New EIC podcast on chronic diseases
Jan 5, 2023
Our first episode of 2023 tackles a fascinating combination of topics involving the impact, prevention, and treatment of chronic diseases through state and local government programs. We spoke to Lindsay Fernández-Rhodes, assistant professor of biobehavioral health and the director of Epidemiology…
SSRI cofund aims to protect farmworkers from hazards in the field
Dec 1, 2022
An estimated 73% of farmworkers in the United States were born outside the country, and nearly half have no legal immigration status, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Amy Snipes, associate professor of biobehavioral health and SSRI cofunded faculty member, has spent years…
Penn State funds study of student mental health, well-being for five more years
Aug 15, 2022
The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of college students nationwide, according to recent studies. To better serve its own students, Penn State recently funded a five-year extension of a study with researchers at the University to gain further insight into its students…
Insecure: New study links tap water avoidance and food insecurity
Aug 4, 2022
Many Americans take tap water for granted. Water bills are often less expensive compared to people’s other bills, and tap water has been a part of most Americans’ lives since they were born. For nearly 61 million Americans, however, tap water is either unavailable or untrusted. New research from…
Healthy sleep habits before kindergarten help children adjust to school
Jul 25, 2022
The transition to kindergarten is a notable milestone for children and families, who typically prepare by gathering school supplies and meeting the teacher. New research suggests that one important way to prepare for the transition to first-time schooling is to develop a bedtime routine in which…
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's Dr. Frances Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship RFA deadline Sept. 9
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…