R M Merrill
Biographic Data
| ID | 68747 |
|---|---|
| NAME | R M Merrill |
| GIVEN NAMES | R M |
| FAMILY NAME | Merrill |
| SIGNATURE | MERRILL R M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Brigham Young University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4201-0704 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 35 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 35 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2001 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Randomized controlled trial of an online gamified version of the strengthening families program to reduce youth substance abuse
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a new 10-week online gamified version of the strengthening families program (SFP), an evidence-based intervention shown to reduce youth substance use and depression. In this parallel-group randomized controlled trial, participants completed a validated questionnaire, incorporating demographic variables and 44 parent‒youth behaviour items, before randomization to one of two intervention groups or a waitlis…
Adverse Childhood Experiences Promote Increased and Selective Caregiving in Adulthood
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prompt parentification, which is related to providing regular caregiving as adults. This study examines the association between the number and types of ACEs and caregiving as adults, and to whom caregiving is extended. Analyses were based on 90,666 adults from 13 states in the U.S. in 2020-2024 and involved binomial and multinomial logistic regression, adjusted for selected covariates. Approximately 21% of par…
Reasons for Using Cannabis Among Adults in the United States: Associations with Demographics, Health Behaviors, Chronic Conditions, and Legal Status
Background: Several factors influence reasons for cannabis use in the U.S. This study examines reasons for cannabis use (recreational only, medical only, both) and their frequency of use in association with demographic variables, health-risk behaviors, legal status, and chronic disease. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 466,355 adults (aged ≥18) in the 2018–2021 BRFSS surveys in areas that administered the cannabis module. The p…
Inequality in Female Breast Cancer Relative Survival Rates between White and Black Women in the United States
Comparing the Strength of Associations Between Male Genital Problems and Mental Illnesses and Sleep Disorders
This study compares the rate of selected types of mental illnesses (stress, anxiety, depression) and sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea) according to the status of eight male genital problems. Analyses utilize medical claims data for male employees aged 18 to 64 years of a large corporation, 2017 to 2021. Approximately 1,076 (7.3%) men per year have one or more genital problems. The most common being benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; 3.8%) a…
Upper Airway-Related Symptoms According to Mental Illness and Sleep Disorders among Workers Employed by a Large Non-Profit Organization in the Mountain West Region of the United States
The relationships between selected upper airway-related symptoms (speech disturbances, voice disorders, cough, and breathing abnormalities) and mental illness and sleep disorders have been previously demonstrated. However, these relationships have not been compared in a single study with consideration of potential confounding variables. The current research incorporates a descriptive study design of medical claims data for employees (~21,362 per …
A formative evaluation of an adolescent online E-cigarette prevention program
Purpose This study is a formative evaluation of an adolescent online e-cigarette prevention program (Clearing the Vapor) giving attention to identifying higher risk adolescent populations, confirming the theory of change, and assessing short-term outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The evaluation was conducted using online pre-test and post-test survey data collected from adolescent program participants age 10–18 from 2019 to 2021. Analyses inc…
Mental Health Conditions According to Stress and Sleep Disorders
The purpose of this study was to compare associations between stress and sleep disorders (insomnia, hypersomnia, and sleep apnea), identify potential modifying effects, and compare associations between stress and types of sleep disorders with selected mental health conditions. Analyses were based on 21,027 employees aged 18-64 years in 2020 who were insured by the Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators (DMBA). The risk of stress (2.3%) was signifi…
The Role of Latter‐day Saint Charities Towards the Establishment of Needed National Neonatal Resuscitation Programmes in Resource Poor Countries
In 2016, Latter‐day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints, sponsored instructor–training courses in 29 countries for neonatal resuscitation, training 3806 instructors. This study describes by country the type of professionals trained (27.7 per cent were doctors, 32.7 per cent were nurses and 19.6 per cent were midwives), the resuscitation equipment provided (bag and mask, bulb syringe and stethos…
Explicit Sexual Movie Viewing in the United States According to Selected Marriage and Lifestyle, Work and Financial, Religion and Political Factors
Risk and protective factors associated with being bullied on school property compared with cyberbullied
Cyberbullying victimization is generally more strongly associated with mental health problems, substance use, being overweight, playing video games for 3 or more hours per day, and having asthma than bullying victimization on school property. However, because bullying on school property is more common in grades 9-11, this form of bullying has a greater burden on these conditions and behaviors in these school grades
Use of Marijuana and Changing Risk Perceptions
Those historically identified as high risk for marijuana use also were most likely to view marijuana as not harmful
Health Behaviors and Work-related Outcomes among School Employees
Selected healthy behaviors, individually or co-occurring, are associated with health outcomes potentially important at the worksite
Victimization of Peruvian adolescents and health risk behaviors: Young lives cohort
Long-term victimization from bullying is more strongly associated than less frequent victimization with increased risk of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and sexual relations at age 15. Hence, programs focused on helping children learn how to mitigate and prevent bullying consistently over time may also help reduce risky adolescent health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and sexual activity
Religious Orientation and Health among Active Older Adults in the United States
The association between religion and acculturation in Utah Mexican immigrants
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of religious affiliation on acculturation among Mexican immigrants to Utah. In addition to demographic information, measures of acculturation, spirituality, social support, and perceived social status were administered to 336 participants. Latter-day Saints compared with Catholics and those of other religious affiliation tended to score significantly higher on Anglo cultural orientation, spiri…
The Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP) for Lowering Weight and Improving Psychosocial Health
This study extends previous research evaluating the association between the CHIP intervention, change in body weight, and change in psychological health. A randomized controlled health intervention study lasting 4 wk. was used with 348 participants from metropolitan Rockford, Illinois; ages ranged from 24 to 81 yr. Participants were assessed at baseline, 6 wk., and 6 mo. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and three selected psychosocial measures…
Psychosocial Distress and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Four Countries: Philippines, China, Chile, and Namibia
The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between adolescent substance use and psychosocial distress indicators among 30,851 adolescents aged 11 to 16 in four countries (Philippines, China, Chile, and Namibia). Global School-Based Student Health Survey data from these countries provided information about frequency and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as well as items about early adolescents' feelings of lon…
A Comparison of Religious Orientation and Health Between Whites and Hispanics
Impact of early and concurrent stunting on cognition: Impact of stunting on cognition
Undernutrition is associated with poor cognitive development, late entry into school, decreased years of schooling, reduced productivity and smaller adult stature. We use longitudinal data from 1674 Peruvian children participating in the Young Lives study to assess the relative impact of early stunting (stunted at 6-18 months of age) and concurrent stunting (stunted at 4.5-6 years of age) on cognitive ability. Anthropometric data were longitudina…
The effect of family influence on indicators associated with street life among Filipino street children
This study investigates selected physical and psychological effects of familial contact among Filipino street children. A validated cross-sectional survey was administered to 424 Filipino street children aged 8–17 years. Participants were enrolled through four non-profit organizations located in Manila, Philippines, and stratified according to familial contact. Prevalence rate ratios were computed, adjusted for age and sex. Street children who di…
The influence of religiosity on positive and negative outcomes associated with stress among college students
This study presents the impact of religious coping on promoting positive outcomes and minimizing negative outcomes associated with stress among college students. Analyses are based on 742 college students at a large, church-sponsored school in the Western United States who completed a cross-sectional survey. Religiosity had a beneficial influence on both positive and negative outcomes associated with stress among college students. Among the negat…
Improving Overall Health Status Through the CHIP Intervention
The prevention program improved functional health and well-being scores as well as psychometrically based physical and mental health summary measures
Sectors of the Russian economy that would benefit from reduced cigarette sales
Tobacco control may benefit the Russian economy by producing healthier workers and because the money that would have been used for cigarettes would be shifted primarily to groceries, recreation, housing and clothing
Patterns of smoking behavior among physicians in Yerevan, Armenia
Smoking prevalence is high among physicians in the 12 healthcare facilities in Yerevan, and a large percentage of physician smoke in the presence of their patients. Physician smoking behavior and knowledge of smoking related health outcomes in Yerevan influences whether they counsel patients regarding smoking
Lack of a Secularizing Influence of Education on Religious Activity and Parity Among Mormons
Research conducted in the early 1980s indicated that education does not have a secularizing influence on Mormons. Based on data from two cross-sectional surveys involving Utah residents in 1996 and 2000, we provide an updated assessment of the association between education and religiosity in Mormons and also consider this association in non-Mormons. We also evaluate the association between educational attainment and parity (i.e., number of childr…
Measuring the Relevance of Evaluation Criteria among Health Information Seekers on the Internet
This study identified the criteria that are valued among Internet users when rating and accessing health information on the World Wide Web. Participants ( N = 578) successfully completed a Web-based survey by ranking 12 criteria for evaluating health information. Then, by applying those same evaluation criteria, rated the quality of three preselected health-related websites and indicated their preference for one of the three sites. Six criteria i…
Explicit Sexual Movie Viewing in the United States According to Selected Marriage and Lifestyle, Work and Financial, Religion and Political Factors
Psychosocial Distress and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Four Countries: Philippines, China, Chile, and Namibia
The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between adolescent substance use and psychosocial distress indicators among 30,851 adolescents aged 11 to 16 in four countries (Philippines, China, Chile, and Namibia). Global School-Based Student Health Survey data from these countries provided information about frequency and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as well as items about early adolescents' feelings of lon…
The effect of family influence on indicators associated with street life among Filipino street children
This study investigates selected physical and psychological effects of familial contact among Filipino street children. A validated cross-sectional survey was administered to 424 Filipino street children aged 8–17 years. Participants were enrolled through four non-profit organizations located in Manila, Philippines, and stratified according to familial contact. Prevalence rate ratios were computed, adjusted for age and sex. Street children who di…
Relationship Between Family Religiosity and Drug Use Behavior Among Youth
This study evaluated the relationship between several dimensions of parental and family religiosity with adolescent drug use behavior. Analysis was based on self-reported responses to a questionnaire administered to 1,036 undergraduate college students at Brigham Young University, of which 99.1% are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). About 86% reported having never used drugs. The most commonly reported reasons for …
Partitioned prostate cancer prevalence estimates: An informative measure of the disease burden
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Public health burden of disease is often measured using prevalence statistics. Prevalence of invasive prostate cancer in the United States is presented according to age at diagnosis, time from diagnosis, geographical area, and two races (white and black). DESIGN: Invasive prostate cancer data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute is used for obtaining prevalence esti…
Active Religion and Health in Utah
Relationship between church attendance and mental health among Mormons and non-Mormons in Utah
A prevention model was applied to assess the protective effect of religion and church attendance against mental illness among respondents to the 1996 Utah Health Status Survey. Compared to Mormons that attend church weekly (active), less active Mormons, less active non-Mormons, and those with no religious preference, because of emotional problems, are at increased risk of accomplishing less than desired (model 1); having trouble doing work or oth…
A cross-cultural analysis of ‘motivation for eating’ as a potential factor in the emergence of global obesity: Japan and the United States
This exploratory study compared motivation for eating between individuals from two different cultures that have moved through the nutrition transition at different rates and to different degrees. The analysis was based on a convenience sample of 1218 participants aged >or=18 years attending colleges in the US and Japan. The Motivation for Eating Scale (MFES) was used to evaluate different motivations for eating by nation and gender. The MFES cons…
Measuring the Relevance of Evaluation Criteria among Health Information Seekers on the Internet
This study identified the criteria that are valued among Internet users when rating and accessing health information on the World Wide Web. Participants ( N = 578) successfully completed a Web-based survey by ranking 12 criteria for evaluating health information. Then, by applying those same evaluation criteria, rated the quality of three preselected health-related websites and indicated their preference for one of the three sites. Six criteria i…
Lack of a Secularizing Influence of Education on Religious Activity and Parity Among Mormons
Research conducted in the early 1980s indicated that education does not have a secularizing influence on Mormons. Based on data from two cross-sectional surveys involving Utah residents in 1996 and 2000, we provide an updated assessment of the association between education and religiosity in Mormons and also consider this association in non-Mormons. We also evaluate the association between educational attainment and parity (i.e., number of childr…
Life expectancy among LDS and Non-LDS in Utah
This paper compares life expectancy between members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons) and non-LDS in Utah. It examines the extent to which tobacco-related deaths explain variation in life expectancy between LDS and non
Climate Conditions and Physical Activity in the United States
Season and climate significantly influence physical activity in the United States
The Influence of Family Religiosity on Adolescent Substance Use According to Religious Preference
The aim in doing this research was to identify whether or not family religiosity is protective against adolescent substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs) according to selected religious preferences. A cross-sectional survey of students ages 17–35 years in college undergraduate general education classes at three large schools in Utah, May–July, 2003 revealed that the highest use of tobacco smoking and marijuana or other illicit drug us…
Patterns of smoking behavior among physicians in Yerevan, Armenia
Smoking prevalence is high among physicians in the 12 healthcare facilities in Yerevan, and a large percentage of physician smoke in the presence of their patients. Physician smoking behavior and knowledge of smoking related health outcomes in Yerevan influences whether they counsel patients regarding smoking
The influence of religiosity on positive and negative outcomes associated with stress among college students
This study presents the impact of religious coping on promoting positive outcomes and minimizing negative outcomes associated with stress among college students. Analyses are based on 742 college students at a large, church-sponsored school in the Western United States who completed a cross-sectional survey. Religiosity had a beneficial influence on both positive and negative outcomes associated with stress among college students. Among the negat…
Improving Overall Health Status Through the CHIP Intervention
The prevention program improved functional health and well-being scores as well as psychometrically based physical and mental health summary measures
Sectors of the Russian economy that would benefit from reduced cigarette sales
Tobacco control may benefit the Russian economy by producing healthier workers and because the money that would have been used for cigarettes would be shifted primarily to groceries, recreation, housing and clothing
A Comparison of Religious Orientation and Health Between Whites and Hispanics
Impact of early and concurrent stunting on cognition: Impact of stunting on cognition
Undernutrition is associated with poor cognitive development, late entry into school, decreased years of schooling, reduced productivity and smaller adult stature. We use longitudinal data from 1674 Peruvian children participating in the Young Lives study to assess the relative impact of early stunting (stunted at 6-18 months of age) and concurrent stunting (stunted at 4.5-6 years of age) on cognitive ability. Anthropometric data were longitudina…
The effect of family influence on indicators associated with street life among Filipino street children
This study investigates selected physical and psychological effects of familial contact among Filipino street children. A validated cross-sectional survey was administered to 424 Filipino street children aged 8–17 years. Participants were enrolled through four non-profit organizations located in Manila, Philippines, and stratified according to familial contact. Prevalence rate ratios were computed, adjusted for age and sex. Street children who di…
The association between religion and acculturation in Utah Mexican immigrants
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of religious affiliation on acculturation among Mexican immigrants to Utah. In addition to demographic information, measures of acculturation, spirituality, social support, and perceived social status were administered to 336 participants. Latter-day Saints compared with Catholics and those of other religious affiliation tended to score significantly higher on Anglo cultural orientation, spiri…
The Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP) for Lowering Weight and Improving Psychosocial Health
This study extends previous research evaluating the association between the CHIP intervention, change in body weight, and change in psychological health. A randomized controlled health intervention study lasting 4 wk. was used with 348 participants from metropolitan Rockford, Illinois; ages ranged from 24 to 81 yr. Participants were assessed at baseline, 6 wk., and 6 mo. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and three selected psychosocial measures…
Psychosocial Distress and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Four Countries: Philippines, China, Chile, and Namibia
The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between adolescent substance use and psychosocial distress indicators among 30,851 adolescents aged 11 to 16 in four countries (Philippines, China, Chile, and Namibia). Global School-Based Student Health Survey data from these countries provided information about frequency and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as well as items about early adolescents' feelings of lon…
Religious Orientation and Health among Active Older Adults in the United States
Victimization of Peruvian adolescents and health risk behaviors: Young lives cohort
Long-term victimization from bullying is more strongly associated than less frequent victimization with increased risk of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and sexual relations at age 15. Hence, programs focused on helping children learn how to mitigate and prevent bullying consistently over time may also help reduce risky adolescent health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and sexual activity
Use of Marijuana and Changing Risk Perceptions
Those historically identified as high risk for marijuana use also were most likely to view marijuana as not harmful
Health Behaviors and Work-related Outcomes among School Employees
Selected healthy behaviors, individually or co-occurring, are associated with health outcomes potentially important at the worksite
Risk and protective factors associated with being bullied on school property compared with cyberbullied
Cyberbullying victimization is generally more strongly associated with mental health problems, substance use, being overweight, playing video games for 3 or more hours per day, and having asthma than bullying victimization on school property. However, because bullying on school property is more common in grades 9-11, this form of bullying has a greater burden on these conditions and behaviors in these school grades
Medicine (26 works) · Psychology (20 works) · Clinical Psychology (13 works) · Demography (13 works) · Environmental health (13 works) · Social Psychology (13 works) · Gerontology (10 works) · Political science (10 works) · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology (10 works) · Psychiatry (9 works)