Depression in fathers and children linked, regardless of genetic relatedness
Jun 27, 2022
Adolescent depression and behavior problems are on the rise due to many factors, but parental depression is contributing to the increase in their children regardless of whether they are genetically related, say researchers from Penn State and Michigan State. The work appears in the Cambridge…
SSRI opens Dr. Frances Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship RFA
Jun 27, 2022
The Social Science Research Institute’s Dr. Frances Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship provides supplemental funding to social and behavioral science faculty members in the interdisciplinary fields of psychological and brain science whose research is focused on relationships between the…
Skin cancer interventions affect sun-safety attitudes
May 10, 2022
More people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. than many other cancers combined, and it is one of the most common cancers among young women. Penn State researchers are testing social media interventions aimed at this demographic to encourage them to avoid UV exposure. “Social media often…
Strong Penn State representation highlight of recent SBM meeting
Apr 20, 2022
Several Penn State researchers participated in the Society of Behavioral Medicine 43rd Annual Meeting, held recently in Baltimore. The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) is a non-profit organization that brings together multiple independent disciplines – from nursing, psychology, and medicine to…
New funding will continue research to address Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Apr 20, 2022
Researchers on the Einstein Aging Study work to better understand cognitive aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and related dementias. A new $32 million grant from the National Institute on Aging will allow an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Penn State, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine,…
Positive parenting can reduce the risk that children develop obesity
Feb 21, 2022
New research from Penn State found that children with positive, early interactions with their care givers — characterized by warmth, responsiveness, and a sitmulating home environment — were at reduced risk of childhood obesity. “A lot of the discussion around childhood obesity and other health…
Can wearable technology predict the negative consequences of drinking?
Jan 27, 2022
“How much have you had to drink?” might seem like a simple question, but it is not always easy to answer. Although there are general guidelines about responsible alcohol consumption, a person’s level of intoxication depends not only on the number of drinks they consume but also on the alcohol…
Authenticity in the USA: How Springsteen's music stayed true through the years
Aug 18, 2021
Bruce Springsteen has made a long career singing about his blue-collar, working class roots. But despite reaching super stardom since releasing his first album in the 1970s, a recent analysis found that Springsteen’s music has stayed “authentic” over time. The study’s researchers examined the…News Topics: Biobehavioral Health
Flood Risk is Higher in Rural and Disadvantaged Communities
Jul 19, 2021
A joint research brief by Penn State's Danielle Rhubert, assistant professor of biobehavioral health and Population Research Institute associate, and Yu Sun, Ph.D. candidate in sociology at Syracuse University, addresses how flood risk varies across places with different demographic and social…
E-cigarettes with cigarette-like nicotine delivery reduce exposure to carcinogen
Apr 13, 2021
E-cigarettes that deliver a cigarette-like amount of nicotine are associated with reduced smoking and reduced exposure to a major cancer-causing chemical, or carcinogen, in tobacco even with concurrent smoking, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and…
Penn State faculty offer tips on avoiding burnout amid pandemic
Apr 7, 2021
As employees and students of Penn State face the uncertain circumstances of the pandemic, University faculty offer advice on how to avoid burnout or, if you are already feeling sapped of energy and interest -- how to recover. According to the World Health Organization, burnout is an occupational…
Local law-enforcement policy may affect pediatric health care
Mar 22, 2021
Local law-enforcement of immigration policy may affect preventable hospitalization rates for children, according to new research led by a Penn State investigator. “This research shows that there is an association between these policies and the health of the entire community’s children,” said…
Buxton recognized with endowed appointment
Jan 12, 2021
SSRI cofund Orfeu M. Buxton, professor of biobehavioral health, was named the inaugural holder of the Elizabeth Fenton Susman Professorship in Biobehavioral Health in the College of Health and Human Development. Buxton's research focuses on the causes of chronic sleep deficiency in the workplace,…
Impacts of the coronavirus on social justice
Sep 16, 2020
Although disparities in resource distribution have always run deep across our communities, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and further exacerbated these inequities. Rates of infection are higher in lower income and more populated areas, increasing the contagion risk. The current crisis is a giant…
Think pink: Getting a good night's sleep in difficult times
Jul 7, 2020
White noise is a popular solution for drowning out unwanted sounds, but there is actually an entire rainbow of sounds. New research from Penn State suggests that "pink noise" might enhance the quality of a person’s sleep. According to research, Americans sleep an hour less each night than they did…News Topics: Biobehavioral HealthSleep
Stuck at Home (Together)
Apr 5, 2020
The Foundation for Art & Healing’s campaign to foster and maintain social connectivity during periods of COVID-19 related physical isolation To address emotional distress caused by the unprecedented public health demands to establish physical isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,…News Topics: COVID-19Biobehavioral Health
Health services and programs being used by post-9/11 veterans
Mar 26, 2020
Providing quality healthcare to veterans with mental health issues is complex, especially given that there are some delays in receiving care from the VA system and veterans have a wider choice of healthcare options under the Veterans Choice Act/Veteran Community Care program. A recent study asked…
New study identifies which veterans are using programs to gain employment
Mar 23, 2020
Compared to veterans of other wars, those who have served since 9/11 have the highest unemployment rate, particularly among young male veterans. Within the first three months of disconnecting from active duty service, more than half of post-9/11 veterans reported using at least one program designed…
Hydration may affect cognitive function in some older adults
Dec 17, 2019
Not getting enough water is enough to make you feel sluggish and give you a headache, but a new Penn State study suggests it may also relate to cognitive performance. The researchers investigated whether hydration levels and water intake among older adults was related with their scores on several…
College students may get health benefits from less than one extra hour of sleep
Nov 20, 2019
College life can be rigorous and exhausting, but new research suggests that just one extra hour of sleep a night is not only possible, but can also have significant health benefits for college students. In a study led by Penn State, researchers found that when asked to extend their sleep, college…
Symposium focuses on families and food, honors late colleague Leann Birch
Nov 19, 2019
The late Leann Birch, a former Penn State distinguished professor of human development and family studies and former director of the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, was honored at the 27th Annual National Symposium on Family issues, held recently at…
Sexual minorities continue to face discrimination, despite increasing support
Nov 15, 2019
Despite increasing support for the rights of people in the LGBTQ+ community, discrimination remains a critical and ongoing issue for this population, according to researchers. In a recent study, researchers found that adults who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual — as well as people who…
Professor awarded NSF grant for research in water security in Kenya
Nov 8, 2019
Asher Rosinger, assistant professor of biobehavioral health and anthropology and Ann Hertzler Early Career Professor in Global Health, was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant allowing him to further his research in water and its impact on health and well-being. Rosinger and…
Penn State research informs PA report on school start times
Oct 17, 2019
Later school start times improve educational and health outcomes by giving students more sleep, according to a new reportfrom the Pennsylvania Joint State Commission on School Start Times, released today (Oct. 17). Orfeu Buxton, professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State, was asked to serve on…
Sleep deprivation may lead to slower metabolism, weight gain
Sep 22, 2019
Restricting sleep for just several days alters how we metabolize fats and changes how satisfied we are by a meal, according to new research conducted at Penn State and published in the Journal of Lipid Research. According to Orfeu Buxton, researcher on the project and professor of biobehavioral…