Kenzie Latham-Mintus

KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: COVID-19 Vaccine Update | KFF As federal vaccine policy changes, this poll finds that most adults do not expect to get a COVID-19 vaccine this fall , and many parents are confused and uncertain about whether the vaccine is recomme...

Forty percent of Americans plan to get a Covid shot this fall -- of that, two-thirds are worried they won't be able to and/or that insurance won't cover it. Vaccine uptake is already low. Recent policy changes will only discourage vaccination more, and it will cost lives. www.kff.org/health-infor...

I've been collecting examples of when AI goes wrong so that I can inform students of its shortcomings and explain why I am not allowing it in my courses.

Here's another one to add to the pile.

Importance of this article to its subfield of study 5 1 2 3 4

As if doing peer-reviews isn't already time consuming, now, I need to be a mind reader.

Any guesses whether "5" or "1" indicates high importance?

Pumping Iron Is Their Secret to Aging Well
via NYT
Greysteel, a gym outside Detroit, teaches barbell lifting for older people. Some are well into their 80s and 90s.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/w...

The reality is that the only thing that can reduce homelessness, mental illness, and addiction is more housing, more investment in shelters, and building more mental health infrastructure. That’s it. You can’t address homelessness without houses and you can’t address illness without healthcare.

The Benefits of Medicaid Expansion Since 2012, states have had the option of expanding Medicaid to all low-income adults, with nearly full financing from the federal government. To date, 36 states and the District of Columbia have expa...

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

SNAP Is Linked With Improved Health Outcomes and Lower Health Care Costs | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities A substantial body of research links the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, with lower health care costs and improved health...

www.cbpp.org/research/foo...

As a kid, I was on SNAP (aka food stamps, I remember when they still looked like Monopoly money) and Medicaid. I ate free lunch all through school. I believe that these programs are morally imperative, but, regardless of one's own values, they are simply good social, health, and economic policy.

Only 16% of US adults think that federal funding for scientific research done by universities should be decreased. The public wants and values scientific advancements.

Affecting 1 in 5 people, transportation insecurity is America's overlooked hardship. New research from Alexandra Murphy and @natashap.bsky.social uses the Transportation Security Index to provide insights on this prevalent challenge. #EconSky #PolicySky psc.isr.umich.edu/news/transpo...

🫂 #FamilyRelationship shape #RacialIdentity among #AfroCaribbean individuals.

New #Socius study by Drs. Irby-Shasanmi, Hairston & Erving finds closeness builds solidarity; conflict divides U.S.-born and foreign-born.

Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...

An update to show the seismic crash in NIH funding. The left side shows NIH has issued almost no "new" awards since Trump took office. Even renewals (you receive a 5 year award, but each year they renew it), which should be mushed into the lines above it, is shockingly low.

Just in case it is helpful, it is totally appropriate to reach out to the decision editor for guidance when you have reviews that are contradictory and/or nonsensical. Editors are looking at the reviews holistically, while authors (who must respond point-by-point) are looking at them individually.

Picture of white board with following text: Gen X "raised on hose water and neglect" no participation trophies uniquely tough because of 'tough love" in childhood cool, sarcastic, no need for protections (seatbelts, helmets, etc.)

We did an activity in my #Sociology of Aging & the Life Course class, where students had to use social media to analyze generational identities among cohorts. It was a fun activity, and the #GenX responses were just too good not to share.

"Raised on hose water and neglect" belongs on a t-shirt

Background and Objective This study examines how past incarceration affects social relationships in older adults to explore the relationship between past incarceration and the quality and quantity of social relationships among older adults. Research Design and Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 13,023 Americans aged 50 and older from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants self-reported their history of incarceration. Multivariable logistic regression determined the odds of lacking close ties, low social integration, and high loneliness, while linear regression evaluated the relationship between incarceration history and the number of close ties, controlling for demographic factors. Results Among 13,768 respondents, 992 (7.2%) reported a history of incarceration. They were more likely to be unmarried or unpartnered (aOR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.11-1.61), rate spousal closeness lower (aOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.50-0.70), and have no close relationships with children (aOR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.19-1.69), family (aOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.54), or friends (aOR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.44). They also had higher odds of low participation (aOR: 1.42, 95% CI 1:18, 1.71), low cohesion (aOR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.13, 1.60), and high loneliness (aOR: 1.67, 95% 1.43, 1.94). Linear regression revealed a similar pattern of social vulnerability across all social measures. Discussion and Implications Older adults with a history of incarceration are at increased risk of social isolation and loneliness. Targeted interventions could improve their social integration and well-being.

Hot off the press!
Using data from the Health & Retirement study, we find that older adults with incarceration histories experience more social vulnerability (e.g., smaller social networks/more social isolation, less community integration, and more loneliness).

doi.org/10.1093/gero...

They want America to have more babies. Is this their moment? : Consider This from NPR Billionaire Elon Musk told Fox News recently that falling birth rates keep him up at night. It's a drum he's been beating for years.Musk is one of the world's most visible individuals to elevate this ...

Birth rates are falling in the U.S. and CPC Director Karen Benjamin Guzzo says most people wants kids but lack societal support to meet their ideal parenting vision.
www.npr.org/2025/04/07/1...

Photo of the stuck Ever Given-labeled Structural Problems”-with a small digger-labeled “Individual Choices”-trying but failing to dislodge it.

As a sociology professor, this hits hard. I still sometimes use it.

Social Security Lifts More People Above the Poverty Line Than Any Other Program | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Social Security benefits play a vital role in reducing poverty in every state. Without Social Security, 22.0 million more adults and children would be below the poverty line.

www.cbpp.org/research/soc...

Just as a friendly reminder, over 40% of Americans 65+ rely on Social Security for the majority of their income (SSA, 2025)

Disabled workers also account for 11% of Social Security benefits (SSA, 2025)

Social Security lifts more people out of poverty than any other program (Romig, CBPP, 2025)

I'm going to take a second to brag about my #Sociology capstone students. I created an assignment called "Structural Solutions for Structural Problems," where I asked them to share a successful, recent example of social change through claimsmaking. It was such an inspirational assignment to grade.

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We underscore the role of structural racism for this disparity and caution against the use of these measures in clinical decision-making.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Examining Differences in the Predictive Capacity of Educational Polygenic Scores on Physical Limitations Among Older Adults With European or African Ancestry Kenzie Latham-Mintus, PhD, FGSA¹, Micah Azariah Williams, BS, MS², and Wade Catt, BA, MS² Abstract This research examined whether educational polygenic scores were associated with physical limitations among older adults with European or African ancestry. In the European ancestry sample, we found that education polygenic scores were significantly associated with physical limitations, net of age, sex, and current socioeconomic status. In the African ancestry sample, education polygenic scores were not associated with physical limitations in any of the models. Observed educational attainment was a robust predictor of physical limitations in both samples. This research demonstrates the inequalities in the predictive capacity of educational polygenic scores for physical health. We hypothesize that this disparity is a result of structural barriers to educational attainment by race, selection bias, and/or racial inequities in data collection. All of these explanations stem from structural racism and highlight the limited usefulness of polygenic scores for clinical decision-making.

Self-promotion feels odd with so much chaos in the world, but I worked with two terrific students who deserve recognition.

We find that educational polygenic scores are predictive of physical limitations among older adults with European ancestry, but not among those with African ancestry.

1/ I am seeing a lot of comments on the slashing of NIH support along the lines of “universities should just spend their huge endowments.”

I’m the last person to cheer on the institutional stratification rising endowments have contributed to. But let me explain why this is not a solution.

I just added some new folks. Let's keep the momentum going. Please let me know if you would like to be added.

#gerosky #gerontology #socialgerontology

go.bsky.app/KnsmUGh

Absolutely! Done :)

Added :)

Done :)

Done :)

Section on Disability in Society People with Disabilities as a Population with Health Disparities (Co-sponsored by Section on Medical Sociology) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities. This designation is a result of disability advocacy efforts and a step toward recognizing disabled individuals as a minority group with unique health and healthcare concerns. The purpose of this co-sponsored session is to highlight innovative, sociological work that examines health disparities among disabled persons. (Session Organizer) Kenzie Mintus, Indiana University Indianapolis The Future of Work for Disabled Workers In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans are seeking out remote work options. Remote work (or work from home) opportunities are particularly beneficial for disabled workers. However, increasingly large companies are rolling back remote work options. As companies shift their work from home policies, demand for remote work may increase—creating competition from nondisabled workers who benefit from flexible work policies as well. The purpose of this session is to understand how current work policies will shape the future of work for disabled workers. (Session Organizer) Kenzie Mintus, Indiana University Indianapolis Section on Disability in Society Roundtables This roundtable session will explore various topics related to the sociology of disability. (Session Organizer) Kenzie Mintus, Indiana University Indianapolis

I know there is a lot happening in the world right now, but for those of you planning to attend #ASA2025, please consider your submitting your work to our @asadisability.bsky.social sessions. We need to highlight our work & find community now more than ever. Deadline 02/26.
#Sociology #Disability