Tag: Poster 123

Explaining the Negotiating Positions of Countries Within the Paris Agreement on Climate Change—An Interest-Based Approach

Presenter(s): Sulley Schuster − Political Science, Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Ronald Mitchell, Craig Kauffman

Poster 123

Research Area: Social Science

Sprinz and Vaahtoranta (1994) developed a theory that state positions within international environmental agreements are driven by two factors: environmental vulnerability and abatement costs. Furthermore, they posit that the interaction of these factors positions states as either pushers, intermediates, bystanders, or draggers in international environmental negotiations. The following study tests whether or not this theory can accurately predict the negotiating positions of states with the Paris Agreement by quantifying the ecological vulnerability and abatement costs of each participating state and comparing it to their observed negotiating position. The results of this analysis show that an interest-based theory can accurately predict negotiating positions around two-thirds of the time, and that ecological vulnerability and international environmental norms also play an important role in shaping negotiating positions within the Paris Agreement. These findings are important in understanding exactly how states develop their negotiating positions within complex international environmental agreements, and can provide policymakers with valuable tools to design future agreements in ways that motivate states to take stronger negotiating positions than they would have otherwise. Subsequent research questions include: Which specific cases fail to fit this theory and why? To what extent are other factors playing a role in leading states to be more, or less, supportive of climate policy than environmental vulnerability and abatement costs would predict?

Associations of Adherence to Exercise Dependence Symptoms in Asian/Asian American Men

Presenter(s): Shijing Zhou

Co Presenter(s): Kylie Rothhouse

Faculty Mentor(s): Nichole Kelly & Claire Guidinger

Poster 123

 Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Exercise dependence (ED) symptoms, which can be conceptualized as a complex pattern of excessive exercise behaviors, have been shown to be more prevalent in males than females. Preliminary data suggest that Asian/Asian American men frequently endorse ED symptoms. However, the sociocultural correlates of ED symptoms in this population are understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine whether Asian cultural values were associated with ED symptoms in Asian/Asian American men. Internalization of both muscularity and thinness appearance ideals were examined as potential moderators. We hypothesized that men who endorsed greater adherence to Asian cultural values would report more ED symptoms. We also hypothesized that greater internalization of both muscularity and thinness appearance ideals would exacerbate this positive association. The present sample consisted of 266 Asian/Asian American men between 18-30 years. The mean age was 24.4 and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/m2. Participants completed an online survey that assessed demographic information, ED symptoms, adherence to Asian cultural values, and internalization of both muscularity and thinness appearance ideals. All analyses adjusted for BMI, education, income, and presence of a psychiatric diagnosis. Multiple linear regression models indicated that adherence to Asian cultural values was significantly and positively associated with ED symptoms. Men who reported greater adherence to Asian cultural values reported more ED symptoms, p<.05. Neither internalization of muscular nor thinness appearance ideals moderated this association. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural factors in our investigations of ED symptoms and related pathology in men.