Mixed-reality technology may improve research on eating behaviors
Sep 1, 2023
In 2020, more than four-in-10 people in the United States had obesity, an increase from three-in-10 people in the year 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To better understand eating behaviors and food choices that may contribute to obesity, researchers investigate…News Topics: College of Health and Human DevelopmentNutrition
SSRI Welcomes Three New Co-Funded Faculty Members
Aug 9, 2023
The Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members to Penn State: Cleothia Frazier, asistant professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts. Frazier completed her Ph.D. in sociology at Vanderbilt University and MPH at Michigan State University. Prior to…
$4M NIH grant to fund 10 more years of daily stress research in national study
Aug 7, 2023
The National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE), a national study led by David Almeida, professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, has received an additional $4 million of funding from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. NSDE is part of…
Rate of Fatal Falls Among U.S. Seniors Doubled in 20 Years
May 16, 2023
By Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, May 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Older Americans are dying of falls at more than double the rate of 20 years ago -- with women, men and all racial groups showing increases, according to a new study. n 2020, the study found, just over 36,500 Americans age…
Self-monitoring physical activity matters, according to smartwatch study
Mar 7, 2023
By the start of 2023, hundreds of millions of fitness trackers like Fitbits or Apple Watches had been sold to people who wanted to become or remain healthy. Many consumers rely on the step counts and activity tracking provided by these devices to help them increase their physical activity levels.…
Demographers identify the causes, challenges of a rapidly aging Puerto Rico
Feb 8, 2023
The Puerto Rican population is aging rapidly, with the percentage of older adults on the island the 10th highest in the world. Penn State researchers are discovering, for the first time, the causes of population aging and how it will negatively impact Puerto Rico. Amílcar Matos-Moreno, postdoctoral…
Penn State establishes international center for co-parenting research
Feb 6, 2023
The arrival of a baby can bring tremendous joy — and stress — to new parents. Research in several countries has shown that new parents who learn teamwork skills are more likely to have supportive relationships that result in better physical and mental health, more sensitive and warm parenting…
Study finds that experiences of daily stress decrease as people age
Dec 1, 2022
Stories about how daily stress can negatively impact people’s lives, from physical health to mental and emotional well-being, are frequently in the media. But there is good news about the experience of daily stress as people age. Results from a recent research study led by David Almeida, professor…
Susan McHale retiring after 40 years of accomplished research and leadership
Aug 29, 2022
Susan McHale, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, is retiring after more than 40 years with Penn State. McHale joined the department in 1980. Her research has focused on family roles, relationships, and activities, and their links with youth…
Abenaa Jones named Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professor
Aug 4, 2022
Abenaa Jones, assistant professor of human development and family studies, has been named the Ann Atherton Hertzler Early Career Professor in Health and Human Development at Penn State. Jones works to find solutions to complex, real-world problems, including substance use disorders, social and…
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…
Venture Equity Project aims to remove barriers for entrepreneurs of color
Jul 15, 2022
Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development’s equity research was highlighted alongside other partners at Nasdaq MarketSite in NYC, the commercial marketing presence of the Nasdaq Stock Market in Times Square. Through a collaborative partnership with The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center,…
Program helps new parents build strong, loving bonds and teamwork skills
Jun 28, 2022
Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development, a scientific organization dedicated to evaluating programs designed to promote the well-being of youth, has recently designated Family Foundations as a "Certified Model Program." Family Foundations is an evidence-based program developed by Mark Feinberg,…
Helping babies to sleep more
Jun 23, 2022
Over the last decade, researchers and staff working on Penn State’s INSIGHT study have trained new mothers in skills that — among other things — help newborns sleep more during the night. New research from Penn State’s Center for Childhood Obesity Research (CCOR) shows that second children in these…
Sibling interactions impact child well-being in Latinx children
May 16, 2022
Most children in the U.S. grow up with siblings, yet the role of sibling relations in child development and well-being is relatively understudied, especially among families of color. Researchers at Penn State, Arizona State University, and Harvard are working together to study these dynamics in…
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,…
Penn State establishes the Geroscience and Dementia Prevention Consortium
Feb 23, 2022
There is growing evidence that cognitive decline and dementia can be slowed. According to a recent report commissioned by the Lancet, an estimated 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by targeting modifiable behavioral, physical health, and psychosocial risk factors. There are also…
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…
Penn State professor to serve President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition
Feb 1, 2022
David Conroy, professor of kinesiology at Penn State, was recently named to the 2022 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board. The board is charged with providing scientific expertise, supporting implementation of programs, and developing reports for the broader council…News Topics: KinesiologyCollege of Health and Human Development
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…
Peter Molenaar retiring after 17 years at Penn State
Dec 10, 2021
The College of Health and Human Development celebrates Peter Molenaar, who is retiring at the end of the fall 2021 semester. Peter, a remarkable scholar, teacher, mentor, and friend, joined the faculty of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in 2005, coming from the University of…
Taking steps toward more effective fitness trackers, more physical activity
Oct 11, 2021
As the popularity of fitness trackers has increased, so have the opportunities to use such devices to not only track fitness goals but also increase the motivation to meet those goals. Researchers in the College of Engineering and the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State have…News Topics: KinesiologyCollege of Health and Human Development
Gatzke-Kopp featured on parenting podcast
Sep 27, 2021
SSRI cofund Lisa Gatzke-Kopp was recently interviewed on the Evolutionary Parenting Podcast to explore the issue of how parents can help their child’s emotion regulation development. She shares her research on the synchrony between parent and child from parenting in infancy.
Schmitt Russell Research Lecture to focus on effects of daily stress
Sep 16, 2021
David Almeida, professor of human development and family studies and a faculty member with the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State, will deliver the Pauline Schmitt Russell Research Lecture, “Health as a Daily Experience: Lessons from 42,243 Days of U.S. Adults,” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 …