NextGenPop is an undergraduate pipeline program in population research that aims to increase the diversity of the population field and nurture the next generation of population scientists. It is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (R25 HD105602).
In June 2024, DUPRI hosted the the 3rd NextGenPop cohort of 21 fellows from 19 universities across the nation for a 2-week, in-person, on-campus summer experience. The fellows also received funding to attend the Population Association of America (PAA) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC from April 10-13. This unique opportunity allowed the fellows to meet population scientists, attend panels, and learn about career paths available to them. All of the fellows attended PAA. Half submitted their work and presented posters throughout the weekend. Below we summarize their work.
The Pride Gap: Exploring Variation Within the LGBTQ+ Population
Courtney Fitzgerald, Emory University
Findings from qualitative studies suggest that sexual minority status is experienced differently depending on one’s sexual orientation; however, few quantitative studies have been able to measure variation within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ (LGBTQ+) community due to data limitations. This study examines the differences in self-reported pride in one’s sexual orientation by gender and sexual orientation, utilizing nationally representative data from the National Couples Time and Health Study (NCHAT). Bisexual+ men reported significantly lower levels of pride than all other sexual minority groups and this difference could not be explained by variation in mental health, partner gender, or socio-economic status. Instead, sexual orientation identity centrality was found to be an important moderator of variation in self-reported pride by sexual orientation. Individuals with higher identification with their sexual orientation reported higher levels of pride. These findings highlight the importance of identity affirmation among sexual minorities, but especially for bisexual+ men.
Differences in Mental Health Outcomes Among Sexual Minorities by Urbanicity
Kaylee Wilson, Drexel University; Stephanie Hernandez, Drexel University
This study examines mental health disparities among sexual minorities (SM) in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the U.S., focusing on depression, anxiety, and barriers to mental healthcare. We analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (2021-2023) with a sample of 3,994 SM adults. Logistic regression models assessed mental health outcomes and barriers to care by urbanicity, adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors. Sexual minorities in rural areas had higher rates of depression (51%) and anxiety (47%) compared to those in urban areas (39% for depression, 40% for anxiety). After adjustments, sexual minorities in suburban areas were 1.25 times more likely to report lifetime depression (p < 0.05) than those in urban areas. No significant differences in anxiety frequency or unmet mental healthcare were found. Rural and suburban SMs experience a greater mental health burden, underscoring the need for targeted mental health interventions and policies.
Persistent Anger and Mental Health: Evidence From a State-Based Probability-Based Panel
Jeremyah Williams, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Jennifer Dkyema, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Nadia Assad, University of Wisconsin-Madison
This study explores the relationship between persistent anger and mental health across age, sex, and varying reference periods among Wisconsin residents. Using data from a probability-based online survey of 2,660 respondents, the research examines how self-reported anger is associated with mental health issues over time. This study hypothesizes that individuals who experience frequent anger report more days of struggling with mental health. Preliminary findings suggest that individuals who experience anger "very often" or "extremely often" are significantly more likely to report mental health problems, with at least 78% of these groups experiencing one or more days of mental health problems. Sex differences in anger frequency were minimal, suggesting further research, but for age, young adults (18–34) reported more frequent anger than seniors (55–74) and elderly adults (75–95). These findings highlight the relationship between anger and mental health, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, especially for young adults.
Analyzing the Impact of Income and Race on Health Outcomes: A Preliminary Exploration
Anamari Thomas Carter, North Carolina State University
Disparities in health outcomes are significantly influenced by socioeconomic status and race, with marginalized populations experiencing poorer health. This study utilizes data from the IPUMS database to explore the relationship between income, race, and self-reported health outcomes. The analysis employs multiple imputation to handle missing data and applies a log transformation to normalize skewed income data. Preliminary findings reveal that 64.6% of respondents report good health, while total family income shows a positive skew, with a median of $52,940. The dataset predominantly comprises White individuals (79.04%), followed by Black/African Americans (12.79%) and Asians (8.16%). Future analyses will integrate environmental factors to address existing gaps in the literature and will utilize multivariate models to further investigate the interactions between income, race, and health outcomes. These efforts aim to inform public health interventions targeting health disparities in marginalized communities.
Political Ideologies and Residential Selection for the LGBTQ Community in the United States
Noah Balderrama, California State University, Fullerton
Utilizing a stratified random sample of 1315 individuals from the United States, this research explores the role of acceptance, safety, and political ideology on LGBTQ individuals' perceptions of safe neighborhoods when choosing a place to live. There is a perception that historic gay neighborhoods (gayborhoods) are de-concentrating or new gay neighborhoods are forming, which is changing the historic residential selection patterns of the LGBTQ community and requires new frameworks to understand their residential selection processes. We know that LGBTQ people are not restricted to queer-specific spaces, and this research focuses on the impact of politics, acceptance, and neighborhood safety on their new residential decisions. Results indicate that LGBTQ-identifying individuals are more likely than straight individuals to prioritize politics, acceptance of their sexual orientation, and acceptance of their race when choosing a neighborhood. The research findings are crucial for understanding how being part of a minoritized community affects residential selection priorities.
Fatal Police Shootings and Spillover Effects on the Overall Well-being of Black Americans
Le'monna Cox, North Carolina Central University
This research examines the disproportionate rate at which Black Americans are killed by police compared to other racial groups. The 1992 Rodney King incident highlights an ongoing pattern of fatal police encounters involving Black individuals, continuing with Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Data from The Washington Post database of fatal police shootings shows that Black Americans, comprising roughly 14% of the U.S. population, are killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans. This study further aims to investigate the impact of these fatal shootings on the well-being of Black families and communities, noting a gap in existing literature. Initial findings from Durham, North Carolina, indicate a disproportionate number of Black male deaths in police custody, and future research intends to explore the broader community effects through surveys.
Early Education, Early Returns: New York City’s Universal Pre-K and Short-Term Maternal Labor Gains
Kazuma Wells, University of California, Santa Barbara
This paper evaluates the effects of New York City’s 2014 ”Pre-K For All” initiative on its maternal labor force. Leveraging American Community Survey data, I employ two difference-in-differences methods and synthetic control to assess the policy’s impact. The results indicate that maternal labor force participation significantly rose by an estimated 4.2 percentage points, with a similar rise in the maternal employment rate. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the largest gains were observed among middle-income, married, college-educated, White non-Hispanic, and Asian non-Hispanic mothers. These findings underscore the potential of universal pre-K programs to facilitate higher maternal employment and enhance family economic stability.
“It’s About Who Has Better Insurance”: Role of Insurance-Related Experiences in Medical Mistrust and Patient Perceptions of Care
Samantha Wigfall, Ohio State University
Research has shown that medical mistrust arises from previous negative experiences and can affect patient satisfaction and overall trust in healthcare providers. This analysis aimed to understand how people’s experiences with health insurance influence their level of medical mistrust and perceptions of the care they have received from providers and medical institutions. Different healthcare providers in Ohio recruited pregnant or recently pregnant women to complete an online survey. We conducted in-depth interviews (N=37) among a subset of survey participants. We found that most participants (n=25) described a restrictive role of insurance in determining healthcare access and the quality of interpersonal treatment from healthcare providers. We classified our respondents’ experiences into themes, some of which included insurance churn, insurance-based discrimination, and stigma. Findings suggest that not only does insurance play an extensive role in the way that people access care, but insurance experiences also contribute to participant mistrust of healthcare institutions.
Tuberculosis in the Western Pacific Region, 2000–2023
Veronica Dahlkamp, University of California, Berkeley
Tuberculosis (TB) is a centuries-old disease that ruins millions of lives today. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined the Western Pacific region as one of the top hot spots for tuberculosis. I will use WHO data to examine how incidence, treatment outcomes, and mortality have changed in China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam since 2000. Additionally, I will investigate what the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report overlooks about the heterogeneity of TB in the region. I will portray a modern picture of tuberculosis in select countries through regression models and graphs to reinvigorate high-income countries to continue sharing resources with the world to cure TB. This disease is preventable and curable, and with accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment, an estimated eighty-five percent of people with TB can be cured (World Health Organization, 2023).
Searching for Harmony in the Outdoors: An Exploration of Hunting and Fishing Participation in Michigan
Jerome Hamilton, Michigan State University
Hunting and fishing are important because of the physical and mental health benefits that they offer to participants and the monetary support that they provide for conservation in the United States. However, hunting and fishing have struggled to become diverse in their participation base and many outdoor recreators of color have been left out, which contributes to declining participation in each activity. This study aims to understand the constraints and motivations of hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists through a survey of Michigan recreators. Additionally, the survey will ask each participant to identify solutions that they believe are most likely to improve their access to and enjoyment of outdoor recreation areas. The results are expected to inform the development of successful campaigns that recruit and retain diverse hunter and angler populations, thereby spreading the health benefits of these forms of recreation and preventing the evaporation of conservation funds.
Who’s There? The Effect of Third-Party Presence During Telephone Interviews
Mollie Pierson, St. Catherine University
This study examines the effect of third party presence during computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) on survey responses. Using data from the third wave (2022-2023) of the Work and Family Life Study (WAFLS), we analyzed 1,886 telephone interviews to understand how the presence (recorded by an interviewer) of a spouse, child or other person may or may not influence survey responses relating to marital quality, attitudes, values and behaviors. A third party was present in roughly 15% of WAFLS interviews, most commonly a spouse or child. For the most part, our preliminary results indicated that having a third party present was not associated with differences in reported marital quality or division of household labor, but there were some exceptions. Respondents who had a partner present during the interview reported higher marital interaction and shared decision making, and respondents who have an unknown person present during the interview report increased marital conflict and that husband’s did a greater share of housework. For gender roles, however, preliminary results consistently suggested that having a third party present was associated with reporting more traditional gender attitudes. Our work provides insights into understanding and accounting for third party presence in CATI surveys to improve data quality and design.