Part of the agenda of the Berger Institute is to conduct and translate research for the public on how people, communities, and societies impact health. This research has implications for policy, practical applications, and theory, and is relevant for a variety of groups: educators, students, parents, practitioners, policy makers, etc. Below we summarize some of our most recent studies.
Stressed Out and Fed Up: The Relationship between Maternal Stress, Feeding Behaviors, and Executive Functioning
Over 10% of children ages two to five have obesity, and these children are five times more likely than others to face obesity in adulthood. Research has suggested that stress and parental feeding practices play an influential role in childhood obesity. For example,...
A Mother’s Touch: Preschool-aged Children are Regulated by Positive Maternal Touch
Have you ever considered how something as simple as a hug can shape a child’s future? Research findings from our lab suggest that touch can shape how children’s bodies respond to stress. The researchers studied a diverse group of 114 mothers and their preschool-aged...
Changes in Maternal Depression and Children’s Behavior Problems: Investigating the Role of COVID-19-Related Stressors, Hair Cortisol, and Dehydroepiandrosterone
The COVID-19 pandemic was a stressful time to be a parent, and every family reacted differently to the huge changes in their everyday lives. With this in mind, Dr. Stacey Doan and colleagues were interested in investigating COVID-19-related stressors and how mothers...
Are Negative Emotions Bad for Our Health? Not as Much as We Think
From the angry CEO in the movies who has a heart attack to the numerous articles on WebMD suggesting why people should control their anxiety, negative emotions are commonly seen as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While research has shown this is indeed...
When Aggression is Protective: The Health Benefits of Destructive Behavior During Adversity
Behaviors such as bullying or stealing are usually considered destructive. Moreover, these types of behaviors are more likely to be seen in children who grow up with more adversity. Once thought as maladaptive, recent research suggests there may be some important...
Resilience and Connections with Sleep and Health
Despite the fact that many children grow up in poverty, many exhibit resilience, or successful adaptation and competence. Recent data, however, has also shown that adaptation in the face of adversity often comes at a health cost. At the same time, there is much we do...
How Early Conversations with Kids Affects Their Emotional Understanding
According to new research from the Berger Institute, the way mothers of different cultures talk to their children may affect kids’ understanding of emotions. In the past, research has shown that early conversations with children about emotions and mental states are...