Social and Behavioral Sciences Make an Impact at APHA Annual Meeting

Over 20 representatives from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Program attended the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo in Atlanta, Georgia in early November. SBS MPH students presented their research with posters and oral presentations including topics on mobile apps use in occupational therapy; decision-making around food; disabilities and social media; eating disorders; weight loss; social media disabilities support groups; and LGBT-inclusive obstetrics and nursing support education. The SBS program is extremely proud of their faculty, students, and alumni and the research they presented at this conference.

Presentations-

  • Dr. Mark Hart – “Evaluating the quality of mobile apps primarily used by occupational therapists to improve fine motor, spatial reasoning and cognitive functioning skills.”
  • Dr. Elizabeth Wood – “Household decision-making around food in rural Tajikistan.”
  • Maria Aguirre – “Disabilities and social media: How forums and chat rooms are being used for information sharing and community support.”
  • Aviva Ariel-Donges – “Characterizing the unique effects of BMI, depression, and disordered eating on body image dissatisfaction in college-aged women.”
  • Karishma Chhabria – “Fear of treatment related side-effects in head and neck cancer patients.”
  • Brittney Dixon – “Social support, weight control strategies, & weight loss.”
  • Kanathy Haney – “Twitter and the Baylor rape cases: How social media reflects attitudes toward sexual assault and rape in society” and “How body image affects the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms.”
  • Alexis Jennings and Jazmine Quintana – “Social media disabilities support groups: Qualitatively analyzing the communication interchange of individuals with disabilities utilizing Facebook as a medium.”
  • Lindsey King – “Utilization of social network analysis to implement a trauma-informed, resilient community,” “Evaluation of the first trauma-informed community in the U.S.,” and “A geospatial analysis of trauma and community resources in Tarpon Springs, FL.”
  • Esther Piervil – “Thematic analysis of Black men’s perceptions of their spouses, partners, and significant others’ role as informal CaP caregivers and overall influence on family health.”
  • Caroline Valencia – “Evaluating the Quality of Alcohol Apps.”
  • Kelli Selwyn – “Project L.I.O.N.S.: LGBT-inclusive obstetrics and nursing support education to assist providers in empowering their clients.”