Sociology Research

Sociology Research

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May 2024 - May 2025 

Marie-Louise Abild
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum
Cannabis Use among Student Athletes

Due to increased legalization of cannabis in the United States, the overall reported use of cannabis has increased. This research examines cannabis use among student athletes: what are the perceptions, motivation factors, and stigma around cannabis? The research draws on the existing scholarship focusing on stigma connected to student athletes dealing with mental health issues, perception of using cannabis as a student athlete, and motivation factors that influence cannabis use. This qualitative survey employed a sample of 103 current college student athlete participants. Forty-eight percent of respondents reported monthly use of cannabis with the primary motives being a social motivator and to cope with mental health difficulties, sleep, and pain management. Another finding is the “double stigma”, as student athletes report stigmatization of mental health issues and also with using cannabis to cope. Furthermore, the emerging “athlete-first perception” considers student athletes' primary identity being related to athletics which offers challenges to academic identity and time-management. The findings indicate that these factors are pushing back the dominant narrative of cannabis users being lazy, gross, pot–heads. This research highlights an underprioritization of student athletes’ mental health and recommends additional attention to cannabis policies and mental health support and resources.

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Madison Bennett
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum
The Role of Social Institutions & Intersectional Identities in Shaping Americans Perceptions of Latinx Immigrants

This study uses critical race theory and a social constructionist approach to understand Americans’ perceptions towards Latinx immigrants by examining the role of social institutions and an individual’s intersectional identity. Scholars have shown that perceptions of Latinx immigrants may differ between an individual’s race, class, gender, age, and geographic location. Other scholars have demonstrated the different roles that social institutions, such as the media, religion, family, and politics, play in shaping Americans’ perceptions. A survey study was conducted on 69 young adults and explored the themes of anti-immigrant perceptions on a continuum. The implications of the varying perceptions towards immigrants has systemic effects in society. Including, how social policy is constructed, Latinx immigrants internalization of their social standing in society, as well as the prevalence of racial inequality in the United States. This study aims to identify how the varying intersections of identities are influential or predictors of the continuum of anti-immigrant attitudes towards immigrants coming across the southern border. The outcome of this research provides strategies for Americans, especially white Americans to develop a deeper cultural awareness and to challenge the perpetuation of negative racialized stereotypes towards Latinx immigrants from social institutions.

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Arabella Cummings
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum
Public Spaces, Connectivity, & Well-Being: An Ethnographic Study of Grand Rapids Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program

By many reports the city of Grand Rapids is faring well. The metropolitan area is among the fastest growing areas in Michigan and among the most diverse. However, the fast-paced growth has added to strains in the area. Further, the well-being of residents of the city of Grand Rapids is dependent upon factors including intersections of socioeconomic status and race and gender identity. For example, while approximately 85% of white respondents report high quality of life, 63% of Hispanic residents, and about half as many Blacks (48%) report the same quality. In other words, well-being largely depends on who you are and where you live. This ethnographic research exploring well-being asks how people use public spaces such as parks, bridges, and third spaces as well as the kinds of barriers people experience in accessing and using these spaces. This research also asks about opportunities and barriers for biking. To answer these questions, we employed ethnographic methods during the summer of 2023, conducting participant and non-participant observations on bicycles. Our findings highlight both opportunities and barriers to public spaces as well as the nuances of how and when people access public spaces.

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Halee Holman
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum
Healthcare and Reproductive Care Access

Reproductive healthcare barriers result in the lack of information, education, and access to procedures. For this research project, I examined the barriers that women face to healthcare and abortion access. I surveyed 44 women over 18. This research explores the question: what barriers to healthcare and reproductive care are women experiencing? This research will draw from three main themes: Healthcare Barriers, Reproductive Healthcare Barriers, and Stigma. The results show 68% of women surveyed are sexually active and only 32% of sexually active women are regularly getting tested. Only 25% of the women who responded report having regular access to an OBGYN. These findings highlight a general lack of access to healthcare and reproductive care. The significance of this problem has continued to grow from the reverse of Roe V. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States. The main two recommendations would be for women to have better access to healthcare and to further education on reproductive healthcare and sexual education inside the education system.

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Hannah Kohn
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum and Dr. Mike Lorr
Effects of Social Media on College Students

This research examines the effects of social media on college students and asks, how does social media influence college students’ self-identity and social well-being? In particular, this research explores the complicated effects of social media on college students including social factors, social well-being, and self-identity/mental health. The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of the effects that social media is having on young people and bring more awareness of these effects and implications, to future students, educators, and researchers. According to research, “those between the ages of 19 and 29 are the most active on social media”. “Social media creates several barriers for students in their daily lives such as depression, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, as well as problems associated with social well-being, envy, and self-comparison”. This research draws findings from a qualitative survey conducted among currently enrolled students between the ages of 18-25 at Aquinas College. 

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Haleigh Miller
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum
The Impacts of Social Media on Women's Well-being

There is a correlation between frequency of social media use and well-being, in particular, for women, poor(er) overall well-being has been documented by several scholars who study the effects of social media use. Scholars have indicated that there are significant emotional, mental and physical impacts on women’s health and the use of social media is related to anxiety, stress, and depression, poor well-being correlated with social media can also manifest as eating disorders, harassment, bullying, etc., and the use of social media may increase the drive for thinness, becoming vulnerable for eating disorders. This research aims to seek: How does social media affect women’s well-being? How is women’s self-esteem impacted? The purpose of this study is to gain more insight on the effects of social media use on women's overall health. I conducted a qualitative survey method to sample Aquinas College women students, staff, and faculty, ages of 18-23 (n=42). This research shows how social media is impacting women’s overall health and that the media is contributing to underlying factors that contribute to poor well-being in women.

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Abigail Vallance
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum
Sexual Health Among College Students

There is an overarching lack of comprehensive sexual health awareness in young adults. College students are currently the largest age group (20-24) to contract an STD, yet the least likely to show symptoms. This research study aims to understand which barriers college students are experiencing in their ability to access sexual health knowledge and condoms. The criteria for being included in this study were a minimum age of 18 and current college enrollment, n=91. There is a clear shortage of comprehensive education on sexual health knowledge, leading to a lack of extensive knowledge on how to contract an STD, participants who identify religiously are more likely to have the least amount of sexual health education but are more sexually active, and there is an underlying stigma and financial barrier to accessing condoms. Considering the fact that sexual health is a public health matter, yet these results indicate that sexual health among college students is severely lacking, there is only one real conclusion to be made: college campuses need to give immediate attention to this issue by establishing comprehensive sexual education programming and provide free sexual health resources such as condoms to their college communities.

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Sophia Wunsch-Lugtigheid
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Satya Lendrum, Dr. Mike Lorr
The Influence Intimate Partner Relationships Have on Personal Well-Being

Over 61 million women in the US face emotional abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime according to the CDC. While there is general awareness around the issues of intimate partner violence (IPV), there are few resources dedicated to understanding forms of coping individuals develop to handle relationship stressors. Importantly, there is a lack of consistent definitions of IPV and acknowledgement that it encompasses more than physical violence; this is in part because mental and emotional violence is harder to identify. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to understand personal well-being in intimate relationships while broadly examining IPV. This research surveys women in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area who are between the ages of 18-25 (n=26). The findings show that some women feel “manipulated”, “isolated”, and “stressed” in their romantic relationships. Further, an overwhelming high percentage of women indicate that they experienced emotional abuse in their household growing up, which increases the likelihood of experiencing abuse in adulthood. Overall, romantic relationships can affect well-being in both positive and negative ways. This research highlights the importance of preventive access to early education about relationships, violence, and what healthy relationships look like.

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May 2023 - May 2024

Connectivity & Well-Being: An Ethnographic Exploration of Grand Rapids
Arabella Cummings

The purpose of this research is to understand the state of well-being among a more diverse range of individuals living in the city of Grand Rapids. This research explores how structural forces, in particular, public spaces and transportation (access and barriers) contribute to overall well-being and connectivity.  This study also seeks to understand the implications of the pandemic on mental health and overall well-being. A final objective is continuing to explore the complex factors that contribute to poor mental health in Grand Rapids, in particular two key interrelated factors: sense of belonging and authenticity, and social pressures and norms. This research will be conducted primarily through ethnographic methods, uniquely on bicycles.  We will traverse the city on bicycle to explore the infrastructure and connectivity of the city and, through qualitative research methods, seek to answer our core research questions about lived experiences in Grand Rapids, about the city and neighborhoods of Grand Rapids, and about overall well-being.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jen Lendrum, Sociology
Funded by: Aquinas College Summer Scholars Program

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May 2022 - May 2023

Factors Shaping Trends of Poor(er) Mental Health: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study of Grand Rapids
Adeline (Ada) Shaw

Our summer research explores the complex factors that contribute to poor mental health in West Michigan and seeks to understand the implications of the pandemic on mental health and overall well-being. Further, this research seeks to examine the role of the following structural forces on the well-being of residents in Grand Rapids: the local labor market and availability of “good” jobs; the structure of the neighborhood, in particular “other” spaces such as porches and parks; the role of local churches as a place of worship and support; and the role of community and social networks. Our mixed-methods study relies primarily on ethnographic methods.