Alexis A Merdjanoff

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Director of the Environmental Public Health Program

Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Alexis Merdjanoff is the Director of the Environmental Public Health Program and Assistant Professor in Social and Behavioral Sciences at New York University’s School of Global Public Health. She is a public health sociologist who explores how population health is affected by exposure to natural hazards, including hurricanes, floods, extreme heat and wildfires. Dr. Merdjanoff is particularly interested in how social inequalities shape the impact of hazards on health, recovery, and resilience for vulnerable populations. To do so, she collects and analyzes survey and interview data to form a holistic understanding of how individuals and communities are affected by these events. While disasters have traditionally been thought of as finite phenomena—with a majority of research focused on the immediate consequences—her research reveals how environmental stressors can lead to economic, emotional, and health burdens long after an event has passed. By focusing on the long-term effects of disasters, she has been able to determine why some survivors are able to recover quickly while others remain mired for months or years.

As Director of Research for the Population Impact, Recovery and Resilience (PiR2) research program, she is currently working on several studies, including the longitudinal Katrina@10 Program, the Sandy Child and Family Health (S-CAFH) Study, and SCALE-UP East Boston to answer questions related to improving the health and well-being of populations exposed to disasters and climate change. More recently, her work has explored the post-disaster resilience of older adults and how older adults can successfully age in high-risk coastal areas. Using in-depth interviews, she aims to identify the resources that older adults need to be resilient, including the social and physical infrastructures needed to successfully prepare for and recover from acute and chronic natural hazards. Her goal is to understand how older adults can successfully adapt to and prepare for coastal erosion, frequent flooding, heatwaves, and disasters.

Dr. Merdjanoff frequently engages in mixed-methods research, including semi-structured in-depth interviewing, focus groups, and survey analysis. Trained as a sociologist, she believes in a holistic approach to answering questions surrounding health, disaster exposure, and recovery. Dr. Merdjanoff teaches several public health courses including, “Qualitative & Field Methods in Global Public Health,” and “Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health.”

Education

BS, Sociology (Magna Cum Laude), New York University, New York, NY

MA, Sociology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

PhD, Sociology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Honors and awards

Innovator Program Fellow, National Center for Atmospheric Research (2019)

Butler-Williams Scholar, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (2019)

Aging and Rural Health Research Award, American Public Health Association, Aging and Public Health Section (2017)

Best Dissertation in Mental Health, American Sociological Association, Sociology of Mental Health section (2016)

Anne Foner Dissertation Prize, Department of Sociology, Rutgers University (2016)

Matilda White Riley Published Article Award for Outstanding Journal Article, Department of Sociology, Rutgers University (2013)

Weather & Society Integrated Studies (WAS*IS) Fellow (2011)

Graduate School Special Study Award, Rutgers University (2011)

Areas of research and study

Aging and the Life Course

Disaster Impact and Recovery

Housing Stability

Mental Health

Mixed-Methods Research

Social Behaviors

Social Determinants of Health

Publications

Exploring access to critical health services for older adults in rural America from 1990 to 2020

Bambury, E. A., Merdjanoff, A. A., Fergen, J. T., & Mueller, J. T. (n.d.).

Publication year

2025

Journal title

Journal of Rural Health

Volume

Issue

10.1111/jrh.70004

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: Rural America has experienced a rapid loss of hospitals since the turn of the century, making access to high-quality health care the top rural health priority. Coinciding with this hospital decline is the growth of a rural population age 65 years or older. The health needs of older adults can require specialty care to support healthy aging. To date, minimal research has been conducted on trends in aging-related health care services in rural areas beyond hospital closures. Methods: This study uses a 30-year lookback of data from the Area Health Resource Files to describe the trends in local access to hospitals and critical health services important for conditions experienced by older adults in rural America. Results are presented across measures of rurality and population age. Findings: Local aging-related access to services such as chemotherapy, oncology, emergency department, geriatric, and home health agencies have been stagnant or declining over time in rural areas. Concerningly, the most remote communities with the highest percent of older adults have the lowest service access. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the growing need for policies to support healthy aging among the increasingly older rural population.

They did not care about us’: How a lack of pandemic preparedness created long-term distrust and dissatisfaction among New York City transit workers

Merdjanoff, A. A., Meltzer, G., Hagen, D., Herzog, S., Cziner, M., & Gershon, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2025

Journal title

Journal of Emergency Management

Abstract

Abstract

“They did not care about us” : How a lack of pandemic preparedness created long-term distrust and dissatisfaction among New York City transit workers

Merdjanoff, A. A., Meltzer, G., Hagen, D., Herzog, S., Cziner, M. J., & Gershon, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2025

Journal title

Journal of Emergency Management

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

481-489

10.5055/jem.0903

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic thrust individuals from nonhealthcare occupations, such as public transit, into the role of frontline essential workers. Unlike frontline healthcare workers, these individuals lacked the training, experience, supplies, equipment, and supervision that would typically be expected for healthcare and first response personnel during a pandemic. New York City transit workers were particularly impacted due to high rates of mortality, illness, and quarantine and isolation, yet data are sparse on their perceptions of worksite preparedness and response. Methods: Data from six focus groups with 25 unique participants, all in public-facing transit roles and members of the Transport Workers Union-Local 100 were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Both inductive and deductive analyses were conducted using the Constant Comparative Method. Results: Roughly 3 years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants continued to feel overlooked and unappreciated in their role as frontline workers. Three themes emerged from the data, including (1) lack of recognition as an essential worker, (2) lack of trust in the workplace, and (3) fear and concern regarding workplace safety and security. Conclusions: The pandemic exacerbated longstanding workplace tensions and contributed to distrust, decreased worker satisfaction, high levels of fear regarding future pandemics, and concern regarding workplace safety. Representatives of workers, managers, and union leadership should cooperate on joint labor and management safety committees to build a climate of safety and trust. They should work closely with Metropolitan Transit Authority Safety leadership, with input from emergency managers, and infection control and industrial hygiene experts to develop a robust pandemic plan that can be rapidly implemented in the next pandemic event.

Adverse Effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Amid Cumulative Disasters: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Children and Families

Merdjanoff, A. A., Meltzer, G. Y., Merdjanoff, A. A., Gershon, R. R., Fothergill, A., Peek, L., & Abramson, D. M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Page(s)

Abstract

Abstract

Adverse Effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Amid Cumulative Disasters: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Children and Families

Merdjanoff, A. A., Meltzer, G. Y., Merdjanoff, A. A., Gershon, R. R., Fothergill, A., Peek, L., & Abramson, D. M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Journal of child and family studies

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

1995

Abstract

Abstract

Association of Victimization by Sex among Public Facing Bus and Subway Transit Workers, New York City

Vlahov, D., Hagen, D., Cziner, M., Merdjanoff, A. A., Sherman, M. F., & Gershon, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Journal of Urban Health

Volume

101

Issue

Page(s)

934-941

10.1007/s11524-024-00912-5

Abstract

Abstract

Federal data indicate that assaults on transit workers resulting in fatalities or hospitalizations tripled between 2008 and 2022. The data indicated a peri-pandemic surge of assault-related fatalities and hospitalizations, but assaults with less dire outcomes were not recorded. In collaboration with the Transport Workers Union, Local 100, we conducted an online survey in late 2023 through early 2024 of New York City public-facing bus and subway workers that focused on their work experiences during the 2020–2023 period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Items for this analysis on victimization included measures of physical and sexual assault/harassment, verbal harassment/intimidation, theft, and demographic characteristics (e.g., sex, race, work division). We estimated separate modified Poisson models for each of the four outcomes, yielding prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Potential interactions between variables with strong main effects in the adjusted model were further examined using product terms. Among 1297 respondents, 89.0% reported any victimization; respondents also reported physical assault (48.6%), sexual assault/harassment (6.3%), verbal harassment/intimidation (48.7%), and theft on the transit system (20.6%). Physical assault was significantly more common among women in the bus division compared to female subway workers, male bus workers, and male subway workers (adjusted PR (aPR) = 3.54; reference = male subway workers; Wald test p

Temporal Trends of Early COVID-19 Infections in New York City Transit Workers and Residents : March 01, 2020–May 02, 2020

Cziner, M., Hawkins, D., Rosen, J., Hagen, D., Merdjanoff, A. A., Vlahov, D., & Gershon, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Journal of Urban Health

10.1007/s11524-024-00934-z

Abstract

Abstract

The continuity of public transportation was necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic so that essential workers could report for duty. Therefore, it is important to consider COVID-19’s impact on transit workers themselves. We described COVID-19 incidence rates over time in New York City (NYC) transit workers and the NYC general population during March–May, 2020. NYC transit COVID-19 cases were abstracted from occupational injury and illness logs, and health department data was used to ascertain NYC resident cases. COVID-19 rates among transit workers peaked during the week of March 22–28 (429.8 cases/100,000 workers). The peak in transit workers occurred 1–2 weeks before the general public’s peak (March 29–April 4: 368.8 cases/100,000 people; April 5–11: 357.8 cases/100,000 people). These data suggest that NYC transit workers may have been impacted by COVID-19 earlier than the general public. Thus, improving early detection and response of respiratory disease outbreaks may be vital to protecting transit workers.

The influence of risk perception on disaster recovery : A case study of new Jersey families impacted by hurricane sandy

Lynch, K. A., Abramson, D. M., & Merdjanoff, A. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

Volume

100

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.104220

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Risk perceptions of extreme weather events have been explored extensively through the lens of emergency preparation, but the influence of pre-storm risk perceptions on resilience and recovery trajectories are understudied. The objective of this qualitative analysis is to explore 1) the factors which shape residents' perception of risk prior to an event, and 2) how these factors contribute to ‘sensemaking,’ after the storm to influence experiences of recovery. Methods: Eight focus groups and ten in-depth interviews (N = 38) from the Hurricane Sandy Child Impact Study were analyzed using grounded theory. The sample comprised of New Jersey residents who experienced housing damage or displacement during Hurricane Sandy. Verbatim transcripts were coded using iterative phases of open, axial, and selective coding. Results: Grounded theory analysis identified three major themes: 1) Local ecological knowledge and place-based intergenerational memory shaped respondents’ initial risk perceptions, their framing of the event, and its consequences; 2) Unclear institutional decision-making complicated recovery planning and actions; 3) Inaccurate pre-storm risk perceptions led to traumatic memories and decreased self-efficacy in managing recovery. This mismatch in perception and outcome led participants to feel that they had been ill-informed before and during the storm and created skepticism of government recommendations and services during the recovery phase. Conclusions: Local ecological knowledge and intergenerational memory are critical factors that shape pre-storm risk perception and can subsequently influence trust in officials, service utilization, and perceptions of recovery. Themes identified in this analysis suggest the need for future longitudinal research to investigate the extent to which pre-storm risk perception is predictive of post-disaster recovery and resilience.

‘We know what he likes, even if he doesn’t know’ : how the children of South Asian immigrants characterize and influence the diets of their parents

Auer, S., Penikalapati, R., Parekh, N., Merdjanoff, A. A., DiClemente, R. J., & Ali, S. H. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Health Education Research

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

131-142

10.1093/her/cyad036

Abstract

Abstract

Foreign-born (first-generation) South Asians face a growing diet-related chronic disease burden. Little is known about whether the adult US-born (second-generation) children of South Asian immigrants can provide unique insights as changemakers in their parents’ dietary behaviors. This study aims to assess how second-generation South Asians describe and influence the dietary behaviors of their parents. Between October and November 2020, 32 second-generation South Asians [mean age 22.4 (SD 2.9), 53% female] participated in online interviews centered around factors involved in their (and their parents) eating behaviors. Thematic analysis revealed three types of parental dietary drivers (socioecological factors that impact the dietary choices of parents): goal-oriented (i.e., parents’ dietary intentionality), capacity-related (e.g., environmental barriers) and sociocultural (cultural familiarity, religion and traditions). Participants described three major mechanisms of influence: recommending new foods, cooking for parents, and bringing new foods home. These influences primarily occurred in the household and often involved participants leveraging their own nutritional knowledge and preferences to expand dietary diversity and healthier behaviors among their parents. Evidence suggests that second-generation South Asians may act as powerful agents of dietary change within their households and can provide novel insights to help address and overcome sociocultural, linguistic, and other structural barriers to better understanding and intervening in the health of the South Asian community.

"We know what he likes, even if he doesn't know": how the children of South Asian immigrants characterize and influence the diets of their parents

Merdjanoff, A. A., Auer, S., Penikalapati, R., Parekh, N., Merdjanoff, A. A., DiClemente, R. J., & Ali, S. H. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Health Education Research

Page(s)

cyad036

Abstract

Abstract

A Multi-Stage Dyadic Qualitative Analysis to Disentangle How Dietary Behaviors of Asian American Young Adults are Influenced by Family

Ali, S. H., Cai, J., Kamal, F., Auer, S., Yang, K., Parikh, R. S., Parekh, N., Islam, N. S., Merdjanoff, A. A., & DiClemente, R. J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Behavioral Medicine

10.1080/08964289.2023.2298766

Abstract

Abstract

The dietary behaviors of Asian American (AA) young adults, who face a growing non-communicable disease burden, are impacted by complex socio-ecological forces. Family plays a crucial role in the lifestyle behaviors of AA young adults; however, little is known on the methods, contributors, and impact of familial dietary influence. This study aims to deconstruct the mechanisms of AA young adult familial dietary influence through a multi-perspective qualitative assessment. A five-phase method of dyadic analysis adapted from past research was employed to extract nuanced insights from dyadic interviews with AA young adults and family members, and ground findings in behavioral theory (the Social Cognitive Theory, SCT). 37 interviews were conducted: 18 young adults, comprising 10 different AA ethnic subgroups, and 19 family members (10 parents, 9 siblings). Participants described dietary influences that were both active (facilitating, shaping, and restricting) and passive (e.g., sharing foods or environment, mirroring food behaviors). Influences connected strongly with multiple SCT constructs (e.g., behavioral capacity, reinforcements for active influences, and expectations, observational learning for passive influences). Familial influence contributed to changes in the total amount, variety, and healthfulness of foods consumed. Intra-family dynamics were crucial; family members often leveraged each other’s persuasiveness or food skills to collaboratively influence diet. AA family-based interventions should consider incorporating both passive and active forms of dietary influence within a family unit, involve multiple family members, and allow for individualization to the unique dynamics and dietary behaviors within each family unit.

Evaluating the healthfulness of Asian American young adult dietary behaviors and its association with family structure : Disaggregated results from NHIS 2015

Ali, S. H., Parekh, N., Islam, N. S., Merdjanoff, A. A., & DiClemente, R. J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Nutrition and Health

10.1177/02601060231151986

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Asian Americans (AA) young adults face a growing non-communicable disease burden linked with poor dietary behaviors. Family plays a significant role in shaping the diet of AA young adults, although little is known on the specific types of family structures most associated with different dietary behaviors. Aim: This analysis explores the changes in dietary behaviors across different AA young adult family structural characteristics. Methods: Nationwide data of 18–35-year-old self-identified Asians surveyed in the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was analyzed. Family structure was measured through family size, family health, and family members in one's life. The Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ) measured the average intake of 10 food and nutrient groups. Published dietary guidelines were used to calculate the number of dietary recommendations met. Results: 670 AA young adults with dietary data were analyzed (26.1% Asian Indian, 26.1% Chinese, 19.3% Filipino, 28.5% other Asian). Participants had an average family size of 2.3. In weighted analyses, 19% of AA young adults met none of the examined dietary recommendations, and only 14% met 3–4 guidelines. Living with a child was associated meeting more dietary recommendations (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.05, 1.42). The adjusted association between living with an older adult and lower odds of meeting dietary recommendations approached significance (AOR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.49, 1.00). Conclusions: Findings revealed the important role of children and older adults in influencing the diet of AA young adults. Further mixed-methods research to disentangle mechanisms behind the influence of family structure on diet is warranted.

Examining the effects of cumulative environmental stressors on Gulf Coast child and adolescent health

Meltzer, G., Merdjanoff, A. A., Xu, S., Gershon, R., Emrich, C., & Abramson, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Population and Environment

Volume

Abstract

Abstract

Examining the effects of cumulative environmental stressors on Gulf Coast child and adolescent health

Meltzer, G. Y., Merdjanoff, A. A., Xu, V. S., Gershon, R., Emrich, C. T., & Abramson, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Population and Environment

Volume

Issue

10.1007/s11111-023-00436-1

Abstract

Abstract

This study examines how community-level cumulative environmental stress affects child and adolescent emotional distress and chronic health conditions both directly and indirectly through stressors at the household, family, and individual levels. Data comes from the Women and their Children’s Health (WaTCH) Study, which sought to understand the health implications of exposure to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS) among a cohort of 596 mothers with children ages 10 to 17 in southeastern Louisiana. Community-level environmental stress was measured using a newly developed geospatial index. Household-level stressors included previous hurricane impacts, impacts of DHOS, degree of financial difficulty, and degree of housing physical decay. Family stressors included maternal depression, self-rated physical health, and degree of parenting stress. Child stress was based on perceived stress; child mental health was based on serious emotional disturbance; and child physical health was based on diagnosis of chronic illness. Structural equation modeling used weighted least squares means and variance and theta parameterization. Results showed a significant negative direct path between community-level cumulative environmental stress and child/adolescent serious emotional disturbance and chronic illness. However, the indirect relationship through household, family, and individual-level stressors was significant and positive for both child/adolescent serious emotional disturbance and chronic illness. These findings point to the centrality of the household and family in determining child and adolescent physical and mental health outcomes in communities exposed to frequent disasters and ongoing environmental stressors.

Impact of Disasters on Older Adult Cancer Outcomes : A Scoping Review

Lynch, K. A., & Merdjanoff, A. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

JCO Global Oncology

Volume

Page(s)

e2200374

10.1200/GO.22.00374

Abstract

Abstract

PURPOSE: There is an urgent need to address the growing global cancer burden in the context of complex disaster events, which both disrupt access to oncology care and facilitate carcinogenic exposures. Older adults (65 years and older) are a growing population with multifaceted care needs, making them especially vulnerable to disasters. The objective of this scoping review is to characterize the state of the literature concerning older adult cancer-related outcomes and oncologic care after a disaster event. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for scoping reviews, articles were extracted and screened for inclusion. Eligible articles were summarized using descriptive and thematic analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies met all criteria for full-text review. The majority focused on technological disasters (60%, n = 21), followed by climate-amplified disasters (28.6%, n = 10) and geophysical disasters (11.4%, n = 4). Thematic analysis classified the current evidence into three major categories: (1) studies concerned with carcinogenic exposure and cancer incidence related to the disaster event, (2) studies examining changes in access to cancer care and cancer treatment disruptions as a result of the disaster event, and (3) studies exploring the psychosocial experiences of patients with cancer affected by a disaster event. Few studies focused on older adults specifically, and most of the current evidence focuses on disasters in the United States or Japan. CONCLUSION: Older adult cancer outcomes after a disaster event are understudied. Current evidence suggests that disasters worsen cancer-related outcomes among older adults by disrupting continuity of care and access to timely treatment. There is a need for prospective longitudinal studies following older adult populations postdisaster and studies focused on disasters in low- and middle-income country contexts.

Informal Modes of Social Support among Residents of the Rural American West during the COVID-19 Pandemic☆

McConnell, K., Mueller, J. T., Merdjanoff, A. A., Burow, P. B., & Farrell, J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Rural Sociology

10.1111/ruso.12507

Abstract

Abstract

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal spending on government safety net programs in the United States increased dramatically. Despite this unparalleled spending, government safety nets were widely critiqued for failing to fully meet many households' needs. Disaster research suggests that informal modes of social support often emerge during times of disruption, such as the first year of the pandemic. However, use of formal government programs and informal support are rarely examined relative to each other, resulting in an incomplete picture of how households navigate disaster impacts and financial shocks. This study compares estimates of informal social support to formal government program use in the rural U.S. West, drawing on data from a rapid response survey fielded during the summer of 2020 and the 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS-ASEC). We find that informal social support systems were, on aggregate, used almost as extensively as long-standing government programs. Our findings highlight the critical role of person-to-person assistance, such as sharing financial resources, among rural households during a disruptive disaster period. Routine and standardized data collection on these informal support behaviors could improve future disaster research and policy responses, especially among rural populations.

Mental health in rural america during COVID-19 and beyond

Mueller, J. T., & Merdjanoff, A. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Page(s)

119-133

Abstract

Abstract

COVID-19 has had remarkable impacts in rural America. Although the onset of the pandemic was in urban areas, it quickly spread to rural areas and ultimately resulted in higher mortality rates for rural populations. Due to this and other associated impacts, the pandemic has resulted in mental health issues across rural America. In this chapter, the authors first describe the state of rural America pre-pandemic, then detail the overall and mental health impacts of the pandemic on rural people. Following this, the authors report results of a case study on COVID-19 in the rural America West and conclude with recommended steps for addressing the unfolding crisis. Many of the steps the authors can take to improve rural mental health following the pandemic have long-been necessary. However, given the impacts of COVID-19, they are now needed more than ever.

The detrimental effect of high mobility on long-term mental health trajectories following Hurricane Katrina

Merdjanoff, A. A., Merdjanoff, A., Friedman, S., Piltch-Loeb, R., & Abramson, D. M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

International Journal of Mass Emergencies & Disasters

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

121

Abstract

Abstract

Advancing Interdisciplinary and Convergent Science for Communities : Lessons Learned through the NCAR Early-Career Faculty Innovator Program

Bukvic, A., Mandli, K., Finn, D., Mayo, T., Wong-Parodi, G., Merdjanoff, A. A., Alland, J., Davis, C., Haacker, R., Morss, R., O’Lenick, C., Wilhelmi, O., & Lombardozzi, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

Volume

103

Issue

Page(s)

E2513-E2532

10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0265.1

Abstract

Abstract

The authors introduce the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s Early-Career Faculty Innovator Program and present lessons learned about advancing interdisciplinary and convergent science with and for society. The Innovator Program brings together faculty and students from the social sciences with NCAR researchers to conduct interdisciplinary and convergent research on problems motivated by societal challenges in the face of climate change and environmental hazards. This article discusses aspects of program structure and the research being conducted. The article also emphasizes the challenges and successes of the research collaborations within the Innovator Program, along with lessons learned about engaging in highly interdisciplinary, potentially convergent work, particularly from the early-career perspective. Many projects involve faculty PIs from racially, ethnically, or otherwise minoritized groups, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), or those who engage with marginalized communities. Hence, the Innovator Program is contributing to the development of a growing research community pursuing science with and for society that also broadens participation in research related to the atmospheric sciences.

Associations Between COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Socio-Spatial Factors in NYC Transit Workers 50 Years and Older

Meltzer, G. Y., Harris, J., Hefner, M., Lanternier, P., Gershon, R. R., Vlahov, D., & Merdjanoff, A. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

International Journal of Aging and Human Development

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

76-90

10.1177/00914150221106709

Abstract

Abstract

This analysis investigates how age, race/ethnicity, and geographic location contributed to vaccine hesitancy in a sample of 645 New York City (NYC) Transport Workers Union (TWU), Local 100 members surveyed in August 2020. Union members ages 50+ were 46% less likely to be vaccine hesitant than their younger counterparts (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.42, 0.97). Non-Whites (OR 3.95; 95% 2.44, 6.39) and those who did not report their race (OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.87, 5.12) were significantly more likely to be vaccine hesitant than Whites. Those who were not concerned about contracting COVID-19 in the community had 1.83 greater odds (95% CI 1.12, 2.98) of being vaccine hesitant than those who were concerned. Older respondents tended to reside in Queens while vaccine hesitant and non-White respondents were clustered in Brooklyn. General trends observed in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy persist in a population of high risk, non-healthcare essential workers.

Development of an Integrated Approach to Virtual Mind-Mapping : Methodology and Applied Experiences to Enhance Qualitative Health Research

Ali, S. H., Merdjanoff, A. A., Parekh, N., & DiClemente, R. J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Qualitative Health Research

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

571-580

10.1177/10497323211058161

Abstract

Abstract

There is a growing need to better capture comprehensive, nuanced, and multi-faceted qualitative data while also better engaging with participants in data collection, especially in virtual environments. This study describes the development of a novel 3-step approach to virtual mind-mapping that involves (1) ranked free-listing, (2) respondent-driven mind-mapping, and (3) interviewing to enhance both data collection and analysis of complex health behaviors. The method was employed in 32 virtual interviews as part of a study on eating behaviors among second-generation South Asian Americans. Participants noted the mind-mapping experience to be (1) helpful for visual learners, (2) helpful in elucidating new ideas and to structure thoughts, as well as (3) novel and interesting. They also noted some suggestions that included improving interpretability of visual data and avoiding repetition of certain discussion points. Data collection revealed the adaptability of the method, and the power of mind-maps to guide targeted, comprehensive discussions with participants.

Disasters, Displacement, and Housing Instability : Estimating Time to Stable Housing 13 Years after Hurricane Katrina

Merdjanoff, A. A., Abramson, D. M., Park, Y. S., & Piltch-Loeb, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Weather, Climate, and Society

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

535-550

10.1175/WCAS-D-21-0057.1

Abstract

Abstract

Catastrophic disasters disrupt the structural and social aspects of housing, which can lead to varying lengths of displacement and housing instability for affected residents. Stable housing is a critical aspect of postdisaster recovery, which makes it important to understand how much time passes before displaced residents are able to find stable housing. Using the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health Study, a longitudinal cohort of Mississippi and Louisiana residents exposed to Hurricane Katrina (n = 1079), we describe patterns of stable housing by identifying protective and prohibitive factors that affect time to stable housing in the 13 years following the storm. Survival analyses reveal that median time to stable housing was 1082 days-over 3 years after Katrina. Age, housing tenure, marital status, income, and social support each independently affected time to stable housing. Findings suggest that postdisaster housing instability is similar to other forms of housing instability, including eviction, frequent moves, and homelessness.

Elevated serious psychological distress, economic disruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the nonmetropolitan American West

Mueller, J. T., Merdjanoff, A. A., McConnell, K., Burow, P., & Farrell, J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Preventive Medicine

Volume

155

10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106919

Abstract

Abstract

In this study we examined the psychological distress, self-rated health, COVID-19 exposure, and economic disruption of a sample of the nonmetropolitan western U.S. population and labor force one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using novel primary survey data from non-metropolitan counties in the eleven contiguous western United States collected from February 28 until April 3, 2021 (n = 1203), we descriptively analyzed variables and estimated binomial and multinomial logit models of the association between economic disruption, COVID-19 exposure, self-rated health, and psychological distress. Results showed there was widespread presence of psychological distress, COVID-19 exposure, and economic disruption among the overall sample and members of the labor force. There was extremely high incidence of serious psychological distress (14.8% CI [12.1,17.8] of the weighted sample), which was heightened among the labor force (16.6%, CI [13.0,20.9] of those in the labor force). We found economic disruption was associated with severe psychological distress, but exposure to infection was not. Comparatively, overall self-rated health was at similar levels as prior research and was not significantly associated with economic disruption or COVID-19 exposure. COVID-19, particularly its associated economic effects, had a significant relationship with serious psychological distress in this sample of adults in the nonmetropolitan western United States.

Mapping drivers of second-generation South Asian American eating behaviors using a novel integration of qualitative and social network analysis methods

Ali, S. H., Gupta, S., Tariq, M., Penikalapati, R., Vasquez-Lopez, X., Auer, S., Hanif, C., Parekh, N., Merdjanoff, A. A., & DiClemente, R. J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Ecology of Food and Nutrition

Volume

Issue

Page(s)

503-521

10.1080/03670244.2022.2056166

Abstract

Abstract

This study explores a novel, mixed qualitative method to deconstruct the diet of second-generation South Asian Americans (SAAs). Online interviews of 32 second-generation SAAs were conducted usingintegrated free-listing and mind-mapping. Ranked free-lists were aggregated to identify salient drivers, while connections made within mind-maps were analyzed using social network analysis (SNA) methods. Overall, 34 distinct drivers and 247 unique connections were identified. Taste, family, and health had the highest adjusted rankings, while health displayed the strongest network centrality. Interventions aimed at second-generation SAA dietary behaviors may benefit from family-based or multi-level interventions, which consider the complex, unique dietary norms identified.

Moving from interdisciplinary to convergent research across geoscience and social sciences : Challenges and strategies

Finn, D., Mandli, K., Bukvic, A., Davis, C. A., Haacker, R., Morss, R. E., O'Lenick, C. R., Wilhelmi, O., Wong-Parodi, G., Merdjanoff, A. A., & Mayo, T. L. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Environmental Research Letters

Volume

Issue

10.1088/1748-9326/ac7409

Abstract

Abstract

Alexis A Merdjanoff