Rebekah Lassiter’s research while affiliated with Wake Forest University and other places

Purpose To evaluate the effect of endometrial scratching on in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates in women undergoing frozen embryo transfer with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Methods Biopsy was performed at oocyte retrieval in cases and compared to those who did not undergo scratching (controls). Endpoints included pregnancy loss, total pregnancy, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate/live birth rate (OPR), and the incidence of chronic endometritis (CE). Results Women in case and control groups had similar characteristics, such as age, body mass index, and parity. Overall total pregnancy rate was 82.43% following single euploid embryo transfer in cases compared to 85.7% in controls (p = 0.57; OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 0.565 to 2.78). CPR was 73.3% and 76.2% (p = 0.62; OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.594 to 2.29), and OPR between groups was 64.8% and 72.3% (p = 0.28; OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 0.74 to 2.7). First trimester loss rate was similar at 16.9%% and 15.5%%, respectively (p = 0.82). Subjects who underwent scratching closer to their frozen embryo transfer (≤ 3 months) had a similar overall pregnancy rate to those with a longer delay between retrieval and frozen embryo transfer (> 3 months 81.4% vs.87.5%; p = 0.56). CE incidence was 10.8% (8 out of 74; 95% CI = 5.5% to 19.9%). The odds of having a second trimester loss were significantly higher in the scratch group compared to controls (p = 0.03; OR = infinity; 95% CI = 1.3 to infinity). Conclusions Endometrial scratching before frozen euploid embryo transfer did not influence pregnancy outcome but increased the chances of second trimester loss. CE was a frequent finding in those undergoing endometrial scratching at the time of retrieval.

Cultural insensitivity (ie improper response to cultural traditions and styles) has increased with globalisation and intercultural contact. At the same time, little is understood about when and how cultural insensitivity might be perceived, especially within everyday contexts. To assess this, two cohorts of young adults (Cohort 1: n = 100, 69 per cent white, 59 per cent male; Cohort 2: n = 167, 65 per cent white, 48 per cent male) were presented with real-world images and situations that could be viewed as culturally insensitive. Cohort 2 participants were also asked about their opinions on companies changing their marketing strategies to address perceived cultural insensitivities. Quantitative and qualitative responses reflected a range of opinions. Our study suggests that young adults who perceived marketing changes to be appropriate were also more likely to perceive cultural insensitivities across scenarios, suggesting a general consciousness of cultural ideology. Women, also, identified all the given scenarios as more culturally insensitive than did men. This paper builds insight into how young adults respond to and reason about culturally relevant concerns, which has implications for contemporary rhetoric around positive and negative views of political correctness. Considering the global nature of cultural insensitivity, more widespread examinations of its processes, in other societies, is essential. Additionally, the need for increased awareness and critical cognisance of cultural sensitivity is vital to guide everyday interactions with others.

Colloquially referred to as the “lunchbox moment” in popular media and anecdotal accounts, food-related discrimination appears to be a common, shared experience among Asian Americans. Yet, empirical research on culinary racism is scarce. Using a mixed methods approach with 241 Asian Americans (Mage = 21.6 years, 62% women, 34% first generation), the present study examines the prevalence, underlying themes, and correlates of lunchbox moments. Approximately half of the sample (48.5%) reported ever having a lunchbox moment. Content analysis of open-ended responses suggests that the experiences represent a range of themes, many of which involve negative reactions (e.g., bullying, negative emotions, rejecting heritage traditions). The most consistent correlates of having these experiences could be found with more negative attitudes toward current Asian-inspired food trends, though some associations with ethnic–racial identity and well-being were also evident. Culinary racism is an understudied microaggression that warrants continued investigation given its personal salience and impact.

Despite its presence in everyday life, cultural appropriation is not well understood, perhaps because its definition, bounds, and conditions have not been clearly unpacked. The present study uses a between-subjects, mixed-methods approach and culinary-related scenarios to address possible factors that constitute appropriation (e.g., actor background and intent). Utilizing a sample of emerging adults from a small, liberal arts university (N = 167, 52% female, 65% white), results suggest that an actor’s background is not the sole factor in deeming an act appropriative. Rather, intent appears to be an even more pertinent factor to examine. Participants believe that it is possible to engage with cultural products or practices in a respectful manner, further emphasizing the role intent plays in perceptions of appropriation. Although our results help define the bounds of cultural appropriation, future research should consider connections between authenticity and appropriation as well as how observer background might impact perceptions of appropriation.

Background Opioid use remains a major public health issue, especially among young adults. Despite investment in harm reduction and supply-side strategies such as reducing overprescribing and safe medication disposal, little is known about demand-side issues, such as reasons for use and pathways to opioid use. Adolescents and young adults who struggle with opioid use disorder (OUD) are multifaceted individuals with varied individual histories, experiences, challenges, skills, relationships, and lives. Methods To inform the development of prevention strategies that hold promise for addressing opioid use, this study employs brief structured surveys and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 30 young adults (ages 18–29; 19 female, 23 White, 16 from Suburban areas) in recovery from OUD. For survey data, we used descriptive statistics to summarize the means and variance of retrospectively reported risk and protective factors associated with opioid use. For in-depth interview data, we used a combination of thematic analysis and codebook approaches to generate common themes and experiences shared by participants. Results Surveys revealed that the most endorsed risk factors pertained to emotions (emotional neglect and emotional abuse) followed by sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect. Themes generated from qualitative analyses reveal challenging experiences during adolescence, such as unaddressed mental health, social, and emotional needs, which were often reported as reasons for opioid initiation and use. Through surveys and interviews, we also identified positive assets, such as skills and social relationships that were present for many participants during adolescence. Conclusion Implications include the need for universal prevention strategies that include emotion-focused interventions and supports alongside current harm reduction and environmental strategies to regulate prescriptions; the potential utility of more emotion-focused items being included on screening tools; and more voices of young people in recovery.

Although research on the associations between COVID-19 and social relationships has garnered attention, there has been less of a focus on how COVID-19 was discussed within relationships themselves. The present study deepens the understanding of the wide reach of the pandemic by using quantitative surveys and open-ended responses to explore how individuals discussed and reacted to COVID-19 and related health guidelines in the context of their family and peer relationships. Data were collected from 132 young adults in the U.S. (age = 18.9 years, SD = 0.85; 50% female; 14% ethnically racially minoritized students) using standard procedures established by the university’s undergraduate research pool. Results suggest that young adults talked about COVID-19 more with their families than with their peers. They also reported sharing similar opinions about the pandemic with both their family and their peers. Young adults described COVID-19, overall, as having positive net effects within their family relationships but straining their peer relationships. Qualitative data provide additional, detailed insight on how the pandemic shifted interpersonal dynamics and family and peer relationships.

Objective: Engaging youth in planning, developing, and implementing substance misuse prevention efforts can improve those efforts. However, specific local policies and systems constrain youth engagement practice. This study examines how to engage youth in substance misuse prevention within state prevention systems. Methods: In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with 13 prevention providers in the North Carolina prevention system were conducted via video call and transcribed and analyzed via thematic and codebook approaches. Procedures are reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Results: Providers viewed youth engagement favorably yet mostly did not differentiate between youth-targeted prevention initiatives and youth-engaged initiatives. Findings reveal how state-level decisions, such as definitions and funding policies, support and challenge how providers implement youth engagement. Conclusions: To encourage youth engagement, state prevention systems should clarify for providers the distinction between prevention efforts targeted to youth and those that engage youth in planning and implementing and define which activities are desirable and what the role of youth should be in the activities. Finally, prevention providers need support for youth-engaged approaches to prevention, specifically training for youth and adult allies and opportunities for knowledge-sharing.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought health and social disparities to the fore, and intensified bias and racism in the U.S. and globally. In the context of discriminatory rhetoric and anti-Asian sentiments voiced by prominent political figures, Asian Americans have been disproportionately targeted with injustice, scapegoating, and overt racism. Amid heightened sociocultural stress and national divisiveness, the present study explored whether “silver linings” might be found in the form of increased ethnic–racial identity exploration, ethnic–racial socialization, and civic engagement. Survey data from 200 Asian American parents of adolescents (58% mothers; 63% foreign born, 37% U.S. born) suggest that awareness of discrimination against Asian Americans post-COVID-19 was associated with greater identity exploration and fewer socialization messages that minimize the importance of race. Awareness of discrimination against other minoritized groups (i.e., Native and Black Americans, Latinxs) was associated with greater post-COVID-19 activism. Additional socialization messages (i.e., promotion of equality, cultural pluralism) were associated with lifetime discrimination experiences and parent gender. Although negative consequences of the pandemic are indisputable, our results offer a small glimmer of hope in terms of building resistance and momentum.