UTSA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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This collection contains electronic UTSA theses and dissertations (ETDs), primarily from 2005 to present. The collection is not comprehensive; search the UTSA Library Catalog for a complete list of UTSA theses and dissertations.
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Browsing UTSA Electronic Theses and Dissertations by Department "Applied Demography"
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Item A Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent Substance Use, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Health Lifestyle Towards the Development of Substance Use Disorder Outcomes Among Young Women in the United States(2023) Sharmin, SarahWomen's substance use disorder is a critical public health problem, as its adverse impact extends beyond the individual to intergenerational and national levels. This study aimed to determine the association between early substance use during adolescence, adverse childhood experiences, and a healthy lifestyle with the development of substance use disorders in emerging and young adulthood. This study utilized data from the nationally representative National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adulthood (Add Health) dataset. Three statistical techniques were employed: binary logistic regression, latent class analysis, and discrete-time analysis. The logistic regression models found that adolescents' early substance use (OR=1.62, CI: 1.29-2.03) and adverse childhood experiences (OR=1.34, 1.09-1.64) were significantly associated with the development of substance use disorders in emerging adulthood (ages 18-26) among women. Subsequently, latent class analysis was utilized to create a latent adolescent health lifestyle class to understand its association with the development of substance use disorders in young adulthood. A discrete-time analysis technique was applied to examine the transition to substance use disorders among women from adolescence to young adulthood. Adolescents (ages 12-17) with unhealthy lifestyles, substance use, and adverse childhood experiences exhibited a higher hazard ratio (HR=2.19, CI: 1.69-2.83) for transitioning to substance use disorders compared to those with protective lifestyles and no substance use or adverse experiences in young adulthood (ages 27-32). The present study significantly contributes to the understanding of the trajectory of substance use disorder development in women from adolescence to young adulthood.Item Adolescent Family Background and the Formation of the First Family Formation in Adulthood: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study(2020) Roghani, AliThis study examines the association between adolescents' family backgrounds and their first union formation (marriage and cohabitation) from the ages of 16 to 35. This research additionally tests whether the influence of family processes varies by age. This study includes three aspects of family background, including, family structure, parental resources, and family process. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and Event History Analysis are used to address how the mechanisms of social learning and intergenerational transmission of advantages by parents affect the timing and types of first union formation. The results indicate that individuals with positive family backgrounds have lower risk of cohabitating during adolescence and is associated with higher chances of marriage in their mid-twenties and later. The positive quality of the relationship between parents decreases the chance of cohabitation between the ages of 16 to 25. Also, higher parental material resources increase the chance of forming the first marriage after the age of 25. The findings show positive family process during adolescence plays a vital role in postponing cohabiting before the age of 25, while it encourages the first marriage after mid-twenties. This study further shows that fathers have a substantial role to play in affecting the timing and types of first union formation of their children compared to mothers. The findings of this research suggest that family processes have a multidimensional nature and are important in the timing and type of first union formation among young people in the United States.Item Alcohol Consumption Behavior and Adolescent and Adult Health and Mortality Outcomes in the United States(2021) Masum, MuntasirThe purpose of this study is to comprehensively examine the association between alcohol consumption behavior and health and mortality risks in the United States. The three interconnected aims of this dissertation broaden the relationship between alcohol intake levels, health, and mortality risks to newer perspectives: 1) the 1984 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Act, cohort variation in alcohol use and mortality, 2) mortality among working-age women, and 3) adult health outcomes. Data from the National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files (2001 – 2015) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1995 – 2019) are used to explore these associations. Cox proportional hazard models, discrete-time hazard models, vector generalized linear models, and generalized linear models are used to estimate the impact of alcohol consumption on health and mortality risks. A major conclusion is that the 1984 MLDA significantly decreased moderate to heavy alcohol drinking among cohorts aged 16 – 20 after 1988 when all the states fully enacted the policy. Furthermore, participation in the labor force serves as a protective mechanism against increased mortality risks for women via alcohol consumption levels. Finally, physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood (age 32 – 42) are significantly affected by lifetime alcohol use disorder. The empirical findings reiterate the importance of studying alcohol as a major threat to adult health and mortality outcomes in the United States.Item Disparities in Maternal Mortality, Metropolitan Status, and Socioeconomic Conditions in U.S. Counties(2023) Olowolaju, Samson AkingbadeThis dissertation explores the geographic differences in maternal mortality ratio in counties in the United States (US). Specifically, the dissertation examines how maternal sociodemographic characteristics and residential socioeconomic conditions such as metropolitan status, residential segregation, social deprivation, income inequality, and obstetric health care availability affect the risk of maternal deaths in US counties. Generalized Linear Bayesian Models (GLBM), including hierarchical Bayesian models, were used to estimate the association between maternal sociodemographic characteristics and residential socioeconomic conditions and maternal mortality risk ratios in US counties. A major conclusion is that non-metropolitan counties have a higher maternal mortality ratio compared to metropolitan counties in the US, even after controlling for maternal sociodemographic characteristics, residential socioeconomic conditions, and health care availability. Particularly, accounting for socioeconomic conditions, including healthcare access, maternal mortality risk ratios are notably elevated in Southern non-metropolitan counties in the United States compared to their counterparts in other regions, except for non-metropolitan counties in the Midwest region. Furthermore, the risk of maternal death during and after pregnancy for older women (aged 30 and above) is higher in non-metropolitan counties compared to urban counties. Moreover, the Isolation of the black population increases the maternal mortality ratio in US counties, controlling for degrees of rurality, social deprivation, and income inequality. Finally, the interaction between residents of different socioeconomic statuses (poor and non-poor) in a county has a protective effect on the maternal mortality ratio.Item Ethnic Differences in Clinical Depression in the United States: Nativity, Employability, and Occupational Industry(2021) Avshman, IgalObjectives There are three objectives for this dissertation project. The first objective is to assess how nativity status among Hispanics impacts their mental health status. The second objective seeks to better understand the relationship between the prevalence of mental health issues and employability for Hispanic groups. Finally, this study examines how the occupational industry chosen impacts reported mental health status among native and immigrant Hispanics. Literature Review As of 2016, the United States is comprised of over forty million immigrants, with a majority of these immigrants being of Latino or Hispanic origin. Studies have determined that racial minorities, such as Hispanic or Latino groups, are disproportionately affected by mental health disorders such as depression. However, significant variations exist among Hispanics according to nativity status. Previous studies have also found that there are higher prevalence rates of depression and mental distress in low-skilled occupations when compared to higher-skilled occupations. This literature review shows that there is a gap in the literature when studying occupation and mental health because seldomly do researchers who study employment focus on the actual occupation versus strictly looking at those employed or unemployed. Data To answer the research questions, restricted data from Waves I, III, and IV of The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, or Add Health, dataset are used. Methods With this data, generalized linear models (GLM) and an ordinal logistic regression (OLR) are used. All models are run in RStudio version 1.4.1717. Results and Implications The results from the three research questions showed that native Hispanics are at a greater risk for clinical depression compared to immigrant Hispanics, regardless of nativity or race/ethnicity status, those who have clinical depression are at a greater risk of being unemployed and being employed for a shorter amount of time compared to those who do not have clinical depression, and that higher prevalence rates of clinical depression in low skilled, elementary, and other occupations is mitigated through sex, nativity, and race/ethnicity variables. My recommendation to policymakers and mental health providers is to focus on placing mental health facilities in areas where there is a higher prevalence of native Hispanics who work in low-skilled occupations and may have lower educational attainment. Limitations There are three main limitations in this research. First, the use of the Add Health dataset where the entire sample is adolescents in Wave I means that by Wave IV, many of the immigrants have lived in the country for numerous years and therefor have similar rates of mental health issues as natives. Second, the relationship between mental health and employment status is endogenous. Lastly, the definition of mental health being a clinical diagnosis causes some bias in the results. Each limitation is addressed through either survey design by picking the right dataset and variables or a necessity to have a sample size that can be properly analyzed.Item Hispanic Health in the United States: Duration of Residence, Social Capital, and New Destinations(2024) Mamani, DanielHispanics are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic subgroup in the United States. Lower rates of educational attainment and higher rates of chronic disease are characteristics of the Hispanic population, yet on average Hispanics live longer than non-Hispanic Whites. The purpose of this research is to further examine features of the Hispanic paradox and capture different aspects of the Hispanic health experience in the United States. The following address different topics related to Hispanic health: Duration of Residence, Social Capital, and New Destinations. In the first chapter we found more evidence of a Hispanic mortality advantage, even among obese Hispanics. We also saw that among Hispanics, the improved mortality risk appears to attenuate the more time spent in the United States. For the second chapter, Hispanics seem to have lower levels of inflammation or stress response biomarkers compared to non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks. Additionally, adolescent indicators of social capital appeared to not have a protective effect on inflammation levels. Lastly, counties with a larger Hispanic presence tended to have lower rates of obesity compared to those where Hispanics make up a lesser proportion of the population. Additionally, Hispanic new destination counties had lower rates of obesity compared to established Hispanic destination hubs.Item Income Inequality and Population Health: A Panel Data Analysis(2022) Validova, AsiyaThe dissertation examines the link between income inequality and population health indicators, including life expectancy, infant mortality, and COVID-19 mortality. It aims to determine if an unequal income distribution poses a hazard to the health status of individuals in society. Using a large international panel dataset from the newest version of the Standardized World Income Inequality Database, the study re-examines the relative income hypothesis and solves such methodological challenges as countries' stratification and heterogeneity bias. Pooled time-series cross-section and country fixed-effects models estimates, based on a sample of developed and developing countries, indicate that income inequality is negatively associated with life expectancy at birth and does not play a significant role in determining infant mortality. Furthermore, the results indicate different effects of income inequality depending on a country's economic standing. Once countries were divided into income groups, the association between income inequality and life expectancy was found only relevant for the group of low-income countries. On the contrary, in the case of infant mortality, a significant association was observed for high-income countries only, thus supporting the relative income hypothesis for the most developed countries. Finally, examining the role of income inequality as a possible driver of health inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates a positive and statistically significant association between the country's Gini coefficient and the number of excess deaths during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings emphasize the need to develop strategies to address income inequality as a critical socio-economic factor and target interventions beneficial for the population in the lowest part of the income distribution.Item Inputs for Post-graduate Education Enrollment and Completion among Hispanics(2020) Cano McCutcheon, PaulinaIn the past decades, we have seen a rise in the demand of post-graduate education with graduate degrees becoming a requirement for job opportunities and social mobility. However, the Hispanic population has remained behind in their educational attainment when compared to other racial groups. Considering that Hispanics are expected to represent close 30% of the population by the year 2050, their current educational attainment level is concerning. This research attempts to uncover potential sources of structural inequality in our academic institutions and systems that are hindering the success of Hispanics at the post-graduate level. Three aims are addressed in this research project. The first aim explores the relationship of social capital on the expectations of Hispanics to complete a post-graduate degree. Social capital is operationalized using high-impact activities previously associated with high levels of learning and development among college students. The second aim focuses on exploring the relationship of immigration status and the attainment of post-graduate degrees among Hispanics. This segment of the Hispanic population is rarely explored in the context of post-graduate education but represents an important group of the highly educated Hispanics. The last aim explores the association of HSI grants and the graduation rates of Hispanics at an institutional level using a causal inference method. Findings suggest that socio-economic and immigration status are important elements in the post-graduate attainment of Hispanics. At the institutional level, this research identifies areas that needs further improvement to serve Hispanic students successfully including online education and support of part-time enrollment students.Item LABOR MARKET INTERGRATION OF AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS: THE US IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE(2024) Okabe, Lydia MabelThis dissertation provides a thorough understanding of the labor market integration specifically the employment and occupation outcomes of African immigrants in comparison to other immigrant groups and native-born individuals in both the United States and key European countries, specifically Spain and Italy. The study examines factors shaping their integration, such as employment outcomes, educational selectivity, and occupational preferences. Adopting a comparative perspective, the research seeks to unveil both the shared characteristics and distinctive features in the integration experiences of African immigrants compared to other immigrant groups in the United States and Europe. This study employs two datasets, namely IPUMS ACS (2016-2020) and IPUMS International (2000, 2001 & 2011), to investigate the employment patterns of African immigrants relative to other immigrant groups and native-born individuals. Additionally, it assesses the employment outcomes of African immigrants in the United States, Italy, and Spain, aiming to discern the influence of host country factors and educational selectivity on employment trends. Furthermore, the study examines the impact of education and host country on the occupational engagement of African immigrants in high-skilled occupations within Italy, Spain, and the USA. Gender-specific analyses are conducted to account for potential disparities in migration patterns and labor market participation between males and females. Through logistic regression analyses and the inclusion of interaction effects involving education, place of birth, and host country, the findings reveal noteworthy variations in the employment dynamics of African immigrants compared to other immigrant cohorts and native-born individuals in the United States. Additionally, surprising insights emerge regarding the employment patterns of African immigrants in Italy, Spain, and the USA, along with their involvement in skilled labor across the three examined countries.Item Las Caras Negras Invisibles: Assessing Black Statistical Invisibility in the 2010 Panama Census = Las caras negras invisibles: evaluacion de la invisibilidad estadistica negra en el censo de Panama de 2010(2023) Lowe, Ricardo HenriqueThis study explores determinants associated with Black self-identification in the 2010 Panamanian census and the endogenous effect of said identification on the material conditions of the population. Response to the Afro-descendant question is hypothesized to be a function of physical characteristics, such as the skin color of the respondent's district of residence, and various demographic and economic determinants such as educational attainment, wealth, age and sex. Predicted probabilities are estimated using binary logistic models where Black self-identification is dichotomous and used as an outcome variable. To correct for endogeneity bias in the Afro-descendant question, I perform an instrumental variables (IV) regression model - which ultimately reveals an unbiased estimate of the true material conditions of the population. I also empirically assess how the ethno-racial identities of Panamanian immigrants in the United States transpose onto the American racial classification system by taking advantage of the ethno-racial categories fielded in the American Community Survey (ACS). Independent binary logistic regression models are performed related to Black self-identification and ancestral lineage. Ultimately, this dissertation helps to assess the issue of Black statistical underrepresentation in Panama in effort to better understand Black identity in the republic and identify improved avenues for correction in future population censuses.Item Outcomes Related to Changes in Illicit and Prescription Opioid Use and the Response in Providing or Receiving Treatment(2021) Kazanis, William H.For much of the last two decades, prescription opioid misuse and heroin use were preceded by prescription opioid use. As policies have shifted and illicit opioids became more widely available, illicit opioid use became more prevalent, and there is now a growing population that is first exposed to opioid use by using heroin or fentanyl. While much of the increase in opioid mortality appears to be linked to the use of illicit opioids, In this paper I investigate demographic and socio-economic characteristics of opioid use at the individual level and examine treatment seeking behavior between patients using only prescription opioids, only heroin, and patients using both heroin and prescription opioids. I then investigate the how demographic and socio-economic risk factors for prescription and illicit opioid overdose rates at the county level differ between areas of high and low prescribing. Finally, I investigate how areas of high prescription mortality and areas of high illicit opioid mortality influence the availability of treatment centers for opioid use disorder.Item Racial Disparities in Black-White Maternal Mortality in the United States(2023) Assogba, Albert KofiThis study examines the disparities in maternal mortality between Black and White women in the United States from 2015 to 2019. It explored the persistent Black-White disparities in maternal mortality, shedding light on the factors contributing to these disparities. Assessed the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by analyzing maternal mortality rates in states that implemented Medicaid expansion at different time points across the United States and explored the relationship between maternal age at first birth, parity, and adverse pregnancy outcomes among Black and White women, providing insights into potential contributing factors to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data from the US Mortality Data (2009-2019), Natality Data (National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 2009-2019), the American Community Survey (5-year Estimates, 2019), and Area Health Resources File (2015-2019) were analyzed. The findings indicated that communities with a greater proportion of Black residents tended to experience more hospital shutdowns for obstetric services. In contrast, states that broadened their Medicaid programs witnessed lower rates of maternal mortality and lack of insurance. Black women were discovered to be at an increased risk of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes compared to White women, irrespective of whether it was their first or second childbirth. The study infers that the expansion of Medicaid under the ACA has a direct impact on maternal health results. Nonetheless, a joint effort from healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, and communities is crucial to eradicate racial inequalities in maternal health and guarantee equal chances for secure and healthy pregnancies.Item Self-control, Divine Control, and Intimate Partner Violence in Three Southeast Asian Societies(2021) Daniels, Colton LewisIntimate partner violence (IPV) is experienced across the world with similar heightened rates across both non-Western and non-industrialized countries compared to their more developed counterparts. The present dissertation seeks to supplement the current literature by elaborating on (a) the relationship between low self-control and IPV, both in terms of victimization and perpetration, and (b) how certain facets of religion, specifically, belief in divine control, may impact the relationship between low self-control and IPV in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Data come from the 2018 Religion, Family Life and Health Survey, which yielded a sample of 800 married women for each respective country. Results show that (a) virtually all dimensions of low self-control are associated with increased IPV, and (b) the effects of divine control, direct and moderating, are less consistent as divine control is only significant for certain facets of IPV, and vary across countries. These findings underscore the importance of the social norms and the religious belief systems when explicating the occurrence of IPV. Future research should examine additional religious beliefs and practices as well as social constraints that can help better understand the antecedents of IPV and provide further insight into effective strategies to alleviate the prevalence of IPV across the globe.Item Suicidal Thoughts: A Matter of Integration and Personal Stressors(2023) Reyna, Joshua AnthonyAlthough those who take their lives represent a much smaller percentage of people who attempt suicide, the number of people who have active thoughts and/or plan out their deaths is much higher. Unsurprisingly, little has been done to curb the rising amounts of suicide and, in turn, those living with thoughts of suicide over the years. Much of the research on suicide indicates that the process of ending one's life is a complicated web of factors that is largely concentrated in certain demographic groups within the US. In contrast, other groups are not as affected. From the seminal work of Emile Durkheim, many researchers would agree that social interactions are one of the most important factors that decrease the risk of thinking about suicide. The overall goal of this dissertation research is to use secondary data to examine the risk of thinking about suicide among various demographic subgroups in the US. Negative binomial regression models are used to estimate the impact of indicators of social support on the likelihood of suicide among samples of the general population, LGTBQ+ individuals, and veteran individuals. This study also examines the associations between the frequency and quality of social networks on the potential risk of thinking about suicide in the US. A major conclusion of the dissertation is that various groups within the United States are at differential risk of thinking about suicide. The likelihood of suicidal thoughts appears to be moderated by familial and friend-based support. Further, meaningful and more contact with friends and family is likely to lessen the prevalence of suicidal thoughts.Item The Enduring Legacy of Texas Freedom Colonies on Black Homeownership: A Mixed-Methods Approach(2024) Jennings, CandaceThis research project examines the historical roots of Black homeownership and its contemporary implications. Historically, systemic discrimination has impeded Black wealth accumulation, perpetuating racial disparities in homeownership rates. The unique Texan landscape, characterized by urban and rural areas, reinforces the significance of understanding Black homeownership within this state, particularly in reference to Texas Freedom Colonies. While the populations of most communities have faded over time, their legacy persists, influencing property ownership patterns in nearby cities. This project employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of Black homeownership in historical context. Using a mixed-methods approach, which combined statistical analyses of census data with narratives of lived experiences, enabled an inclusive understanding of Freedom Colonies' impact on homeownership among the Black population. This research contributes to the existing literature on wealth disparities. The inclusion of personal narratives enriched the study, providing insights beyond what data alone could offer. The collective findings highlight both the empowering aspects of collective self-determination within the Black community, including the protective effects of intentional independence, as well as the adverse effects of segregation. By contextualizing these findings historically, the research offers valuable insights for policymakers, informing recommendations aimed at addressing racial disparities in homeownership and wealth, and gives meaningful direction to future research.Item The Impact of Multiple Minority Statuses on Allostatic Load Scores for Sexual Minorities(2022) Weeks, Steven DouglasThis study explores intersectional identities among sexual minorities and examines factors that influence the accumulation of risk to health over the life course. An allostatic load (AL) score is a measurement compiled from biomarkers that captures and measures the effects of persistent health insults over time. Data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were used to create AL scores from biomarkers collected from individuals during young adulthood and middle age. AL scores are analyzed longitudinally using a generalized estimating equation and a linear mixed model to identify individual process, intra-social contexts, structural inequities and systemic repressions that are protective or adverse to health for sexual minorities with intersecting identities. Compared to straight white men, recent research has shown that gay white men acquire enhanced privilege and access to resources that lead to improved AL scores, which are not available to straight men or to women and racial/ethnic minorities who are additionally penalized for having intersectional minoritized statuses resulting in higher AL scores.