Interested in Research?

"Learning by Doing" was the impedus for developing Student-Faculty Research projects in the Community Health Program. Since a large percentage of our students go on to graduate school, our faculty wanted to give students an opportunity to develop their research skills in a variety of areas. Dr. Kimberly Forrest, Dr. Bill Ryan (now in the Exercise and Rehabilitative Science Department) and Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher have been mentoring students in research. Listed below are some of the past and present research projects.

Slippery Rock University Student Health Assessment Project

This project began in the 1996-97 academic year funded by a State System of Higher Education Grant. The purpose of this study is/was an assessment of the health status of the undergraduate students at SRU. Behaviors related to stress, eating patterns, physical activity, use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and sexual activity were assessed utilizing a standardized questionnaire. In order to obtain a representative, cross-sectional sample of the SRU student body, all students in the Personal Physical Fitness (PE 141) courses were asked to participate. Because some of the data is considered as sensitive, no student identifiers have been entered into the data set. The results from this surveyhave been and will continue to be helpful in directing student health service programs planning, thus be of direct benefit to the students.

During the 2003-2003 academic year, two students were mentored in research using data from this project under the direction of Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher, RD and Dr. Kimberly Forrest. Krissy Koenig and Jonathan Bowman presented the results of their project at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their research questions involved analysis of trends in risky behaviors and mental health among college students.  Both presented at the SRU Research Conference as well.

Jonathan Bowman and Krissy Koenig, Student Researchers 2002-03

During the 2001-2002 academic year, two students were mentored in research using data from this project under the direction of Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher, RD and Dr. William Ryan, RN. Penny Bodenhorn and Amanda Hopwood presented their results at the American College Health Association Meeting in Washington, DC June 1, 2002. This time topics such as stress, depression and financial behaviors were added to the presentation.  

Scenes from the American College Health Association Meeting
Washington, DC
June 1, 2002

During the 2000-2001 academic year, four students were mentored in research using data from this project under the direction of Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher, RD, Dr. Kimberly Forrest and Dr. William Ryan, RN. Gretchen Piatt, Lori Stravers, Amanda Hopwood and Shawna Nixon all presented their findings at the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.  Each student decided what research questions to investigate and conducted the data analysis. Their presentation was a culmination of their finding about the SRU students regarding alcohol and tobacco use, body image, safety behaviors (like wearing seat belts) and sexual practices.

Scenes from the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Meeting
Philadelphia, PA
November 2002

During the 1999-2000 academic year, two students were mentored in research using data from this project under the direction of Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher, RD and Dr. William Ryan, RN. Melissa Dambaugh and Keri Kitcey presented the results of this project at the American College Health Association Meeting in Toronto, Canada June 1, 2000. They decided what research questions to investigate and conducted the data analysis. Their presentation was a culmination of their finding about the SRU students regarding alcohol and tobacco use, body image, safety behaviors (like wearing seat belts) and sexual practices.
These students did an outstanding job and were well received (received hearty applause).

Scenes from the American College Health Association Meeting
Toronto, Canada
June 1, 2000

Dr. Wendy Stuhldreher and Nathan Huskey walking the streets of Canada - Moose are everywhere	Melissa Miller, James Myers stand by their poster presentation at the American College Health Association.
Keri Kitcey and Melissa Dambaugh making their presentation an Risky Health Behaviors Among College Students.	Nate Huskey standing by his poster on Drinking and Obesity.
Melissa Miller, Jim Myers, Nate Huskey, Keri Kitcey and Melissa Dambaugh touring Toronta after giving excellent presentations!	We stopped at Niagra Falls on the way home - a well-derserved treat for the excellent job done by these students!
Nate Huskey assembles his poster.	Melissa Miller and Jim Myers assemble their poster.

Scholarly Publication from Student Faculty Research

Forrest KYZ, Zychowski A, Stuhldreher WL, Ryan WJ.  Risk factors for adolescent weapon carrying in school and its associations with other violent behaviors.  American Journal of Health Studies 16: 133-140, 2001

Professional Presentations from Student Faculty Research

Stuhldreher, WL., Forrest KYZ, Bodenhorn, P, Hopwood A.  Undergraduate Student-Faculty Research as a First Step in College Health Assessment.  Oral Presentation, American College Health Association.  Washington, DC.  May 31, 2002 

Piatt, GA, Stravers LJ, Stuhldreher, WL, Forrest KYZ, Ryan WJ.  A picture of depression among college students.  Oral Presentation, Pennsylvania Public Health Association annual meeting.  Philadelphia, PA  Nov. 14, 2001 

Nixon, S. Ryan, WJ, Stuhldreher WL.  Factors related to distorted body image in college women.  Oral Presentation, Pennsylvania Public Health Association annual meeting.  Philadelphia, PA  Nov. 14, 2001 

Hopwood, A.A, Stuhldreher WL  Forrest K Y-Z, Ryan WJ.  Examining the prevalence of drug use among college students. Oral Presentation, Pennsylvania Public Health Association annual meeting.  Philadelphia, PA  Nov. 15, 2001 

Stuhldreher WL, Ryan WJ, Kitcey K, Dambaugh M.  Patterns of risky behaviors among college students.  American College Health Association meeting  June 1, 2000 Toronto, CANADA oral presentation 

Forrest KYZ, Zychowski AK, Stuhldreher W, Ryan B.  Risk Factors for Adolescent Weapon-carrying in school.  Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA) Annual Conference October 25, 1999 Pittsburgh, PA; Oral Presentation 

Kitcey, K. Stuhldreher W., Ryan W.  Correlates of underage drinking among college students.  Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA) Annual Conference October 25, 1999 Pittsburgh, PAOral Presentation