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Early childhood (EC) education has usually involved in-person teaching and learning. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed remote teaching on EC practitioners and complicated practicum students' fieldwork experiences. This study explored EC practicum students' fieldwork experiences in the U.S. during the pandemic and their preparedness for online teaching and technology employment and integration. Participants included 28 students enrolled in Directed Field Experience in Spring 2021. A mixed-methods approach incorporating multiple sources of data, including reflection papers, interviews, and questionnaires, was used. The findings showed that the EC practicum students changed their perceptions of and attitudes toward a remote field experience course and online teaching with young children over the semester. Additionally, EC practicum students' challenges and professional and academic growth were evident in their reporting. These findings have implications for the development of effective strategies for alleviating EC practicum students' challenges, facilitating their professional growth, and providing resources to integrate digital technology in their teaching in developmentally appropriate ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Social media can be an effective tool in health care education. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene educators' familiarity and use of social media platforms and to examine how social media was implemented in dental hygiene education. Methods A 25-item questionnaire was designed to investigate the use of social media by dental hygiene educators. The instrument included demographic data and items addressing personal, professional, and educational use of twelve common social media sites and the respondents' beliefs about social media using a 4-point Likert scale. The electronic questionnaire was distributed by email to 379 dental hygiene program directors in the United States and Canada. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 120 responses were received. While Facebook was the most utilized site for personal use (78.3%), LinkedIn was the most frequently accessed site for professional use (57.5%), and YouTube for educational use (68.3%). There was strong agreement that the interactive nature of online technologies create better learning environments (84.1%). There was also strong agreement that social media use in the classroom invites student participation (77.5%). More than half of the respondents (64.2%) indicated that social media can be an effective method for content delivery. Conclusion Social media is highly utilized for personal use by dental hygiene educators, but less frequently for engagement purposes in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is documented that wheelchair failures occur frequently, repair times are lengthy, and users often experience adverse consequences. This study aims to gather evidence on efficiency of current wheelchair repair processes from the perspective of complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) suppliers who perform repairs within the United States. A 20 statement survey was developed to identify barriers and facilitators related to wheelchair repairs across the domains of administrative and operational factors as well as to identify future opportunities for improvement. Key statements in these areas included time to perform a repair, documentation requirements, tracking repair progress, reimbursement, technician competency, emerging strategies and preventative maintenance. The online survey was broadly disseminated to a nationwide network of CRT suppliers for data collection. A total of 127 responses were received. Results showed that administrative statements received the lowest scores while those statements dealing with future opportunities received the highest scores. Areas of the industry that suppliers were in most disagreement with included wait time for insurance approval, reimbursement for parts, reimbursement for technician travel time and lack of coverage for preventative maintenance. Telehealth system usage, preventative maintenance coverage, tracking repairs and repair scheduling were future opportunities that suppliers were in most agreement with. Administrative issues exist in the CRT industry due to restrictive insurance policies associated with repairs and maintenance. Future opportunities to improve the process exist including payment models and the application of telehealth, device monitoring and service-based performance incentives to reduce adverse consequences to the user. Highlights the direct importance and barriers faced within the wheelchair repair industry by CRT suppliers. In a sample of CRT suppliers, there is agreement there exists many administrative and operational issues related to wheelchair repairs. There is agreement among survey respondents of opportunities to investigate further telehealth and remote strategies, preventative maintenance coverage and online tracking for wheelchair repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To get a rich description of the barriers to using assistive technology (AT) among men and women ≥65 years living in poor and disadvantaged communities in Puerto Rico, an issue not well described among older people. We conducted qualitative interviews assisted by videos of AT and guided by the Matching Person and Technology Model and the Gender Analysis Framework with a purposive sample of 23 men and women. Participants were asked questions regarding reasons for not using AT, willingness for using AT, their identified gender roles and gender-related activities, and bargaining positions. They were also asked about their access to resources to acquire AT, bargaining positions, the stigma associated with AT use, and the characteristics of AT. Directed content analysis with input from a Community Advisory Board was used for the interpretation of the results. The predominant barrier (for both men and women) to using AT devices were: lack of information about AT s and access to money for their purchase, lack of availability and cost of such devices, and (self)-stigma. More women than men experienced limited access to AT services, limited access to and control of money, limited skills for using AT, and less bargaining power for making independent decisions. More men than women expressed a lack of functional need and personal preferences other than using AT devices for managing difficulties in activities. There are gender differences concerning the multilevel barriers to using AT devices among older Hispanics residing in low-income communities. Older Hispanic men and women in this study experienced different obstacles to using assistive technology (AT) they need for compensating their functional disabilities in daily living activities. Women in this study reported having less access to money and AT services, diminished skills for using AT devices, and less power to make independent decisions to access AT devices compared to men. To ensure the equitable provision of AT, cultural as well as gender-related factors concerning AT use need to be considered. Future research should focus on women's functional health, also should focus on the development of gender-sensitive and culturally competent AT interventions to improve older Hispanics from poor communities function and opportunities for ageing at their homes and in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With constantly changing political landscapes affecting the ability of college students with minoritized identities of sexuality and/or gender (MIoSG; Vaccaro et al., 2015) to thrive on campus, higher educators need to understand student reported stressors to design more inclusive learning environments. Building from minority stress theory and using data from a grounded theory study with 56 collegiate STEM students with MIoSG, this paper documents stressors that students reported as contributing to diminished wellbeing. We used constant comparative grounded theory analysis to identify stressors shared by all participants, which included lack of belonging and invisibility in competitive STEM cultures as well as exclusionary interactions with STEM peers. Recommendations include the design and delivery of holistic education and support services on campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lockers in middle schools and high schools in the United States are currently disappearing. Due to safety concerns and digitalized textbooks and other school supplies, lockers are becoming obsolete. As larger societal and technological changes drive this trend, the loss of lockers as a shared social space demands careful attention and consideration. Many students use lockers as a means in which to project their identities and membership in different social groups. At the same time, visiting lockers during passing periods provides students opportunities to run into (often literally) students from other social groups, creating unique possibilities for relationship-building that are rare in other school spaces. As social and political polarization continues to intensity in the US and other countries around the world, the loss of lockers in American schools can serve as a caution of the consequences that accrue from disappearing shared social spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In July 2023, the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) developed a survey to understand the impact of technology on the role of medical writers in clinical and regulatory document development. The survey was administered using SurveyMonkey to individuals responsible for leading, training, or developing a medical writing team. Respondents were mostly regulatory writers (96%) working in pharmaceutical/biotechnology/medical device or contract research organizations (88%). Most were using technology (65%) and almost all were planning to implement authoring technology (95%). New roles for medical writers, training methods for implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), and validation of the AI output were also discussed. Quality and accuracy of the AI output were the most important considerations of the respondents with transparency and disclosure as the least important. In general, the survey respondents felt that the impact of technology in the medical writing field was an important and timely topic for AMWA to address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, 66 million people speak a language other than English at home. Patients with diverse language needs often face significant health disparities. Information and communication technologies have expanded the realm of modalities for patient-provider communication. However, the extent to which digital language access tools are utilized by healthcare providers is unknown. This research examines provider perspectives on language assistance techniques and the role of communication technology when serving patients with non-English language preference (NELP). Between April and July 2019, an online survey was administered to 3,033 healthcare providers (doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists) in Washington State. Providers reported on their language access practices and perspectives on communication technology. Most providers reported using ad hoc language access techniques when engaging patients with NELP, such as a patient's family member or friend (75.8%), a patient's child specifically (61.9%), or a bilingual staff member (64.3%). Professional techniques, such as in-person interpretation (53.5%), phone interpretation (57%), and video remote interpretation (38.8%), were used less often. Dissatisfaction with the language access processes of healthcare providers' place of work was associated with a higher reliance on a patient's family or friend for language interpretation. Findings suggest that providers might be under-utilizing professional and digital interpreter services while relying on ad hoc techniques. Such practices reveal systemic constraints on language access that might make it difficult for providers to access timely and reliable options for professional language interpretation, despite federal regulations that mandate such services for patients with NELP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: For young children on the autism spectrum who are beginning communicators, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can support language development and participation in meaningful interactions. AAC is more likely to be effective when services align with the needs and priorities of the child's family. To better understand family perspectives, this study investigated the communication and AAC experiences of parents of young beginning communicators on the autism spectrum. Method: The study used a phenomenological qualitative design. Eight caregivers of seven children on the autism spectrum participated in semistructured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to identify themes within the data. Results: Five main themes and 15 subthemes emerged from the data. Parents situated communication and AAC experiences within the context of complex, busy lives. They discussed the value of communication and benefits of AAC, but described numerous challenges related to obtaining, learning, and implementing AAC that evolved over time as needs and skills changed. Parents discussed their children's individuality and the need for AAC systems and services to fit the unique needs of their child and their family. They also emphasized ways in which communication outcomes were affected by factors external to the child and the family, including factors related to professional services and the U.S. health care and educational systems. Conclusions: The results affirm the need to consider the family and the broader social system when providing AAC services to young children on the autism spectrum. Provision of family-centered services is critical to successful AAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As care shifts from institutional to community settings, family caregivers are providing increasing support to older adults, including complex medical/nursing care. In the mid‐late pandemic, technology advancements such as use of online patient portals present opportunities for communication and care delivery. This study aims to assess the association between caregiver medical/nursing tasks or patient portal use with contact, communication, and training of caregivers by healthcare providers. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of caregiver data from the 2021 National Study of Caregiving (NSOC), linked to the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). NHATS is nationally‐representative, annual survey of Medicare enrollees; NSOC surveys family/unpaid caregivers of NHATS participants. Logistic regression tested association between whether the caregiver does medical/nursing tasks or uses an online patient portal to contact the medical team (independent variables), and communication with or training by the medical team (dependent variables). Results: Participants were 1590 caregivers of living, community‐dwelling older adults. More than half (54%) reported no contact with the care recipient's medical team in the past year. Caregivers who did medical/nursing tasks (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 2.16, 4.46) or who used patient portals (OR = 3.28; 95% CI: 1.96, 5.51) had higher odds of contacting the older adult's medical team. Thirty percent of caregivers stated communication was either not at all or just a little helpful. Sixty‐seven percent reported that providers rarely asked if they needed help managing the older adult's treatments. Just 6% of caregivers reported receiving any caregiver training in the last year. Conclusions: Both medical/nursing tasks and online patient portal use were independently associated with contact with health providers. Overall contact, communication, and training were limited or of variable value. Despite recent policy changes and technology advancement, there is still a need for improved integration of caregivers into health teams with ongoing assessment of their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2004, a national nonprofit established a capacity-building assistance (CBA) program aimed at bolstering the capabilities of health departments and community-based organizations in implementing and evaluating HIV prevention interventions for racial and minority populations. Recognizing the need for a specialized CBA model to support HIV prevention programs, the program developed the Customized Holistic Analytical Networking Grassroots Evaluatory (CHANGE) approach. This article introduces the Prioritizing Intersectional Values for Organizational Technical Assistance (PIVOT) approach as a progressive evolution of CBA strategies tailored to the contemporary HIV landscape. PIVOT, founded on seven core values and focused on four key areas, is structured across three stages of CBA delivery. Effective capacity building mandates the CBA partners to be well versed in HIV organizational culture and capable of delivering strategies ensuring long-term sustainability. This article offers invaluable insights and lessons that inform the development and implementation of the PIVOT approach, drawing from two decades of service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests that success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is not only dependent upon one's actual STEM-relevant abilities but also upon one's STEM-relevant attitudes—in particular, math and spatial attitudes. Here, we examine whether simply mentioning the math or spatial relevance of a task affects children's performance and the moderating role of children's math and spatial attitudes. Further, we examine gender differences in performance given pervasive gender gaps in STEM and early-emerging gender differences in math and spatial attitudes. Participants (221 first- to fourth-grade children from the United States; 113 girls, 108 boys; 52% White, 16% Black, 14% Asian, 9% Hispanic or Latinx, 18% multiple races/ethnicities) were introduced to a novel task framed as tapping into math or spatial abilities (or no framing [control condition]). Children then completed math and spatial anxiety and self-concept measures. Results indicate that children who heard the math task framing were less accurate relative to children in the control condition, and the effect was larger for those with higher math anxiety or lower math self-concept, but it was not different for boys and girls. Children who heard the spatial task framing, however, performed comparably to children in the control condition. Though both math and spatial attitudes revealed identical patterns of gender differences (with higher anxiety and lower self-concept in girls than boys), there were no gender differences in performance. This study highlights the salient role of math attitudes early in development and provides key insights for future work aimed at increasing STEM outcomes. Public Significance Statement: Findings reveal that children perform worse on a novel task when it is described as being related to math—but not spatial—skills, and this effect is strongest for children with more negative math attitudes. Moreover, girls had more negative math and spatial attitudes than did boys, but gender differences were not observed in performance on the task. Findings provide key insights into processes implicated in science, technology, engineering, and math outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article calls for change in voter registration in the U.S. It examines the history of voting rights and the role of social work in combating barriers to voting and voter registration. It informs about the National Voter Registration Act and legislative efforts aimed at voter suppression. It proposes the integration of voter information that state and federal agencies collect and urges social workers to facilitate informed public participation in shaping social policies and institutions.

Purpose: Aphasia may decrease the capacity to develop and maintain friendships. The aim of this study was to better understand the perspectives of people with aphasia on why some friendship bonds remain strong and some do not. Furthermore, we wanted to explore how age and aphasia severity shape views on friendship. Method: We interviewed 27 people with aphasia about their experiences of friendship before and after the onset of aphasia. We then used framework analysis and reflexive thematic analysis to interpret the interview data. Results: From the interviews, we created four major themes concerning how friend relationships had been impacted by aphasia: (a) Not all bonds have the same chance of surviving the onset of aphasia; (b) people with aphasia's closest friends took active steps to keep relationships strong; (c) if friends knew some basic information about aphasia, bonds would stay stronger; (d) positive affective aspects of friendship play an important role in keeping bonds strong. We also noted differences in friendship experiences that appeared to be influenced by age and aphasia severity of participants. Conclusions: Interview data provided actionable ideas including focusing on friends who are likely to be responsive to help with maintaining the friendship, providing them with strategies to keep the friendship active and communication meaningful, and acknowledging the positive impact that this will have on the friend recovering from aphasia. More research is needed to develop programs that empower people with aphasia to maintain their friendships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the field of extracorporeal life support (ECLS), the rapid influx of novel technologies and innovative techniques presents an ongoing challenge for professionals to stay informed about these advancements. To address this issue and ensure the ECLS community remains up-to-date, we have compiled a concise overview of recent technological innovations in ECLS. Purpose: This overview focuses primarily on academically investigated and reported advancements in the ECLS domain. It underscores the importance of transparent communication regarding technological limitations in healthcare and advocates for collaboration between medical professionals and engineers to elevate patient care. Research Design: This manuscript presents a compilation of recent technological advancements in ECLS, with an emphasis on innovations that have been academically explored and documented. The research approach involves gathering information from scholarly sources, reports, and studies to provide a comprehensive overview. Study Sample: The study sample comprises a diverse range of recent technological innovations in the field of extracorporeal life support (ECLS). These innovations span various aspects of ECLS technology and have been investigated and reported on within the academic literature. Analysis: Data collection involved systematically reviewing academic literature, reports, and studies related to recent technological advancements in ECLS. The collected information was then analyzed to identify common trends, notable developments, and the impact of these innovations on patient care. Results: The compilation highlights several significant technological innovations within the ECLS domain. Notable advancements include the development of new dual lumen cannulae, innovative devices for left ventricular (LV) unloading, lightweight ECMO transport systems, streamlined driving consoles to facilitate patient mobility, intricate systems for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), standardized driving consoles for networking, and non-invasive circuit pressure monitoring. Some of these innovations have obtained regulatory approvals for distribution in the United States and/or authorization for the European market. Conclusions: The manuscript underscores the critical role of collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and industry in driving recent technological innovations within the ECLS field. It emphasizes the necessity of open communication about technological limitations and the potential for repurposing established technologies in novel ways. However, the resourcefulness of physicians in repurposing devices requires validation through comprehensive scientific and technical investigation. Thus, fostering broader collaboration among stakeholders is recommended to ensure the rigorous evaluation and validation of new applications for established ECLS devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid transition to emergency remote teaching in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic altered public education as schools closed across the United States. Eighty percent of teachers reported interacting with students online, often utilizing free technology like Zoom and Google Workspace for Education. This article provides a comprehensive overview of state education agencies' recommendations for emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 school closures in early 2020. Reviewing 337 publicly available documents from 50 state education agencies reveals a fragmented response: state education agencies relied on nongovernmental organizations to do the work of governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I argue that the contemporary organization of professional work indicates the limits of answering typical questions about automation and technology in work to understand the practices of experts. Examining the case of automation in medicine, specifically Stereotaxis technology, I analyze a colligation of data on decisions about the uptake of this robotic technology among United States surgeons. I examine data including: procedure efficiency over time, the technology's affordances for the preservation of surgeons' bodily capital, changes in the profession's demographic profile, physician social networks, and clinical researchers' published assessments. The data suggest that automation of a central task can support and enhance the work of individual experts. They also show that using robotics does not improve efficiency. This case thus challenges the assumption that automation displaces work, at least in the case of professionals. And so, because Stereotaxis becomes more of a complement to surgeons' work as opposed to a substitute, this case points towards the importance of focusing attention less on job automation than on task automation. The case also highlights that users of the technology (physicians) value it differently than do purchasers (administrators). In addition, it identifies the differing considerations motivating their decisions to adopt or not adopt the technology. And in light of the finding that robotics use is more common among the rank-and-file than the elite, it may be that some professionals perceive automation to afford mobility opportunities. Based on these findings I propose new questions for scholarship on medicine, work, and automation, including those around "expert" versus "unskilled" labor, the body, and workplace divisions of labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article conducts a fresh analysis of the key developments – strategic and technological – that resulted in the world's first penetrating stealth bomber. It explores the tectonic shift in defense thinking, which began in the late 1960s as it became widely understood that the Soviet Union had matched the United States' advantage in nuclear weaponry. It then examines how the United States grappled with the issue of Soviet conventional numerical superiority and whether advances in air defenses rendered penetrating airpower – the air leg of the nuclear triad and a critical component of the United States' emerging strategy – impotent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) are electronic medical alert devices that help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) receive assistance in emergencies. According to research on older adults, PERS improve health outcomes, provide people with a sense of security and peace of mind, promote independence, and prevent institutionalization. The aim of this study was to examine if, and how, states provided PERS to people with IDD in their Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs in fiscal year (FY) 2021. To do so, we qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed HCBS data on participant services and cost‐neutrality demonstrations to examine thematic trends in how and why states offered PERS, as well as total unduplicated participants, total projected spending, projected spending per participant, reimbursement rates, and annual service provision per participant. In FY 2021, 42 waivers (39.25%) from 25 states and the District of Columbia (57.78%) projected spending $9.87 million on PERS services for 9538 people with IDD. PERS services included the installation of devices (77.78%), monthly service fees (73.61%), equipment maintenance (44.44%), and training of people with IDD or their caregivers about the equipment (41.67%). States said they provided PERS in order to prevent institutionalization (23.61%), promote independence (16.67%), and maximize mobility (11.11%). Given the potential benefits for independent living, independence, and reducing costs, as well as the disparities unearthed in this study, we believe states should expand how they provide PERS to people with IDD in HCBS and do so in a more consistent manner. This may be especially beneficial as PERS can be cost‐prohibitive for many people with IDD, who frequently live in poverty, and HCBS reimbursement for technology is the top barrier to implementing technology according to IDD providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest in applications of virtual reality (VR) to improve the lives of older adults, but the limited research on older adults and VR largely treats older adults as a monolith, ignoring the substantial differences across 65 to 100+ year olds that may affect their experience of VR. There are also few existing studies examining the experiences and challenges facing those who facilitate VR for older adults (e.g., caregiving staff). We address these limitations through two studies. In study 1, we explore variation within older adults' experiences with VR through a field study of VR use among a large (N = 245) and age-diverse (Mage = 83.6 years, SDage = 7.9, range = 65–103 years) sample of nursing home and assisted living facility residents across 10 U.S. states. Age was negatively associated with the extent to which older adults enjoyed VR experiences. However, the negative relationship between age and older adults' attitudes toward VR was significantly less negative than the relationship between age and their attitudes toward other technologies (cell phones and voice assistants). In study 2, we surveyed caregiving staff (N = 39) who facilitated the VR experiences for older adult residents and found that the caregiving staff generally enjoyed the activity relative to other activities and felt it to be beneficial to their relationship with residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been limited examination of the phenomenon of the victim-offender overlap in the field of technology-facilitated abuse (TFA). To design effective strategies to prevent TFA, it is important to understand which individuals are most at risk of victimization, perpetration, and to what extent a subset of people both experience victimization and engage in perpetration. This study drew on Cyber-Abuse Research Initiative (CARI) data, a nationally representative U.S. sample of adults ages 18–35. TFA measurement consisted of parallel scales for victimization and perpetration, each with 27 items assessing forms of technology-facilitated surveillance, monitoring/tracking, interference/communications, reputational harm, controlling/limiting access, and fraud. A bivariate probit of TFA perpetration and TFA victimization, as separate outcomes, was fit to allow for joint estimation of regression coefficients and robust standard errors. Analyses confirmed that TFA, similar to other forms of interpersonal aggression, is characterized by a substantial victim-offender overlap, with 30 percent of the sample reporting involvement both as a victim and as a perpetrator. Internet/social media use and social isolation did not distinguish victimization and perpetration. However, positive and negative affect as well as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Asexual, or other sexual orientation (LGBQA+) were positively correlated with victimization, whereas female gender and having postsecondary education were positively associated with perpetration. These results may be used to design interventions and anticipate service needs. TFA, as a new topic of research, should capitalize on the theoretical and empirical article related to other forms of the victim-offender overlap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the throes of an intractable overdose crisis, U.S. pharmacists have begun to engage in an unexpected practice—policing patients. Contemporary sociological theory does not explain why. Theories of professions and frontline work suggest professions closely guard jurisdictions and make decisions based on the logics of their own fields. Theories of criminal-legal expansion show that non-enforcement fields have become reoriented around crime over the past several decades, but past work largely focuses on macro-level consequences. This article uses the case of pharmacists and opioids to develop a micro-level theory of professional field reorientation around crime, the Trojan Horse Framework. Drawing on 118 longitudinal and cross-sectional interviews with pharmacists in six states, I reveal how the use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs)—surveillance technology designed for law enforcement but implemented in healthcare—in conjunction with a set of field conditions motivates pharmacists to police patients. PDMPs serve as Trojan horse technologies as their use shifts pharmacists' routines, relationships with other professionals, and constructions of their professional roles. As a result, pharmacists route patients out of the healthcare system and leave them vulnerable to the criminal-legal system. The article concludes with policy recommendations and a discussion of future applications of the Trojan Horse Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: More than 1 in 4 adult Americans have a disability limiting their daily functioning to earn living wages. Meanwhile, the shortage of U.S. professionals in STEM fields persists because of underrepresentation of specific groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The study investigates the determinants of wages among Americans with disabilities in non-STEM and STEM occupations to explore the feasibility of broadening their participation in STEM careers where they may earn higher wages and thereby, close the wage-gap with their non-disabled peers. METHODS: The study used a research design based on Mincer's earnings regression model to analyze select variables as wage determinants based on data from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS). RESULTS: While the findings suggest that within the Americans with disabilities group, working in a STEM occupation with a college degree in a STEM field was the best route to attain maximum wages, significant wage disparities exist compared to Americans without disabilities. CONCLUSION: The implications of the findings for Vocational Rehabilitation providers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Although Latinx families comprise the largest growing population in the United States, research has not examined how the lack of social inclusion (e.g., multidimensional term comprising economic, political, and cultural dimensions, among others) influences the lives of low-income Latina mothers. Social inclusion, which is a term born as a counterpart to social exclusion, has been overlooked as an alternative construct that allows the development of personal agency. Contrary to social exclusion paradigms which often focus on deficits, social inclusion focuses on recognizing inherit strengths among vulnerable families. The first purpose of this research is to explore social inclusion (a strength perspective) as a much-needed alternative to social exclusion (deficit view). The second is to describe the experiences of low social inclusion among low-income urban Latina mothers via two interviews, a focus group, recollection of artifacts from participants, and reflective journaling, which were documented within a context of a feminist action research intervention. Participants consisted of 12 low-income Latina mothers (N = 12) who participated in a financial literacy intervention. Findings: Via thematic analysis, findings confirmed two new dimensions of low social inclusion not found in traditional literature: low language and technological inclusion. Applications: Recommendations for social work practitioners and future research include developing culturally relevant interventions among minoritized communities and families, for instance, by promoting bilingual curricula and implementing technology in current interventions, which can have significant positive effects on the social inclusion of vulnerable communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, 16 states have adopted Technology First initiatives to improve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities' access to technology. Method: Our aim was to examine if Technology First initiatives impact the allocation of technology in Home and Community‐Based Services (HCBS) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To do so, we analysed HCBS programs from across the United States in fiscal year 2021. Results: Technology First states were more likely to offer telehealth service delivery in their HCBS programs. However, we found few other significant differences in allocation of technology – the number of people receiving and projected spending – based on states' Technology First status. Conclusions: While these findings do not mean that there is no value in Technology First initiatives, it appears these initiatives have yet to truly impact resource allocation when it comes to HCBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars find that social dynamics in online environments help explain variation in cyberbullying victimization. The current study examines how students' in-person activities at school shape the odds of cyberbullying victimization. This focus is motivated by opportunity theory, which emphasizes that victimization can be shaped by involvement in dangerous activities, exposure to potential aggressors, and the suitability of targets in the eyes of potential aggressors. Key aspects of the students' in-school activities include involvement in fighting and participation in various extracurricular activities. These elements are analyzed using data from the 2013 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey based in the United States. Findings indicate opportunity theory is applicable to explaining cyberbullying victimization regarding exposure to aggressors via extracurricular activity participation at school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At least 68 cities in the United States have taken a Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic fatalities. Which cities have improved their traffic safety outcomes and which strategies have proven effective? We examined changes in counts and per capita rates of all, pedestrian, and bicyclist fatal motor vehicle collisions between 2007 and 2019 for 18 U.S. cities that took early Vision Zero pledges. Only 2 of the 18 cities have experienced statistically significant decreases in total fatalities since taking a Vision Zero pledge and only one city experienced a statistically significant decrease in pedestrian fatalities. Cities with high walking, biking, and transit mode share and those that focused on walking and biking in their Vision Zero action plans experienced the best outcomes. Cities with high population densities and those that focused on technology in their action plans were also found to have safety performance improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the government’s spending and the use of other transactions (OTs) continue to expand, there are constant unresolved issues stemming from a lack of competition, transparency, and borderline negligent expenditure of taxpayers’ money without any sufficient built-in accounting mechanisms lurking in the OTs’ shadows. The OTs advocates tend to dismiss those concerns in favor of the expedited acquisition processes and the desire to acquire more and better cutting-edge technology to stay competitive in the current global near-peer military rivalry. This article will explore the underlying laws that allow the use of OTs, their purpose, and the mechanisms to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse of U.S. taxpayers’ dollars while balancing the need and purpose against current business needs for OTs. Few rules usually mean more temptations for abuse of the system and fraud. This area of the law needs a compliance tune-up to run like a well-oiled machine for the government to maintain public trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) against sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults is a serious though understudied issue. Few studies have examined the types, extent, and perpetrators of TFA against SGMs, and those that have analyzed any of these phenomena have mostly done so with samples of youths. This article offers results of a nationally representative survey on experiences of TFA among a sample of 2,752 U.S. adults aged 18 to 35 years, including 504 SGMs. The prevalence and types of TFA against SGMs were examined using a 27-item inventory capturing six general types of TFA, including surveillance, cyber-interference/communications, reputational harm, monitoring/tracking, fraud, and controlling/limiting access. Respondents could also indicate their relationship to the perpetrator. Results revealed significant differences in the prevalence, types, and perpetrators of TFA against SMGs (compared to non-SGMs), such that SGMs experienced greater levels of TFA victimization, were more likely to be victimized by perpetrators who were not intimate or ex-intimate partners, and were more likely to experience all forms of TFA, except for monitoring/tracking. No significant differences were found for general experiences of TFA victimization between cisgender and non-cisgender individuals or between sexual minority males and sexual minority females. Results thus show that although SGMs and non-SGMs experience similar types of TFA, SGMs experience TFA at higher rates. These findings provide a vital foundation for future work on TFA victimization among SGMs and offer insights for policy and practice, particularly for practitioners and clinicians working with SGMs. Findings indicate a potential need for greater access to health care, victim services, technological support, and legal aid for SGMs due to their increased risk of TFA victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The care of patients with heart rhythm disorders is often dependent on technologies developed to address their unique clinical needs. Although much innovation occurs in the United States, recent decades have seen a significant proportion of early clinical studies performed outside the United States, driven largely by costly and time‐inefficient processes seemingly inherent to the United States research ecosystem. As a result, the goals of early patient access to novel devices to address unmet needs and efficient technology development in the United States remain incompletely realized. This review will introduce key aspects of this discussion, organized by the Medical Device Innovation Consortium, in an effort to broaden awareness and encourage engagement by stakeholders in an effort to address central issues and therefore further a growing effort to shift Early Feasibility Studies to the United States for the benefit of all involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test an integrated social cognition model predicting two forms of social distancing behavior (maintaining distance and avoiding going out in public) during COVID-19. Design: Participants from the U.S. (Sample 1, n = 433) and Canada (Sample 2, n = 239) completed online measures, reflecting the theory of planned behavior (attitudes, norms, perceived control, intention), COVID-19-specific risk, anticipated regret, fear of catching COVID-19, and perceived capacity related to using technology to connect with others. Self-reported behavior was collected from the U.S. sample at 6-month follow-up. Results: Intention to maintain distance and avoid going out predicted behavior within the U.S. sample. For both samples, intention was predicted by attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Perceived severity of COVID-19, anticipated inaction regret, and fear of catching COVID-19 predicted intention to maintain distance and avoid going out across both samples. Finally, within the U.S. sample, significant indirect effects were present for perceived behavioral control predicting future maintaining distance and avoiding going out via intention to engage in these behaviors. Conclusion: The integrated social cognition model predicts social distancing intentions and long-term social distancing behaviors. Hazard-specific risk and affect were relevant determinants added to the models. Potential avenues for intervention research are described. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2021.2023746. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) is a significant, harmful phenomenon and emerging trend in intimate partner violence. TFA encompasses a range of behaviours and is facilitated in online spaces (on social media and networking platforms) and through the misuse of everyday technology (e.g. mobile phone misuse, surveillance apps, spyware, surveillance via video cameras and so on). The body of work on TFA in intimate relationships is emerging, and so this scoping review set out to establish what types of abuse, impacts and forms of resistance are reported in current studies. The scoping review examined studies between 2000 and 2020 that focused on TFA within intimate partnerships (adults aged 18+) within the setting of any of these countries: the UK and Ireland, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The databases MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus were searched in December 2020. A total of 22 studies were included in the review. The main findings were that TFA is diverse in its presentation and tactics, but can be typed according to the eight domains of the Duluth Power & Control Wheel. Impacts are not routinely reported across studies but broadly fall into the categories of social, mental health and financial impacts and omnipresence. Similarly, modes of resistance are infrequently reported in studies. In the few studies that described victim/survivor resistance, this was in the context of direct action, access to legal or professional support or in the identification of barriers to resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of elder abuse has led to a growing trend of states taking various methods to regulate the use of electronic monitoring in institutional settings through programs, guidelines, regulations, and laws. This article attempts evaluate how the regulation of electronic monitoring has evolved and may be advanced in the future with the anticipated increase of elder abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States and China are locked in a strategic rivalry covering numerous fields, like trade and finance. The most important one, however, is technology. Given how rapidly this rivalry is growing, we can speak of two ever more clearly defined, albeit still interrelated, ecosystems in the areas of semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). In turn, global production chains are being reshaped partly on economic grounds, but, without question, for geopolitical reasons too. These changes will not only impact trade flows throughout the world, but also foreign direct investment (FDI), gradually splitting production into two major blocs, based on differing technologies and standards. Where does the European Union (EU) stand in in all this? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While remote monitoring supports have many benefits and the use of remote supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is increasing, they are a relatively new technology for IDD service provision and yet to be widely available. However, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, there was a rapid uptake in technology in Home and Community‐Based Services (HCBS) for people with IDD, including the expansion of telehealth and remote supports. The aim of this study was to examine if, and, how, remote monitoring support services were provided to people with IDD in HCBS across the United States in fiscal year (FY) 2021. To do so, we analyzed Medicaid HCBS 1915(c) waivers for people with IDD. In FY 2021, 10 states (22.22%) provided remote support services to people with IDD through 19 HCBS waivers (17.76%); they provided a total of 36 different remote monitoring services. A total of $22.4 million was allocated for remote support services for 3039 people with IDD. We found states often provided remote support services to people with IDD in HCBS to promote independence, health, and welfare, and reduce and/or replace services. States implemented a number of rules and requirements to help keep people with IDD safe while remote support services were being used, including informed consent, encryption, emergency backup plans, and the prohibition of use in private spaces. Further attention to remote supports in HCBS is necessary to ensure that people with IDD who want to utilize these services are able to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Research on technological access and usage has revealed a digital divide based on several sociodemographic factors, including race/ethnicity, sex, income, and education. While several studies have examined these factors separately, few studies have considered how multiple vulnerable identities may combine to influence access to technology. Using the theory of intersectionality, this study assesses the combined impact of race/ethnicity and sex on access to a working cellphone and a working laptop/computer among U.S. older adults. Research Design and Methods Data were derived from the 2018 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Chi-square tests were used to test group differences, and four multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between the intersection of race/ethnicity and sex, and access to a working cellphone and a working laptop/computer. Results After accounting for other explanatory variables, White female participants, Black male participants, Black female participants, Hispanic male participants, and Hispanic female participants were all less likely to have a working cellphone or a working laptop/computer compared to White male participants. Discussion and Implications The results of this study point to a significant disparity in access to technology based on intersectional identities, with Black and Hispanic female participants having the least access to technology. Interventions aiming to improve access to technology should target these two groups, with a focus on reducing the cost of purchasing technological equipment and the provision of training programs that improve technological skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth are inactive in today's world. Integrating autonomy, competence, and relatedness into Physical Education objectives to provide optimally challenging tasks for students may be an effective approach to making them love physical activity. Optimal challenge, or the challenge level of the task matches the student's competence, can provide them with the greatest sense of competence, satisfaction, and/or pleasure. It presents one adaptive intrinsic goal of motivation in Self-Determination Theory. Participation in optimally challenging situations can give students a sense of mastery, enhance their conceptions of competence, and lead to enjoyment, thus, increasing intrinsic motivation. The purpose of this article is to encourage physical educators to introduce opportunities for students to experience optimal challenges and, thereby, offer students the chance to feel the rewards of being self-regulated and intrinsically motivated. This article shares one tool, miMove, that many teachers have used successfully throughout virtual teaching to engage students in more physical activity. Physical educators could use this mobile APP to better understand how students perceive their own learning and integrate student choice and learner-centered pedagogical strategies. Consequently, it offers students opportunities to explore their own understanding of content, introduces autonomy, and stimulates students' ability to connect to content authentically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Managing type 1 diabetes in young children can cause significant stress for parents. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may reduce parental burden. The Strategies to Enhance CGM Use in Early Childhood (SENCE) trial randomized parents of children (ages 2 to <8 years) with type 1 diabetes to CGM with family behavioural intervention (CGM + FBI), CGM alone (Standard‐CGM) or blood glucose monitoring for 26 weeks before receiving CGM + FBI (BGM‐Crossover). This report assesses changes in psychosocial outcomes for all groups over 52 weeks. Methods: CGM + FBI (n = 45), Standard‐CGM (n = 42) and BGM‐Crossover (n = 44) participants completed psychosocial assessments at baseline, 26 weeks and 52 weeks. Repeated measures linear regression models evaluated change within and between treatment groups. Results: The BGM‐Crossover group reported improved diabetes burden (Δ −6.9, 95% CI [−11.3, −2.6], p = 0.003), fear of hypoglycaemia (Δ −6.4, CI [−10.1, −2.6], p = 0.002) and technology satisfaction (Δ 7.3, CI [2.4, 12.2], p = 0.005) from 26 to 52 weeks, similar to published findings in the CGM + FBI group over the first 26 weeks. The Standard‐CGM group reported increased technology satisfaction (Δ 7.3, CI [0.6, 14.0], p = 0.027) from baseline to 52 weeks. The CGM + FBI group reported less diabetes burden and fear of hypoglycaemia from baseline to 52 weeks, but changes were not statistically significant. Scores from 26 to 52 weeks did not deteriorate. Conclusions: Parents demonstrated psychosocial benefits following FBI that appeared to maintain without additional intervention. CGM‐focused education with behavioural support likely helps parents of young children with type 1 diabetes reduce burden and worry in the short‐ and long‐term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality early childcare and education (ECE) has demonstrated long-term associations with positive educational and life outcomes and can be particularly impactful for children from low-income backgrounds. This study extends the literature on the long-term associations between high-quality caregiver sensitivity and responsiveness and cognitive stimulation (i.e., caregiving quality) in ECE settings and success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in high school. Using the 1991 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (n = 1,096; 48.6% female; 76.4% White, 11.3% African American, 5.8% Latine, 6.5% other), results demonstrated that caregiving quality in ECE was associated with reduced disparities between low- and higher-income children's STEM achievement and school performance at age 15. Disparities in STEM school performance (i.e., enrollment in advanced STEM courses and STEM grade point average) and STEM achievement (i.e., Woodcock–Johnson cognitive battery) were reduced when children from lower-income families experienced more exposure to higher caregiving quality in ECE. Further, results suggested an indirect pathway for these associations from caregiving quality in ECE to age 15 STEM success through increased STEM achievement in Grades 3 through 5 (ages 8–11 years). Findings suggest that community-based ECE is linked to meaningful improvements in STEM achievement in Grades 3 through 5 which in turn relates to STEM achievement and school performance in high school, and caregiving quality in ECE is particularly important for children from lower-income backgrounds. This work has implications for policy and practice positioning caregivers' cognitive stimulation and sensitivity in ECE settings across the first 5 years of life as a promising lever for bolstering the STEM pipeline for children from lower-income backgrounds. Public Significance Statement: High-quality caregiving, that is emotionally responsive and cognitively stimulating, in the first 5 years of life is linked to STEM achievement and school success at age 15, and this relation is facilitated through increased STEM achievement in Grades 3–5. Further, this link is particularly strong for children from low-income families who benefit uniquely from exposure to high-quality early childcare and education. This work informs policy conversation around investing in high-quality early childcare and education for children from underserved communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, applied behavior analysis services for many autistic individuals were transitioned to telehealth. The current study assessed caregiver‐reported quality of life (QoL) and social validity for families of autistic children receiving only telehealth services (n = 96) or a combination of telehealth and in‐person services (n = 173). Barriers to the telehealth experience were analyzed via an ANOVA, and the impact of funding source was analyzed using an independent samples t‐test. Caregivers reported benefit across QoL and social validity items, with scores ranging from 3.31 to 4.44 (1 = least benefit, 5 = most benefit). While many caregivers reported no barriers regarding technology (44.61%), childcare (69.52%), and employment (64.68%), the presence of those barriers significantly impacted QoL and social validity scores. Funding source was not found to have a significant impact. Overall, caregivers found value in their child's telehealth services. Clinicians have an obligation to mitigate barriers to ensure the success of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychiatric hospitalization is a major driver of cost in the treatment of schizophrenia. Here, we asked whether a technology-enhanced approach to relapse prevention could reduce days spent in a hospital after discharge. Methods: The Improving Care and Reducing Cost (ICRC) study was a quasi-experimental clinical trial in outpatients with schizophrenia conducted between 26 February 2013 and 17 April 2015 at 10 different sites in the USA in an outpatient setting. Patients were between 18 and 60 years old with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. Patients received usual care or a technology-enhanced relapse prevention program during a 6-month period after discharge. The health technology program included in-person, individualized relapse prevention planning with treatments delivered via smartphones and computers, as well as a web-based prescriber decision support program. The main outcome measure was days spent in a psychiatric hospital during 6 months after discharge. Results: The study included 462 patients, of which 438 had complete baseline data and were thus used for propensity matching and analysis. Control participants (N = 89; 37 females) were enrolled first and received usual care for relapse prevention followed by 349 participants (128 females) who received technology-enhanced relapse prevention. During 6-month follow-up, 43% of control and 24% of intervention participants were hospitalized (χ2 = 11.76, p<0.001). Days of hospitalization were reduced by 5 days (mean days: b = −4.58, 95% CI −9.03 to −0.13, p = 0.044) in the intervention condition compared to control. Conclusions: These results suggest that technology-enhanced relapse prevention is an effective and feasible way to reduce rehospitalization days among patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of the perceptions of antisocial behaviour on the use of the social media platform Twitter. We extend the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) with the Perception of Antisocial Behaviour as a risk factor, and two supporting constructs: Strategic Self-Presentation and Protective Self-Presentation. We call this extended model Technology Acceptance and Use under Risk (TAUR). We investigate two groups via an online questionnaire, contrasting Anglophone countries (the UK, USA, and Canada, 200 responses), with Saudi Arabia (540 responses). In both cases the data shows that the Perception of Antisocial Behaviour impacts Twitter use, but not directly, rather it negatively impacts the influence of other factors such as Behavioural Intention – it also shows that this affects Anglophones more than Saudis. This indicates that future work should differentiate between different cultural groups, and different solutions may be needed to assuage users' fears in different parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, many individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) do not achieve treatment goals despite the availability of effective interventions. Provider clinical inertia is one cause of these unfavorable outcomes. Targeted automatic eConsults (TACos) are an emerging technology-based intervention with potential to address clinical inertia in primary care (PC). TACos prospectively identify at-risk patients and use unsolicited specialist recommendations to prompt treatment intensification. Through a payer–provider collaboration, a TACos intervention was piloted for adults with uncontrolled DM (HbA1c >8%) to understand impact on DM clinical inertia and outcomes. Clinical inertia was assessed by measuring whether a PC provider implemented recommended therapeutic changes. Six-month changes in HbA1c and health care costs per member per month were evaluated using an observational matched design and intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. The analysis included 196 individuals who received a TACos between February 2021 and August 2021 (ITT group) matched to 392 controls based on clinical and demographic criteria. TACos recommendations were implemented 65% of the time. Median percent change in HbA1c was significantly greater for the ITT group versus controls (−10.9% vs. −10.2%; P = 0.0359). Median total costs were 7.9% lower in the ITT group (P = 0.0900). A per protocol analysis was done to examine effects between ITT group individuals with an implemented TACos recommendation (n = 126) and controls. Median percent change in HbA1c was significantly greater (−19.5% vs. −10.2%; P < 0.0001), but there was no difference in total costs (−7.9%; P = 0.1753). TACos may feasibly address clinical inertia in PC and improve HbA1c for uncontrolled DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile health applications have gained popularity in assisting high-risk, hard-to-reach groups in self-management of health conditions. One such population with high rates of health disparities comprises women under community supervision. In this review, we examine the literature on mHealth applications to address health disparities among women under community supervision. We searched CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycInfo for peer-reviewed research articles conducted in the U.S. After removal of duplicates, review of 231 article titles and abstracts and 36 articles for full-text review yielded five articles for analysis. Extracted data include author, year, design, sample, objectives, conclusions, measures, interventions and analytic approach. Of the five studies that addressed health disparities of individuals under community supervision, one was done with participants on probation, four with participants on medication therapy for substance use disorder, and one with participants in a drug court program. Only one article was specific to women or controlled for ethnicity. No studies were done with those on parole. None done with populations outside the U.S. Few studies focused on health disparities of women under community supervision. mHealth applications that address substance use, reproductive and sexual health, and safety issues specific to women under community supervision are warranted. mhealth apps can assist with alleviating health disparities in hard-to reach populations. Women on community supervision have unique health care needs based on their intersectionality. Conditions such as substance use disorder and violence often go under reported or undertreated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since March 2020, many school districts across the country have employed remote learning procedures in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. During the pandemic, schools continued to provide special education services, yet little is known about how services were adapted for remote or hybrid learning during the height of the pandemic in the United States. In the current study, 332 respondents completed a web‐based survey that asked what special education services were provided remotely, whether services were deemed effective, and how remote learning has influenced their well‐being. Most respondents identified as White (79.5%), females (92.4%), and worked as special education teachers (52.9%) and school psychologists (35.4%). In compliance with federal guidelines, most respondents continued to hold individualized education plan meetings, conduct assessments, and provide interventions and related services. There was a significant decrease in respondents' reports of efficacy and sense of school connectedness during remote and hybrid learning. Respondents' identification as a person of color, along with reports of higher school connectedness and self‐efficacy were positive predictors of their perceived effectiveness of remote special education service delivery. Recommendations are made for school districts to inform decisions regarding their approach to special education services and staff support during remote or hybrid learning. Highlights: Most respondents continued to adhere to federally mandated special education timelines, procedures, and documentation during remote learning.Respondents reported lower levels of efficacy and school connectedness during remote learning as compared with a typical school year.School connectedness and efficacy were significant predictors ofrespondents' attitudes towards the effectiveness of remote special education services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we extended and tested the privacy calculus framework in the context of a hypothetical AI-based contact-tracing technology for application during the COVID-19 pandemic that is based on the communication privacy management and contextual integrity theories. Specifically, we investigated how the perceived privacy risks and benefits of information disclosure affect the public's willingness to opt in and adopt contact-tracing technologies and how social and contextual factors influence their decision-making process. Four hundred eighteen adults in the United States participated in the study via Amazon Mechanical Turk in August 2020. A percentile bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples and bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals in structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The participants' privacy concerns and perceived benefits significantly influenced their opt-in and adoption intentions, which suggests that the privacy calculus framework applies to the context of COVID-19 contact-tracing technologies. Perceived social, personal, and reciprocal benefits were identified as crucial mediators that link contextual variables to both opt-in and adoption intentions. Although this study was based on a hypothetical AI-based contact-tracing app, our findings provide meaningful theoretical and practical implications for future research investigating the public's technology adoption in contexts where tradeoffs between privacy risks and public health coexist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to conduct formative research to inform the development of an app, that would simultaneously engage youth and adults, to prevent dating and sexual violence (DSV) and alcohol use (AU). Participants (N = 56) were high school students, parents/guardians, and professionals (e.g., school personnel) from across the United States who participated in online focus groups. Overall, participants had positive perceptions of the utility, helpfulness, and effectiveness of an app to prevent DSV and AU among high school students. Participants provided in depth information about both the content (e.g., local rates of DSV and AU) and features (e.g., skills‐based, inclusion of incentives, help button) that the app should include. These preliminary data suggest that future research to develop and pilot an app for both youth and adults to prevent DSV and AU among high school students is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparents increasingly use both technologically-mediated and in-person communication to nurture relationships with their grandchildren. Framed using the communication interdependence perspective (CIP), this study examined associations among family communication patterns (FCPs), integration of face-to-face and technologically-mediated communication, and relationship satisfaction to explore grandparent-grandchild relationships. Analysis of survey responses from 379 grandparents in the United States indicated that conversation orientation was positively associated with constructive integration, whereas both warm and cold conformity orientations were positively associated with destructive integration. Constructive integration was positively associated with relationship satisfaction and destructive integration was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. Significant indirect effects between FCPs, integration, and relationship satisfaction also were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social isolation is a key public health concern and has been associated with numerous negative health consequences. Technology is increasingly thought of as a solution to address social isolation. This study examines the longitudinal association between the access and use of technology and social isolation in older adults 65 and older, living in the United States. Methods: This observational cohort study included community‐dwelling older adults (N = 6704) who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Regression analyses were conducted using data from 2015 to 2019. Information about technology access and use was ascertained using self‐reported questionnaires. The primary outcome was the risk of social isolation. Results: At baseline, the majority of older adults that were not socially isolated had a working cell phone (88%) or computer (71%) and used email or text messaging (56%). Older adults that had access to (cell phone‐ incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.62 [95% CI 0.48–0.81]; computer‐ IRR 0.63 [95% CI 0.51–0.78]), and used technology (email or text messaging‐ IRR 0.64 [95% CI 0.51–0.80]) in the year prior had a lower risk of social isolation than older adults who reported they did not access or use technology. Additionally, over four years, older adults who reported that they had access to a computer had a lower risk (0.69 [0.57, 0.84]) for social isolation than their counterparts. Conclusion: In this cohort study, technology access was associated with a lower risk for social isolation among community‐dwelling older adults. These findings suggest that technology has an important role in approaches that seek to prevent social isolation among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]