Social Sciences

HPA axis activity and childhood growth in a subsistence population: Evidence from the Indigenous Garisakang of Lowland Papua New Guinea 
 

Brittney Briset 
Baylor University

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates cortisol production in response to stressors (e.g., undernutrition), favoring short-term survival demands, such as thermoregulation, over metabolically intensive processes, including growth. Although chronic HPA activation during childhood influences lifelong health, the association between cortisol and growth remains poorly understood, particularly in subsistence populations where ecological stressors vary. This study investigates whether elevated HPA activity, measured by cortisol awakening response (CAR), predicts reduced growth outcomes among Indigenous Garisakang children of Papua New Guinea. The children show a mean BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) of -0.79±0.76 and height-for-age z-score (HAZ) of -2.28±0.81, indicating a relatively lean population that is, on average, stunted compared to WHO references. Salivary cortisol measurements were collected from 57 children (ages 4–14 years) to measure CAR and diurnal cortisol slope. Garisakang children demonstrate low mean CAR (5.07 nmol/L±1.52) and flattened cortisol slopes (-0.20 nmol/L/h), compared to US child references (mean CAR=11.59 nmol/L±5.24, mean cortisol slope = -0.51 nmol/L/h). Linear regression models evaluated associations between CAR, HAZ, and BAZ, controlling for age, sex, and cortisol collection time. Increased CAR was significantly associated with lower HAZ (β = -0.91, p < 0.001), with a significant CAR and BAZ interaction (β = 1.02, p < 0.001), indicating a stronger association among children with BAZ > -1. These findings suggest complex relationships between HPA activity and energy allocation in children from LMICs. Future research should examine ecological factors that may shape variation in cortisol and chronic stress among the Garisakang and other populations at risk for growth faltering.

Mya Uribe Portillo

First-Generation immigrant children navigate a world of unspoken rules and engage in a silent battle of finding belonging within unexpected spaces. These challenges influence their identity development. The purpose of this study, grounded in a narrative approach, is to explore and identify what it means to have a bicultural, Mexican-American identity in the modern age. The scope of this research focuses on how Mexican-American youth navigate the cultural process of inheriting Mexican heritage and embracing the blending of that heritage and experiences with American culture. Bicultural identity forms individually along the hyphen between two cultures, shaped by the ongoing work of translating what it means to feel both close and distant to one’s culture. In addition, the research highlights how creative expression serves as a critical lens in the translation of these experiences. This includes the understanding of identity, communicated experiences, and a construction of belonging within spaces where this minoritized population has been historically underrepresented. The study employs an exploration of the communicated experiences Mexican-American youth shared on social-media testimonials and media. The data collection included observing digital media and art-work on platforms including Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube. These data were then transcribed and analyzed to determine the themes most communicated and explicitly mentioned.

The Translation of Compassionate Feelings into Merciful Actions Within the Framework of Self-Determination Theory
 

Chloe E. Hackler
Southern Nazarene University

Positive social change (e.g., Civil Rights, women’s suffrage, LGBTQIA+ rights) has frequently depended on the successful transformation of compassionate feelings into actions that alleviate the suffering of others. Research also suggests that there is a limited relationship between compassionate feelings and merciful actions. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) offers a connective framework for bridging this gap and examining additional factors that may influence the frequency of acts of mercy. Factors that will be examined in this study are intrinsic religiosity (IR) and locus of control (LOC), as both have been associated with merciful actions. This study hypothesized that an Internal LOC might strengthen the relationship between IR and merciful actions. The present research will explore whether LOC moderates the relationship between IR and merciful actions. A convenience sample of 323 students from a private Christian liberal arts university will be utilized. Findings suggest that there is no correlation between feelings of compassion and acts of mercy, which supports results from previous research. Likewise, there is no moderating effect of LOC in the relationship between IR and merciful actions. Although IR often leads to merciful actions, LOC orientation does not affect the strength of this relationship. Future research should continue to examine other factors that may facilitate or prevent compassionate feelings from being manifested as merciful actions.