About
Christine Bergeron is the undergraduate program director for the Dance program in the College of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts at Texas A&M University. She served as the Director of Dance for 15 years prior to the college forming in 2022. She holds a B.A. in Dance from the University of Akron and an MFA in Choreography and Performance from Florida State University. Currently, she is seeking her Ph.D. in Dance Science from the University of Wolverhampton, with a research interest in Pilates and its impact on dance training and performance. She is certified in Pilates Mat through the advanced level and is an Associate Instructor for Pilates Equipment work from the Physical Mind Institute and Balanced Body. Her dance science research on Pilates and its impact on dancers has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented worldwide.
Research topics
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Medicine
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Clinical psychology
- Public relations
- Demography
- Law
- Gender studies
- Virology
Selected publications
Symptom Severity Profiles and their Associated Factors in Minoritized Men with Chronic Conditions
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities · 2026-01-09
articleOpen accessIndividuals with chronic conditions have persistent, co-occurring symptoms affecting quality of life. Understanding symptom severity susceptibilities is critical for early risk identification, but gaps remain among racial and ethnic minority men with chronic conditions. As such, this study identifies symptom severity profiles in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men based on five common symptoms (fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, sleep disturbance, depression) and its associated demographic, clinical, and modifiable sociobehavioral risk factors. Online survey data from 1,982 men aged 40 and older with chronic conditions was analyzed using latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify symptom severity profiles. LPA revealed three symptom severity profiles: lowest (63.4%); moderate (13.9%); and highest (22.7%). Multinomial and binary logistic regressions were used to analyze demographic, clinical, social, and behavioral factors associated with symptom severity profiles. Compared to men in the lowest symptom severity profile, men in the highest symptom severity profile were younger (OR = 0.98, p < 0.001), had lower incomes (OR = 0.95, p = 0.028), had more comorbidities (OR = 1.92, P = 0.001), had more medications (OR = 1.09, P = 0.012), reported current tobacco (OR = 1.55, P < 0.001) or cannabis (OR = 1.45, P = 0.011) use, experienced more social disconnectedness (OR = 1.34, P < 0.001), and had poorer self-management efficacy (OR = 0.93, P < 0.001). Compared to men in the moderate profile, men in the highest profile had lower education (OR = 0.53, P = 0.002), more comorbidities (OR = 1.77, P = 0.018), higher medication use (OR = 1.11 P = 0.009), and increased cannabis use (OR = 1.56, P = 0.017). Findings highlight diverse symptom experiences and key factors that can be targeted in prevention and treatment strategies to reduce symptom severity within these subpopulations.
Journal of Community Health · 2025-07-01 · 1 citations
articleBridging the Byline: Authorship Considerations for Publishing in Peer-Reviewed Journals
New Prairie Press (Kansas State University) · 2025-12-31
articleOpen accessTeam science is essential for publishing in peer-reviewed journals and advancing health behavior research. As such, it is important to demystify considerations for authorship and co-authorship in terms of inclusion, order, expectations, and transparent communication. Authorship disagreements are a common source of conflict within writing teams and, if not addressed appropriately, can threaten trust and future collaborations. This commentary introduces a four-step framework for navigating authorship decisions with forethought, transparency, and fairness. The framework aims to reduce misunderstandings, strengthen teamwork, and foster the development of early-career researchers. Developing competence in authorship negotiation is an essential skill for all researchers. For trainees, this framework offers guidance for approaching authorship within collaborative projects, while for mentors, it serves as a practical tool for modeling and teaching best practices.
Factors related to social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers
Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-04-29 · 2 citations
articleOpen accessBackground Older unpaid caregivers often face social isolation and loneliness, yet risk factors for social disconnection remain largely unexplored. As the demand for unpaid caregiving rises with an aging population, there is a need for targeted interventions to reduce social disconnectedness in this vulnerable group. This study aimed to identify determinants of social disconnectedness. Methods Data came from a sample of 701 unpaid caregivers aged 60 + who completed an internet-based survey assessing sociodemographics, health status, financial strain, social environment, and social disconnectedness. Four sequential regression models were used to identify the unique contribution of these factors related to social disconnectedness. Results The first model ( F = 3.94, p &lt; 0.001, a R 2 = 0.030) showed that older age ( β = −0.15, p &lt; 0.001), self-identifying as being Black ( β = −0.10, p = 0.008), and higher education ( β = −0.11, p = 0.041) were associated with lower social disconnectedness. Adding health factors in the second model ( F = 15.33, p &lt; 0.001, a R 2 = 0.170) revealed that, in addition to age and education, chronic conditions ( β = 0.12, p = 0.001) and possible depression ( β = 0.35, p &lt; 0.001) were associated with social disconnectedness. Including financial strain in the third model ( F = 15.52, p &lt; 0.001, a R 2 = 0.212) showed that household income ( β = −0.10, p = 0.012) and financial stress ( β = 0.18, p &lt; 0.001) were additionally associated with social disconnectedness. The final model ( F = 23.42, p &lt; 0.001, a R 2 = 0.366) that included social environmental factors showed that age ( β = −0.07, p = 0.033), possible depression ( β = 0.22, p &lt; 0.001), financial stress ( β = 0.16, p &lt; 0.001), and levels of community belonging ( β = −0.20–0.58, p &lt; 0.001) were significantly related to the risk of disconnectedness. Conclusion Findings highlight possible intervention targets that have the potential to reduce social disconnectedness among older unpaid caregivers. Particularly, addressing depressive symptoms, reducing financial stress, and enhancing community belonging are essential components to mitigate social disconnectedness risk in this population.
Ethnicity & Disease · 2025-03-01
articleOpen accessObjectives: Limited social connection places individuals at greater risk for chronic conditions; however, there is limited research examining the association between chronic conditions and barriers to disease self-management on social connections. Our study addresses this gap in the empirical literature by examining these issues among Black men aged 40+ years with 1 or more chronic conditions. Methods: Data came from a national sample of 1200 Black men. We conducted 3 multivariate logistic regression models examining social connection domains (did not have people to call for help, felt isolated from others, and were not content with relationships/friendships) on 3 independent variables: the number of chronic health conditions, cut down or skipped social activities because of health problems, and self-reported barriers to disease self-management. Sociodemographic covariates for all regression models included age, education, partner status, and annual household income. Results: Men were aged 56.7 (±9.7) years and self-reported 4.0 (±2.9) chronic conditions. Approximately 1 in 4 participants reported that they did not have enough people to call for help (25.2%), felt isolated from others (26.0%), and were not content with friendships/relationships (23.8%). Across multivariate models, men who reported more barriers to disease self-management were significantly more likely to report a social connection domain challenge. The number of chronic conditions and cutting down or skipping social activities because of health problems were also associated with a greater likelihood of social connection challenges. Conclusions: Efforts to improve the self-management of illness symptomology may mitigate challenges to social connection among middle-aged and older Black men.
Incident and recurrent falls among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions
Journal of Safety Research · 2025-11-06
articleOpen accessINTRODUCTION: While much is known about the complexities of fall-related risks among older adults, less is known about the risk for falls among men, and especially older non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions. To address this crucial gap in safety research, this study examined factors associated with incident falls (1 fall) and recurrent falling (2+ falls) among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men ages ≥60 years with ≥1 chronic condition. METHOD: Collected with a cross-sectional, web-delivered questionnaire, data were analyzed from a national sample of 779 non-Hispanic Black (58.8%) and Hispanic (41.2%) men. To assess incident and recurrent falls, the number of self-reported falls in the past year was trichotomized (0 falls vs. 1 fall vs. 2+ falls) and used as the dependent variable. A multinomial logistic regression was fitted to assess factors associated with incident and recurrent falls. The model adjusted for sociodemographics, disease characteristics, health status, and social support. RESULTS: On average, participants were aged 66.8 (±5.4) years and reported 3.8 (±2.7) chronic conditions. Seventy-three percent of men reported 0 falls, 12.6% reported 1 fall, and 14.4% reported 2+ falls in the past year. Relative to men reporting 0 falls, Hispanic men (P < 0.05), men with worse general health status (P < 0.05), and those with clinical depression (P < 0.05) were more likely to report incident and recurrent falls, respectively. Men with more comorbidities (P < 0.05) and those with less help/support to manage health problems (P < 0.05) were more likely to report recurrent falls. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of multi-component interventions to prevent falls by strengthening disease self-management, addressing mental health, and introducing social support. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study contributes to the understanding of fall-related risks among older non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions and highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in fall prevention efforts.
UNC Libraries · 2025-06-26
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingSelf-management of depressive symptoms is influenced by co-morbidity, social support, and health-related behaviors. Men are less likely to discuss depressive moods and seek healthcare. This study examines factors associated with depressive symptoms among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men ages ≥40 years with ≥1 chronic condition in the U. S. Data from 1,907 non-Hispanic Black (n = 1,117) and Hispanic (n = 790) males with chronic conditions were analyzed using logistic regression to assess depressive symptoms, identified as a Patient Health Questionnaire-2 score ≥3. One model was fitted for all men, then separate models were fitted for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men, respectively. The models adjusted for sociodemographic, disease characteristics, health status, social engagement and support, and lifestyle behaviors. In the full model, Hispanic men (OR = 1.39, p = 0.017) and those taking more medications (OR = 1.10, p = 0.010) were more likely to have depressive symptoms. Social disconnection (OR = 1.65, p < 0.001), reliance on others for health management (OR = 1.04, p < 0.001), limited activity due to health (OR = 3.15, p < 0.001), self-care barriers (OR = 1.16, p < 0.001), healthcare frustration (OR = 1.13, p < 0.001), prolonged sitting (OR = 1.01, p = 0.030), and tobacco use (OR = 1.56, p = 0.002) increased likelihood of depressive symptoms. Common and unique factors associated with depressive symptoms were identified in models for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men, respectively. Findings highlight the dynamic interplay between depressive symptoms, social engagement, and lifestyle behaviors among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with complex disease profiles. Efforts are needed to address depressive symptomatology through self-managing conditions, strengthening supportive networks, and alleviating burdens associated with healthcare interactions.
Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-06-16
articleOpen accessIntroduction Self-management of depressive symptoms is influenced by co-morbidity, social support, and health-related behaviors. Men are less likely to discuss depressive moods and seek healthcare. This study examines factors associated with depressive symptoms among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men ages ≥40 years with ≥1 chronic condition in the U. S. Methods Data from 1,907 non-Hispanic Black ( n = 1,117) and Hispanic ( n = 790) males with chronic conditions were analyzed using logistic regression to assess depressive symptoms, identified as a Patient Health Questionnaire-2 score ≥3. One model was fitted for all men, then separate models were fitted for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men, respectively. The models adjusted for sociodemographic, disease characteristics, health status, social engagement and support, and lifestyle behaviors. Results In the full model, Hispanic men (OR = 1.39, p = 0.017) and those taking more medications (OR = 1.10, p = 0.010) were more likely to have depressive symptoms. Social disconnection (OR = 1.65, p &lt; 0.001), reliance on others for health management (OR = 1.04, p &lt; 0.001), limited activity due to health (OR = 3.15, p &lt; 0.001), self-care barriers (OR = 1.16, p &lt; 0.001), healthcare frustration (OR = 1.13, p &lt; 0.001), prolonged sitting (OR = 1.01, p = 0.030), and tobacco use (OR = 1.56, p = 0.002) increased likelihood of depressive symptoms. Common and unique factors associated with depressive symptoms were identified in models for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men, respectively. Conclusion Findings highlight the dynamic interplay between depressive symptoms, social engagement, and lifestyle behaviors among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with complex disease profiles. Efforts are needed to address depressive symptomatology through self-managing conditions, strengthening supportive networks, and alleviating burdens associated with healthcare interactions.
Health Promotion Practice · 2025-10-09
articleOpen accessObjectiveThis study sought to identify factors associated with (1) situational awareness (i.e., daily recognition of situations to make choices to act in the best interest of one's health) and (2) the self-care gap (i.e., not acting in one's best interest despite having recognized at least one opportunity to perform healthful behaviors).MethodsData from 1,761 non-Hispanic Black (58.4%) and Hispanic (41.6%) men aged 40 years or older with chronic conditions were collected using an internet-delivered questionnaire. Two linear regression models were fitted to assess factors associated with situational awareness and the self-care gap, respectively. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographics, disease symptomatology, preventive screening activity, health behaviors, and health-related perceptions.ResultsSituational awareness levels were lower for older individuals (B = -.03, p < .001). Men who had higher fatigue (B = .11, p = .002), more stress (B = .07, p = .032), utilized more prevention screenings (B = .13, p = .001), adhered to physical activity guidelines (B = .36, p = .044), and received more social support (B = .89, p < .001) reported higher situational awareness. The self-care gap was more pronounced among non-Hispanic Black men (B = -.32, p = .026). Men who reported higher fatigue (B = .06, p = .041), clinical depression (B = .39, p = .039), more barriers to self-care (B = .11, p < .001), and higher frustrations with health care (B = .12, p < .001) were associated with greater self-care gaps.ConclusionsMen's recognition of healthful opportunities was largely driven by their disease symptomatology, greater engagement in preventive screenings, and receiving social support. However, the self-care gap was seemingly driven by mental health and challenges with disease self-management and health care interactions. Efforts are needed to narrow disparities in the self-care gap between non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men.
Bridging the Byline: Authorship Considerations for Publishing in Peer-Reviewed Journals
Health Behavior Research · 2025-12-31
articleOpen accessTeam science is essential for publishing in peer-reviewed journals and advancing health behavior research. As such, it is important to demystify considerations for authorship and co-authorship in terms of inclusion, order, expectations, and transparent communication. Authorship disagreements are a common source of conflict within writing teams and, if not addressed appropriately, can threaten trust and future collaborations. This commentary introduces a four-step framework for navigating authorship decisions with forethought, transparency, and fairness. The framework aims to reduce misunderstandings, strengthen teamwork, and foster the development of early-career researchers. Developing competence in authorship negotiation is an essential skill for all researchers. For trainees, this framework offers guidance for approaching authorship within collaborative projects, while for mentors, it serves as a practical tool for modeling and teaching best practices.
Frequent coauthors
- 57 shared
Matthew Lee Smith
Texas A&M University
- 18 shared
Daniela B. Friedman
- 16 shared
SangNam Ahn
Texas A&M Health Science Center
- 14 shared
Ashley L. Merianos
- 14 shared
Marcia G. Ory
Texas A&M University
- 14 shared
Francine Parfitt
Mayo Clinic in Florida
- 14 shared
Andrea Tanner
University of South Carolina
- 14 shared
Floyd B. Willis
Mayo Clinic in Florida
Labs
Education
- 2015
DrPH, Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior
University of South Carolina
Awards & honors
- Dance Master Educator award for College/University from the…
- Dance Educator of the Year from the Texas Association for He…
- Honor Award from the TAHPERD for her choreographic and dance…
- Legacy award from NDS
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