Academic literature on the topic 'Sexual exploration'

This study examined the sexual behavior of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This study employed descriptive research and included 148 MSM perpetrators. The samples were selected by proportional sampling from October 2020 to January 2021. The data were collected using a questionnaire. Then, the data analysis was conducted by univariate analysis, which was presented as frequency and percentage. The subjects in this study were between 20 and 30 years old. They were often the oldest children, had a secondary education, and worked as entrepreneurs. MSM perpetrators noticed that they began enjoying other men between the ages of 13 and 18, and some of them were younger (under 13 years old); they admitted that this activity was motivated by sexual fulfillment, financial hardship, and loyalty to friends. Most MSM perpetrators had sex with an irregular male three times per week, and some had it up to twelve times. The main activity was engaging in anal and oral sex, whether or not with protection, with most sex partners between the ages of 23 and 45. It was revealed that the perpetrators were worshiping and were even aware that their actions were abnormal. Perpetrators feel sexual satisfaction, and this activity makes money at the same time. The MSM sexual behavior phenomenon in Bukittinggi was extremely alarming since the perpetrators' sexual behavior began when they were still in school.

Abstract There are some unique social and environmental challenges to geriatric sexual well-being. This presentation explores sexual agency in the aging population with a special emphasis on barriers and facilitators of sexual agency in long-term care settings. We will situate late-life sexuality literature with Cense’s (2019) theory of sexual agency. Her four components of moral agency, embodied agency, narrative agency, and bonded agency will be used to examine the older person’s perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors associated with sexual autonomy from a macro and micro lens. This framework uses assertions that agency is built on self-concepts from the individual and relational level; reflects power dynamics and social inequalities; and requires strategic negotiation of social norms, policies, and relationships to shape one’s autonomy and sexual self perceptions. We will also discuss gaps in the literature regarding gender, race/ethnicity, and geographical differences that can impact an older person’s sexual agency and overall sexual well-being.

In recent years psychosocial studies have given a growing attention to online intergroup contact in reducing prejudice. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of evidence on processes that could mediate this relation. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Focused on intergroup relationships between people with different sexual orientations, it examined whether and to what extent identity processes—i.e., sexual identity commitment and exploration—mediated the relationship between online intergroup contact and perception of mediated and vicarious sexual online discrimination on Facebook. Data was collected with a sample of 357 Facebook users (Mage = 26.07, SD = 8.37; females: 64.9%, males: 35.1%) who completed an online questionnaire. A full Structural Equation Modeling was tested. Results showed that: (a) Online contact was positively associated with perceived online sexual discrimination; (b) online contact was positively associated with identity exploration but not commitment; (c) exploration—but not commitment—was positively associated with perceived online sexual discrimination; (d) sexual identity exploration—but not commitment—mediated the relationship between online contact and perception of sexual discrimination, increasing the positive effect of contact on perceived discrimination. Limitations and directions for future research were discussed.

One emerging avenue for the exploration of adolescents’ sexual orientation identity development is the Internet, since it allows for varying degrees of anonymity and exploration. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the role of the Internet in facilitating the sexual orientation identity development process of gay and bisexual male adolescents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 63 gay/bisexual male adolescents (ages 15-23). Participants reported using a range of Internet applications as they explored and came to accept their sexual orientation identity, with the intended purpose and degree of anonymity desired determining which applications were used. Youth reported that the Internet provided a range of functions with regard to the exploration and acceptance of their sexual orientation identity, including (1) increasing self-awareness of sexual orientation identity, (2) learning about gay/bisexual community life, (3) communicating with other gay/bisexual people, (4) meeting other gay/bisexual people, (5) finding comfort and acceptance with sexual orientation, and (6) facilitating the coming out process. Future research and practice may explore the Internet as a platform for promoting the healthy development of gay and bisexual male adolescents by providing a developmentally and culturally appropriate venue for the exploration and subsequent commitment to an integrated sexual orientation identity.

Examined within this study were the relations between two processes within sexual identity development, sexual identity exploration and sexual identity commitment, and risky sexual behaviors. The moderating effects of sexual identity commitment, sexual self-efficacy, and positive condom use attitudes on relations between sexual identity exploration and risky sexual behaviors were also examined. Risky sexual behaviors included the frequency of substance prior to and barrier protection use during sex, multiple sex partners, and the initiation of sex prior to age sixteen. Study participants included 322 college students attending an urban university in the Southeastern United States. All were heterosexual and reported engaging in vaginal, anal or oral sex in the past 30 days. A high percentage of study participants reported at least one risky sexual behavior in the past 30 days, and most reported not using barrier protection during anal and oral sex. No direct effects were found between sexual identity exploration and any risky sexual behavior. Only one direct effect was found between higher levels of sexual identity commitment and lower frequencies of barrier protection use for oral sex. No moderating effects were found for sexual identity commitment, sexual self-efficacy, or positive condom use attitudes on relations between sexual identity exploration and any risky sexual behavior. The findings highlight the importance of examining how to get emerging adults to consistently use barrier protection during any type of sexual behavior. The results also underscore the complexity of sexual risk-taking during emerging adulthood, and the need for continued examination of the ways in which processes associated with sexual identity development may impact sexual risk-taking during emerging adulthood.

Building off of previous research, the study undertook to design a taxonomic classification: defining, codifying, and validating microaggressions experienced by sexual minorities. The resultant classification is intended to serve as a conceptual framework if utilized to effectuate an assessment tool assessing microaggressions against sexual minorities. Initial points of interest included an overview of complex historical shifts increasingly traversing the present zeitgeist, and additionally, theoretical justifications for the chosen methodological approach and subsequent suppositions. This served two purposes; the first availed the reader with a contextual narrative to help facilitate a conceptual overview of the target group(s), and additionally, orient readers to the theoretical underpinnings of this study, preserving the integrity and trustworthiness of the present research. Second, variegated extant research was reviewed and elucidated to explore and explain the covert and insidious phenomenon. Concurrently, research related to racial microaggressions was included due to the abundant and judicious literature, furthering one’s conceptualization of microaggressions as well as fortifying external validation among relevant sexual minority categories.

Heterogeneous literature and the deconstruction of sexual minority microaggressions were examined, interpreted, and presented. Attention to operational definitions—consistent or otherwise, implicit forms of communication, and sociocultural relationships and interactions, including any purported causal and risk factors were investigated. This study identified categorical constructs related to sexual minority microaggressions, tools for design of an assessment measure, and a methodological approach, served to validate and substantiate a future proposed measurement using additional studies were discussed and recommended.

Sexuality is an integral part of health and well-being. Despite a 30-year history of adolescent sexuality research, there has been little that has focused on more than risky sexual behaviour. For example, there has been little research on conceptions of sexuality and pathways to sexual health. In part, this is because sexual health has been often defined as the lack of risky behaviour and health problems. In the studies reported here, components of female sexual health were identified and tested, including behaviours and cognitions, among groups of girls in their late teens and early 20s. After a review of the literature, four sets of factors appeared central to identifying female sexual health. These factors included sexual subjectivity, sexual agency, psychosocial well-being and sexual exploration. The first factor, sexual subjectivity, had previously been described as important to female sexual well-being, but had been developed within feminist theories and studied with qualitative methodologies. After a thorough review of the literature, no psychometrically sound measure of sexual subjectivity was found. Therefore, an instrument to assess sexual subjectivity was constructed and validated through a series of studies. Partially as expected, five factors were found - sexual body-esteem, entitlement to sexual pleasure from oneself, entitlement to sexual pleasure from a partner, sexual self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure, and sexual self-reflection. In additional cross-sectional and longitudinal (6-month, 2 waves) studies, associations between sexual subjectivity, sexual agency, psychosocial well-being, and sexual experience were examined. The results showed that there were concurrent associations between sexual subjectivity and measures of sexual agency and some measures of psychosocial wellbeing. Results also showed that females with more sexual experience (i.e., experience with sexual intercourse, self-masturbation, noncoital orgasmic responsiveness, and same-sex sexual experience) were relatively higher in sexual subjectivity and sexual agency. However, well-being was similar in sexual experience groups when they were compared. In longitudinal analyses, changes in sexual subjectivity, sexual agency and psychosocial well-being were examined for the whole sample and among subgroups defined by levels of sexual experience. Comparisons were also made between those girls who commenced sexual intercourse during the course of the study, those who remained virgins, and those who were nonvirgins at the first assessment. Main effects generally validated cross-sectional findings. Girls who commenced first sexual intercourse relatively earlier increased in self-esteem over time, compared to their virgin counterparts. Girls who reported a history of self-masturbation and noncoital orgasmic responsiveness, and girls who reported no history with either behaviour, increased in sexual body-esteem and self-esteem over time, but the former group of girls were relatively higher in sexual body-esteem and self-esteem than the latter group of girls. Girls who reported a history of one, but not the other of self-masturbation and noncoital orgasm did not change over time. Results also indicated that girls' transition to first sexual intercourse had little association with sexual subjectivity, but some findings were suggestive of a need for further research. Future research, and study strengths and limitations are discussed. There is a need to examine sexual subjectivity as both an antecedent and an outcome using longer time lags with several waves of assessment so that the linkages between sexual subjectivity and other factors can be determined. The implications of sexual subjectivity and sexual exploration for sexuality education are also discussed.

Sexuality is an integral part of health and well-being. Despite a 30-year history of adolescent sexuality research, there has been little that has focused on more than risky sexual behaviour. For example, there has been little research on conceptions of sexuality and pathways to sexual health. In part, this is because sexual health has been often defined as the lack of risky behaviour and health problems. In the studies reported here, components of female sexual health were identified and tested, including behaviours and cognitions, among groups of girls in their late teens and early 20s. After a review of the literature, four sets of factors appeared central to identifying female sexual health. These factors included sexual subjectivity, sexual agency, psychosocial well-being and sexual exploration. The first factor, sexual subjectivity, had previously been described as important to female sexual well-being, but had been developed within feminist theories and studied with qualitative methodologies. After a thorough review of the literature, no psychometrically sound measure of sexual subjectivity was found. Therefore, an instrument to assess sexual subjectivity was constructed and validated through a series of studies. Partially as expected, five factors were found - sexual body-esteem, entitlement to sexual pleasure from oneself, entitlement to sexual pleasure from a partner, sexual self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure, and sexual self-reflection. In additional cross-sectional and longitudinal (6-month, 2 waves) studies, associations between sexual subjectivity, sexual agency, psychosocial well-being, and sexual experience were examined. The results showed that there were concurrent associations between sexual subjectivity and measures of sexual agency and some measures of psychosocial wellbeing. Results also showed that females with more sexual experience (i.e., experience with sexual intercourse, self-masturbation, noncoital orgasmic responsiveness, and same-sex sexual experience) were relatively higher in sexual subjectivity and sexual agency. However, well-being was similar in sexual experience groups when they were compared. In longitudinal analyses, changes in sexual subjectivity, sexual agency and psychosocial well-being were examined for the whole sample and among subgroups defined by levels of sexual experience. Comparisons were also made between those girls who commenced sexual intercourse during the course of the study, those who remained virgins, and those who were nonvirgins at the first assessment. Main effects generally validated cross-sectional findings. Girls who commenced first sexual intercourse relatively earlier increased in self-esteem over time, compared to their virgin counterparts. Girls who reported a history of self-masturbation and noncoital orgasmic responsiveness, and girls who reported no history with either behaviour, increased in sexual body-esteem and self-esteem over time, but the former group of girls were relatively higher in sexual body-esteem and self-esteem than the latter group of girls. Girls who reported a history of one, but not the other of self-masturbation and noncoital orgasm did not change over time. Results also indicated that girls' transition to first sexual intercourse had little association with sexual subjectivity, but some findings were suggestive of a need for further research. Future research, and study strengths and limitations are discussed. There is a need to examine sexual subjectivity as both an antecedent and an outcome using longer time lags with several waves of assessment so that the linkages between sexual subjectivity and other factors can be determined. The implications of sexual subjectivity and sexual exploration for sexuality education are also discussed.
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This study aimed to assess whether differences among categories of sexual self-schemas of men and women existed for weekly frequency of masturbation and sexual activity, level of sexual satisfaction, and level of marital adjustment in the context of marital relationship. In order to evaluate this, the Sexual Self-Schema Scale (Hill, 2007) was translated into Turkish, and its psychometric quality was tested on undergraduate university students. In a sample of 204 married individuals, the interrelationship between sexual self-schema categories and study variables was evaluated through univariate analyses of covariance. Results revealed that the Sexual Self-Schema Scale consisted of three factors in the sample of university students: Loving/Compassionate, Sensual/Stimulating, and Direct/Outspoken. However, the pattern of factors differed for married individuals
factors were labeled as Loving/Warm, Direct/Outspoken, and Reserved/Conservative in this sample. For married individuals, differences among categories of sexual self-schemas were reported for frequency of sexual activity, sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment. Specifically, individuals having positive sexual self-schemas in the present study reported higher frequency of sexual activity, higher levels of sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment in their relationships compared to aschematic and negative schematic individuals. However, weekly frequency of masturbation did not result in any difference among categories. Moreover, gender differences were demonstrated. Women were shown to endorse lower levels of sexual satisfaction and to engage in less frequent masturbation than men. After findings were evaluated, limitations were discussed with an emphasis on recommendations for future research, and implications for clinical psychology were mentioned.

'Holiday romance' is a term used in everyday language to refer to new sexual and romantic relationships that occur on holiday (usually abroad). Whilst there have been a number of quantitative studies exploring the sexual behaviour of travellers, little is known about the context in which these relationships occur and the meanings they have to the individuals involved. The aim of this study was to explore women's understandings and experiences of holiday romance. This was a qualitative exploration which involved focus groups and in-depth interviews with women of a range of ages. Women who participated in focus groups had travelled abroad without a partner in the last two years and women who participated in in-depth interviews had had a new romantic or sexual relationship abroad in the last two years. Women's retrospective accounts were used to examine how holidays compare and contrast to everyday life and how new sexual relationships abroad are negotiated and maintained through time and space. Particular attention was given to the process of negotiating sexual intimacy, and how decisions are made and accounted for. It was found that holidays were seen as a period distinct and removed from everyday life. There was a change in the experience of time: on holiday time became compressed and often inverted. The nature of new sexual relationships abroad varied from romantic relationships that involved emotional attachment and intimacy, to 'holiday flings' which were based on mutual attraction and sexual gratification. Physical intimacy within these relationships was negotiated through a system of silent signs and signals and was typically led by the male partner. This study showed that sexual intercourse was seen as the inevitable end point of sexual intimacy and an increasingly expected part of a relationship.

Literature Review Dementia care in acute services is under researched, not least an examination of the emotional impact of the work. This review aimed to explore and synthesise the available literature regarding the experiences of staff in acute care settings. A systematic review was conducted using systematic and transparent methods. Themes, as experienced and described by staff, included environmental inadequacies and insufficient knowledge of dementia. The emotional impact of the work was elicited and areas of enlightened practice were indicated. Supporting patients with a dementia in the acute care setting appears to be complicated by a range of influences including case complexity, insufficient resources and staff constructions of the patient. The review highlighted areas of need as identified by staff. Empirical Paper Research assessing the impact of Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour (ISB) on staff working in dementia care is circumscribed. This study explored staff experience of ISB exhibited by older adults with a dementia. Interviews with fourteen staff working within an inpatient setting were undertaken and analysed using a Grounded Theory methodology. The core category, ‘A Question of Attribution’ was identified, describing the process experienced when confronted with ISB. Four main categories were inducted representing participants initial experiences, their contextualising of the behaviour, their process of interpretation and pragmatic management of ISB. Staff’s feelings about ISB appeared equivocal with some staff reporting indifference, others feeling violated. Findings imply that the impact of ISB should be more routinely considered in preparing staff for working with patients with a dementia. Critical Appraisal This paper outlined numerous reflections and observations made during the research journey with consideration of the chosen methodology, study limitations and the personal impact of conducting the research, in addition to the learning experience.

This thesis describes the first British empirical study in relation to therapist-patient sexual contact. North American research has suggested that a substantial minority of mental health professionals engage in such contact with their patients, and that both situational and characterological variables contribute to the sexualisation of the therapeutic relationship. A number of theoretical models are relevant to developing an understanding of this problem, including reversal theory, psychodynamic theory, and Finkelhor’s (1984) four precondition model of sexual abuse. A national random survey of clinical psychologists produced 581 usable responses. Under 4% reported sexual contact with patients in therapy or who were discharged. A substantial minority reported that they had treated patients who had been sexually involved with previous therapists, or that they knew through other sources of clinical psychologists who had engaged in sexual activity with their patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed that homosexuality, sexual involvement with educators during postgraduate training, and longer postqualification professional experience predicted sexual involvement with patients. Responses to a small number of open-ended questions suggested that whilst the majority of respondents did not view sexual attraction to patients as inappropriate, a minority actively avoided it for ethical reasons. The majority of respondents who had not engaged in sexual contact with patients refrained from such behaviour for ethical reasons, but the responses of a minority suggested that were the opportunity to arise, or were negative consequences removed, they might engage in such behaviour. A minority of respondents were unaware of their duty to report colleagues engaging in such behaviour. It is concluded that efforts to prevent therapist-patient sexual contact should focus on education, particularly in respect of codes of conduct, and that further research is required to enhance our knowledge of predisposing factors.

Abstract The term "ethics" as a set of rules is used in the professional world as well as in professional societies to establish what is acceptable or not, in terms of ethical professional behavior. This paper explores how the practices and codification of practices related to professional practice have evolved in the Oil and Gas sector, with emphasis on professional societies. The analysis was performed summarizing the history of ethics in general, as applicable to the Oil and Gas sector. Then, research was conducted on how the several important corporations in the upstream or downstream of oil and gas initiated and evolved their own ethical codes. We also explored how the academic world has engaged in issuing Codes of Ethics that govern the behavior of both students and faculty members at the institutional and department level. A special emphasis was placed in the investigation of the evolution of the Code of Ethics of the main professional societies and organizations related to the Oil and Gas Sector, centered on SPE, and including AAPG (the American Association of Petroleum Geologists), SEG (the Societu of Exploration Geophsyicists), EAGE (the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers) and other relevant ones. The conclusions point to a realization that the ethical codes analyzed evolved, following societal changes, in relation to under-represented groups in terms of gender, race, nationality, age, religion and ethnicity, as well as in relation to the expansion of the industry to more and new geographical areas. Currently, almost all organizations and professional societies have a Code of Ethics that profiles their main values and sets a frame for what is or not appropriate in advancing their activities. The Code of Ethics were gradually expanded, spelling out further specific rules, often called "Statements" like "Sexual Harassment," "Bribery" and "Human Rights" statements, aiming to address a variety of specific issues. The Code of Ethics, along the specific self-disclosure statements, are the ethical framework of organizations in Oil and Gas for guiding employees and stakeholders towards: –Alignment with Corporate and/or Academic Values.–Clarification of the Value Proposition for employees and/or prospective students.–Response to societal trends like "MeToo," "BlackLivesMatter," and others.–Rejection of modern issues affecting some industrial segments like Modern Work Slavery.–Enhancement of the corporate prestige and rankings in ESG (environmental, Society and Governance) grounding disclosures useful for investment decisions Our paper is a contribution to share information and raise our collective awareness in the profession about what is the current practice in Oil and Gas regarding Codes of Ethics of Corporations and Professional Societies, how they have evolved, and what are the current and future challenges and opportunities, to expand solid and useful ethics frameworks in the context of the present rapid social transformation.

Background: Problematic marijuana use is highly prevalent globally, particularly in young adults, with marijuana use disorder affecting 5.8%, or 2.0 million, of young adults (ages 18 – 25) in the United States alone (SAMHSA, 2020). Previous research has reported a significant association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and later marijuana use (Scheidell et al., 2018). Though existing research reports an association between exposure to ACEs and marijuana use outcomes, the underlying mechanisms that could explain these associations are unclear. In previous research, general drug use coping motives have been shown to significantly mediate the relationship between childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and later drug use problems (Hogarth et al., 2019). Other research has suggested that the factors like distress tolerance, typically negatively associated with childhood trauma (Robinson et al., 2021) and maladaptive coping strategies (Zvolensky et al., 2010), can also play a role in specifically predicting future problematic marijuana use (Buckner et al., 2018). Objective: The present study aimed to probe this relationship by exploring the associations between ACEs, distress tolerance, marijuana use coping motives, and negative marijuana-related consequences. Specifically, we hypothesized that greater experiences of ACEs would relate to more negative marijuana-related consequences via lower distress tolerance and higher coping motives. Method: Participants were 752 marijuana-using (i.e., used marijuana in the past month) U.S. college students (66.0% female) who completed an online survey including measures of basic marijuana use patterns, marijuana use consequences (Brief Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (MACQ); Simons et al., 2012), marijuana use motivations (Marijuana Motives Questionnaire (MMQ); Simons et al., 1998), ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ); WHO, 2018), and distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale, Simons et al., 2005). To address study aims, path analysis was performed within the whole sample to test the serial unique associations between ACEs → distress tolerance → using marijuana to cope → negative marijuana-related consequences. Results: Within our analytic sample, we found that only marijuana coping motives uniquely indirectly influenced the relationship between ACEs and negative marijuana-related consequences (indirect β = .079, 99% CIs = .042, .121). Distress tolerance did not significantly uniquely indirectly influence the relationship between ACEs and negative marijuana-related consequences. However, a significant double-mediation effect was found illustrating that a higher endorsement of ACEs was associated with lower distress tolerance, which in turn was associated with higher using marijuana to cope motives, which in turn was associated with more negative marijuana-related consequences (indirect β = .011, 99% CIs = .002, .026). Conclusions: These findings provide support for the relevance of distress tolerance and coping motives as potential factors in linking ACEs to problematic marijuana use among college students. Our preliminary findings encourage further exploration of these associations in longitudinal or experimental studies. Further these results lend support to the therapeutic targeting of distress tolerance and using marijuana to cope to mitigate harms stemming from ACEs and its impact on problematic marijuana use.

Aim/Purpose: This paper provides the results of the preliminary analysis of the findings of an ongoing study that seeks to examine the social media use, cultural and political awareness, civic engagement, issue prioritization, and social activism of Gen Z students enrolled at four different institutional types located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The aim of this study is to look at the group as a whole as well as compare findings across populations. The institutional types under consideration include a mid-sized majority serving or otherwise referred to as a traditionally white institution (TWI) located in a small coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean, a small Historically Black University (HBCU) located in a rural area, a large community college located in a county that is a mixture of rural and suburban and which sits on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and graduating high school students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs in a large urban area. This exploration is purposed to examine the behaviors and expectations of Gen Z students within a representative American region during a time of tremendous turmoil and civil unrest in the United States. Background: Over 74 million strong, Gen Z makes up almost one-quarter of the U.S. population. They already outnumber any current living generation and are the first true digital natives. Born after 1996 and through 2012, they are known for their short attention spans and heightened ability to multi-task. Raised in the age of the smart phone, they have been tethered to digital devices from a young age with most having the preponderance of their childhood milestones commemorated online. Often called Zoomers, they are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation and are on track to be the most well-educated generation in history. Gen Zers in the United States have been found in the research to be progressive and pro-government and viewing increasing racial and ethnic diversity as positive change. Finally, they are less likely to hold xenophobic beliefs such as the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority that have been popular with by prior generations. The United States has been in a period of social and civil unrest in recent years with concerns over systematic racism, rampant inequalities, political polarization, xenophobia, police violence, sexual assault and harassment, and the growing epidemic of gun violence. Anxieties stirred by the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these issues resulting in a powder keg explosion occurring throughout the summer of 2020 and leading well into 2021. As a result, the United States has deteriorated significantly in the Civil Unrest Index falling from 91st to 34th. The vitriol, polarization, protests, murders, and shootings have all occurred during Gen Z’s formative years, and the limited research available indicates that it has shaped their values and political views. Methodology: The Mid-Atlantic region is a portion of the United States that exists as the overlap between the northeastern and southeastern portions of the country. It includes the nation’s capital, as well as large urban centers, small cities, suburbs, and rural enclaves. It is one of the most socially, economically, racially, and culturally diverse parts of the United States and is often referred to as the “typically American region.” An electronic survey was administered to students from 2019 through 2021 attending a high school dual enrollment program, a minority serving institution, a majority serving institution, and a community college all located within the larger mid-Atlantic region. The survey included a combination of multiple response, Likert scaled, dichotomous, open ended, and ordinal questions. It was developed in the Survey Monkey system and reviewed by several content and methodological experts in order to examine bias, vagueness, or potential semantic problems. Finally, the survey was pilot tested prior to implementation in order to explore the efficacy of the research methodology. It was then modified accordingly prior to widespread distribution to potential participants. The surveys were administered to students enrolled in classes taught by the authors all of whom are educators. Participation was voluntary, optional, and anonymous. Over 800 individuals completed the survey with just over 700 usable results, after partial completes and the responses of individuals outside of the 18-24 age range were removed. Findings: Participants in this study overwhelmingly were users of social media. In descending order, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Tik Tok were the most popular social media services reported as being used. When volume of use was considered, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter were the most cited with most participants reporting using Instagram and Snapchat multiple times a day. When asked to select which social media service they would use if forced to choose just one, the number one choice was YouTube followed by Instagram and Snapchat. Additionally, more than half of participants responded that they have uploaded a video to a video sharing site such as YouTube or Tik Tok. When asked about their familiarity with different technologies, participants overwhelmingly responded that they are “very familiar” with smart phones, searching the Web, social media, and email. About half the respondents said that they were “very familiar” with common computer applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite or Google Suite with another third saying that they were “somewhat familiar.” When asked about Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Blackboard, Course Compass, Canvas, Edmodo, Moodle, Course Sites, Google Classroom, Mindtap, Schoology, Absorb, D2L, itslearning, Otus, PowerSchool, or WizIQ, only 43% said they were “very familiar” with 31% responding that they were “somewhat familiar.” Finally, about half the students were either “very” or “somewhat” familiar with operating systems such as Windows. A few preferences with respect to technology in the teaching and learning process were explored in the survey. Most students (85%) responded that they want course announcements and reminders sent to their phones, 76% expect their courses to incorporate the use of technology, 71% want their courses to have course websites, and 71% said that they would rather watch a video than read a book chapter. When asked to consider the future, over 81% or respondents reported that technology will play a major role in their future career. Most participants considered themselves “informed” or “well informed” about current events although few considered themselves “very informed” or “well informed” about politics. When asked how they get their news, the most common forum reported for getting news and information about current events and politics was social media with 81% of respondents reporting. Gen Z is known to be an engaged generation and the participants in this study were not an exception. As such, it came as no surprise to discover that, in the past year more than 78% of respondents had educated friends or family about an important social or political issue, about half (48%) had donated to a cause of importance to them, more than a quarter (26%) had participated in a march or rally, and a quarter (26%) had actively boycotted a product or company. Further, about 37% consider themselves to be a social activist with another 41% responding that aren’t sure if they would consider themselves an activist and only 22% saying that they would not consider themselves an activist. When asked what issues were important to them, the most frequently cited were Black Lives Matter (75%), human trafficking (68%), sexual assault/harassment/Me Too (66.49%), gun violence (65.82%), women’s rights (65.15%), climate change (55.4%), immigration reform/deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) (48.8%), and LGBTQ+ rights (47.39%). When the schools were compared, there were only minor differences in social media use with the high school students indicating slightly more use of Tik Tok than the other participants. All groups were virtually equal when it came to how informed they perceived themselves about current events and politics. Consensus among groups existed with respect to how they get their news, and the community college and high school students were slightly more likely to have participated in a march, protest, or rally in the last 12 months than the university students. The community college and high school students were also slightly more likely to consider themselves social activists than the participants from either of the universities. When the importance of the issues was considered, significant differences based on institutional type were noted. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was identified as important by the largest portion of students attending the HBCU followed by the community college students and high school students. Less than half of the students attending the TWI considered BLM an important issue. Human trafficking was cited as important by a higher percentage of students attending the HBCU and urban high school than at the suburban and rural community college or the TWI. Sexual assault was considered important by the majority of students at all the schools with the percentage a bit smaller from the majority serving institution. About two thirds of the students at the high school, community college, and HBCU considered gun violence important versus about half the students at the majority serving institution. Women’s rights were reported as being important by more of the high school and HBCU participants than the community college or TWI. Climate change was considered important by about half the students at all schools with a slightly smaller portion reporting out the HBCU. Immigration reform/DACA was reported as important by half the high school, community college, and HBCU participants with only a third of the students from the majority serving institution citing it as an important issue. With respect to LGBTQ rights approximately half of the high school and community college participants cited it as important, 44.53% of the HBCU students, and only about a quarter of the students attending the majority serving institution. Contribution and Conclusion: This paper provides a timely investigation into the mindset of generation Z students living in the United States during a period of heightened civic unrest. This insight is useful to educators who should be informed about the generation of students that is currently populating higher education. The findings of this study are consistent with public opinion polls by Pew Research Center. According to the findings, the Gen Z students participating in this study are heavy users of multiple social media, expect technology to be integrated into teaching and learning, anticipate a future career where technology will play an important role, informed about current and political events, use social media as their main source for getting news and information, and fairly engaged in social activism. When institutional type was compared the students from the university with the more affluent and less diverse population were less likely to find social justice issues important than the other groups. Recommendations for Practitioners: During disruptive and contentious times, it is negligent to think that the abounding issues plaguing society are not important to our students. Gauging the issues of importance and levels of civic engagement provides us crucial information towards understanding the attitudes of students. Further, knowing how our students gain information, their social media usage, as well as how informed they are about current events and political issues can be used to more effectively communicate and educate. Recommendations for Researchers: As social media continues to proliferate daily life and become a vital means of news and information gathering, additional studies such as the one presented here are needed. Additionally, in other countries facing similarly turbulent times, measuring student interest, awareness, and engagement is highly informative. Impact on Society: During a highly contentious period replete with a large volume of civil unrest and compounded by a global pandemic, understanding the behaviors and attitudes of students can help us as higher education faculty be more attuned when it comes to the design and delivery of curriculum. Future Research This presentation presents preliminary findings. Data is still being collected and much more extensive statistical analyses will be performed.

Genetic resistance is often the least expensive, most effective, and ecologically-sound method of disease control. It is becoming apparent that plant genomes contain large numbers of disease resistance genes. However, the numbers of different resistance specificities within a genepool and the genetic mechanisms generating diversity are poorly understood. Our objectives were to characterize diversity in clusters of resistance genes in wild progenitors of cultivated lettuce in Israel and California in comparison to diversity within cultivated lettuce, and to determine the extent of gene flow, recombination, and genetic instability in generating variation within clusters of resistance genes. Genetic diversity of resistance genes was analyzed in wild and cultivated germplasm using molecular markers derived from lettuce resistance gene sequences of the NBS-LRR type that mapped to the major cluster if resistance genes in lettuce (Sicard et al. 1999). Three molecular markers, one microsatellite marker and two SCAR markers that amplified LRR- encoding regions, were developed from sequences of resistance gene homologs at the Dm3 cluster (RGC2s) in lettuce. Variation for these markers was assessed in germplasm including 74 genotypes of cultivated lettuce, L. saliva and 71 accessions of the three wild Lactuca spp., L. serriola, L. saligna and L. virosa that represent the major species in the sexually accessible genepool for lettuce. Diversity was also studied within and between natural populations of L. serriola from Israel and California. Large numbers of haplotypes were detected indicating the presence of numerous resistance genes in wild species. We documented a variety of genetic events occurring at clusters of resistance genes for the second objective (Sicard et al., 1999; Woo el al., in prep; Kuang et al., in prepb). The diversity of resistance genes in haplotypes provided evidence for gene duplication and unequal crossing over during the evolution of this cluster of resistance genes. Comparison of nine resistance genes in cv. Diana identified 22 gene conversion and five intergenic recombinations. We cloned and sequenced a 700 bp region from the middle of RGC2 genes from six genotypes, two each from L. saliva, L. serriola, and L. saligna . We have identified over 60 unique RGC2 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis surprisingly demonstrated much greater similarity between than within genotypes. This led to the realization that resistance genes are evolving much slower than had previously been assumed and to a new model as to how resistance genes are evolving (Michelmore and Meyers, 1998). The genetic structure of L. serriola was studied using 319 AFLP markers (Kuang et al., in prepa). Forty-one populations from Turkey, Armenia, Israel, and California as well as seven European countries were examined. AFLP marker data showed that the Turkish and Armenian populations were the most polymorphic populations and the European populations were the least. The Davis, CA population, a recent post-Columbian colonization, showed medium genetic diversity and was genetically close to the Turkish populations. Our results suggest that Turkey - Armenia may be the center of origin and diversity of L. serriola and may therefore have the greatest diversity of resistance genes. Our characterization of the diversity of resistance genes and the genetic mechanisms generating it will allow informed exploration, in situ and ex situ conservation, and utilization of germplasm resources for disease control. The results of this project provide the basis for our future research work, which will lead to a detailed understanding of the evolution of resistance genes in plants.