Research

Department faculty are known for conducting rigorous transdisciplinary research that promotes the health of individuals and communities. Among their other projects, faculty have developed interventions that reduce teen dating violence (Foshee and colleagues), increase breast cancer screening rates among rural African American women (Earp and colleagues), and boost medication adherence by HIV-positive patients (Golin and colleagues). Many of our more than 20 faculty members design, implement, evaluate and disseminate theory-informed interventions that have an impact on the public’s health. Broad thematic research strengths include: Health communication (including e-health), risk perception, and decision-making; Understanding interpersonal, peer and other social factors that affect health behavior, for example how people with chronic conditions care for themselves; Engaging communities (including organizations, families, peers, patients and others) in conducting context-sensitive, culturally relevant research that illuminates mechanisms of change at all levels of the social-ecological framework. Our research takes place in many settings – churches, worksites, schools, even the Internet – and focuses on social and behavioral strategies for preventing or reducing morbidity and mortality.  We are especially interested in understanding how differences in access to opportunity (preventive health services, for example) result in health disparities among minority populations; and developing interventions to eliminate those disparities in opportunity and health. For more details about faculty research in Health Behavior and Health Education, visit: Faculty Research Interests Office of Research

Last updated February 19, 2008