Current ProjectsThese are lab wide projects that all graduate students contribute to.
Exploring Eating Attitudes and Health
This study aims to examine factors related to eating and health-related habits (e.g., emotional eating, stress, body image) in college-age students. In this study we are interested in exploring risk (e.g., perceived stress) and protective (e.g., self-compassion, mindfulness) factors that may be relevant to understanding eating and health among college students. Parental Attitudes Toward Child's Health (PATCH) This study examines parental factors that are related to their own eating and health-related habits, as well as their child’s eating and health-related habits. In particular, this study explores whether intrapersonal factors (e.g., self-compassion) or interpersonal factors (e.g., communication) affect child health. This study recruited parents of children ages 7-17 years old. Healthy Eating, Activity, and Reduction of Teen Stress (HEARTS) Program This program will include 12 weekly, 60-minute group based sessions. Parents will be asked to join 3 times (at the first, middle, and last session). The HEARTS program focuses on healthy weight management plus stress reduction. Teens will learn about and set goals related to healthy eating and physical activity. Teens will also learn strategies to reach their goals (e.g., problem solving, self-monitoring). Sessions will include education about stress, emotional eating, and how to reduce stress. Teens will learn relaxation and mindfulness exercises. Teens will be asked to track their eating, activity, and mindfulness exercises at home. Teens and/or parents will receive text message reminders ~3 times per week to complete at-home exercises. This research is supported by an R21 award to Dr. Sato from the National Institutes of Child health and Human Development (NICHD; 1R21HD095099-01A1; 1/17/2019 - 12/31/2020). HOW (Healthy Outcomes of Weight Management) Study In collaboration with Akron Children's Hospital, this study aims to examine physical (e.g. metabolic functioning) and psychosocial (e.g. perceived stress) predictors of health outcomes among children (2-18) participating in an interdisciplinary pediatric weight management treatment. This is a longitudinal study that is collecting parent and child data throughout treatment. |
Student-Led ProjectsThese are graduate-student driven projects.
Emotions and Moods of Teen Eating Study - Dissertation Study This dissertation study involves a collaboration with the Eating Disorders Program at Akron Children's Hospital. This study aims to explore psychosocial, emotional, and family level predictors and correlates of disordered eating symptoms in adolescents. This study includes ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to examine the relationship between emotion-related processes and disordered eating behaviors. Child Feeding Behaviors Study - Dissertation Project In collaboration with the Feeding Disorders Program of Akron Children's Hospital, this dissertation project utilizes data from a larger, retrospective study examining child, parent, and family factors' influence on child feeding difficulties. The dissertation project aims to elucidate associations among symptom presentation, weight presentation, and problematic mealtime behaviors in children diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) through the Feeding Disorders Program. |
Previous Projects
Health and Teen Stress (HATS) Project
Stress-related activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and resulting elevations in the stress hormone cortisol play a critical role in stress-induced eating, which may be a critical risk factor for the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study adopted a novel approach to understanding stress-induced eating in low- income adolescents who are at increased risk for obesity and face high-stress environments associated with poverty by examining how emotional eating interacts with cortisol stress reactivity to influence objective energy intake following stress in obese and lean low-income adolescents. Results from this study are being used to identify a sub-group of low-income adolescents who are at heightened risk for obesity and to inform the development of therapeutic interventions to decrease stress-induced eating as part of obesity prevention and intervention in low-income adolescents. This research was funded by an R03 award to Dr. Sato from the National Institutes of Child health and Human Development (NICHD; 1R03HD079509-01, 06/01/2014 - 05/31/2016, NCE period 06/01/2016 - 05/31/2018).
Adolescent Stress and Health (ASH) Project
Pediatric obesity is a public health epidemic. Approximately 32% of US children and adolescents are currently either overweight or obese, and low-income youth are at even greater risk (Ogden et al., 2010). Adolescent obesity increases the risk for chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease and metabolic problems) and poor psychosocial outcomes (e.g., poor quality of life and low self-esteem) (Israel & Ivanova, 2002; Weiss et al., 2004). Furthermore, obesity may reduce overall adult life expectancy (Fontaine et al., 2003).
This study will examine contributors to obesity risk in low-income adolescents by examining the effects of stress on health in adolescents from low-income families. We will be examining the similarities and differences between adolescents who are overweight and those who are not overweight. We are interested in learning about how stress influences adolescents’ health-related habits, including their eating habits, and about the influence of various aspects of the family environment. We are also interested in collecting adolescents’ saliva to measure changes in chemicals (e.g., the stress hormone cortisol) present in adolescents’ bodies when they complete different kinds of challenging tasks. For this study we are recruiting adolescents and their parents/caregivers. This study represents a collaboration between the Department of Psychology at Kent State University and the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Akron Children's Hospital.
Pediatric Obesity Project (POP)
This research was conducted in collaboration with the Pediatric Weight Management Program at Akron Children’s Hospital. This project focused on examining the psychosocial (e.g., mental health, stress, family characteristics) and medical aspects of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents who were referred to the Pediatric Weight Management Program at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Late Adolescent Weight Gain in College Freshmen
The goal of this research study is to examine contributors to weight gain and obesity risk among late adolescents during the transition to college. The transition to college has been pegged as a high-risk time for weight gain. The freshman year is the time when students purportedly gain the “freshman 15”, a fifteen pound weight gain stemming from the transitions and large-scale changes for students entering university (Holm-Denoma et al., 2008; Vella-Zarb & Elgar, 2009). Researchers hypothesize reasons for this weight gain, including increased stress and reduced physical activity, and it is through the evaluation of stress management and lifestyle choices that we hope to better understand specific variables that are linked to this weight gain. This study aims to better understand the role of variables such as stress, eating patterns, self-concept, social support, physical activity and academic performance. Participants will be examined at four different time points throughout their freshman year of college: beginning of the first semester, end of the first semester, beginning of the second semester, and end of the second semester.
Stress-related activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and resulting elevations in the stress hormone cortisol play a critical role in stress-induced eating, which may be a critical risk factor for the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study adopted a novel approach to understanding stress-induced eating in low- income adolescents who are at increased risk for obesity and face high-stress environments associated with poverty by examining how emotional eating interacts with cortisol stress reactivity to influence objective energy intake following stress in obese and lean low-income adolescents. Results from this study are being used to identify a sub-group of low-income adolescents who are at heightened risk for obesity and to inform the development of therapeutic interventions to decrease stress-induced eating as part of obesity prevention and intervention in low-income adolescents. This research was funded by an R03 award to Dr. Sato from the National Institutes of Child health and Human Development (NICHD; 1R03HD079509-01, 06/01/2014 - 05/31/2016, NCE period 06/01/2016 - 05/31/2018).
Adolescent Stress and Health (ASH) Project
Pediatric obesity is a public health epidemic. Approximately 32% of US children and adolescents are currently either overweight or obese, and low-income youth are at even greater risk (Ogden et al., 2010). Adolescent obesity increases the risk for chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease and metabolic problems) and poor psychosocial outcomes (e.g., poor quality of life and low self-esteem) (Israel & Ivanova, 2002; Weiss et al., 2004). Furthermore, obesity may reduce overall adult life expectancy (Fontaine et al., 2003).
This study will examine contributors to obesity risk in low-income adolescents by examining the effects of stress on health in adolescents from low-income families. We will be examining the similarities and differences between adolescents who are overweight and those who are not overweight. We are interested in learning about how stress influences adolescents’ health-related habits, including their eating habits, and about the influence of various aspects of the family environment. We are also interested in collecting adolescents’ saliva to measure changes in chemicals (e.g., the stress hormone cortisol) present in adolescents’ bodies when they complete different kinds of challenging tasks. For this study we are recruiting adolescents and their parents/caregivers. This study represents a collaboration between the Department of Psychology at Kent State University and the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Akron Children's Hospital.
Pediatric Obesity Project (POP)
This research was conducted in collaboration with the Pediatric Weight Management Program at Akron Children’s Hospital. This project focused on examining the psychosocial (e.g., mental health, stress, family characteristics) and medical aspects of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents who were referred to the Pediatric Weight Management Program at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Late Adolescent Weight Gain in College Freshmen
The goal of this research study is to examine contributors to weight gain and obesity risk among late adolescents during the transition to college. The transition to college has been pegged as a high-risk time for weight gain. The freshman year is the time when students purportedly gain the “freshman 15”, a fifteen pound weight gain stemming from the transitions and large-scale changes for students entering university (Holm-Denoma et al., 2008; Vella-Zarb & Elgar, 2009). Researchers hypothesize reasons for this weight gain, including increased stress and reduced physical activity, and it is through the evaluation of stress management and lifestyle choices that we hope to better understand specific variables that are linked to this weight gain. This study aims to better understand the role of variables such as stress, eating patterns, self-concept, social support, physical activity and academic performance. Participants will be examined at four different time points throughout their freshman year of college: beginning of the first semester, end of the first semester, beginning of the second semester, and end of the second semester.