ARC25 Agenda – Sat, Feb 1

Jennifer Lape Kaiser1, Laryn O'Donnell Knudson2, Jason White1, and Madison Skaggs1

1Exercise Science, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, 2Occupational Therapy, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY

Introduction/Background. As individuals age, balance becomes increasingly important in order to maintain independence, activities of daily living (ADLs), and reduce the occurrence of falls. The proposed study outlined below will compare several common balance assessments to a newer technology, the Korebalance 19 system (KBS). 

Hypothesis/Goal of Study. The goal of this proposed study is to investigate the validity of the (KBS) as compared to three common balance assessments: Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), Tinetti Balance Assessment (TBS), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Further, investigators will explore how scores on these balance assessments are related to subject confidence in completing activities of daily living through the Fall Efficacy Scale (FES). 

Methods and Results. Recruitment of participants will take place at a senior center in the south in which a KBS is operational. The target number of participants is approximately 100 adults who are at least 60 years old. Additionally, participants must have a Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score of at least 25 and speak English. Exclusion criteria includes significant cardiovascular, psychiatric, or respiratory comorbidities. Following informed consent, participants will report to the senior center for testing on 3 separate occasions, each visit one week apart. During each testing visit, participants will each of the aforementioned assessments (KBS, BESS, TBS, BBS) in a randomized order. Each balance assessment takes between 3-20 minutes; participants will rest for 10 minutes between each assessment. Total visit time will be approximately 60-90 minutes. 

Discussion/Conclusions. This study's results will provide valuable information about the KBS's validity and reliability. Future directions will include comparing balance training on the KBS to other common balance training modalities. 

Citation/Acknowledgements.  Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD) grant for KBS to Campbell County Senior and Wellness Center.

Douglas S. Krull1, Ty Brumback2, and Ava M. Whitney1

1Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, 2School of Psychology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

Introduction/Background. A 2022 poll from the Barna Group found that 52% of the U. S. population (age 13+) reported religious doubts sometimes, occasionally, or frequently. Research suggests that religious doubt predicts poor mental health (Haney & Rollock, 2020). 

Hypothesis/Goal of Study. The current project sought to replicate these relationships and to also explore the relationships between religious (or non-religious) doubt and physical and behavioral health. 

Methods and Results. College students (90 male, 180 female, 12 other; M[age]=21.6) completed an online questionnaire that asked about religious (or non-religious) doubt (e.g., degree of doubt, frequency, recency), mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety), physical health (e.g., self-reported health), behavioral health (e.g., drug use, exercise), and related variables (e.g., stress, sleep problems). Consistent with previous research, religious doubt was associated with depression (r=.17, p=.005), anxiety (r=.26, p<.001), and lower meaning in life (r=-.28, p<.001). In addition, doubt was also related to many other health-related variables, including tobacco use (r=.22, p<.001), vaping/nicotine use (r=.25, p<.001), alcohol use (r=.22, p<.001), binge drinking (r=.16, p=.036), marijuana/THC use (r=.30, p<.001), lower cardiovascular exercise (r=-.12, p=.046), lower weight use/muscle training (r=-.15, p=.013), stress (r=.23, p<.001), and sleep problems (r=.24, p<.001). 

Discussion/Conclusions. These results suggest that the negative correlates of religious (or non-religious) doubt are not limited to poor mental health, but also include a variety of health-related variables. Although causality cannot be inferred from the current findings, it could be that religious/non-religious doubts are not only psychologically distressing, but also lead to many health problems.

Citation/Acknowledgements. Funded by the NKU Institute for Health Innovation 

Citations: Haney, A. M., & Rollock, D. (2020). A matter of faith: The role of religion, doubt, and personality in emerging adult mental health. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 12(2), 247–253.

Lexiao Jin1, Matthew Junard2, Gabrielle Bonvillain2, Sarah Barnett3, Alexis Miller1, Gregg Shirk1, Richa Singhal1,2,4, and Dan Conklin1,2,4

1Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, 2School of Medicine, 3Department of Chemistry, and 4Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Introduction/Background. The WHO estimates that air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths or about 1 in 8 global deaths. Epidemiological studies indicate that 60-70% of the premature mortality attributed to air pollution are cardiovascular deaths especially in those with pre-existing conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms by which exposures to air pollution worsen cardiovascular disease are unclear. 

Hypothesis/Goal of Study. We hypothesized that the cardiovascular toxicity of particulate air pollution (PM2.5) exposure would be enhanced in the setting of hypertension. 

Methods and Results. Methods: To test this, we combined air pollution exposure with a hypertension model (angiotensin II, 2.5 mg/kg bwt/day: ANGII osmotic pump) where normotensive and hypertensive male wildtype (WT, C57BL/6J) mice were exposed to filtered air or concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAP) for 3 weeks. To understand how combined hypertension and CAP exposure may alter cardiac remodeling, fibrosis and gene transcription (bulk RNAseq) were quantified. 

Results: Mice with ANGII-infusion developed hypertension (non-invasive tail cuff) that was significantly elevated by CAP exposure. Hypertensive mice also developed cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight/tibia length ratio, mg/mm) independent of exposure [hypertensive: WT+Air, 9.6±0.4; WT+CAP, 10.3±0.4; normotensive groups: WT+Air, 8.3±0.3; WT+CAP, 7.4±0.1). CAP exposure had no effect on differential gene transcription in normotensive mice, yet CAP exposure significantly induced 996 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in hypertensive mice (332 up, 664 down). Gene Ontogeny (GO) analysis found dysregulated gene clusters (>40 genes) primarily for cardiac and striated muscle development and differentiation. Increased genes included caspase 12 (Casp12) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (Comt) genes that likely reflect enhanced apoptosis and sympathetic input. Downregulated genes included 2 collagen genes (Col5a3 and Col6a3) and death inducer-obliterator 1 (Dido1) -- reflecting dysregulated cardiac remodeling. 

Discussion/Conclusions. Hypertension enhanced the susceptibility of short-term air pollution exposure to worsen cardiovascular effects especially cardiac remodeling. This study reveals potential genetic mechanisms by which air pollution hastens cardiac dysregulation and promotes heart failure – a serious, globally relevant cardiovascular health risk of particulate air pollution.

Citation/Acknowledgements.  This work supported by NIH grants: P30ES030283, P42ES023716, P20GM127607, UC7AI180309-01, T32ES011564, T35ES014559, HL149351, U54HL120163, HL171763; Department of Defense HT94252410596; Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence (JHFE); and KY INBRE P20GM103436-24.

Melissa Eggen1, Bridget Basile2, Hamid Zarei1, Mary Curnutte1, and Qi Zheng3

1Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 2School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 3Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Introduction/Background. The cesarean delivery rate in Kentucky is among the highest in the nation at 34.5% of deliveries (2022). Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is one strategy for decreasing overall cesarean births and is associated with lower rates of maternal morbidity and higher satisfaction with the birth experience. In Kentucky, the VBAC rate has increased from 8.8% in 2016 to 11.3% in 2022. Despite overall increases, the VBAC rate in Kentucky remains among the lowest in the United States and is lower than the national average of 14.6% (2022). Few studies have explored the association between hospital level characteristics and VBAC.  

Hypothesis/Goal of Study. This study aimed to estimate associations between hospital-level rates of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and hospital characteristics among obstetric hospitals in Kentucky. We hypothesized that the delivery hospital itself is an important predictor of VBAC and varies depending upon hospital type, birth volume, and level of specialized care. 

Methods and Results. This cross-sectional study used Kentucky Health Facility and Services Data, a database of all hospital inpatient discharges, and American Hospital Association Annual Survey (AHA) Data from 2017 to 2020. Hospitals that did not complete the AHA Annual Survey (n=9) were excluded, resulting in a final hospital sample of 38. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) “Inpatient Quality Indicator for Vaginal Birth after Cesarean” was used to apply exclusion criteria for calculating the average hospital-level risk-adjusted VBAC rate over the 4-year study period. A logistic regression model assessed variation in VBAC rates at the individual and hospital-level, adjusting for maternal race, age, insurance type, pre-pregnancy obesity, pre-existing hypertension and/or chronic kidney disease, and hospital characteristics, including hospital location (metro/non-metro), teaching status, annual delivery volume, and number of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds.

The final sample included 24,128 singleton live births in 38 labor and delivery hospitals in Kentucky, including 2,176 VBACs and 21,952 repeat cesarean deliveries. VBACs occurred in 33 of the 38 included hospitals (87%). After adjusting for individual and hospital-level factors, there were higher odds of VBAC among teaching hospitals (OR: 4.26; p<0.001) and lower odds of VBAC among non-metro hospitals (OR: 0.82, p=0.013). No other hospital-level factors included in the model were associated with higher odds of VBAC. At the individual level, higher odds of VBAC were observed among women who were “other” race (non-White/non-Black) (OR: 1.84; p<0.001) and Black (OR: 1.15; p=0.048), relative to White race. Lower odds of VBAC were associated with pre-existing hypertension and/or kidney disease (OR: 0.56; p<0.001) and pre-pregnancy obesity (OR: 0.39; p<0.001).

Discussion/Conclusions. We identified significant variability in hospital-level VBAC rates in Kentucky but little contribution from measurable hospital-level characteristics included in the study. Overall, hospital-level VBAC rates in Kentucky are low, which limits access to comprehensive options for people who have had a previous cesarean delivery, particularly in non-metro areas where teaching hospitals are not located. Future research to examine intra-hospital culture and other institutional factors is needed to better understand the variability in VBAC and identify strategies to improve access in Kentucky. 

Citation/Acknowledgements. None

Rebecca Hutchinson, Kirsten Scoggin, Mats Troedsson, and Hossam El-Sheikh Ali

Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Abstract Embargoed

Hanna Forrest1,2, Avery Sutton2, Allison West3, Sena Er4, Qingfang Song1, Tamara Newton5

1 Department of Applied Human Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 2Department of Psychological Science, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 3School of Nursing, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 4The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 5Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Kentucky, Louisville, KY

Abstract Embargoed

Aishwarya Kumar and Katrina Burch

Department of Psychological Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Introduction/Background. Considering that the bulk of adulthood is centered around work, it is imperative that working conditions are not only safe, but also promote positive experiences. However, many factors can contribute to poor experiences at work, such as experiencing workplace incivility, which continues to be a central topic in research and practice due to detriments associated with employees and organizations (Akella & Lewis, 2019). Workplace incivility, a form of low intensity harmful behavior in works spaces, is a type of stressor most people encounter in their jobs. To understand the impacts of workplace incivility on individual resources, conservation of resources (COR) theory is often utilized. COR theory posits that stressors are associated with the depletion of resources (Hobfoll, 1989), with one indicator of depletion being that of mental fatigue. The theory of selective incivility posits that experiences of workplace incivility are modern forms of discrimination (Cortina, 2008), suggesting employees of color are at the greatest risk of mistreatment, and thus, likely to experience more detrimental outcomes than their White counterparts. Given the impact of experiencing incivility on individuals and organizations, attention has focused on understanding mitigating factors that can attenuate the impact of experiencing incivility on detrimental outcomes. One such mitigating factor may be personal tolerance for incivility. 

Hypothesis/Goal of Study. Integrating COR theory and theory of selective incivility, I will examine the relationship between workplace incivility and resource depletion through the boundary conditions of race and personal tolerance for mistreatment. Importantly, much of prior research have examined workplace incivility through a critical incidence lens, while negating that incivility can occur on both a daily (e.g., Burch et al., 2023; Tremmel & Sonnentag, 2018; Zhou et al., 2015) and weekly basis (Zhou et al., 2019). The use of an intraindividual design allows for the examination of employees’ reactions during the same day workplace incivility was experienced, thus allowing for the examination of incivility and its outcomes on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, I expand on the theory of selective incivility (Cortina, 2008) to examine the impact of individuals’ race on the daily experience of workplace incivility and resource depletion, while also assessing mitigating factors through person-situation interactions. Therefore, I will examine the relationship between workplace incivility on resource depletion via a daily diary lens, modeling race and personal tolerance for incivility as boundary conditions on this relationship. 

Methods and Results. The sample size for this study consists of 535 measurement occasions nested within 64 individuals, with 84% of participants completing seven or more daily surveys. The following measures were collected at baseline: personal tolerance for mistreatment and demographics; experienced workplace incivility and resource depletion were collected once per day for 10 total days. Two-week daily surveys (N=64) revealed that incivility significantly predicted resource depletion, with personal tolerance for mistreatment unexpectedly exacerbating this relationship. Race did not moderate this association.

Discussion/Conclusions. This study sheds light on the relationship between daily workplace incivility and psychological resource depletion, confirming that incivility contributes to resource loss, consistent with COR theory. Employees experiencing daily incivility reported higher levels of mental fatigue, however, personal tolerance for mistreatment did not buffer this relationship as expected. Instead, employees with higher tolerance for mistreatment experienced greater resource depletion when exposed to incivility. This suggests that while tolerance may reduce discomfort in low-incivility environments, it can exacerbate stress in high-incivility contexts. Contrary to Hypothesis 2, race did not significantly moderate the incivility-depletion relationship, which could be due to the predominantly White sample. This challenges the theory of selective incivility and highlights the need for further research to explore how factors like organizational culture or job roles influence these dynamics.

Strengths of the study include the use of a daily diary design, providing detailed insights into day-to-day variations in workplace incivility. However, the sample's lack of racial diversity and the exclusion of other potential moderators limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research should address these gaps and explore the long-term effects of high tolerance for mistreatment on health outcomes.

Practically, organizations should focus on reducing incivility and avoid encouraging high tolerance for mistreatment, as it may have detrimental long-term effects on employee well-being.

Citation/Acknowledgements. NIGMS #8P20GM103436

Rosalynn Walton1, Danielle Williams2, Sena Er3, Hanna Forrest2,4, and Qingfang Song4

1Department of Social Work, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 2Department of Psychological Science, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 3The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 4Department of Applied Human Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Introduction/Background. Ethnic-racial socialization (ERS), the practice of transmitting information about race to children, has been suggested as effective in helping children navigate through race-related challenges and thus related to children’s positive adjustment. However, emerging studies focused on parents as socialization agents and interventions on training parents to deliver supportive ERS.

Hypothesis/Goal of Study. The goal of the proposed research is to integrate experimental design to investigate the effectiveness of a support service program with college student mentor delivering ERS in ethnic minority youth’s mental health. We hypothesized that ethnic minority youth’s mental health symptoms would decrease after completing the college student mentor program. 

Methods and Results. A total of twenty (9 Latino American and 11 Black American) ethnic minority youth (9-15 years old) and their caregivers completed the study. Two African American college students made four zoom calls with each ethnic minority youth to discuss hypothetical racial discrimination scenarios. Question prompts were used to facilitate the discussion on the attribution of discrimination, emotions, and possible actions to take. Each zoom call was about 15 minutes long, about 2-3 weeks apart. During the pre- and post-test lab visits (about 3.5 months apart), youth reported their stress and anxiety, as well as prior racial discrimination experience, through questionnaires. 

A 2 (ethnicity) x 2 (time: pre vs post) repeated-measures ANCOVA was conducted to predict anxiety or stress. Youth’s gender and discrimination experience were entered as covariates. Results revealed a significant time effect in predicting stress F(1, 16) = 6.19, p = .024, qualified by an ethnicity x time effect, F(1, 16) = 10.00, p = .006. A significant ethnicity x time effect was also found in predicting anxiety, F(1, 16) = 8.31, p = .011. Post-hoc analyses revealed that Latino reported lower stress (Mdiff = -6.78, SE = 2.33, p = .010) and lower anxiety (Mdiff = -5.84, SE = 2.37, p = .025) after the college student mentor program. Surprisingly, Black African reported more anxiety (Mdiff = -4.41, SE = 2.08, p = .050) after the college student mentor program.

Discussion/Conclusions. The health implications of delivering ethnic-racial socialization through college student mentors are discussed.

Citation/Acknowledgements. This project was supported by grant P20GM103436-22 (KY INBRE) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.