Back to Dr. Koch's Home Page
                                                            Research

My research interests are generally related to the sociology of religion, medicine, and deviance.  Specifically, my work covers these basic topics:

        * Religion, substance use, deviance, and aggression.
        * Religion, health, and body art.
        * Clergy and congregational ministries to People With AIDS.
        * Alcohol and drug treatment industry.

I received my Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1994 and studied with Dr. James D. Davidson. 
Here is a link to a Purdue University story on Jim's retirement

Google Scholar Citation Count for this body of work.

                                                            Publications:
Research Monograph

Beckley, Robert E. and Jerome R. Koch. 2002. The Continuing Challenge of AIDS: Clergy Responses to Patients, Families, and Friends. Westport, CT: Auburn House. 
Read Chapter 2      Read Chapter 6

"This monograph makes an outstanding contribution to several types of literature:  sociology of religion, HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and perhaps even gender studies. ...  The reader is able to see beyond the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and observe it as a social phenomenon with broader implications."   J. Michael Cruz, in his review published in the Journal of Church and State, 2003, Volume 45 (3): 615-616.

Peer Reviewed Research - 36 journal articles; 2 book chapters:  (Click on titles to read full-text)

Koch, Jerome R., and Kevin D. Dougherty.  Forthcoming.  "Tattoos, Religiosity and Deviance among College Students."  Sociological Focus 56(3).  Read article

Koch, Jerome R., and Kevin D. Dougherty. 2023..  “The Religious Tattoo:  Much More Than Skin Deep.” In Marie W. Dallam and Benjamin Zeller (Eds.), pp. 165-189.  Religion, Attire, and Adornment in North America.  pp. 165-189.  New York:  Columbia University Press.  Marie Dallam and Ben Zeller, editors.  Read Chapter

Koch, Jerome R., Brandon G. Wagner, and Alden E. Roberts. 2021. “Christian universities as moral communities:  Drinking, sex, and drug use among university students in the United States.” 
The Social Science Journal. DOI: 10.1080/03623319.2021.1963108

Maloney, Patricia A., and Jerome R. Koch.  2020.  "The College Student's Religious Tattoo: Respect, Feverence, Remembrance."  Sociologival Focus 53(1): 53-66.

Dougherty, Kevin D., and Jerome R. Koch.  2019.  "Religious Tattoos at One Christian University."  Visual Studies. 

Koch, Jerome R., Myrna L. Armstrong, Christian Slavin, Alden E. Roberts, and Donna C. Owen.  2018. "Getting - and Getting Rid of - Tattoos."  International Journal of Contemporary Sociology 54(2): 137-152.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2015. "Tattoos, Gender, and Well-Being Among American College Students."  The Social Science Journal 52(4): 536-541

Armstrong, Myrna L., Jane Tustin, Donna C. Owen, Jerome R. Koch, and Alden E. Roberts.  2014. "Body Art Education:  The Earlier the Better."   Journal of School Nursing 30(1): 12-18.

Owen, Donna C., Myrna L. Armstrong, Jerome R. Koch, and Alden E. Roberts. 2013. "College Students With Body Art: Well Being or High Risk Behavior?"  Journal of Psychosocial Nursing 51(10): 20-28).

Koch, Jerome R., and Alden E. Roberts.  2012.  "The Protestant Ethic and the Religious Tattoo."  The Social Science Journal 49(2): 210-213.

Koch, Jerome R., and I. Luis Ramirez. 2010.  "Religiosity, Christian Fundamentalism, and Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. College Students."   Review of Religious Research 51(4): 402-410.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2010. "Body Art, Deviance, and American College Students."  Social Science Journal 47(1): 151-161. Watch a Video news report of this study.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E Roberts, Jana C. Saunders, Donna C. Owen, and Jerome R. Koch. 2009.  "Need for uniqueness in older women:  An exploratory look."  International Journal of Older People Nursing 4: 254-262.

Koch, Jerome R.  2008.  "Is Religion a Health Resource for the Poor?  Social Science Journal 45: 497-503.  

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E. Roberts, Jerome R. Koch, Jana C. Saunders, Donna C. Owen, and R. Rox Anderson. 2008.  "Motivation for Contemporary Tattoo Removal:  A Shift in Identity."  Archives of Dermatology 144 (7): 879-884.

Klein, Charles, Oscar Reyes, and Jerome R. Koch. 2007.  "A Service Learning Project Involving Multiple Service Projects Including the Mentoring of Younger At-Risk Youth."  NACTA Journal  51(4): 55-61  

Armstrong, Myrna L., Jerome R. Koch, Jana C. Saunders, Alden E. Roberts, and Donna C. Owen. 2007.  "The Hole Picture:  Risks, Decision Making, Purpose, Regulations, and the Future of Body Piercing."   Clinics in Dermatology  25(4): 398-406.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2007.  "Frequencies and relations of body piercing and sexual experience in college students."  Psychological Reports.  101: 159-162.    

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E. Roberts, Jerome R. Koch, Jana C. Saunders, and Donna C. Owen. 2007.   "Investigating the Removal of Body Piercings." Clinical Nursing Research 16: 103-118.

Roberts, Alden E., Jerome R. Koch, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2006.  "Correlates of Tattoos and Reference Groups."  Psychological Reports.  99:  933-934.

Koch, Jerome R., and Robert E. Beckley.  2006   "Under the Radar:  AIDS Ministry in the Bible Belt."   Review of Religious Research.  47: 393-408.

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2005.  "College students, tattoos, and sexual activity."  Psychological Reports. 97: 887-890.  

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Julie Harms Cannon, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2005. "College Students, Tattooing, and the Health Belief Model."  Sociological Spectrum 25: 79-102. 

Curry, Evans W., Jerome R. Koch, and H. Paul Chalfant.  2004.  "Concern for God and Concern for Society:  Religiosity and Social Justice."  Sociological Spectrum 24: 651-666.   

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen. 2004.  "Religious Belief and Practice in Attitudes Toward Individuals With Body Piercing."  Psychological Reports 95: 583-586.  

Koch, Jerome R., Alden E. Roberts, Myrna L. Armstrong, and Donna C. Owen.  2004.   "Correlations of religious belief and practice on college students' tattoo-related behavior."   Psychological Reports 94: 425-430  

Armstrong, Myrna L., Alden E. Roberts, Donna C. Owen, and Jerome R. Koch. 2004.  "Toward building a Composite of College Student Influences With Body Art."   Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing 27: 273-291.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Donna C. Owen, Alden E. Roberts, and Jerome R. Koch. 2004. "Contemporary College Students and Body Piercing"  Journal of Adolescent Health 35: 58-61.  

Koch, Jerome R., and Jean A. Lewis.  2002.  "Twenty Volumes of ATQ:  A Content Analysis."  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 20(3-4): 131-142.  Reprinted in T. F. McGovern and William L. White (Eds.), pp. 131-142. Alcohol Problems in the United States: Twenty Years of Treatment Perspectives. New York: The Haworth Press.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Donna C. Owen, Alden E. Roberts, and Jerome R. Koch. 2002. "College Students and Tattoos:  The Influence of Image, Identity, Family, and Friends"  The Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services 40(10): 20-29.

Armstrong, Myrna L., Donna C. Owen, Alden E. Roberts, and Jerome R. Koch. 2002.. "College Tattoos:  More Than Skin Deep."  Dermatology Nursing 14(5): 317-323. (Winner of the 2002 Annual Dermatology Nurses Writers Award).

Koch, Jerome R., and Julie D. Blanco. 2001. "Studying 'Alcohol, Drugs, and Society' from a Sociological Perspective ..."  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 19(4): 81-91.

Pyle, Ralph E., and Jerome R. Koch. 2001.  "The Religious Affiliations of American Elites, 1930s to 1990s: A Note on the Pace of Disestablishment."  Sociological Focus 34(2): 125-137.   

Roberts, Alden E., Jerome R. Koch, and D. Paul Johnson. 2001. "Reference Groups and Religion:  An Empirical Test."  Sociological Spectrum 21(1): 81-98.

Koch, Jerome R., and Evans W. Curry. 2000. "Social Context and the Presbyterian Gay/Lesbian Ordination Debate:  Testing Open-Systems Theory.  Review of Religious Research 42: 206-214.  

Davidson, James D. and Jerome R. Koch. 1998.  "Beyond Mutual and Public Benefits:  The Inward and Outward Orientations of Non-Profit Organizations."   In N. J. Demerath III, Peter Dobkin Hall, Terry Schmitt, and Rhys H. Williams (Eds.), pp. 292-306. Sacred Companies. New York: Oxford University Press.

Koch, Jerome R. and D. Paul Johnson. 1997. "The Ecumenical Outreach Coalition:  A Case Study of Converging Interests and Network Formation for Church and Community Cooperation."  Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 26(3):343-358.  

Ferraro, Kenneth F. and Jerome R. Koch. 1994.  "Religion and Health Among Black and White Adults:  Examining Social Support and Consolation."  Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 33(4): 362-375.