Social dimensions of health

Understanding the experiences of women, people of color with outdoor recreation
Sydney Etten (‘24 agricultural and rural policy studies) worked with Dr. Shawn Dorius on a research project investigating the barriers that women and minorities face… Read More

March 8, 2024
Why women are drinking more alcohol
Professor of Sociology Susan Stewart addresses why women are drinking more alcohol to cope with life's daily stressors in her new book, "On the Rocks: Straight Talk About Women and Drinking." Read More

August 30, 2022
Survey highlights pandemic’s effect on mental and physical health in rural Iowa
Professor of Sociology David Peters asked thousands of rural Iowans to gauge how the pandemic has impacted their physical and mental health. Learn what he and his research team discovered. Read More

October 12, 2021
Peters, Hochstetler recognized for opioid overdose research
Congratulations to David Peters and Andrew Hochstetler for receiving the 2021 Fred Buttel Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award from the Rural Sociological Society. Read More

July 22, 2021
NSF awards grant to study impacts, responses to COVID-19 in small Iowa towns
Associate Professor of Sociology David Peters has received a rapid-response grant from the National Science Foundation to study the COVID-19 impact on small Iowa towns. Read More

July 10, 2020
Rural areas face higher and distinct risks of serious COVID-19 outcomes than urban areas
Recent research conducted by David Peters, associate professor of sociology and Extension rural sociologist, indicates that rural places may still be at risk for COVID-19 even in the absence of cases, as the pandemic may just be taking hold. Read More

April 15, 2020
Initiative takes advantage of existing data to solve community problems
A team of Iowa State researchers, including Shawn Dorius, associate professor of sociology, is helping Iowa towns tap into data they already have to solve their communities' problems. Read More

February 17, 2020