OVERVIEW
The Activity Matters Lab examines individual, familial, and environmental contributions to psychological and health-related outcomes among youth. A central focus of our work is how contextual “nudges,” such as organized activities, sleep, and family routines facilitate health, well-being, and enhance social and emotional adjustment, particularly among at-risk populations. In addition, this work entails multi-method evaluations of several community-based programs that seek to improve health and well-being among urban youth. A guiding principle of our work is translatability with an emphasis on informing policy and practice recommendations to reduce health disparities among youth.
The Activity Matters Lab examines individual, familial, and environmental contributions to psychological and health-related outcomes among youth. A central focus of our work is how contextual “nudges,” such as organized activities, sleep, and family routines facilitate health, well-being, and enhance social and emotional adjustment, particularly among at-risk populations. In addition, this work entails multi-method evaluations of several community-based programs that seek to improve health and well-being among urban youth. A guiding principle of our work is translatability with an emphasis on informing policy and practice recommendations to reduce health disparities among youth.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Bohnert and Graduate Student Liz Rea Present Talk on Healthy Sleep to Student Athletes
November 2021
Dr. Bohnert and graduate student Liz Rea presented a talk about the benefits of healthy sleep to freshmen student athletes at Loyola. Thanks to the LUC athletic department for organizing!
Dr. Bohnert and graduate student Liz Rea presented a talk about the benefits of healthy sleep to freshmen student athletes at Loyola. Thanks to the LUC athletic department for organizing!
AML's Space to Grow Project Data Published in the American Journal of Community Psychology
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September 2021 Dr. Bohnert, along with graduate student Laura Nicholson, former graduate student Carolyn Bates, and former undergraduate student Laurel Mertz published findings from AML's Space to Grow study. Overall, findings indicate that green schoolyards may offer a safe space for children and adults to engage in social, outdoor activities, particularly in low‐income, urban neighborhoods. |
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Congratulations to Graduate Student Hannah Hagy on Successfully Defending her MA Thesis!
September 2021
AML graduate student, Hannah Hagy successfully defended her master's thesis, "Menstrual Pain Trajectories and Their Psychological and Behavioral Predictors" on September 14th. Congratulations Hannah!
AML graduate student, Hannah Hagy successfully defended her master's thesis, "Menstrual Pain Trajectories and Their Psychological and Behavioral Predictors" on September 14th. Congratulations Hannah!
Family Routines Buffer Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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August 2021
Dr. Carolyn Bates (former AML graduate student) along with Dr. Bohnert and current AML graduate students Laura Nicholson, Liz Rea, and Hannah Hagy recently published findings from the first wave of data collection in the Life Interrupted study (Data collected May 2020) in the Journal of Child and Family Studies. |
AML Launches Life Interrupted 2
May 2021
AML launched the second phase of the Life Interrupted study this month. This study will follow up with families who completed our first survey regarding family life during COVID in May 2020. We are excited to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families over the past year.
AML launched the second phase of the Life Interrupted study this month. This study will follow up with families who completed our first survey regarding family life during COVID in May 2020. We are excited to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families over the past year.
Congratulations to our Graduating Seniors!
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May 2021
Congratulations to our hard-working, graduating seniors, Benny Garcia, Kaela Harber, Kira Reed, and Maria Younan! Thank you for your contributions to our lab and best of luck on your future endeavors. (Pictured: Laura, Dr. Bohnert, Kaela, Maria, Kira, and Liz enjoying a farewell picnic) 
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AML Undergraduates Present at MPA
May 2021
AML undergraduate research assistants Maria Younan, Kira Reed, and Benny Garcia presented their independent work at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual conference.
AML undergraduate research assistants Maria Younan, Kira Reed, and Benny Garcia presented their independent work at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual conference.
AML Receives Grant from NorthShore University Health Systems
April 2021
The Activity Matters Lab received an Innovation Grant from NorthShore University Health Systems to support expanded work on the E-Sleep project!
The Activity Matters Lab received an Innovation Grant from NorthShore University Health Systems to support expanded work on the E-Sleep project!
AML Presents at SRCD Biennial Conference
April 2021
Dr. Bohnert, graduate student Liz Rea, and undergraduate research assistant Kaela Harber all successfully presented at the virtual Society for Research in Child Development virtual conference this month. Dr. Bohnert and Liz were part of a symposium on associations between covid-19-related stress and family life while Kaela presented a poster on compulsive exercise in college students.
Dr. Bohnert, graduate student Liz Rea, and undergraduate research assistant Kaela Harber all successfully presented at the virtual Society for Research in Child Development virtual conference this month. Dr. Bohnert and Liz were part of a symposium on associations between covid-19-related stress and family life while Kaela presented a poster on compulsive exercise in college students.
Graduate Student Laura Nicholson Successfully Matches to Internship
February 2021
Congratulations to 5th year graduate student Laura Nicholson for successfully matching to the child and adolescent psychology internship program at Rush University! Way to go Laura!
Congratulations to 5th year graduate student Laura Nicholson for successfully matching to the child and adolescent psychology internship program at Rush University! Way to go Laura!
Activity Matters Lab Launches Instagram
January 2021
Head over to www.instagram.com/activitymatterslab/ to check out our new Instagram profile! Learn more about our lab members and the latest happenings in our lab.
Head over to www.instagram.com/activitymatterslab/ to check out our new Instagram profile! Learn more about our lab members and the latest happenings in our lab.
Research Assistants to Present Independent Projects at MPA Conference
January 2021
Congratulations to research assistants Kira Reed, Benny Garcia, and Maria Younan on their accepted poster presentations for the 2021 Midwestern Psychological Association conference!
Congratulations to research assistants Kira Reed, Benny Garcia, and Maria Younan on their accepted poster presentations for the 2021 Midwestern Psychological Association conference!
Dr. Bohnert to Serve as Panelist at NASEM Workshop
January 2021
Dr. Bohnert will serve as a panelist at a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine workshop titled, "The Interplay Between Environmental Exposures and Mental Health Outcomes" to take place in February. More information about the workshop can be found here.
Dr. Bohnert will serve as a panelist at a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine workshop titled, "The Interplay Between Environmental Exposures and Mental Health Outcomes" to take place in February. More information about the workshop can be found here.
Activity Matters Lab Projects to be Presented at SRCD 2021
January 2021
Congratulations to research assistant Kaela Harber, graduate students Liz Rea, Laura Nicholson, Hannah Hagy, and former graduate student Carolyn bates on their projects being accepted to the 2021 Society for Research in Child Development Biennial meeting! Kaela's poster, "Compulsive Exercise in College Students" and the graduate students' talk, "Life Interrupted: How Family Routines Buffer Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic" will be presented virtually in April.
Congratulations to research assistant Kaela Harber, graduate students Liz Rea, Laura Nicholson, Hannah Hagy, and former graduate student Carolyn bates on their projects being accepted to the 2021 Society for Research in Child Development Biennial meeting! Kaela's poster, "Compulsive Exercise in College Students" and the graduate students' talk, "Life Interrupted: How Family Routines Buffer Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic" will be presented virtually in April.
AML Alum, Dr. Carolyn Bates, receives Grant from the Masonic Cancer Alliance
December 2020
Congratulations to AML Alum, Dr. Carolyn Bates on her grant from the Masonic Cancer Alliance! This 2-year, $250K grant will fund a pilot study of parental consistency (i.e., rules, routines, parenting practices) during the first year of child cancer treatment and its impact on child emotional/behavioral health outcomes. Great work, Dr. Bates!
Congratulations to AML Alum, Dr. Carolyn Bates on her grant from the Masonic Cancer Alliance! This 2-year, $250K grant will fund a pilot study of parental consistency (i.e., rules, routines, parenting practices) during the first year of child cancer treatment and its impact on child emotional/behavioral health outcomes. Great work, Dr. Bates!
AML Alum, Dr. Dorothy Loren, receives SPP Diversity Research Grant
December 2020
Congratulations to AML alum Dr. Dorothy Loren on receiving a Diversity Research Grant from the Society of Pediatric Psychology! Dr. Loren's project, "Development and Validation of a Screening Measure to Promote Equitable Stepped Care in the Treatment of Pediatric Needle Fear" is especially timely and relevant considering the current conversation regarding equitable vaccination. Way to go Dr. Loren!
Congratulations to AML alum Dr. Dorothy Loren on receiving a Diversity Research Grant from the Society of Pediatric Psychology! Dr. Loren's project, "Development and Validation of a Screening Measure to Promote Equitable Stepped Care in the Treatment of Pediatric Needle Fear" is especially timely and relevant considering the current conversation regarding equitable vaccination. Way to go Dr. Loren!
School as a Protective Setting for Excess Weight Gain and Child Obesity: A Meta‐Analysis
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November 2020
Graduate student Laura Nicholson, Dr. Dorothy McLeod Loren (former graduate student), former research assistant Alexandra Reifenberg, and Dr. Bohnert, along with colleague Dr. Michael Beets published a meta-analysis examining school as a protective factor for weight gain in the Journal Of School Health. |
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Activity Matters Lab Submits Grant Proposal to the Institute of Translational Medicine
November 2020
See Dr. Bohnert explain the our grant proposal examining relations between sleep, physical activity, affect, and pain in adolescent girls in this video.
See Dr. Bohnert explain the our grant proposal examining relations between sleep, physical activity, affect, and pain in adolescent girls in this video.
Dr. Bohnert Shares Information on Assessing Risk While Resuming Activities in COVID-19
July 2020
Dr. Bohnert answers questions on evaluating risk and resuming activities in the age of COVID-19 in the Chicago Tribune.
Dr. Bohnert answers questions on evaluating risk and resuming activities in the age of COVID-19 in the Chicago Tribune.
Dr. Bohnert Discusses Summer Travel During COVID-19 with the Chicago Tribune
June 2020
Check out Dr. Bohnert's advice on summer travel and experiences with family during COVID-19 in the Chicago Tribune.
Check out Dr. Bohnert's advice on summer travel and experiences with family during COVID-19 in the Chicago Tribune.
Listen to Dr. Bohnert's NPR Interview on How to Handle Stress During the Pandemic
May 2020
Check out Dr. Bohnert's NPR interview, in which she discusses the importance of nature and novelty to reduce stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Check out Dr. Bohnert's NPR interview, in which she discusses the importance of nature and novelty to reduce stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Binge eating, but not dietary restraint, moderates the association between unhealthy food marketing exposure and sugary food consumption
May 2020
Dr. Amy Egbert, along with graduate student Laura Nicholson, former undergraduate research assistant Anna Sroka, Dr. Bohnert, and Loyola colleague Dr. Silton published, "Binge eating, but not dietary restraint, moderates the association between unhealthy food marketing exposure and sugary food consumption" in Eating Behaviors.
Dr. Amy Egbert, along with graduate student Laura Nicholson, former undergraduate research assistant Anna Sroka, Dr. Bohnert, and Loyola colleague Dr. Silton published, "Binge eating, but not dietary restraint, moderates the association between unhealthy food marketing exposure and sugary food consumption" in Eating Behaviors.
Dr. Bohnert and Graduate Student Liz Rea Publish Book Chapter in The Routledge Handbook of Youth Physical Activity
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May 2020
Dr. Bohnert and Liz Rea published, "Keeping Kids Active: Summertime Interventions to Address Physical Activity," in The Routledge Handbook of Youth Physical Activity with colleagues Jennette Moreno and Allie Harden at Baylor College of Medicine. The chapter provides an overview of summertime weight gain and how physical activity might influence this weight gain, summarizes existing literature on how physical activity fluctuates during the school year versus summertime and which factors might contribute to these fluctuations, reviews current summertime interventions, and provides recommendations for future research. |
Activity Matters Lab Launches COVID-19 Study
May 2020
The Activity Matters Lab is investigating how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced daily routines and structure in families. We have launched a new study utilizing Amazon Mechanical Turk to understand the impact of this unprecedented event on family’s behavioral routines and how those routines influence child and family well-being. Parents will answer a series of questions related to demographic information, household routines, COVID-19 related stressors as well as family functioning and children’s physical and psychological well-being.
May 2020
The Activity Matters Lab is investigating how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced daily routines and structure in families. We have launched a new study utilizing Amazon Mechanical Turk to understand the impact of this unprecedented event on family’s behavioral routines and how those routines influence child and family well-being. Parents will answer a series of questions related to demographic information, household routines, COVID-19 related stressors as well as family functioning and children’s physical and psychological well-being.
Undergraduate Student Lexi Gremp Presents Independent Research Project at Loyola's Virtual Weekend of Excellence
April 2020
Undergraduate student Lexi Gremp will present her independent research project, "Implications of Chronodisruption on Physical and Mental Health in College Stuents," at this year's Weekend of Excellence, held online due to COVID-19.
Lexi's project was also accepted to be be presented at this year's Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA.
Undergraduate student Lexi Gremp will present her independent research project, "Implications of Chronodisruption on Physical and Mental Health in College Stuents," at this year's Weekend of Excellence, held online due to COVID-19.
Lexi's project was also accepted to be be presented at this year's Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA.
Examining Childhood Obesity Through the Lens of Developmental Psychopathology: Framing the Issues to Guide Best Practices in Research and Intervention
March 2020
Dr. Bohnert and graduate student Dorothy McLeod Loren, along with their colleague Alison Miller published an article providing a new perspective on examining childhood obesity in March's issue of American Psychologist.
Dr. Bohnert and graduate student Dorothy McLeod Loren, along with their colleague Alison Miller published an article providing a new perspective on examining childhood obesity in March's issue of American Psychologist.
Congratulations to Graduate Students Dorothy McLeod Loren and Laura Nicholson on their SPP Poster Awards!
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March 2020
Congratulations to graduate students Dorothy McLeod Loren and Laura Nicholson!
Dorothy's poster submission to the Society of Pediatric Psychology annual meeting, "An Ecological Model of Childhood Obesity Development: Identifying Targets for Tailored Intervention," won a Diversity Poster Award.
Laura's poster submission to the Society of Pediatric Psychology annual meeting, "Neurocognition, Academic, and Psychosocial Functioning among Adolescents with Spina Bifida: The Role of Bedtime Intraindividual Variability," won the Sleep SIG Student Poster Award.
Congratulations to graduate students Dorothy McLeod Loren and Laura Nicholson!
Dorothy's poster submission to the Society of Pediatric Psychology annual meeting, "An Ecological Model of Childhood Obesity Development: Identifying Targets for Tailored Intervention," won a Diversity Poster Award.
Laura's poster submission to the Society of Pediatric Psychology annual meeting, "Neurocognition, Academic, and Psychosocial Functioning among Adolescents with Spina Bifida: The Role of Bedtime Intraindividual Variability," won the Sleep SIG Student Poster Award.
Graduate Student Laura Nicholson Presents at the INS Annual Meeting
February 2020
Graduate student Laura Nicholson presented her poster, "Neuropsychological Functioning and Academic Achievement in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: The Influence of Sleep on Performance," at the International Neuropsychological Society annual meeting in Denver, CO.
Graduate student Laura Nicholson presented her poster, "Neuropsychological Functioning and Academic Achievement in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: The Influence of Sleep on Performance," at the International Neuropsychological Society annual meeting in Denver, CO.
Activity Matters Lab Awarded Loyola University 10K Grant
December 2019
The Activity Matters Lab has been awarded an internal grant from Loyola University to study fluctuations in weight-related behavior across the adolescent transition. The goals of this study are to use self-report as well as objective measures of sleep and physical activity to address key gaps in our understanding of sleep variability and weight outcomes across the menarchal transition by examining changes in two weight-related behaviors (sleep and physical activity) across the menarchal transition and testing bi-directional associations between these two behaviors and zBMI and BMI change. Defining how sleep changes across adolescence has transdiagnostic implications for understanding patterns of individual risk in relation to health outcomes for youth more broadly. This is a collaboration built off the NIH-funded EMPATHY project at Northshore University Health systems. Check out our project description page for more information.
The Activity Matters Lab has been awarded an internal grant from Loyola University to study fluctuations in weight-related behavior across the adolescent transition. The goals of this study are to use self-report as well as objective measures of sleep and physical activity to address key gaps in our understanding of sleep variability and weight outcomes across the menarchal transition by examining changes in two weight-related behaviors (sleep and physical activity) across the menarchal transition and testing bi-directional associations between these two behaviors and zBMI and BMI change. Defining how sleep changes across adolescence has transdiagnostic implications for understanding patterns of individual risk in relation to health outcomes for youth more broadly. This is a collaboration built off the NIH-funded EMPATHY project at Northshore University Health systems. Check out our project description page for more information.
Congratulations to Dr. Bohnert, Laura Nicholson, and Laurel Mertz on their SBM Citation Award!
December 2019
Congratulations to Dr. Bohnert and graduate students Laura Nicholson and Laurel Mertz! Their submission to the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2020 Annual Meeting, "Enhancing Youth's Physical Activity in Urban Neighborhoods via Green Schoolyard Transformations," was recognized as a Citation Abstract, and will be highlighted at the upcoming meeting in April, 2020.
Congratulations to Dr. Bohnert and graduate students Laura Nicholson and Laurel Mertz! Their submission to the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2020 Annual Meeting, "Enhancing Youth's Physical Activity in Urban Neighborhoods via Green Schoolyard Transformations," was recognized as a Citation Abstract, and will be highlighted at the upcoming meeting in April, 2020.
Dr. Bohnert and Students to Present Research at the 2020 Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting
December 2019
Congratulations to Dr. Bohnert, graduate students Liz Rea, Laura Nicholson and Laurel Mertz, and undergraduate student Lexi Gremp for their accepted abstracts at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2020 Annual Meeting. Dr. Bohnert, Liz, and Lexi will all present their projects at the conference in San Francisco, CA in April.
Dr. Bohnert will give a presentation titled, "Enhancing Youth's Physical Activity in Urban Neighborhoods via Green Schoolyard Transformations," sharing findings from our Space to Grow research.
Graduate student Liz Rea will give her presentation, "Keeping Kids Active: Summertime Interventions to Address Physical Activity," as part of a symposium titled, "Examining the science of childhood obesity interventions: Three recent systematic reviews of critical contexts." Dr. Bohnert will be the discussant of this symposium.
Undergraduate student Lexi Gremp will present her poster titled, "Implications of Chronodisruption on Physical and Mental Health in College Students."
Congratulations to Dr. Bohnert, graduate students Liz Rea, Laura Nicholson and Laurel Mertz, and undergraduate student Lexi Gremp for their accepted abstracts at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2020 Annual Meeting. Dr. Bohnert, Liz, and Lexi will all present their projects at the conference in San Francisco, CA in April.
Dr. Bohnert will give a presentation titled, "Enhancing Youth's Physical Activity in Urban Neighborhoods via Green Schoolyard Transformations," sharing findings from our Space to Grow research.
Graduate student Liz Rea will give her presentation, "Keeping Kids Active: Summertime Interventions to Address Physical Activity," as part of a symposium titled, "Examining the science of childhood obesity interventions: Three recent systematic reviews of critical contexts." Dr. Bohnert will be the discussant of this symposium.
Undergraduate student Lexi Gremp will present her poster titled, "Implications of Chronodisruption on Physical and Mental Health in College Students."
Lab Members Present at Spring Conferences
April and May 2019
We presented work at the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) annual conference in D.C. In Chicago, our team presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) and Loyola's Weekend of Excellence.
April and May 2019
We presented work at the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) annual conference in D.C. In Chicago, our team presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) and Loyola's Weekend of Excellence.
Undergraduate student Alexandra Reifenberg presented data from her honors thesis at SBM.
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Post baccalaureate Veronica Szpak presented her independent research at MPA.
Undergraduate student Anna Sroka (left) presented data from her independent project at SBM. Graduate student Amy Egbert (right) was there to cheer her on!
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Undergraduate student Natalie Turchmanovych presented data from her honors thesis at Loyola's Weekend of Excellence.
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