Search

Purpose: This study examined how participation in the Service Platoon program of The Mission Continues (TMC) impacts self-reported purpose in life (PIL), interpersonal support (IS), and civic engagement (CE) among military veterans. Methods: An online survey was given to military veterans upon initial registration with TMC and again 12 months later (n=395). The survey assessed Service Platoon program participation rates, as well as demographic factors, PIL, IS, and CE. Linear regression models were estimated to determine the effect of Service Platoon participation on change scores for PIL, IS, and CE. Results: Posttest scores on all measures were higher at higher levels of event participation, although differences in scores were modest. Conclusions: Results showed that females with participation in seven or more events had significant increases in IS from pretest to posttest, b=4.56 (95% CI=0.44, 8.68). Recommendations: We recommend social networking programming that works to improve interpersonal support and community connectivity among veterans.

Purpose: While military mental health has been a topic of interest in recent years, the relationship between branch of military service and female veteran mental health outcomes has been under-explored. Female veterans are six times more likely to commit suicide than civilian counterparts, and present posttraumatic stress (PTS) rates that sit at approximately 20% (with some studies reporting statistics up to 50%), along with 20-30% for depressive disorders. Seeking to more fully understand what contributes to these issues is a necessary step in creating programming designed to improve outcomes and prevent death by suicide in women veterans. Methods: Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data collected by the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) in their 2017 needs assessment of women veterans. Quantitative analyses included multinomial regression tests and one-way ANOVA tests of dependent variables, with branch of military service as the independent variable. Results: Statistically significant differences between branches of service were found in respondent questions asking about the following: impact of service on mental health, impact of service on physical health, and existing depression diagnoses. Additional analyses of questions regarding stress injury, self-harm, and attitudes toward mental health treatment did not show significant difference. Conclusions: Many factors impact the mental wellbeing of service women. The experiences of unit cohesion, the incidence of trauma, or the availability of a network of peers on which to rely all change the operating environment for a military woman. To date, insufficient research has examined the role of service branch on mental health outcomes in veteran women, a knowledge gap the present study sought to fill. Recommendations: The results of the study provide important feedback for service branches and the veteran care sector as they consider predictors for adverse health outcomes in women veterans. Tailoring culturally-competent outreach to service women in indicated, as is continuing to increase understanding of the military woman's transition experience.

The Mw 6.4 and Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence occurred on 4 and 5 July 2019 within the eastern California shear zone of southern California. Both events produced extensive surface faulting and ground deformation within Indian Wells Valley and Searles Valley. In the weeks following the earthquakes, more than six dozen scientists from government, academia, and the private sector carefully documented the surface faulting and ground-deformation features. As of December 2019, we have compiled a total of more than 6000 ground observations; approximately 1500 of these simply note the presence or absence of fault rupture or ground failure, but the remainder include detailed descriptions and other documentation, including tens of thousands of photographs. More than 1100 of these observations also include quantitative field measurements of displacement sense and magnitude. These field observations were supplemented bymapping of fault rupture and ground-deformation features directly in the field as well as by interpreting the location and extent of surface faulting and ground deformation from optical imagery and geodetic image products. We identified greater than 68 km of fault rupture produced by both earthquakes aswell as numerous sites of ground deformation resulting from liquefaction or slope failure. These observations comprise a dataset that is fundamental to understanding the processes that controlled this earthquake sequence and for improving earthquake hazard estimates in the region. This article documents the types of data collected during postearthquake field investigations, the compilation effort, and the digital data products resulting from these efforts.

Purpose: Prevention advocates work hard to create and deliver sexual assault awareness programs on college campuses, including Christian universities. To do so requires savvy planning and a high degree of cultural competence, as a review of the literature indicates that some Christian campuses shy away from the topic and refuse to allow needed programs on sex or sexual assault to be introduced. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for impact one sexual assault awareness and prevention program offered to students on the religiously-affiliated campus of Charleston Southern University. Methods: A one-day seminar was offered in partnership with a community health organization on CSU's campus. Over 75 students attended to hear survivor narratives and an awareness message. Primary analysis of survey data collected involved qualitative and quantitative analysis of open and closed-ended questions. In total, the research team reviewed 34 pre-intervention surveys and 9 post- intervention surveys. Results: Descriptive data analysis revealed that participants found the sexual assault awareness and prevention program to be "most informative" and "informative." Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions found that content was accepted by audience because of the "openness" of the speaker. Emergent themes included: unwanted contact, not the victim's fault, and attire of victim caused sexual assault. Conclusion: Culturally-informed awareness and prevention programs that are realistic, open, peer-led, and create a comfortable, non-threatening atmosphere have a vital role to play in educating students on Christian campuses on the subject of sexual assault prevention.

Making activities and environments have been shown to foster the development of computational thinking (CT) skills for students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subject areas. To properly cultivate CT skills and the related dispositions, educators must understand students' needs and build awareness of how CT informs a deeper understanding of the academic content area. "Assessing Computational Thinking in Maker Activities" (ACTMA) is a design-based research study that developed a curricular unit around physics, making, and CT. The project in this paper studied how instructors could use formative assessment to uncover students' prior knowledge and improve their use of CT. This study aims to provide a qualitative analysis of one lesson in the unit implementation of an informal makerspace environment that strived to be culturally responsive. The study examined "moments of notice," or instances where formative assessment could guide students' understanding of CT. We found elements in the establishment of a classroom culture that can generate a continual use of informal formative assessment between instructors and students. This culture includes using materials in conjunction with the promotion of CT concepts and dispositions, focusing on drawing for understanding, the practice of debugging, and fluidity of roles in the learning space.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore differences in oral health among students by military service status in postsecondary settings. Participants: Secondary data were obtained from the American College Health Association's 2011-2014 National College Health Assessment II. Method: Demographic characteristics of the study sample were explored by calculating frequencies and percentages by military service status. Research questions were explored with maximum likelihood multiple logistic regression. Results: Service member and veteran students are at greater risk for neglecting health behaviors associated with positive oral health, including that they were less likely to get dental exams and that those who deployed in the past were the least likely to be practicing good oral health. Conclusions: The results suggest that improving oral health will contribute to improving health and mental health outcomes in this population, and provide important information for health specialists working with service members and veterans on college campuses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess participation rates in civic volunteering among service member and veteran students. Participants: Data for the present cross-sectional study were obtained from the American College Health Association's (ACHA) 2011-2014 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA). Methods: Demographic characteristics of the study sample were explored by calculating frequencies and percentages by military service status. Research questions were explored with either Fisher's exact test or maximum likelihood multiple logistic regression. Results: Service member and veteran students were more likely to engage in volunteerism than their non-veteran counterparts. Additionally, student veterans and non-veteran students reported that engagement in volunteer efforts both reduces their feelings of depression and increases their use of mental health services. Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest that the promotion of civic engagement and participation in volunteerism for service member and veteran students on college campuses might contribute to successful reintegration outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the current state of postsecondary educational settings' outreach to military women who become students postservice. Participants: Data for the present cross-sectional study were obtained from the American College Health Association's (ACHA) 2011-2014 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA). Methods: Demographic characteristics of the study sample were explored by calculating frequencies and percentages by military service status. Research questions were explored with Fisher's exact test, maximum likelihood multiple logistic regression, as appropriate. Results: Women service member and veteran students received health information from their university/college less often than women students with no military experience on the following topics: alcohol and other drug use, depression and anxiety, sexual assault and relationship violence prevention, and stress reduction. Conclusions: The findings of this research identified clear gaps in service provision for women student veterans on college campuses and provided some possible models for intervention development.