Z Giano
Biographic Data
| ID | 33384 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Z Giano |
| GIVEN NAMES | Z |
| FAMILY NAME | Giano |
| SIGNATURE | GIANO Z |
| AFFILIATIONS | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6289-9689 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 30 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Factor structure and psychometric validation of the Work and Well-being Inventory
Background This study examined psychometric properties of a novel measure of occupational health and wellness – the Work and Well-being Inventory (WWI). Unlike other validated measures of employee well-being, the WWI adopts a holistic, eight-dimension model of wellness, delineates personal wellness from employer-supported wellness, and is straightforward to interpret. Methods Participants ( n = 949) were a convenience sample of employees from fou…
Transcreating approaches to addressing disproportionate impacts on health in Colorado communities: The Colorado Community Engagement Alliance multi-year study
Background: Social and structural factors that influence health continue to affect communities across Colorado, with disproportionate impact in populations that have historically experienced limited access to resources and opportunities for health. The Colorado Community Engagement Alliance (CO-CEAL), funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), began with efforts to promote COVID-19 awareness and prevention and has since expanded to addres…
The impact of initial social distancing measures on individuals’ anxiety and loneliness depending on living with their romantic/sexual partners
Immigration Enforcement and Hispanic Youth Substance Use: Is Depression a Mediator
Profiles of Substance Use in Adolescents With Severe Obesity
A growing body of literature suggests that youth with severe obesity are engaging in substance use. The purpose of the present study was to examine profiles of substance use among adolescents with severe obesity and examine how these profiles are associated with depressive symptomology using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. The sample included 597 girls and 626 boys who self-reported height and weight and alcohol, tobacco, m…
The Effects of Individual and Dual ACE Domains on Binge Drinking: Comparisons by Gender
BACKGROUND: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) show predictive utility concerning binge drinking. However, the literature is limited by 1. a focus on cumulative ACEs with little regard to specific domains, 2. a focus on those with the highest ACE scores, and 3. little consideration for gender differences. These approaches are problematic as ACE categories are fundamentally different, yet little distinction is given to specific ACE domains. The …
Perceived Confidentiality Risks of Mobile Technology-Based Ecologic Momentary Assessment to Assess High-Risk Behaviors Among Rural Men Who Have Sex with Men
Examining Profiles of Latinx Sexual Minority Adolescents Associated with Suicide Risk
Grade Retention and School Dropout: Comparing Specific Grade Levels Across Childhood and Early Adolescence
Students who repeat a grade are at a higher risk of dropping out of high school. Previous research has examined this in a methodologically aggregated way (e.g., repeated any grade versus never repeated) or only specific grades/grade ranges (e.g., Kindergarten or elementary) leaving questions about which grades are more detrimental to repeat with respect to school dropout. This study uses data from the National Center for Education Statistics ( N …
The Influence of Online Experiences: The Shaping of Gay Male Identities
Although research has documented that technological advances via online avenues have impacted the way LGBT individuals gain social capital, less is known about how these online experiences influence the coming out processes for gay men. Using a qualitative approach, this study seeks to understand how the online experiences of gay men either enhanced or inhibited the coming out process. Clustered themes revealed four insights: 1. Online experience…
Interface of Internalized Homophobia and Community Connectedness on Frequency of Doctor's Visits for Rural and Urban MSM in Oklahoma
PURPOSE: Men who have sex with men (MSM) face persistent risk of stigma, with past studies showing unequal treatments of MSM in health care settings. Contextual factors, such as internalized homophobia and connectedness to one's community, have shown to serve as a barrier or facilitator (respectively) with regard to MSM's decisions to seek preventative treatment. These studies, however, predominately feature urban populations, with less considera…
Rurality, gay-related rejection sensitivity, and mental health outcomes for gay and bisexual men
Introduction Gay and bisexual (GB) men report anxiety about rejection based on sexual identity. The impact rejection has on GB men’s mental health was investigated to understand how rejection impacts positive psychological constructs (hope and self-compassion), as well as anxiety, depression, and internalized homophobia. Rurality was also considered.Methods Data from 154 GB men were analyzed via linear regression.Results Results showed higher lev…
The frequencies and disparities of adverse childhood experiences in the U.S
Findings highlight that childhood adversity is common across sociodemographic, yet higher in certain categories. Identifying at-risk populations for higher ACEs is essential to improving the health outcomes and attainment across the lifespan
Outness amplifies the negative effect of gay related rejection in rural, but not urban sexual minority men
Sexual minority men have consistently shown to be at-risk for adverse mental health outcomes due to minority stress, yet studies show some men successfully navigate these barriers. What is less known are the environmental and social/emotional factors to which minority stress is amplified (or attenuated). We comparatively investigate rural versus urban sexual minority men and how levels of ‘outness’ (the degree to which an individual discloses the…
Forty Years of Research on Predictors of Homelessness
Latino Parent-Child English Language Fluency: Implications for Maternal School Involvement
Latino parents have lower levels of school involvement compared to other ethnic groups, which is often attributed—though not tested—to low English language proficiency. Using a population-based sample of 637 7th grade Latino youth attending an urban school district, we find no significant difference in maternal school involvement when mothers and students are either both fluent in English or both non-fluent. When students are more fluent than the…
Factors Associated with Condom Use among a Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Residing in Rural Oklahoma
Public health literature often neglects populations from rural communities, particularly with men who have sex with men (MSM). Although HIV/STI infections are decreasing slightly, there is an increase within rural MSM, thus opening the door for further research on condom use behavior in a rural context. In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 MSM in rural Oklahoma regarding their condom use and sexual behaviors. A qualitative analysis revealed…
Trauma and Early Adolescent Perceptions About Sex and Parenthood: The Mediating Role of Anger Regulation
Using a population-based sample of 1,311 seventh graders in an urban school district in the South Central United States, we examined the associations between early-life trauma, anger regulation, and early adolescent perceptions about sex and parenthood. Girls and boys with more trauma exposure were more likely to perceive adolescent parenthood as ideal for them (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29, p < .01 and OR = 1.24, p < .01, respectively). Childhood trau…
Experiences of Stigma by Gay and Bisexual Men in Rural Oklahoma
Purpose: The unique experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in culturally conservative rural areas are not well represented in the scientific literature. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States has shifted toward rural areas where populations are dispersed and health care resources are limited. Methods: We recruited 40 sexual minority men, ages 22–66, residing in rural Oklahoma for in-depth, qualitativ…
Navigating disclosure of sexual minority identity for men in socio-politically conservative areas
Previous models of sexual minority orientation identity development have theorized disclosure of current orientation as important in accepting one’s sexual minority identity. Furthermore, research into disclosure of sexual orientation highlights positive outcomes for disclosure and negative outcomes for concealment of sexual minority identity. These models, however, fail to incorporate the socio-cultural context of the individual. Using a grounde…
A Latent Profile Analysis of Young Adult Lifestyle Behaviors
Objective: The aim of this study was to identify lifestyle profiles of young adult males and females based on their alcohol, diet, and exercise behaviors and then link these profiles with health. Method: We used the nationally representative 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS; N = 17,286; 47% female; M age = 23.22; SD = 3.16; 65% white) to examine profiles of alcohol use, daily fruit and vegetable intake, fried potato intake, …
A comparative analysis of rural and urban MSM depressive symptomology: The mediating effects of loneliness
Given the dearth of research exploring mental health differences between rural and urban men who have sex with men (MSM), we sought to examine differences in depressive symptomology and loneliness. Concurrently we examined the mediating effects of loneliness on the link between geographic locale and depressive symptoms via a mediation model. Data were collected from 156 MSM in Oklahoma. Results show urban MSM have significantly higher levels of b…
Immigration-related arrest, parental documentation status, and depressive symptoms among early adolescent Latinos
The study findings suggest that there are significant consequences for youth well-being when a family member is arrested for immigration-related violations. Further, among youth whose parents are both undocumented, there appears to be a compounding effect on mental health. Immigration policies, programs, and schools need to consider the emotional needs of youth who have undocumented parents, particularly in the context of elevated immigration enf…
Middle School Teachers’ Academic and Behavioral Perceptions of Their Students and Expectations for High School Graduation
Teacher expectations of students have been consistently linked with student academic achievement. What is less known is how students’ actual behaviors and performance shape teachers’ perceptions of them, particularly when considering student gender and race/ethnicity. A diverse dyadic sample of 1,653 seventh graders with 63 reporting teachers was used to examine how teaching experience, student behavioral citations, and grade point average were r…
Running away during adolescence and future homelessness: The amplifying role of mental health
Previous research indicates a positive link between youth runaway episodes and the likelihood of homelessness in later adolescence and early adulthood. An adolescent's decision to run away from home often accompanies depressive symptomology compared with stably housed youth. The present study used a large, nationally representative sample of 8,560 youth to identify links among runaway behavior, changes in depressive symptomology during the transi…
The Influence of Online Experiences: The Shaping of Gay Male Identities
Although research has documented that technological advances via online avenues have impacted the way LGBT individuals gain social capital, less is known about how these online experiences influence the coming out processes for gay men. Using a qualitative approach, this study seeks to understand how the online experiences of gay men either enhanced or inhibited the coming out process. Clustered themes revealed four insights: 1. Online experience…
Forty Years of Research on Predictors of Homelessness
Outness amplifies the negative effect of gay related rejection in rural, but not urban sexual minority men
Sexual minority men have consistently shown to be at-risk for adverse mental health outcomes due to minority stress, yet studies show some men successfully navigate these barriers. What is less known are the environmental and social/emotional factors to which minority stress is amplified (or attenuated). We comparatively investigate rural versus urban sexual minority men and how levels of ‘outness’ (the degree to which an individual discloses the…
Grade Retention and School Dropout: Comparing Specific Grade Levels Across Childhood and Early Adolescence
Students who repeat a grade are at a higher risk of dropping out of high school. Previous research has examined this in a methodologically aggregated way (e.g., repeated any grade versus never repeated) or only specific grades/grade ranges (e.g., Kindergarten or elementary) leaving questions about which grades are more detrimental to repeat with respect to school dropout. This study uses data from the National Center for Education Statistics ( N …
Factors Associated with Condom Use among a Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Residing in Rural Oklahoma
Public health literature often neglects populations from rural communities, particularly with men who have sex with men (MSM). Although HIV/STI infections are decreasing slightly, there is an increase within rural MSM, thus opening the door for further research on condom use behavior in a rural context. In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 MSM in rural Oklahoma regarding their condom use and sexual behaviors. A qualitative analysis revealed…
A comparative analysis of rural and urban MSM depressive symptomology: The mediating effects of loneliness
Given the dearth of research exploring mental health differences between rural and urban men who have sex with men (MSM), we sought to examine differences in depressive symptomology and loneliness. Concurrently we examined the mediating effects of loneliness on the link between geographic locale and depressive symptoms via a mediation model. Data were collected from 156 MSM in Oklahoma. Results show urban MSM have significantly higher levels of b…
Parental Documentation Status and Educational Aspirations Among Latino Adolescents: Mediating Effects of School Connectedness and Parental Attitudes Towards Education
Research suggests that Latino adolescents face challenges with respect to their perceptions of success in academia while falling behind in school competencies. This study examines pathways between parent characteristics, adolescent perceptions of parental academic importance, school connectedness, and academic aspirations/expectations for Latinos using a structural equation model. The entire population of seventh grade students was surveyed in th…
Trauma and Early Adolescent Perceptions About Sex and Parenthood: The Mediating Role of Anger Regulation
Using a population-based sample of 1,311 seventh graders in an urban school district in the South Central United States, we examined the associations between early-life trauma, anger regulation, and early adolescent perceptions about sex and parenthood. Girls and boys with more trauma exposure were more likely to perceive adolescent parenthood as ideal for them (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29, p < .01 and OR = 1.24, p < .01, respectively). Childhood trau…
Immigration-related arrest, parental documentation status, and depressive symptoms among early adolescent Latinos
The study findings suggest that there are significant consequences for youth well-being when a family member is arrested for immigration-related violations. Further, among youth whose parents are both undocumented, there appears to be a compounding effect on mental health. Immigration policies, programs, and schools need to consider the emotional needs of youth who have undocumented parents, particularly in the context of elevated immigration enf…
Middle School Teachers’ Academic and Behavioral Perceptions of Their Students and Expectations for High School Graduation
Teacher expectations of students have been consistently linked with student academic achievement. What is less known is how students’ actual behaviors and performance shape teachers’ perceptions of them, particularly when considering student gender and race/ethnicity. A diverse dyadic sample of 1,653 seventh graders with 63 reporting teachers was used to examine how teaching experience, student behavioral citations, and grade point average were r…
Sleeping away from home: A vehicle for adolescent delinquency
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between persistently sleeping away from the home as a predictor of adolescent delinquency in a largely Latino sample of 91 adolescents. Design/methodology/approach This study employs multiple linear regressions to examine the relationship between sleeping away from the home (IV) and antisocial behavior and substance use (DVs) with dangerous neighborhood characteristics as a moderato…
Parental Documentation Status and Educational Aspirations Among Latino Adolescents: Mediating Effects of School Connectedness and Parental Attitudes Towards Education
Research suggests that Latino adolescents face challenges with respect to their perceptions of success in academia while falling behind in school competencies. This study examines pathways between parent characteristics, adolescent perceptions of parental academic importance, school connectedness, and academic aspirations/expectations for Latinos using a structural equation model. The entire population of seventh grade students was surveyed in th…
Experiences of Stigma by Gay and Bisexual Men in Rural Oklahoma
Purpose: The unique experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in culturally conservative rural areas are not well represented in the scientific literature. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States has shifted toward rural areas where populations are dispersed and health care resources are limited. Methods: We recruited 40 sexual minority men, ages 22–66, residing in rural Oklahoma for in-depth, qualitativ…
Navigating disclosure of sexual minority identity for men in socio-politically conservative areas
Previous models of sexual minority orientation identity development have theorized disclosure of current orientation as important in accepting one’s sexual minority identity. Furthermore, research into disclosure of sexual orientation highlights positive outcomes for disclosure and negative outcomes for concealment of sexual minority identity. These models, however, fail to incorporate the socio-cultural context of the individual. Using a grounde…
A Latent Profile Analysis of Young Adult Lifestyle Behaviors
Objective: The aim of this study was to identify lifestyle profiles of young adult males and females based on their alcohol, diet, and exercise behaviors and then link these profiles with health. Method: We used the nationally representative 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS; N = 17,286; 47% female; M age = 23.22; SD = 3.16; 65% white) to examine profiles of alcohol use, daily fruit and vegetable intake, fried potato intake, …
A comparative analysis of rural and urban MSM depressive symptomology: The mediating effects of loneliness
Given the dearth of research exploring mental health differences between rural and urban men who have sex with men (MSM), we sought to examine differences in depressive symptomology and loneliness. Concurrently we examined the mediating effects of loneliness on the link between geographic locale and depressive symptoms via a mediation model. Data were collected from 156 MSM in Oklahoma. Results show urban MSM have significantly higher levels of b…
Immigration-related arrest, parental documentation status, and depressive symptoms among early adolescent Latinos
The study findings suggest that there are significant consequences for youth well-being when a family member is arrested for immigration-related violations. Further, among youth whose parents are both undocumented, there appears to be a compounding effect on mental health. Immigration policies, programs, and schools need to consider the emotional needs of youth who have undocumented parents, particularly in the context of elevated immigration enf…
Middle School Teachers’ Academic and Behavioral Perceptions of Their Students and Expectations for High School Graduation
Teacher expectations of students have been consistently linked with student academic achievement. What is less known is how students’ actual behaviors and performance shape teachers’ perceptions of them, particularly when considering student gender and race/ethnicity. A diverse dyadic sample of 1,653 seventh graders with 63 reporting teachers was used to examine how teaching experience, student behavioral citations, and grade point average were r…
Running away during adolescence and future homelessness: The amplifying role of mental health
Previous research indicates a positive link between youth runaway episodes and the likelihood of homelessness in later adolescence and early adulthood. An adolescent's decision to run away from home often accompanies depressive symptomology compared with stably housed youth. The present study used a large, nationally representative sample of 8,560 youth to identify links among runaway behavior, changes in depressive symptomology during the transi…
Interface of Internalized Homophobia and Community Connectedness on Frequency of Doctor's Visits for Rural and Urban MSM in Oklahoma
PURPOSE: Men who have sex with men (MSM) face persistent risk of stigma, with past studies showing unequal treatments of MSM in health care settings. Contextual factors, such as internalized homophobia and connectedness to one's community, have shown to serve as a barrier or facilitator (respectively) with regard to MSM's decisions to seek preventative treatment. These studies, however, predominately feature urban populations, with less considera…
Rurality, gay-related rejection sensitivity, and mental health outcomes for gay and bisexual men
Introduction Gay and bisexual (GB) men report anxiety about rejection based on sexual identity. The impact rejection has on GB men’s mental health was investigated to understand how rejection impacts positive psychological constructs (hope and self-compassion), as well as anxiety, depression, and internalized homophobia. Rurality was also considered.Methods Data from 154 GB men were analyzed via linear regression.Results Results showed higher lev…
The frequencies and disparities of adverse childhood experiences in the U.S
Findings highlight that childhood adversity is common across sociodemographic, yet higher in certain categories. Identifying at-risk populations for higher ACEs is essential to improving the health outcomes and attainment across the lifespan
Outness amplifies the negative effect of gay related rejection in rural, but not urban sexual minority men
Sexual minority men have consistently shown to be at-risk for adverse mental health outcomes due to minority stress, yet studies show some men successfully navigate these barriers. What is less known are the environmental and social/emotional factors to which minority stress is amplified (or attenuated). We comparatively investigate rural versus urban sexual minority men and how levels of ‘outness’ (the degree to which an individual discloses the…
Forty Years of Research on Predictors of Homelessness
Latino Parent-Child English Language Fluency: Implications for Maternal School Involvement
Latino parents have lower levels of school involvement compared to other ethnic groups, which is often attributed—though not tested—to low English language proficiency. Using a population-based sample of 637 7th grade Latino youth attending an urban school district, we find no significant difference in maternal school involvement when mothers and students are either both fluent in English or both non-fluent. When students are more fluent than the…
Factors Associated with Condom Use among a Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Residing in Rural Oklahoma
Public health literature often neglects populations from rural communities, particularly with men who have sex with men (MSM). Although HIV/STI infections are decreasing slightly, there is an increase within rural MSM, thus opening the door for further research on condom use behavior in a rural context. In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 MSM in rural Oklahoma regarding their condom use and sexual behaviors. A qualitative analysis revealed…
Trauma and Early Adolescent Perceptions About Sex and Parenthood: The Mediating Role of Anger Regulation
Using a population-based sample of 1,311 seventh graders in an urban school district in the South Central United States, we examined the associations between early-life trauma, anger regulation, and early adolescent perceptions about sex and parenthood. Girls and boys with more trauma exposure were more likely to perceive adolescent parenthood as ideal for them (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29, p < .01 and OR = 1.24, p < .01, respectively). Childhood trau…
The Effects of Individual and Dual ACE Domains on Binge Drinking: Comparisons by Gender
BACKGROUND: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) show predictive utility concerning binge drinking. However, the literature is limited by 1. a focus on cumulative ACEs with little regard to specific domains, 2. a focus on those with the highest ACE scores, and 3. little consideration for gender differences. These approaches are problematic as ACE categories are fundamentally different, yet little distinction is given to specific ACE domains. The …
Perceived Confidentiality Risks of Mobile Technology-Based Ecologic Momentary Assessment to Assess High-Risk Behaviors Among Rural Men Who Have Sex with Men
Examining Profiles of Latinx Sexual Minority Adolescents Associated with Suicide Risk
Grade Retention and School Dropout: Comparing Specific Grade Levels Across Childhood and Early Adolescence
Students who repeat a grade are at a higher risk of dropping out of high school. Previous research has examined this in a methodologically aggregated way (e.g., repeated any grade versus never repeated) or only specific grades/grade ranges (e.g., Kindergarten or elementary) leaving questions about which grades are more detrimental to repeat with respect to school dropout. This study uses data from the National Center for Education Statistics ( N …
The Influence of Online Experiences: The Shaping of Gay Male Identities
Although research has documented that technological advances via online avenues have impacted the way LGBT individuals gain social capital, less is known about how these online experiences influence the coming out processes for gay men. Using a qualitative approach, this study seeks to understand how the online experiences of gay men either enhanced or inhibited the coming out process. Clustered themes revealed four insights: 1. Online experience…
Immigration Enforcement and Hispanic Youth Substance Use: Is Depression a Mediator
Profiles of Substance Use in Adolescents With Severe Obesity
A growing body of literature suggests that youth with severe obesity are engaging in substance use. The purpose of the present study was to examine profiles of substance use among adolescents with severe obesity and examine how these profiles are associated with depressive symptomology using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. The sample included 597 girls and 626 boys who self-reported height and weight and alcohol, tobacco, m…
The impact of initial social distancing measures on individuals’ anxiety and loneliness depending on living with their romantic/sexual partners
Psychology (24 works) · Medicine (16 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Clinical Psychology (11 works) · Psychiatry (11 works) · Developmental psychology (9 works) · Environmental health (9 works) · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy (8 works) · Mental health (8 works)