Completed Research Projects

Studies are listed from most to least recently completed. Data analyses on many of these studies is ongoing and there may be opportunities for graduate or undergraduate students to continue to assist with these studies.

Experiences of Pregnant Women Study

  • Principal Investigators: Cassidy Sandoval, M.A., & Kristin Heron, Ph.D.

The purpose of this study was to collect information about pregnant women’s health and interest in using mobile technology to improve and/or track various aspects of health. Participants in this study:

  • Completed a brief online survey about pregnancy, body image, physical and mental health, and mobile technology use

Data collection for this study is complete and data analysis is ongoing.

College Health and Student Experiences 2 Survey (CHASE 2)

  • Principal Investigator: Kristin Heron, Ph.D.
  • Co-Investigators: Lindsay Howard, Ph.D., Rachel MacIntyre, Ph.D., Kelly Romano, Ph.D., Ed.S.
  • Graduate Student Collaborators: Cassidy Sandoval, Kayla Pitchford, & Meredith Turner

The purpose of this study was to collect information about college students’ health, well-being, and general life experiences and attitudes. Participants in this study:

  • Completed an online survey about eating habits and body image, alcohol and drug use, and thoughts and experiences
  • Received psychology course research credit for participation

Data collection for this study is complete and data analysis is ongoing.

Project WoW: Wellness of Women

  • Principal Investigators: Charlotte Dawson, M.S., & Kristin Heron, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Collaborators: Alicia Moulder & Cassidy Sandoval

The purpose of this study was to learn more about sexual minority women’s experiences accessing physical and mental healthcare and to create a scale that would be used to assess barriers and facilitator to healthcare access for sexual minority women. In this study, participants:

  • Completed a virtual interview and brief online survey
  • Provided feedback on a draft of the scale
  • Completed a larger online survey that included the scale and other related measures

Data collection for this study is complete and data analysis is ongoing.

Body, Emotions, and Eating (BEE) Study

  • Principal Investigators: Kelly Romano, Ph.D., Ed.S., & Kristin Heron, Ph.D.
  • Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; F31MH120982)

The purpose of this study was to understand more about momentary associations among young women’s affective experiences, mind-body factors (emotion dysregulation, interoception, mindfulness), and disordered and intuitive eating behaviors in daily life. As part of the study, young women in the U.S.:

  • Completed an online survey about their background, health behaviors, and physical and mental well-being
  • Downloaded an app to their smartphone, which they used to complete brief surveys throughout the day for 10 days
  • Presented to the lab to complete a heartbeat perception task while concurrent psychophysiological measures (electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram) were taken

Data collection for this study is complete and data analysis is ongoing.

Learning from the Experiences of Others

  • Principal Investigator: Tiphanie Sutton, Ph.D. 
  • Co-Investigators: Kristin Heron, Ph.D. & Matt Judah, Ph.D.

The purpose of this study was to understand college students’ perspectives after learning about the traumatic experiences of others. In this study, participants:

  • Completed measures about their background, trauma history, mental well-being, and relationships
  • Read a brief narrative about a traumatic experience
  • Provided qualitative data describing their thoughts and reactions to the story
  • Received psychology course credit for their participation

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

Stigma, Health, and Wellness (SHELL) and Weight-Related Experiences in Daily Life (WEDL)

  • Principal Investigators: Kelly Romano, Ph.D., Ed.S, & Kristin Heron, Ph.D.

The purpose of this series of studies was to improve the understanding of associations among weight stigma experiences and eating and health behaviors among young adults. As part of these studies, young adults:

  • Completed an online survey about their backgrounds, weight stigma experiences, health behaviors, physical and mental well-being, and experiences
  • Downloaded an app to their smartphones, which they used to complete brief surveys throughout at the end of the day for 2 weeks

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

Eating Habits in Undergraduate College Women (EACH) Study

  • Principal Investigator: Lindsay Howard, Ph.D.
  • Co-Investigators: Kristin Heron, Ph.D.
  • Funding Sources: P.E.O. Scholarship (to L. Howard)

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between denial of disordered eating, interpersonal processes (e.g., social interactions), and binge eating in young women’s daily lives. In this study, racially diverse college women with subclinical disordered eating behaviors:

  • Completed web-based survey of eating behaviors and other related processes
  • Used an app on their smartphone to complete brief surveys throughout the day

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

The Body Project and Social Networks

  • Principal Investigator: Rachel MacIntyre, Ph.D.
  • Co-Investigators: Kristin Heron, Ph.D., & Abby Braitman, Ph.D.
  • Funding Sources: Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Grants-In-Aid Program (to R. MacIntyre) and the Eating Recovery Foundation (to K. Heron and R. MacIntyre)

The purpose of this study was to implement a dissonance-based body image intervention called The Body Project, and to evaluate changes in college women’s social networks, body image, and eating behaviors as a result of the intervention. In this study, college women:

  • Took part in a group-based intervention for body dissatisfaction that was led by trained graduate student and undergraduate student peer leaders
  • Completed surveys prior to, during, and at 1- and 3-month follow-up periods after the intervention

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

Development and Validation of the Deliberate Denial of Disordered Eating Scale

  • Principal Investigator: Lindsay Howard, M.S.
  • Co-Investigators: Kristin Heron, Ph.D., & Rob Cramer, Ph.D.

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale that measures eating patterns in college populations. In this study, college students:

  • Participated in focus groups intended to aid in developing items for the scale
  • Completed a web-based survey that included questions about eating behaviors and other college student experiences

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

Daily Experiences of Women (DEW) Study

  • Principal Investigator: Rachel MacIntyre, Ph.D.
  • Co-Investigator: Kristin Heron, Ph.D.

This study focused on measuring thoughts, behaviors, physical activity, and experiences women have in their everyday lives. Participants in this study took part in the following activities:

  • Visited the research laboratory to receive instructions and complete questionnaires
  • Completed surveys through a smartphone app multiple times each day
  • Wore a Fitbit during the study to track their physical activity during daily life events

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

Sexual Minority Women’s Daily Experiences Study

  • Principal Investigator: Kristin Heron, Ph.D.
  • Co-Investigators: Robin Lewis, Ph.D., & Abby Braitman, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Collaborators: Lindsay Howard, Alex Shappie, Phoebe Hitson, & Rachel MacIntyre

The goal of this study was to understand more about young lesbian women’s daily experiences and how these are related to their health and well-being. Young lesbian women (ages 18-30) from across the U.S. took part in the following activities:

  • Completed four daily surveys through a website and an app on their smartphones
  • Provided qualitative feedback about the study questions and procedures
  • Earned money for their time and effort

Data collection and analysis for this study is complete.

College Health and Student Experiences (CHASE) Survey & CHASE Transitions Study

  • Principal Investigator: Kristin Heron, Ph.D.
  • Co-Investigators: Abby Braitman, Ph.D., Taryn Myers, Ph.D., & Cathy Lau-Barraco, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Collaborators: Lindsay Howard, Rachel MacIntyre, Kelly Romano, & Tiphanie Sutton
  • Funding Source: ODU Office of Research (2015 Summer Research Fellowship Award to K. Heron)

The goal of this series of studies was to survey undergraduate college students in the Hampton Roads area regarding a variety of issues related to college student life, and physical and mental health. In this study, participants:

  • Completed a web-survey asking questions about college students experiences
  • Received psychology course credit for participating
  • Volunteered to be contacted for participation in future studies
  • A subset of participants completed follow-up surveys for 1-2 semesters to examine factors related to the college transition process

Data collection for this study is complete and data analysis is ongoing.