Research Overview
Many debilitating conditions of adulthood begin through behavioral habits developed during childhood, especially behaviors around nutrition, eating and physical activity.
The research within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology focuses on the interactions of behavior with biology and the environment and applying that knowledge to improve health and well being of children and their families. Our researchers are examining the impact of the environment on physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight. We are also interested in the special problems that confront children and adolescents who are overweight, and we are interested in finding better interventions for treating and preventing obesity in children and adolescents and thereby preventing adult obesity. (See lab pages for Scott Powers, PhD and Meg Zeller, PhD).
Improving the health outcomes of children with chronic illness is also a major focus of researchers within the division as we seek novel therapies to improve nutritional status of children with cystic fibrosis through behavior therapy. We are also interested in optimizing bone health through better nutrition such as our studies on calcium and bone mass in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. We are also seeking to understand the interrelationship between nutritional status and positive mental and behavioral health in children with sickle cell disease. (See lab pages for Scott Powers, PhD, Monica Mitchell, PhD and Lori Stark, PhD).
Understanding the outcomes of medical treatments and medical conditions is also an important area within neuropsycholgy. Studies in this area focus on understanding the challenges that child with traumatic brain injury and those exposed to environmental toxicants face, and the neuropsychological effects of sleep apnea and treatments for brain tumors. (See lab pages for Dean Beebe, PhD and Nicolay Chertkoff-Walz, PhD).
Finally, we are also dedicated to understanding the effects of early negative childhood experiences on later outcomes such as abuse and neglect and its impact on childbirth, teen pregnancy, and parenting. We are also interested in the positive effects of intervention with maternal depression on child outcomes. (See lab pages for Robert Ammerman, PhD, ABPP, and Jennie Noll PhD).
