Activity Matters Lab

Welcome to our lab!

The Activity Matters Lab examines how various contexts serve a protective role in psychological and health-related outcomes, including obesity and obesogenic behaviors among children and adolescents. In particular, we examine contextual factors as they relate to potential disparities in health and wellness, and the role of developmental transitions as points of risk and opportunity. The role of various discretionary time experiences, especially organized activities, after-school, and summer-based programming is a primary focus of our work. Through ongoing multidisciplinary collaborations with colleagues in the Department of Psychology and Loyola University Stritch Medical Center's Department of Public Health Sciences as well as faculty from other universities across the country, we will continue to develop our program of research in these areas.

Learn about our Projects

Recent Lab News:

2018 Spring Conferences
We presented work at the annual conferences of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) in New Orleans and the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) in Chicago!

Undergraduate student Courtney O'Keefe presented her senior research project at MPA.

Graduate student Dorothy McLeod Loren led a workshop on crafting a professional elevator speech at SBM.

Graduate student Laura Nicholson presented pilot data for her Master's Thesis at SBM.

Celebrating a Successful Summer
We enjoyed our annual Ravinia outing to celebrate a productive summer and kick off the new school year!

Greetings from Boston!
Dr. Bohnert caught up with Activity Matters Lab alumni Lea Ventura and Edin Randall during a recent trip to the east coast. Lea and Edin continue to present and publish exciting findings from the STAAC project.

New York Times Article
Dr. Bohnert was recently interviewed for a piece in the New York Times discussing summertime weight gain.
Read the article here!