JUNE 11, 2021 — A new study by Emily Nicklett could be key to addressing the unique health challenges of COVID-19 on an often-overlooked population: older adults of color.
Nicklett, who is an associate professor of social work in the UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy, hopes her work will lead to improved methods for engaging this population in health-promoting behaviors, which could be critical to stopping the next public health crisis before it starts.
“Currently, the mechanisms through which pandemics and other disruptions exacerbate racial and ethnic health inequities—a public health crisis—are not well understood,” Nicklett said.
Her research aims to examine the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has constrained opportunities for older adults—particularly older adults of color—to engage in health-promoting behavior.
Using data from the 2021 Crime, Health, and Politics Survey, Nicklett will identify how diet, physical activity and self-management of diabetes—a common health concern of this population—contribute to the disparate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults of color, including those residing in predominantly non-white communities.
Nicklett will examine the link between an individual’s behavior and the factors that lead to a certain behavior. Her findings will assess differences in access to food and physical activity infrastructure, according to the race/ethnicity of individuals and the racial/ethnic characteristics of the communities in which they reside. This includes the extent to which COVID-19 has strained opportunities for older adults with type 2 diabetes to follow a diabetes regimen, such as diabetes-friendly diet, physical activity, medications, checking blood sugar, checking feet, and getting diabetes-related care.
Nicklett’s research will include analyzing community, neighborhood and county-level data regarding items such as access to food and physical activity infrastructure.
“Results of the study will represent a significant achievement because the innovative data generated from this project is expected to lay the groundwork for a larger project that would move the field forward considerably,” Nicklett concluded.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers and strengthen their research skills.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society and apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene.
UTSA Main CampusThe Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center invites you to join us for the Summer Bridging Institute. This institute will focus on being lifelong growers and continually seeking to increase our skills as educators.
UTSA Downtown CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusCraft a comic to create your own narrative and find your voice through storytelling. Participants will learn to create characters that are self-reflective and through a community lens.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusCome enjoy a discussion on art as a self expression in the age of moving technology and telling your story with a community.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.