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• 51. [Article] Household Water Insecurity, Missed Schooling, and the Mediating role of Caregiver Depression in Rural Uganda

  Background: School attendance rates in sub-Saharan Africa are among the lowest worldwide, placing children at heightened risk for poor educational and economic outcomes. One understudied risk factor for ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Household Water Insecurity, Missed Schooling, and the Mediating role of Caregiver Depression in Rural Uganda Author: Cooper-Vince, Christine E., Kakuhikire, Bernard, Vořechovská, Dagmar, McDonough, Amy Q., Perkins, Jessica M., Venkataramani, Atheendar S., Mushavi, Rumbidzai, Baguma, C., Ashaba, Scholastic, Bangsberg, David, Tsai, Alexander C. Year: 2017 Background: School attendance rates in sub-Saharan Africa are among the lowest worldwide, placing children at heightened risk for poor educational and economic outcomes. One understudied risk factor for missed schooling is household water insecurity, which is linked to depression among women and may increase children’s water-fetching burden at the expense of educational activities, particularly among children of depressed caregivers. In this study conducted in rural Uganda, we assessed the association between household water insecurity and child school participation and the mediating pathways behind these associations. Method: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of female household heads (N = 257) and their children ages 5–17 (N = 551) in the rural regions surrounding the town of Mbarara, in southwestern Uganda. We used multivariable linear regressions to estimate the association between water insecurity and missed schooling. We then assessed the extent to which the association was mediated by caregiver depression. Results: Among children, water insecurity had a statistically significant association with the number of missed school days (a standard deviation increase in water insecurity resulted in 0.30 more missed school days in the last week). The estimated association was partially mediated by caregiver depression. When stratified by sex, this mediating pathway remained significant for boys, but not among girls. Conclusions: Water insecurity is a risk factor for missed schooling among children in rural Uganda. Caregiver depression partially mediated this relationship. Also addressing caregiver mental health in water insecure families may more fully address the needs of sub-Saharan African families and promote educational participation among youth. Title: Household Water Insecurity, Missed Schooling, and the Mediating role of Caregiver Depression in Rural Uganda Author: Cooper-Vince, Christine E., Kakuhikire, Bernard, Vořechovská, Dagmar, McDonough, Amy Q., Perkins, Jessica M., Venkataramani, Atheendar S., Mushavi, Rumbidzai, Baguma, C., Ashaba, Scholastic, Bangsberg, David, Tsai, Alexander C. Year: 2017 Background: School attendance rates in sub-Saharan Africa are among the lowest worldwide, placing children at heightened risk for poor educational and economic outcomes. One understudied risk factor for missed schooling is household water insecurity, which is linked to depression among women and may increase children’s water-fetching burden at the expense of educational activities, particularly among children of depressed caregivers. In this study conducted in rural Uganda, we assessed the association between household water insecurity and child school participation and the mediating pathways behind these associations. Method: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of female household heads (N = 257) and their children ages 5–17 (N = 551) in the rural regions surrounding the town of Mbarara, in southwestern Uganda. We used multivariable linear regressions to estimate the association between water insecurity and missed schooling. We then assessed the extent to which the association was mediated by caregiver depression. Results: Among children, water insecurity had a statistically significant association with the number of missed school days (a standard deviation increase in water insecurity resulted in 0.30 more missed school days in the last week). The estimated association was partially mediated by caregiver depression. When stratified by sex, this mediating pathway remained significant for boys, but not among girls. Conclusions: Water insecurity is a risk factor for missed schooling among children in rural Uganda. Caregiver depression partially mediated this relationship. Also addressing caregiver mental health in water insecure families may more fully address the needs of sub-Saharan African families and promote educational participation among youth. Close

• 52. [Article] Indicators of the Metroscape: The Young, the Old, and the Single

  Elizabeth Morehead focuses on the changing demographic of households in the Portland metropolitan region

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: The Young, the Old, and the Single Author: Morehead, Elizabeth Year: 2016 Elizabeth Morehead focuses on the changing demographic of households in the Portland metropolitan region Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: The Young, the Old, and the Single Author: Morehead, Elizabeth Year: 2016 Elizabeth Morehead focuses on the changing demographic of households in the Portland metropolitan region Close

• 53. [Article] Smart Flow Meter: Pitch

  Presentation outlining the plan for a new smart flow meter that provides features that automatically fill and maintain household water tanks with integrated application connected functionality.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Smart Flow Meter: Pitch Author: Prabhu, Sneha, Kirkewoog, Sema Year: 2016 Presentation outlining the plan for a new smart flow meter that provides features that automatically fill and maintain household water tanks with integrated application connected functionality. Title: Smart Flow Meter: Pitch Author: Prabhu, Sneha, Kirkewoog, Sema Year: 2016 Presentation outlining the plan for a new smart flow meter that provides features that automatically fill and maintain household water tanks with integrated application connected functionality. Close

• 54. [Article] Indicators of the Metroscape: Self-Sufficiency

  Overview of annual median income and self-sufficiency standards for various household types in 2014, for several Oregon counties in Northwestern Oregon.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: Self-Sufficiency Author: Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Year: 2015 Overview of annual median income and self-sufficiency standards for various household types in 2014, for several Oregon counties in Northwestern Oregon. Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: Self-Sufficiency Author: Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Year: 2015 Overview of annual median income and self-sufficiency standards for various household types in 2014, for several Oregon counties in Northwestern Oregon. Close

• 55. [Article] Using Household Travel Surveys to Adjust ITE Trip Generation Rates

  The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook has become the predominant method for estimating vehicle trips generated by development. The handbook is often criticized for its ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Using Household Travel Surveys to Adjust ITE Trip Generation Rates Author: Currans, Kristina Marie, Clifton, Kelly J. Year: 2015 The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook has become the predominant method for estimating vehicle trips generated by development. The handbook is often criticized for its inability to account for multimodal behavior in urban contexts, often overestimating vehicle traffic. The purpose of this research is to develop and test a ready-to-use method for adjusting the ITE handbook vehicle trip generation estimates for urban context. This method was created using household travel surveys from Oregon, Washington, and Maryland, as well as nationally available built environment data. Three adjustments were estimated for eight general land-use categories, including a “pooled” category considering all travel survey data. The performance of three adjustments were tested using 195 establishment-level vehicle trip generation datasets compiled from three independent sources. Using this data, the performances of four land-use categories were tested. The overall findings suggest that the simplest of the three adjustments developed provided similar results to the more complex adjustment methods. Moreover, adjustments applied using the “pooled” land-uses category also provided similar results to the more detailed segmentation of travel survey data. Both of these findings punctuate the need for a simple, urban adjustment for trip generation estimates. Title: Using Household Travel Surveys to Adjust ITE Trip Generation Rates Author: Currans, Kristina Marie, Clifton, Kelly J. Year: 2015 The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook has become the predominant method for estimating vehicle trips generated by development. The handbook is often criticized for its inability to account for multimodal behavior in urban contexts, often overestimating vehicle traffic. The purpose of this research is to develop and test a ready-to-use method for adjusting the ITE handbook vehicle trip generation estimates for urban context. This method was created using household travel surveys from Oregon, Washington, and Maryland, as well as nationally available built environment data. Three adjustments were estimated for eight general land-use categories, including a “pooled” category considering all travel survey data. The performance of three adjustments were tested using 195 establishment-level vehicle trip generation datasets compiled from three independent sources. Using this data, the performances of four land-use categories were tested. The overall findings suggest that the simplest of the three adjustments developed provided similar results to the more complex adjustment methods. Moreover, adjustments applied using the “pooled” land-uses category also provided similar results to the more detailed segmentation of travel survey data. Both of these findings punctuate the need for a simple, urban adjustment for trip generation estimates. Close

• 56. [Article] Understanding Residential Location Choices for Climate Change and Transportation Decision Making: Phase 2 Report

  This research builds on the related Phase 1 project. In this second phase, we continue to study neighborhood and housing preferences that shape the residential location decision process. An online experimental ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Understanding Residential Location Choices for Climate Change and Transportation Decision Making: Phase 2 Report Author: Clifton, Kelly J., Gehrke, Steven R., Currans, Kristina Marie Year: 2015 This research builds on the related Phase 1 project. In this second phase, we continue to study neighborhood and housing preferences that shape the residential location decision process. An online experimental survey tool is developed to investigate lifestyle preferences and tradeoffs that households make in their location decisions. This computer-aided experimental survey draws upon stated preference methods to engage participants in questions about residential location and transportation options. The survey infrastructure was extensively piloted (6-10% response rate). The 10-minute survey can be deployed for future investigations. This infrastructure is a contribution for the integration of visualized neighborhood typologies, or concepts, which were objectively defined using data from 25 of the most populous metropolitan regions from around the United States. The construct of neighborhoods is based upon national data to account for potential options not currently available in Oregon. These visualizations help ground the survey respondents in the same reality and were carefully crafted to convey various attributes of the built and transportation environment. The initial analysis of the preference data collected in this survey (N=1,035) indicates that the preferences for neighborhood, housing, and transportation characteristics have a greater influence on the preferred neighborhood concept than the more typically used socio-economic characteristics (income, household size, age). Another interesting preliminary finding is that 27% of respondents would prefer to live in a more urban neighborhood than they currently reside. These “urban seeking” respondents had no particular demographic trend, providing little evidence that specific socioeconomic markets had specific preferences for the built environment. Title: Understanding Residential Location Choices for Climate Change and Transportation Decision Making: Phase 2 Report Author: Clifton, Kelly J., Gehrke, Steven R., Currans, Kristina Marie Year: 2015 This research builds on the related Phase 1 project. In this second phase, we continue to study neighborhood and housing preferences that shape the residential location decision process. An online experimental survey tool is developed to investigate lifestyle preferences and tradeoffs that households make in their location decisions. This computer-aided experimental survey draws upon stated preference methods to engage participants in questions about residential location and transportation options. The survey infrastructure was extensively piloted (6-10% response rate). The 10-minute survey can be deployed for future investigations. This infrastructure is a contribution for the integration of visualized neighborhood typologies, or concepts, which were objectively defined using data from 25 of the most populous metropolitan regions from around the United States. The construct of neighborhoods is based upon national data to account for potential options not currently available in Oregon. These visualizations help ground the survey respondents in the same reality and were carefully crafted to convey various attributes of the built and transportation environment. The initial analysis of the preference data collected in this survey (N=1,035) indicates that the preferences for neighborhood, housing, and transportation characteristics have a greater influence on the preferred neighborhood concept than the more typically used socio-economic characteristics (income, household size, age). Another interesting preliminary finding is that 27% of respondents would prefer to live in a more urban neighborhood than they currently reside. These “urban seeking” respondents had no particular demographic trend, providing little evidence that specific socioeconomic markets had specific preferences for the built environment. Close

• 57. [Article] National Study of BRT Development Outcomes

  Bus rapid transit (BRT) is poised to become the “next big thing” in public transit. From virtually no systems a generation ago, there are now 19 lines operating with at least seven under construction and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: National Study of BRT Development Outcomes Author: Nelson, Arthur C., Ganning, Joanna Year: 2015 Bus rapid transit (BRT) is poised to become the “next big thing” in public transit. From virtually no systems a generation ago, there are now 19 lines operating with at least seven under construction and more than 20 in the planning stages. BRT is gaining popularity because of its combination of low capital cost and potential for high levels of benefits. But are BRT systems effective in attracting development? To answer this and many more trending BRT questions, the Metropolitan Research Center (MRC) reviewed multiple studies using data from the United States Census Bureau, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, and CoStar data in a quasi-experimental, compare-and-contrast research design to compare jobs, population and households, and housing units before and after BRT station construction relative to control stations and the stations’ metropolitan context. Our units of analysis will be 2010 census blocks and their assemblages as data allow within 0.25 mile buffers. The final products of the MRC’s research include case studies of each BRT and meta-assessments of whether and to what extent BRT systems attract development. Some of the studies answer the following questions: What are the effects of BRT on sectoral employment change in the United States? How does BRT affect housing location affordability? What is the relationship between BRT and its surrounding area’s wagerelated job change? These answers can provide MPOs with information to aid in the decision-making process in terms of economic development and transportation planning options. Title: National Study of BRT Development Outcomes Author: Nelson, Arthur C., Ganning, Joanna Year: 2015 Bus rapid transit (BRT) is poised to become the “next big thing” in public transit. From virtually no systems a generation ago, there are now 19 lines operating with at least seven under construction and more than 20 in the planning stages. BRT is gaining popularity because of its combination of low capital cost and potential for high levels of benefits. But are BRT systems effective in attracting development? To answer this and many more trending BRT questions, the Metropolitan Research Center (MRC) reviewed multiple studies using data from the United States Census Bureau, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, and CoStar data in a quasi-experimental, compare-and-contrast research design to compare jobs, population and households, and housing units before and after BRT station construction relative to control stations and the stations’ metropolitan context. Our units of analysis will be 2010 census blocks and their assemblages as data allow within 0.25 mile buffers. The final products of the MRC’s research include case studies of each BRT and meta-assessments of whether and to what extent BRT systems attract development. Some of the studies answer the following questions: What are the effects of BRT on sectoral employment change in the United States? How does BRT affect housing location affordability? What is the relationship between BRT and its surrounding area’s wagerelated job change? These answers can provide MPOs with information to aid in the decision-making process in terms of economic development and transportation planning options. Close

• 58. [Article] Work-Family Conflict and Employee Sleep: Evidence from IT Workers in the Work, Family and Health Study

  Work-family conflict is a threat to healthy sleep behaviors among employees. This study aimed to examine how Work-to-Family Conflict (demands from work that interfere with one's family/personal life; WTFC) ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Work-Family Conflict and Employee Sleep: Evidence from IT Workers in the Work, Family and Health Study Author: Buxton, Orfeu M., Lee, Soomi, Beverly, Chloe, Berkman, Lisa Year: 2016 Work-family conflict is a threat to healthy sleep behaviors among employees. This study aimed to examine how Work-to-Family Conflict (demands from work that interfere with one's family/personal life; WTFC) and Family-to-Work Conflict (demands from family/personal life that interfere with work; FTWC) are associated with several dimensions of sleep among information technology workers. Employees at a U.S. IT firm (n = 799) provided self-reports of sleep sufficiency (feeling rested upon waking), sleep quality, and sleep maintenance insomnia symptoms (waking up in the middle of the night or early morning) in the last month. They also provided a week of actigraphy for nighttime sleep duration, napping, sleep timing, and a novel sleep inconsistency measure. Analyses adjusted for work conditions (job demands, decision authority, schedule control, and family-supportive supervisor behavior), and household and sociodemographic characteristics. Employees who experienced higher WTFC reported less sleep sufficiency, poorer sleep quality, and more insomnia symptoms. Higher WTFC also predicted shorter nighttime sleep duration, greater likelihood of napping, and longer nap duration. Furthermore, higher WTFC was linked to greater inconsistency of nighttime sleep duration and sleep clock times, whereas higher FTWC was associated with more rigidity of sleep timing mostly driven by wake time. Results highlight the unique associations of WTFC/FTWC with employee sleep independent of other work conditions and household and sociodemographic characteristics. Our novel methodological approach demonstrates differential associations of WTFC and FTWC with inconsistency of sleep timing. Given the strong associations between WTFC and poor sleep, future research should focus on reducing WTFC. Title: Work-Family Conflict and Employee Sleep: Evidence from IT Workers in the Work, Family and Health Study Author: Buxton, Orfeu M., Lee, Soomi, Beverly, Chloe, Berkman, Lisa Year: 2016 Work-family conflict is a threat to healthy sleep behaviors among employees. This study aimed to examine how Work-to-Family Conflict (demands from work that interfere with one's family/personal life; WTFC) and Family-to-Work Conflict (demands from family/personal life that interfere with work; FTWC) are associated with several dimensions of sleep among information technology workers. Employees at a U.S. IT firm (n = 799) provided self-reports of sleep sufficiency (feeling rested upon waking), sleep quality, and sleep maintenance insomnia symptoms (waking up in the middle of the night or early morning) in the last month. They also provided a week of actigraphy for nighttime sleep duration, napping, sleep timing, and a novel sleep inconsistency measure. Analyses adjusted for work conditions (job demands, decision authority, schedule control, and family-supportive supervisor behavior), and household and sociodemographic characteristics. Employees who experienced higher WTFC reported less sleep sufficiency, poorer sleep quality, and more insomnia symptoms. Higher WTFC also predicted shorter nighttime sleep duration, greater likelihood of napping, and longer nap duration. Furthermore, higher WTFC was linked to greater inconsistency of nighttime sleep duration and sleep clock times, whereas higher FTWC was associated with more rigidity of sleep timing mostly driven by wake time. Results highlight the unique associations of WTFC/FTWC with employee sleep independent of other work conditions and household and sociodemographic characteristics. Our novel methodological approach demonstrates differential associations of WTFC and FTWC with inconsistency of sleep timing. Given the strong associations between WTFC and poor sleep, future research should focus on reducing WTFC. Close

• 59. [Article] From the Frontlines of the Housing Crisis: Two Vulnerable Tenants Discuss Their Experiences in Portland's Increasingly Brutal Housing Market

  Homelessness is the most visible face of Portland's affordable housing crisis, but the numbers of street sleepers and tent campers are nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of beleaguered tenants. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: From the Frontlines of the Housing Crisis: Two Vulnerable Tenants Discuss Their Experiences in Portland's Increasingly Brutal Housing Market Author: Kerr, Thomas Year: 2016 Homelessness is the most visible face of Portland's affordable housing crisis, but the numbers of street sleepers and tent campers are nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of beleaguered tenants. They may be hidden away in their separate apartments, but they are suffering the effects of crisis all the same. Forty percent of the 900,000 households in the Portland Metro area are tenants, and half are paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent. A quarter pay more than 50 percent, and the percentages go higher as the households get poorer. Besides forcing them to impoverish themselves to pay for housing, the crisis is narrowing their choices, blighting their lives with frequent moves and compromising their ability to survive. Although we usually dedicate the interview to prominent officials and civic leaders, we decided, this time, to talk with two of Portland's low-income tenants, both active in the tenant movement, and get their take on the crisis and how these problems might be solved. Lynn Hager, 34, is finishing up her degree in community development at Portland State University after working for many years and having a child. Melissa Pyle, 26, works at PSU and is also in the final year of her community development degree. Here are some highlights from their discussion with Metroscape writer, Thomas Kerr. Title: From the Frontlines of the Housing Crisis: Two Vulnerable Tenants Discuss Their Experiences in Portland's Increasingly Brutal Housing Market Author: Kerr, Thomas Year: 2016 Homelessness is the most visible face of Portland's affordable housing crisis, but the numbers of street sleepers and tent campers are nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of beleaguered tenants. They may be hidden away in their separate apartments, but they are suffering the effects of crisis all the same. Forty percent of the 900,000 households in the Portland Metro area are tenants, and half are paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent. A quarter pay more than 50 percent, and the percentages go higher as the households get poorer. Besides forcing them to impoverish themselves to pay for housing, the crisis is narrowing their choices, blighting their lives with frequent moves and compromising their ability to survive. Although we usually dedicate the interview to prominent officials and civic leaders, we decided, this time, to talk with two of Portland's low-income tenants, both active in the tenant movement, and get their take on the crisis and how these problems might be solved. Lynn Hager, 34, is finishing up her degree in community development at Portland State University after working for many years and having a child. Melissa Pyle, 26, works at PSU and is also in the final year of her community development degree. Here are some highlights from their discussion with Metroscape writer, Thomas Kerr. Close

• 60. [Article] Methods and Data for Developing Coordinated Population Forecasts

  This document is to accompany the coordinated population forecasts and their corresponding reports prepared by the Population Research Center (PRC). Developing long-term coordinated population forecasts ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Methods and Data for Developing Coordinated Population Forecasts Author: Portland State University. Population Research Center Year: 2015 This document is to accompany the coordinated population forecasts and their corresponding reports prepared by the Population Research Center (PRC). Developing long-term coordinated population forecasts for a county and its sub-areas (UGBs and areas outside UGBs are referred to sub-areas in this document), requires these main stages: 1) compiling and evaluating historical and recent data to ascertain demographic characteristics and trends in the study area and to obtain a population base from which the forecasts may be launched; 2) making assumptions about the future and adjusting the data or rates in the forecasting models (calibrating the models) to incorporate predicted rates or trends; and 3) reconciling, or adjusting the forecasts so the sum of the sub-area forecasts is consistent with the forecast for the county total. We first develop population projections and then we make adjustments to these projections in order to produce population forecasts. Population projections are developed by extending historical and current demographic and housing trends into the future. Forecasting population requires that assumptions be made about future population change, and adjusting the projection models to account for circumstances that perhaps skewed past trends or may affect future change. Such circumstances in the past could be a building moratorium or the opening of a new group quarters facility. Events affecting future change would be, for example, planned future housing development that is higher than usual, a foreseen change in an area’s physical ability to accommodate growth (buildable land available is approaching capacity or improvements to infrastructure are underway), anticipated changes in the economy (the location of a new employer or the upswing or downturn of the economy in general), or an expected change in the local population and household composition (age, ethnicity, and average household size). Title: Methods and Data for Developing Coordinated Population Forecasts Author: Portland State University. Population Research Center Year: 2015 This document is to accompany the coordinated population forecasts and their corresponding reports prepared by the Population Research Center (PRC). Developing long-term coordinated population forecasts for a county and its sub-areas (UGBs and areas outside UGBs are referred to sub-areas in this document), requires these main stages: 1) compiling and evaluating historical and recent data to ascertain demographic characteristics and trends in the study area and to obtain a population base from which the forecasts may be launched; 2) making assumptions about the future and adjusting the data or rates in the forecasting models (calibrating the models) to incorporate predicted rates or trends; and 3) reconciling, or adjusting the forecasts so the sum of the sub-area forecasts is consistent with the forecast for the county total. We first develop population projections and then we make adjustments to these projections in order to produce population forecasts. Population projections are developed by extending historical and current demographic and housing trends into the future. Forecasting population requires that assumptions be made about future population change, and adjusting the projection models to account for circumstances that perhaps skewed past trends or may affect future change. Such circumstances in the past could be a building moratorium or the opening of a new group quarters facility. Events affecting future change would be, for example, planned future housing development that is higher than usual, a foreseen change in an area’s physical ability to accommodate growth (buildable land available is approaching capacity or improvements to infrastructure are underway), anticipated changes in the economy (the location of a new employer or the upswing or downturn of the economy in general), or an expected change in the local population and household composition (age, ethnicity, and average household size). Close