically analyzing the contemporary intersections of sport, race, and grassroots activism. Among other related initiatives, KYRC hosts “camps” across the U.S. designed to facilitate empowerment, solidarity, and critical education about structural racism for Black and Brown youth in marginalized communities. KYRC is illustrative of the recent resurgence of sporting activism in the 2010s and early 2020s, in conjunction with the broader Black Lives Matter (BLM) social movement. Not only is Kaepernick a symbolic figure of both athletic protest and Black resistance more generally in this era, but KYRC is representative of how contemporary sporting activism has evolved in more radical, coordinated, and grassroots directions. Because these emerging sporting initiatives more closely resemble the character of social movements organizations than traditional sport-for-development or sporting philanthropy initiatives, I propose conceptualizing these grassroots organizations as Sporting Social Movement Organizations (SMOs). Borrowing from social movement frameworks, I examine KYRC as a Sporting SMO, defined as an organization that utilizes its connection to sport or athletes to pursue social, political, or cultural change in a coordinated, strategic, and sustained manner. While scholars within Physical Cultural Studies and related fields have outlined the historical significance of and public reactions to this resurgence in sporting activism, there remains a considerable lack of theoretically and empirically rigorous research into Sporting SMOs, let alone with data collected in collaboration with organizations that can speak to their inner workings and on-the-ground mechanics. This project fills these gaps. The underlying research question is: in what ways, and within what broader sociopolitical contexts, does Know Your Rights Camp conduct grassroots sporting activism? First, based on in-depth interviews with KYRC associates, content analysis of KYRC’s social media, and textual analyses of KYRC’s public-facing pedagogical documents, I conduct a micro- and meso-level sociological analysis of KYRC’s mechanics, logics, strategies, messages, tensions, and challenges of KYRC’s model of grassroots activism. Second, based in the methods of radical contextualism and articulation, I conduct a macro-level cultural studies analysis of the social, political, economic, historical, technological, and ideological contexts within which KYRC is situated. Overall, this dissertation contains a precise sociological analysis of what KYRC is and does, as well as a broader cultural studies analysis of what KYRC tells us about sport, race, and politics in contemporary America. To summarize the key findings, I suggest that KYRC is simultaneously a Black Radical political project, a form of celebrity sporting activism, a team-based Sporting SMO, a grassroots pedagogical project, and an anti-essentialist progressive conjunctural response to racial capitalism/neoliberalism. KYRC’s blueprint of grassroots activism can be characterized as the symbolic mobilization of high-profile celebrity association and the material mobilization of philanthropy/donor contributions for the purposes of youth empowerment, collective community uplift, and critical public pedagogy. KYRC is propelled by the Kaepernick Brand – referring to Kaepernick’s stature as a global commercial symbol of bold and authentic political resistance – which uniquely affords the organization material and symbolic resources that the KYRC team strategically channels into navigating the non-profit sector and serving its communities with critical education and rapid community response. Based on these findings, I argue that KYRC reveals the political and transgressive potentials inherent to the immense economic and cultural expansion of sport, in ways that urge us to reconsider our assumptions about sport’s emancipatory potential and heighten our expectations of Black (celebrity) athletes. More broadly, KYRC demonstrates how the Left can intervene through the terrain of popular culture to resist neoliberalism and the Right’s reactionary authoritarian populism, and instead articulate a vision for America based in abolition, solidarity, and liberation from all forms of oppression.
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    DOES PATIENT-CENTERED COMMUNICATION AND TRUST IN PHYSICIAN INFORMATION VARY BY CANCER SURVIVORSHIP STATUS? AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH INFORMATION NATIONAL TRENDS SURVEY (HINTS) 2017
    (2019) Al-Nassir, Marwa Fawzi; Dallal, Cher M; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Trust is the foundation of the patient-physician relationship. Patients’ trust in a physician has been associated with patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment, continuity of care, and improved health outcomes. Trust in a physician is especially important for health-vulnerable populations, such as cancer survivors, as they tend to endure complex emotional needs related to re-acclimating to the new normal post cancer diagnosis. The patient-physician relationship also relies heavily on effective patient-centered communication (PCC), however, associations between PCC and trust in physician information overall and by cancer survivorship status is not well understood. Using nationally representative data (N = 2604) ascertained from Cycle 1 of the fifth iteration of the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a cross-sectional analysis was conducted to examine PCC in relation to trust in physician information. PCC was assessed on a 4-point Likert scale using responses from seven sub-questions that address the main functions of PCC: 1) fostering healing relationships, 2) exchanging clinical information, 3) responding to emotional needs, 4) managing uncertainty, 5) facilitating shared decision-making, and 6) enabling patient self-management. Trust in physician information was analyzed dichotomously (high versus low) based on responses from a single item question. PCC was analyzed as individual components (optimal versus sub-optimal) and as an overall score. Confounders included age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and household annual income. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the relationship between PCC and trust in physician information were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Analyses of cancer survivorship status (cancer survivor versus never had cancer) as an effect modifier of the relationship between PCC and trust in physician information was also conducted using an interaction term. Results from the weighted multivariable models revealed that for every one-unit increase in the overall PCC score (range 1 to 100), the odds of having high trust in physician information increased by 4% (adj OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.03–1.05). The odds of reporting high level of trust in physician information were significantly associated with each individual component of PCC when comparing those who felt their communication component was optimal versus sub-optimal (PCC components: exchanging clinical information (adj OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.82–3.62), responding to emotional needs (adj OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.65–3.30), facilitating in shared decision-making (adj OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.70–3.26), enabling patient self-management (adj OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 2.11–3.92), managing uncertainty (adj OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.74–3.44), fostering healing relationships (adj OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 2.18–3.57), and spending enough time with you (adj OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.49–2.93)). When examining relationships by cancer survivorship status, estimates among cancer survivors were of greater magnitude compared to persons who reported never having cancer, however, no significant interactions were observed in the weighted multivariable models (all p-interaction>0.05). These findings provide insight on how optimal experiences of PCC influence trust in physician information and can help inform the development of PCC strategies to ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce consequences related to poor patient-physician trust overall and among cancer survivors.
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    Health-Related Communication Behaviors of Environmental Action Gatekeepers: A Qualitative Study
    (2015) Pomerantz, Sarah; Aldoory, Linda; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore behaviors of community members regarding environmental health information. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with environmental action gatekeepers from Prince George’s County, Maryland and Wards 7 and 8 of the District of Columbia to identify health-related communication behaviors and how they make meaning of those behaviors. Participants engaged in a range of behaviors to acquire, manage, and transmit information related to local environmental health issues. Although different behavior patterns did not emerge among activists versus advocates, a number of factors including perceived community constraints and informational subjective norms were identified as potential influences on communication behaviors. These findings support existing theoretical models, and suggest future research on how communicative behaviors among environmental health and environmental justice advocates may differ from those working on traditional ecological environmental issues. Findings suggest future opportunities to improve environmental health information sufficiency in the region.
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    The Influence of the Interaction Between Trust and Cognitions on Aggressive and Withdraw Communication Behavior Between Members of Clinical Couples
    (2012) Ross, Donald Bruce; Werlinich, Dr. Carol A.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The purpose of this study was to examine the moderation effect of avoidance and aggressive cognitions on the relationship between levels of trust and levels of negative communication behavior, within a clinical sample of 60 heterosexual couples who had experienced mild-to-moderate conflict or abuse in the relationship. Results were found separately for males and females. For males, a non-significant positive trend was found suggesting avoidance cognitions have an effect on the relationship between trust and avoidance communication behavior. Females showed a significant association between avoidance cognitions and withdraw communication behaviors. The level of trust and the level of aggressive cognitions were significantly predictive of aggressive communication behavior in males. And the level of trust and the level of avoidance cognitions were significantly predictive of withdraw communication behavior in females. Implications for clinical interventions are discussed.
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    PARTNER'S CONFLICT BEHAVIOR AND RECIPIENT'S ATTACHMENT STYLE AS PREDICTORS OF PERCEIVED CRITICISM IN CLINICAL COUPLES
    (2011) Savory, Kara Lee; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The association between critical communication behavior exhibited by one member of a couple during a conversation and the amount of criticism that is perceived by the person's partner was explored. The study investigated whether that association is moderated by the degrees to which the recipient of messages identifies with each of four attachment styles (secure, fearful, preoccupied, and dismissing). The sample was 95 couples who had sought therapy at a university-based couple and family therapy clinic. Each couple engaged in a 10-minute discussion of a conflictual issue in their relationship, which was video-recorded and subsequently coded for constructive and destructive communication behavior, including criticism. For both men and women, the amount of actual criticism predicted the amount perceived. Attachment styles did not directly predict the amount of criticism perceived, but there was evidence that for both genders attachment styles moderated the relationship between the degree of conflict behavior exhibited by the partner and the amount of criticism that the recipient perceived.
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    The Role of Provider-Role Ideology and Consistency in Couple Communication
    (2010) Brenneman, Jessica Lynn; Leslie, Leigh A; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This study investigated how problem solving and conflict in couples' communication is affected by their beliefs about provider role ideology, and the consistency between their beliefs and their actions. It was predicted that couples who have the same provider-role ideology and couples who are consistent in their behavior and beliefs will use more problem solving and less hostile conflict behaviors than couples who are unmatched in their beliefs or inconsistent in beliefs and behavior. Contrary to predictions, no relationship between ideology, consistency, and communication was found. However, the results did show a significant relationship between women earning a large portion of the household income and greater amounts of hostile conflict in the couple communication. The implications for future research and clinical applications are discussed.
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    Communication Behaviors, Perception of Criticism, Changes in Emotional State, and Relationship Satisfaction in African American and Caucasian Heterosexual Couples
    (2006-08-10) Galloway, Serena Christine; Werlinich, Carol; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among partners'communication behaviors, perception of criticism, emotional state, and relationship satisfaction among African American and Caucasian couples. Partners' perception of criticism was examined as a mediator of the relationship between communication behaviors and emotional state, as well as relationship satisfaction. The influence of partners' perception of criticism was expected to vary by culture/race. Secondary analyses were conducted for 29 Caucasian and 20 African American heterosexual couples presenting for therapy at a university-based clinic as part of the ongoing Couples Abuse Prevention Program. Couples completed self-report measures of perceived criticism and dyadic adjustment, as well as completing a 10-minute communication sample and reporting their moods before and after the discussion. Results supported perception of criticism as a mediator, and the association between negative communication behavior and partners' perception of criticism was stronger for Caucasian husbands than for African American husbands.