People Just Need More Money: The Role of Disposable Income as a Key Moderator of Heart Rate Variability Among Risk Factors in Adolescents from Low-Income Households in Colombia, Nepal, and South Africa Claire Tait-Doak 2617797 Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam P_BTHESEGHG - B-thesis Genes, Cognition and Behaviour Dr. Martin Gevonden August 14th, 2025 Word Count: 5939 Abstract IntroductionThe global burden of depression is a leading cause of disability, yet diagnosis and treatment remain difficult. Paradigms are shifting from purely medicalised models toward understanding genes, risk factors, and physiology in depression. This study examined psychosocial risk exposures and heart rate variability (HRV) in adolescents from low-income countries, and how effects differ between those with and without depression. MethodA sample of 1,107 participants aged 13-15 from Colombia, Nepal, and South Africa completed psychometric tests (MMAP, IDEA-RS) to identify risk factors of abuse (A) and volatile parental/caregiver relationships (PR).…...

Not There Yet: Disability and the Illusion of Inclusion in Higher EducationClaire Tait-DoakVrije Universiteit AmsterdamJune 29, 2026 Today we live in an era where the topic of inclusion seems to be everywhere. However, it is often emphasised by practitioners, scholars, and those within marginalised communities themselves that discourse around inclusion does not necessarily translate to comprehension and practice of inclusion. In higher education especially, the prospect of inclusivity and diversity is seen as a hallmark of progressiveness and enlightenment (Barnes, 2007), but in practice, good intentions and inclusivity programmes often don’t translate to success for disabled students as hoped (HOP Translation Taalcentrum-VU, 2022). Solving the problem of disproportionate difficulty and poorer outcomes for disabled versus non-disabled students is a matter of closing the gap between what we think inclusivity is and what it really looks like. One of the most common hurdles to broad scale inclusion is challenging the misconception…...