Research and News from the Center for Families at Purdue University

February 26, 2024

Does taking parental leave make you a more likeable worker? Evidence from a survey experiment

Trent Mize

Research on perceptions of workers who take paid parental leave largely focuses on the negative consequences associated with leave-taking. However, given widespread support for paid parental leave within the U.S., it is possible that workers may also be viewed positively...

February 26, 2024

Observation of human-animal interaction for research (OHAIRE) behavior coding in a randomized control trial of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a canine-assisted intervention

Leanne Nieforth

Diagnosed in about 10% of children in the United States, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Traditional interventions, such as pharmacological and psychological interventions, are often used in conjunction with integrative health options,...

February 22, 2024

The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being of Latine youth from rural and agricultural families in the Midwest

Zoe Taylor

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant health and socioeconomic repercussions for Latine immigrant families and their children due to long-standing social, economic, and immigration-related inequities, with rural families particularly vulnerable.

February 17, 2024

Disparities Among Pediatric Firearm Suicides in the United States: An Analysis of the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2014 to 2018

Laura Schwab-Reese

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.), with firearms being the predominant method. This study examines the racial disparity and disproportionality of pediatric firearm suicide from 2014 to 2018 in 17 U.S. states.

February 16, 2024

Predictors of Substance Use Risk in Nurse Anesthetists

Karen Foli

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are exposed daily to highly addictive substances and stressful work environments, placing them at risk for substance use disorders (SUDs). Previous research, which is scarce, indicated that drugs of choice were opioids and propofol. Therefore,...

February 15, 2024

Veterans report healthier cortisol levels from the support and companionship of service dogs

Leanne Nieforth

A new study from The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) analyzed the impact service dogs had on military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by examining cortisol levels in veterans with a service dog vs a...

February 14, 2024

New year brought increased consumer interest in food and nutrition resolutions

Heather Eicher-Miller

Food or nutrition-related New Year’s resolutions were more popular among consumers going into 2024 compared to last year, according to the January Consumer Food Insights Report. This year 25% of consumers responded “yes” when asked if they had any food...

February 14, 2024

The role of the community café in addressing food security: Perceptions of managers and directors

Heather Eicher-Miller

In the United States, the pay-what-you-can restaurant model (community cafes) is an increasingly popular approach to addressing food insecurity in local communities. We conducted semi-structured interviews with community café executive managers and directors to assess their perceptions of the role...

February 12, 2024

Retrieval Practice and Word Learning by Children With Developmental Language Disorder: Does Expanding Retrieval Provide Additional Benefit?

Sharon Christ

The word learning of preschool-age children with developmental language disorder (DLD) is improved when spaced retrieval practice is incorporated into the learning sessions. In this preregistered study, we compared two types of spacing—an expanding retrieval practice schedule and an equally...

February 8, 2024

CFF welcomes Janine Duncan as a faculty partner!

Janine Duncan joins CFF as the Mary K. “Kitty” Decker Clinical Associate Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Research interests include family & consumer sciences (FCS)–broad field and education; professional literacy development; foundational perspectives; critical science framework; status of...