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 …
HHD Dean's Lecture Series special event to focus on vaccine hesitancy
Sep 8, 2021
The College of Health and Human Development Dean’s Lecture Series will host a special event focused on vaccine hesitancy. Delivered by Daniel Salmon, professor of international health and health, behavior and society and director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University's…News Topics: College of Health and Human DevelopmentCOVID-19
Closeness with dads may play special role in how kids weather adolescence
Aug 3, 2021
Adolescence can be an emotionally turbulent time, but new research at Penn State found that close, supportive relationships with parents — especially dads — at key points during adolescence can help stave off certain adjustment problems. The researchers examined how emotionally close and supportive…
Hydration can impact pregnancy and birth outcomes
Jul 12, 2021
Water needs increase during pregnancy to support fetal development and maternal health, however little is known about the relationship between hydration status and outcomes on both mother and child. A Penn State study recently examined the hydration status of pregnant women, the impact of a…
Penn State researchers are developing app to promote family well-being
Jun 23, 2021
The middle-school years mark a time of rapid change for pre-teens and teens, as well as for their parents. As adolescents seek greater independence, it can be challenging for their parents to connect with and guide them. Penn State researchers, with funding from the Mental Research Institute, are…