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Watch our stories about behavioral and social science research. |
Reducing Recidivism in Los Angeles
With 75% of parolees back in the system within 3 years of release, finding ways to close the revolving door is paramount. With funding from NIH, Dr. Adey Nyamathi with the UCLA School of Nursing partnered with Amistad de Los Angeles to test a peer coaching, nurse case management and specialized hepatitis/HIV education intervention program for parolees.
To hear more from Dr. Nymathi and other presenters at a recent OBSSR symposium, listen to The Connector Podcast Series, Episode 3, Re-Entry: Where Public Health and Mass Incarceration Collide.
Getting to Know OBSSR
Recognizing the importance of behavioral and social factors on illness and health, the U.S. Congress established the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) in the Office of the Director at NIH in 1995. The OBSSR mission is to stimulate behavioral and social sciences research throughout NIH and help integrate areas of research across the spectrum of the NIH enterprise, thereby improving our understanding, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Understanding Addictive Behaviors
Carl Lejuez, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Director of the Center for Addictions, Personality & Emotional Research, discusses translational research in connection to the basic internal processes that lead people to addictive behaviors. Lejuez says understanding why behaviors occur can lead to novel treatments that approach each individual in a more precise way and help them back on the road to a full and valued life.
Lifestyle Choices and Skin Health
Nina Jablonski, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Penn State University, discusses how human lifestyle decisions impact the health of our skin and our skin’s ability to mediate our health overall. For example, as the major interface between our internal and external environments, the skin plays a vital role in regulating Vitamin D intake, which is critical to our body’s ability to absorb calcium and maintain a healthy skeleton.
Mobile Technologies to Manage Diabetes
Charlene Quinn, Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, discusses the use of new mobile technologies for managing diabetes. The number of Americans who have diabetes, or who are pre-diabetic, continues to grow. Mobile technology applications and mobile diabetes management could help health care professionals turn the corner on this national epidemic.
