Children at Penn State's Child Development Lab (CDL) celebrated the 95th birthday of one of their favorite volunteers -- Norene Bigelow, affectionately known as "Grandma Norene." The children surprised her on Thursday, Nov. 18 with a special song, which they wrote and performed with local children's musician Mark Ross. They also presented her with an apron decorated with their handprints and a finger-painted serving dish. Bigelow has been volunteering at the CDL for eight years. (more)
For centuries, the brain has been the subject of countless philosophical and scientific debates. Recently, many discoveries and theories have cropped up around how the brain works, and those theories are helping us better understand the brain's role in health and behavior. Faculty members in the College of Health and Human Development are advancing several subfields of neuroscience research, looking at topics that include aggression, movement and iron deficiency. (more)
People may feel younger if they feel empowered to make changes that will impact their lives, according to a new study conducted at Penn State. The study looked at "subjective age" -- how old a person feels in comparison to their chronological age, which plays an important role in health and well-being. (more)
Breaking an alcohol addiction is always a challenge, but the dependency may be even more difficult to escape for a young adult at college. A new book edited and co-authored by H. Harrington "Bo" Cleveland, associate professor of human development and family studies, explores one successful method for facilitating recovery in college students: alcohol recovery campuses. (more)
Penn State and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have joined forces to help people quit smoking. Penn State's Methodology Center is providing expertise with innovative research methodology at the Tobacco Intervention Laboratory, a newly established research laboratory that is housed within the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI). Penn State received over $700,000 for this study. (more)
The Gerontological Society of America presented distinguished awards to two Penn State faculty members at its annual conference, November 18 to 22, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Steven Zarit, professor and head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, received the organization's Distinguished Career Contribution Award. Dr. Gerald McClearn, Evan Pugh Professor of Health and Human Development, received its Robert W. Kleemeier Award. Both awards recognize outstanding research contributions. (more)
Penn State researchers are examining how stress at work impacts employees and their families using a data collection method known as the "daily diary." Susan McHale, professor of human development and director of Penn State's Social Science Research Institute, and three other investigators on the multisite Work, Family & Health Network presented data at a congressional briefing in October. McHale's presentation focused on studying the effects of workplace stress using a daily diary. (more)
Martin Sliwinski, professor of human development and family studies, has been appointed director of Penn State's Gerontology Center, effective Aug. 14, 2009.
"Penn State is widely known for their interdisciplinary research," said Sliwinski. "I'm looking forward to involving faculty from across the University to push our center in new and innovative directions." (more)
Penn State students from all majors have a new way to volunteer, thanks to a partnership developed between the Human Development and Family Studies Undergraduate Student Organization (HDFS USO) and the Centre County Youth Service Bureau (YSB). The partnership will provide volunteer opportunities that can positively impact the lives of children from Centre County. (more)
Caring for an elderly family member can be stressful and can pose health threats to caregivers. Steven Zarit, professor and head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State, received a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to study the effects of caregiving on familial caregivers. He will look at people who care for family members with dementia and how adult day care impacts the stress levels of all individuals involved. (more)
