Funding: NSF grant from the Division of Behavioral & Cognitive Science
Amy Dao, Cal Poly Pomona
Cure Description
Multi-generational household arrangements, defined as having a grandparent, parent, and child co-residing in one household, have long been practiced for its economic and cultural benefits to families. However, the coronavirus pandemic has turned these economic survival strategies into high risk living conditions as household transmission remains a primary source of COVID-19 infections. Despite recommendations to physically distance, vaccinate, wear masks if unvaccinated, sanitize, and get tested, little is known about how readily multi-generational household members can apply these recommendations given real world contingencies related to work, kin, and cultural obligations. This is especially true for households with essential workers as vaccination rates slow down and businesses reopen. The results of this study will contribute to recommendations for how to strengthen public health responses to accommodate not just individuals but families (broadly conceived), particularly those living in multi-generational households. The study is implemented as part of a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) with students at a Primarily Undergraduate, Hispanic-Serving Institution, to broaden participation of students in STEM.
This project investigates how multi-generational households provide care while negotiating coronavirus safety during the pandemic. The study will be conducted in a context in which variation in household composition and employment outside the home create specific vulnerabilities to COVID-19 given multi-generational household arrangements. The investigators use ethnographic and ranking methods to compare risk perceptions, harm reduction practices, and social relational issues associated with culturally specific care roles in a context of limited resources and close living quarters. The project provides the foundations for building a research design model for researchers who evaluate risk assessment for disease transmission within multi-generational households where disease exposure is higher, and frequently less able to adhere to public health guidelines.
How long as the CURE been in place? 3-5 years
Funding Information
Source(s): National Science Foundation - Award notice
Funding Source:Federal Grant
Funding Amount: $127,355
CURE Elements Supported by the Funding
- PI and consultant support
- Participant Incentive Support
- Undergraduate Research Assistance
- Conference and Travel Support
Evolution of Funding Over Time
Originally I had set aside money to pay for open access fees for publication but because it has taken longer to collect and analyze data, I decided to shift some of that funding to conference travel and more research assistant support.