Engaging Cornell students to study adolescent sexual health in the digital age

Janis Whitlock and Jane Powers

BCTR researchers Janis Whitlock (director, Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery) and Jane Powers (director, ACT for Youth) have joined forces to study how technology impacts teen sexual behavior. Their project Adolescent Sexual Health in the Digital Age explores youth and “technology-mediated sexual activity” (TMSA): how young people engage in sexually explicit activities through digital technologies, such as online pornography, sexting, and hook up apps. The work is supported by a recently-awarded Hatch grant.

As a starting point, Whitlock and Powers surveyed youth service providers, sex educators, and parents to assess their overall level of awareness and concern about TMSA, and to capture what these individuals have been observing among the youth with whom they interact.

To learn directly from young people themselves, the researchers enlisted the help of undergraduates. In collaboration with Professor Kelly Musick and students in her Research Design, Practice and Policy class (PAM 3120) Whitlock and Powers launched a semester-long project to develop a survey that could be used to explore TMSA among college students. Class members first participated in focus groups led by members of the ACT for Youth evaluation team, research assistants in the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery lab, and Callie Silver (HD ’16), a Cooperative Extension intern and core research assistant for the project. The focus groups prompted students to discuss how they think their peers navigate sex in this new digital landscape. The students then learned how to code the focus group transcripts and generate themes to develop a college survey. Once the survey was developed, students conducted a pilot study, generating approximately 400 responses. Finally, the class presented their findings as well as their recommendations for revisions to the survey.

In this mutually rewarding project, students learned about research methods through a real- world project, and in turn their work provided BCTR researchers with essential information that will be incorporated into an NIH proposal to further examine this understudied, but important, topic.

Congrats to the 2015-16 Kendal Scholarship awardees

This year the BCTR awarded Kendal at Ithaca Scholarships, recognizing excellent student work in the field of gerontology, to Sylvia Lee, a sophomore in Human Biology, Health, and Society, and Arwah Yaqub, a senior in Near Eastern Studies.

Sylvia Lee

"I am so excited and grateful to receive the scholarship. Whether I become a doctor or a researcher in the future, my dream is to help elders who suffer from chronic pain. Gerontology minor has offered me a new perspective on what my role at Cornell is and can be - I’m reminded that I’m not just a distressed pre-med student, who simply works towards becoming this person in the future, but that I’m given this opportunity to start living out my visions now, here on campus."

Beyond her coursework in gerontology, Sylvia worked in Nathan Spreng’s Laboratory of Brain and Cognition in the Department of Human Development throughout her freshmen year. There she focused on analyzing and collecting research participants’ memory and cognitive data by transcribing and conducting analysis on recalled autobiographical memories during fMRI tests. This fall semester, Sylvia began work in Corinna Loeckenhoff’s Laboratory for Healthy Aging, also in the Department of Human Development.

She recently joined Alzheimer’s Help and Awareness, a student-run organization, and received training to volunteer at Clare Bridge, a Brookdale Senior Living community that serves special-care needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Sylvia specifically has an interest in the study of neurodegenerative diseases and chronic pain in elders. She plans to pursue a career in medicine and research. Her current interest lies mostly in the molecular and neurobiological processes that underlie the causes of chronic pain in elders and how chronic pain is treated, cared for, and managed by healthcare providers and families.

Arwah Yaqub

"The Kendal Scholarship is a gracious opportunity that has helped nurture my passion for gerontology. The kind spirit and vision at the core of this award has been pivotal in helping me integrate other disciplines of study, most of which I initially believed were incongruous with the field. [the donor's] commitment to an education that elucidates the cultural, biological, and economic implications of gerontology, as well as experiential learning, is inspirational, to say the least."

Last year, Arwah served as a volunteer for MEDART, a committee associated with Cornell’s MEDLIFE student chapter. Through this committee, she provided company to residents of Ithaca’s Beechtree Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Many of these residents are sensory impaired, her group designed simple, weekly art projects to do with residents. Joining the Alzheimer’s Help and Awareness Club at Cornell also helped fortify Arwah's passion for gerontology.

Arwah joined Corinna Loeckenhoff's Healthy Aging Lab over a year ago. The lab research aims to better understand age differences in social relations, personality traits, and emotional experiences and to unravel the effects of these three factors in health-related behaviors and outcomes.

As an aspiring physician, she believes that an understanding of aging across the lifespan is indispensable to the profession.

The Kendal at Ithaca Scholarship

To foster a closer tie between Cornell and Kendal at Ithaca, the nearby continuing care retirement community, an anonymous Cornell alumnus and Kendal resident established a Kendal at Ithaca Scholarship in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research.

Each year, the Kendal scholarship award goes to an undergraduate or graduate student interested in gerontology. Preference is given to a student who has some hands-on experience and is anticipating a career in the field.

The donor, who built a career in the corporate world after graduating from Cornell in the 1940s, wished to remain anonymous so that the focus of the scholarship is on the Kendal/Cornell connection. The donor pointed out that “creating a closer link between the two generations of Kendal and Cornell means more students have a chance to learn about the colorful, interesting lives and careers of retirees, and more residents have an opportunity to better understand students of today – their hopes, thoughts, and dreams. Greater involvement will be very stimulating for both.”

CRPSIR research assistant graduates with honors

Kemar Prussien, who has worked with Janis Whitlock in the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery (CRPSIR) for the last two years, graduated with honors in psychology this year. While her main interest is in sickle cell anemia, seeing Dr. Whitlock speak during a class earlier in her Cornell career led her to pursue working with CRPSIR. During her time as a research assistant in the BCTR she pursued her interest in psychological processes related to stress and challenging health conditions - for the individual who is experiencing the stress and his or her family.

Working with CRPSIR was so influential an experience that she chose to write her honors thesis on a self-injury topic: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Self-Worth: Psychosocial Influences on the Relationship between Threats to Self-Worth and NSSI. She also co-authored a paper during her time in the BCTR, Predictors of Self-Injury Cessation and Subsequent Psychological Growth: Results of a Probability Sample Survey of Students in Eight Universities and Colleges.

Next Kemar is off to study with Dr. Bruce Compas, a leading sickle cell anemia scholar, at Vanderbilt University.

2015 BCTR Student Showcase highlights undergrad work

Lauren Aronson, Olivia Eilers, Néthan Reddy, Kemar Prussien, Kate Goldberg, Rachel Cooper, Elenore Grant, Bridgette Aumand, Michelle Jeffers, and Margaret Fleming

On Friday, May 1 students from the BCTR presented summaries of their work at the 4th annual BCTR student showcase. A total of 10 students, representing The Cornell Research Program on Self Injury and Recovery, the Superstar Practitioner Project, and ACT for Youth, demonstrated knowledge and skills gained through their research experiences. Presentation topics ranged from assessing the needs and resources of independently living youth in Tompkins County to the production of an info-graphic on mental health issues designed for dissemination via social media.

ACT for Youth students Kate Goldberg and Rachel Cooper presented their poster on the evaluation of evidence-based sexual education programs, which was awarded “Best Social Science/Design/Humanities Poster” at the annual Cornell Undergraduate Research Board’s spring forum. Kemar Prussien presented findings from her honors research project on the intersection of non-suicidal self-injury and perceptions of self-worth. Kemar graduates with honors from the psychology department this month.

One of the most impressive aspects of each year’s showcase was its demonstration of  how unique and diverse each student’s experience can be, even when working within the same project. The evidence of this breadth of experience in undergraduate research opportunities at the BCTR made for an engaging afternoon for the students and the showcase attendees.

Full Program:

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Self-Worth: Influences on Engagement and NSSI Characteristics
Kemar Prussien, Psych ‘15
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

Independent Living Survey 2015: Continuing our Understanding of Independently Living Youth in Tompkins County
Olivia Eilers, HD ‘15
ACT for Youth

Mental Health and Social Media Outreach
Michelle Jeffers, Psych ‘15
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

Perceptions of Practitioners and Supervisors on Facilitating Client Engagement: The Superstar Practitioner Project
Bridgette Aumand, HD ‘15
Elenore Grant, HD ‘16
Superstar Practitioner Project

Social Media and Self Injury in Adolescence
Néthan Reddy, Bio ‘18
Michelle Jeffers, Psych ‘15
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Evidence-based Sexual Education Programs
Rachel Cooper, HD ‘17
Kate Goldberg, HD ‘17
ACT for Youth

Childhood versus Adolescent Victimization and Self-Injury: A Research Project
Margaret Fleming, Psych ‘15
Lauren Aronson, HD ‘17
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

2015 BCTR Student Showcase, Friday, May 1, 2015

2015 BCTR Student Showcase

Friday, May 1, 2015
1:30-3:30PM
Beebe Hall, 2nd floor conference room

The BCTR offers students across campus the opportunity to learn about and participate in community outreach, research techniques, data collection, and analysis as research assistants in many of the center's projects. At the student showcase some current BCTR students will showcase their work with the BCTR.

This event is open to all. Refreshments will be served.

CCE Summer Interns present their research findings

Katrina Simon next to her poster on her research with 4-H

This year's Cornell Cooperative Extension Summer Interns presented on their summer research on October 7th. Included in the group were four students who worked with BCTR researchers (listed below). This year each student gave a condensed one-minute presentation on their work. Presentations were followed by a poster session/reception where students could talk to attendees about their research.

Each year the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Summer Internship Program connects undergraduates with faculty research projects, helping Cornell fulfill its land grant mission by engaging students in outreach. From research to education and program development, interns are involved in a wide spectrum of activities which they document by blogging.

This year's BCTR-connected projects, which collectively reached eight counties:

Building a Community Legacy Together Program Evaluation
Faculty: Karl Pillemer
Location: CCE Orange County and CCE Genesee County
Student blog by Masrai Williams

Parent Education in New York City: The Parenting A Second Time Around (PASTA) Project
Faculty: Rachel Dunifon
Location: CCE New York City
Student blog by Paisley Marie Terenzi

Refugee Family Child Care Provider Project
Faculty: John Eckenrode with Lisa McCabe
Location: CCE Madison-Oneida County
Student blog by Emily Nina Satinsky

Research for the Continuous Improvement of 4-H
Faculty: Stephen Hamilton
Location: Erie (base), Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming Counties
Student blog by Katrina Simon

Cooperative Extension interns report on statewide research - Cornell Chronicle

Iscol Summer Scholars help organize Brooklyn health fair

Iscol Scholars Ovais Tahir and David Cheng

This summer the Iscol Summer Scholars, participants in the Cornell Urban Semester Summer in NYC, hosted a health fair, Take Control of Your Health,  in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. Over 200 attending families received health tests including blood pressure, cholesterol and asthma screenings, BMI measurements, and got information on colon and breast cancer. In addition to health tests, families were able to meet privately with a medical doctor to review their health status and receive recommendations for healthier living.

Along with 60 Urban Semester students, the four Iscol Scholars (Deanna Blansky, David Cheng, Jessica Park, and Ovais Tahir) planned the health fair, with tasks ranging from coordinating staffing, supplying food and decorations, meeting with Woodhull Medical Center staff to discuss what medical services and information would be offered, and setting up and supervising the event. Spanish-speaking students helped publicized the health fair by speaking about the health fair at the host church in the preceding weeks.

The health fair was made possible through the collaboration of the Urban Semester Program, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, and the St. Joseph Patron church.

Strengthening 4-H by analyzing enrollment data

Stephen Hamilton

The June issue of the Journal of Extension includes an article co-authored by Stephen Hamilton (BCTR Associate Director for Youth Development) with Angela Northern (4-H Research Specialist, Erie County) and Robbie Neff (student). Strengthening 4-H by analyzing enrollment data examines findings with the aim of understanding trends in enrollment and dropout rates. Beginning during a summer internship Neff developed and refined a process using Excel to analyze 4-H enrollment data, then progressively simplified the process and built a graphic interface that enables county staff with no statistical expertise to query the data and present findings. Neff has been working with Minnesota 4-H to adapt his tool to their system and has received inquires from other states. Work will continue this coming year to get this process into use and adapt it to the new 4-H data collection system.

Abstract:
The study reported here used data from the ACCESS 4-H Enrollment System to gain insight into strengthening New York State's 4-H programming. Member enrollment lists from 2009 to 2012 were analyzed using Microsoft Excel to determine trends and dropout rates. The descriptive data indicate declining 4-H enrollment in recent years and peak enrollment at grade 5. New members are more likely to drop out than members who have been involved for more than a year. New members who are high school students drop out at the highest rate. Returning members who are high school students drop out at the lowest rate.

Strengthening 4-H by analyzing enrollment data

2014 CCE summer interns begin work with BCTR researchers

Each year the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Summer Internship Program connects undergraduates with faculty research projects, helping Cornell fulfill its land grant mission by engaging students in outreach. From research to education and program development, interns are involved in a wide spectrum of activities which they document by blogging. Findings are presented in the late summer at a poster event on campus.

This year BCTR researchers are involved with four summer intern projects, reaching eight counties:

Building a Community Legacy Together Program Evaluation
Faculty: Karl Pillemer
Location: CCE Orange County and CCE Genesee County
Student blog

Parent Education in New York City: The Parenting A Second Time Around (PASTA) Project
Faculty: Rachel Dunifon
Location: CCE New York City
Student blog by Paisley Marie Terenzi

Refugee Family Child Care Provider Project
Faculty: John Eckenrode with Lisa McCabe
Location: CCE Madison-Oneida County
Student blog by Emily Nina Satinsky

Research for the Continuous Improvement of 4-H
Faculty: Stephen Hamilton
Location: Erie (base), Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming Counties
Student blog by Katrina Simon

Related:
BCTR connections at the CCE student poster showcase
2012 CCE Student Poster Event showcases summer research projects

BCTR research assistants shine at the 2014 Student Showcase

Left to right: Reniece McIntyre, Annie Goldthrite. , Robbie Neff, Lydia Gill, Moyouri Bhattacharjee, Rachel Minton, Kemar Prussien, Megan Childs, Pamela Babington, Bridgette Aumand, and Meghan McDarby

The third annual BCTR Student Showcase was held on Friday, May 2, 2014. Thirteen students, who worked with 6 different BCTR projects between them this year, presented on their project's research. Their talks exemplified the diverse and valuable application of research to real world needs currently happening in the center. The vital work that students perform in the BCTR includes applied research, knowledge translation, and research on knowledge translation.

Two participating Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery (CPRSIR) students, Sierra Shumate and Feven Fisshea, successfully defended their honor’s theses using CRPSIR data under the advisement of Janis Whitlock and will graduate with honors from the Psychology department. Both Sierra and Feven also presented at the Cornell Undergraduate Research Forum.

Meghan McDarby, winner of the 2013-14 Kendal Scholarship (administered through the BCTR), was also among the presenters. Meghan has worked in the center throughout her undergrad career, assisting with Elaine Wethington's research, and more recently working in The Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life.

Full Program:

The Relationship between NSSI, Suicide, and Eating Disorders
Pamela Babington, Psych ‘15
Rachel Minton, HD ‘15
Megan Childs, HD ‘15
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

Finding Superstars
Bridgette Aumand, HD ‘16
Moyouri Bhattacharjee, BS ‘15
Superstar Practitioner Project

Analyzing Statewide 4-H Enrollment
Robbie Neff, AEM ‘15
NY State 4-H Youth Development

Differences in Caregiver Strain Between Caregivers of Self-Injurious Youth and Caregivers of Youth Who Do Not Self-Injure
Feven Fisseha, Psych ‘14
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

Parenting in Context and Beyond
Lydia Gill, HD ‘14
Parenting in Context Initiative

CAPP Program Outcomes in One NYS School District
Annie Goldthrite, HD ‘14
Reniece McIntyre, AEM ‘14
ACT for Youth

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in Adolescents:
The Relationship between Parent’s First Reaction to Finding Out and Subsequent Communication and Recovery Trajectory
Sierra Shumate, Psych ‘14
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

An Examination of System- and Individual-level Factors Which May be Associated with the Urban-rural Disparity in Hospice Utilization
Meghan McDarby, HD ‘14
Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life

The Role of Emotion in NSSI
Kemar Prussien, Psych ‘15
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery