Most of my work to date has dealt with what most people would consider sad things; things we’d rather not think about. Generally, I study health and societal problems that primarily impact older adults. Chronic disease, disablement, dementia, and death are not easy topics of conversation. However, I find them tremendously important to write about,…
Tag: Health
Meet a Social Scientist: Dr. Rowan from Public Health
What is your name?Dr. Alan Rowan. What kind of work do you do in the College?I am an Associate Teaching Professor in the College of Social Science and Public Policy/Public Health at Florida State University. I teach, do research and engage in service in the department, profession and community. Why did you decide to become…
COVID-19 in Florida: Disparities in the Black Population
This article was first posted October 19th, 2020. After the COVID-19 pandemic caused statewide shutdowns and social distancing regulations across the nation in March 2020, the State of Florida reopened on May 18, 2020. Shortly after its reopening, hospitals and testing centers reported a drastic increase in positive COVID-19 tests. In July 2020, Florida became…
Policy Pub: Bouncing Back: What the Science of Resilience Can Teach Us
This post is based on a webinar sponsored by Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. Resilience is defined by aspects, such as self-reliance, perseverance, and flexibility in difficult situations. While resilience is often thought of as being a psychological characteristic, or something innate, research tells us there are things that can be done…
Ph.D. Spotlight: Social Relationships as Resources in Later Life: The Dynamics of Structural and Functional Support
The field of sociology has long acknowledged the importance of social relationships. Some of the most well-known research in sociology on relationships stems from the foundational work of Durkheim, who found those who were socially integrated were less likely to commit suicide than those who were socially isolated. Durkheim’s was among the first sociological studies to argue…
Sedentary Time Linked to Weather for Kids in Mexico City
Global increases in sedentary behavior – like sitting or lying down – are worrisome for public health as they may be harbingers of increased mortality and morbidity, such as obesity and high blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 25% of adults and more than 80% of adolescents across the world are not physically…
How Social Isolation Effects the Academic Achievement of Students with Learning Disabilities.
Students with disabilities comprise a large, diverse portion of students in the United States. The National Center for Education Statistics found that in the 2015-16 school year, about 6.7 million students ages 3-21 (13%) received special education services in the U.S. public education system. My work is focused on a specific group. Students with learning disabilities, who…
Gun Sales, Well-being, and COVID-19
Gun sales have reached record highs since the spring of 2020. Current estimates suggest that 2020’s year-to-date gun sales exceed all of 2019’s sales by one million units (Grant 2020). Even August, which saw the smallest growth in gun sales so far in 2020, had a 57.8% year-over-year increase in gun sales (Grant 2020). Breaking August’s numbers…
Ph.D. Spotlight: Managing Midlife: How Gender and Sexuality Influence Midlife Perceptions of Decline and Progress
This dissertation investigates how gender and sexuality shape people’s perceptions of aging in midlife. The study draws on two prominent narratives about aging discussed by aging studies scholars. The first narrative, decline, is a predominant aging narrative that constructs aging as an accumulation of irreversible losses. A second, less prevalent narrative constructs aging as progress—emphasizing the…
Policy Pub: The COVID-19 Effect: Tackling Racial, Economic, and Gender Inequity
This post is based on a webinar sponsored by Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. Crises have a way of shining a light on issues that tend to get ignored when things are going well. Crises also create oppertunity to reflect, to adapt, to push for more substantive, transformative change. The…
