Kirsten Davison, M.S., Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dept of Health Policy, Management and Behavior Address: School of Public Health University at Albany, SUNY One University Place, Rm 183 Rensselaer, NY 12144 Phone:   (518) 402-0293 Fax:  (518) 402-0414 E-mail: kdavison@albany.edu

HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH?

“I began in Developmental Psychology. In my first year of graduate school I worked on a project that involved interviewing 5-year-old girls. The girl that I interviewed on my first day was very overweight and she could not fit into a child-sized chair, which all the girls were using. I offered her an adult chair, but she was too embarrassed and squeezed herself into the child-sized chair, which cut into her legs. She sat in that chair for the rest of the day. It broke my heart and marked the beginning of my interest in obesity among children.”

WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH?

“In contrast to the often esoteric nature of psychology, I like the applied nature of public health. It isn’t just an academic pursuit; the results of our research can help to improve the health of all individuals.”

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO OUTSTANDING RESEARCH IN YOUR FIELD?

“I am motivated by the results of my research being used to help design effective prevention and intervention programs that decrease the likelihood of a child becoming overweight.”

Education:

• Ph.D. Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University (May 2001)
• M.S. Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University (May 1997)
• B.A. Psychology (First Class Honors), University of Otago, New Zealand (May 1995)

Other Professional Appointments:

• Research Affiliate, Center for Social and Demographic Analysis, University at Albany, 2004-present
• Research Affiliate, Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, University at Albany, 2004-present
• Adjunct Faculty, The Pennsylvania State University, 2004-present

Courses Frequently Taught:

• HPM 525: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health
• HPM 530: Maternal and Child Health
• HPM 531: Childhood Obesity from a Public Health Perspective

Research Interests:

• Childhood obesity; parenting practices linked with children's health behaviors
• Physical activity patterns among children and adolescents
• Environmental and community predictors of children's physical activity
• Psychological benefits of physical activity among youth.

Current Research:

Dr. Davison's work adopts a strong multidisciplinary approach that incorporates theories and methodologies from the fields of Psychology, Public Health, Nutrition, Exercise Science and Nutrition. Her current research focuses on parenting practices that may place children at risk of becoming overweight and the impact of community-level factors on health behaviors within families. She is also interested in the experiences during early and middle childhood that impact on health behaviors during adolescence, particularly dietary and physical activity behaviors. Currently funded projects include a 4-year longitudinal study examining precursors to the noted decline in girls' physical activity during adolescence, a qualitative assessment of strategies used by African American parents to encourage their children to be physically active, and the use of cell phone technology to examine adolescent girls' leisure time activities.

Selected Publications:

Refereed Journals:

Davison, K.K., Werder, J. L., Trost, S.G., Baker, B. L., & Birch, L.L. (in press).  Why are early developing girls less active?  Links between pubertal development, psychological well-being and physical activity among girls at ages 11 and 13.  Social Science and Medicine.

Davison, K. K., & Lawson, C. T. (2006). Do attributes in the physical environment influence children's physical activity? A review of the literature. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 3:19.

Schmalz, D.L. & Davison, K. K. (2006). Differences in physical self concept among adolescents who participate in gender-typed and cross-gendered sports. Journal of Sport Behavior, 29, 335-352.

Davison, K.K., Marshall, S.J., & Birch, L.L. (2006). Cross sectional and longitudinal associations between TV viewing and girls' Body Mass Index, overweight status, and percentage body fat. Journal of Pediatrics, 149, 32-37.

Davison, K. K., Downs, D.S., & Birch, L.L. (2006). Pathways linking perceived athletic competence and parental support at age 9 to girls' physical activity at age 11. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 77(1), 23-31.

Davison, K. K. & Schmalz, D. L. (2006). Youth at risk of physical inactivity may benefit more from activity-related support than youth not at risk. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 3(1), 5.

Davison, K. K., Francis, L. A., & Birch, L. L. (2005). Re-examining obesigenic families: Parents' physical activity and dietary behaviors predict girls' change in BMI across age 5 to 11 years. Obesity Research, 13(11), 1980-1990.

Haverly, K., & Davison, K. K. (2005). Personal fulfillment motivates adolescents to be physically active. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 159, 1115-1120.
Davison, K. K., Francis, L.A., & Birch, L.L. (2005). Links between parents' and girls' TV viewing behaviors: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Pediatrics, 147(4), 436-442.

Davison, K. K. (2004). Activity-related support from parents, peers and siblings and adolescents' physical activity: Are there gender differences? Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1, 363-376.

Davison, K. K. & Birch, L.L. (2004). Lean and weight stable: Behavioral predictors and psychological correlates. Obesity Research, 12(7), 1085-1093.

Davison, K.K., & Birch, L.L. (2004). Predictors of fat stereotypes among 9-year-old girls and their parents. Obesity Research, 12, 86-94.

Davison, K. K., Cutting, T. M., & Birch, L. L. (2003). Parents' activity-related parenting practices predict girls' physical activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(9), 1589-1595.

Birch, L. L., Fisher, J. O., & Davison, K. K. (2003). Learning to overeat: maternal use of restrictive feeding practices promotes girls' eating in the absence of hunger. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78, 215-220.

Davison, K. K., Susman, E. J., & Birch, L. L. (2003). Percent body fat at age 5 predicts earlier pubertal development among girls at age 9. Pediatrics, 111(4), 815-821.

Davison, K. K., Markey, C. N., & Birch, L. L. (2003). A longitudinal examination of patterns in girls' weight concerns and body dissatisfaction from ages 5-to-9-years old. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 33, 320-332.

Davison, K. K., Ford, E. S. Cogswell, M. E., & Dietz, W. H. (2002). Percent body fat and BMI predict functional limitations in men and women aged 70 years and older from NHANES III. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 50(11), 1802-1809.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2002). Processes linking weight status and self-concept in girls at ages 5 and 7 years. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 735-748.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2002). Obesigenic families: Parents' physical activity and dietary intake patterns predict girls' risk of overweight. International Journal of Obesity, 26, 1186-1193.

Davison, K. K., Earnest, M. B., & Birch, L. L. (2002). Participation in aesthetic sports and girls' weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 years. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31, 312-317.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Child and parent characteristics as predictors of change in girls' Body Mass Index. International Journal of Obesity, 25, 1834-1842.

Davison, K. K., & Susman, E. J. (2001). Are hormone levels and cognitive ability related during early adolescence? International Journal of Behavioral Development, 25(5), 416-428.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Childhood overweight: a contextual model and recommendations for future research. Obesity Reviews, 2(3), 159-171.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Weight status, parent reaction, and self-concept among 5-year-old girls. Pediatrics, 107(1), 46-53.

Davison, K. K, Markey, C. N., & Birch, L. L (2000). Etiology of body dissatisfaction and weight concerns in 5-year-old girls. Appetite, 35, 143-151.

Non-Refereed Journals:

Davison, K. K. & Campbell, K. J. (2005). Consistent messages help parent choose wisely. Pediatric Basics. The Journal of Pediatric Nutrition and Development, Number 111, Special Edition.

Book Chapters:

Davison, K. K. & Campbell, K.J. (2005). Opportunities to prevent obesity in children within families: An ecological approach. In D. Crawford & R. Jeffery, Obesity prevention and public health (pp. 207-230). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2003). Psychological consequences of childhood obesity. In J. R. Miller, R. M. Lerner, L. B. Schiamberg, & P. M. Anderson (Eds.), Human ecology: an encyclopedia of children, families, communities, and environments. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.

Birch, L. L., & Davison, K. K. (2001). Family environmental factors influencing the developing behavioral controls of food intake and childhood overweight. In D. M. Styne (Ed.), Pediatric clinics of North America: childhood obesity (48, pp. 893-907). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.

Conference Presentations and Published Abstracts (last 5 years):

Baker, B., Birch, L., Trost, S., & Davison, K. (2006). Early pubertal maturation among adolescent girls is associated with lower subsequent physical activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5 suppl), S23.

Davison, K. K. (2006). Do structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints impede parents' ability to support their children's physical activity? Examining ethnic differences. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 31(suppl), S053.

Davison, K. K. (2006). Reliability and validity of the Activity Support and Social Influence Scale (child report). Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 31(suppl), S0126.

Davison, K. K. & Lawson, C. T. (2006). Associations between children's physical activity and the physical environment: A review and recommendations for future research. Presented at the annual Active Living Research conference. February 2006, San Diego, CA.

Davison, K. K., & Deane, G. (2005). Fostering active lifestyles among children: What makes this role difficult for parents and are there ethnic differences in barriers experienced? Oral presentation. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, June 2005, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Davison, K.K., Marshall, S. J., & Birch, L. L. (2005). Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between television viewing and body fatness among 7-11 year old girls. American Academy of Sports Medicine. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), S292.

Davison, K.K., & Birch, L. L. (2004). Parenting practices associated with higher than recommended TV viewing among girls. North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity Research, 12(suppl), 321-P.

Haverly, K., & Davison, K. K. (2004). Health and well-being motivates adolescents to be physically active. North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity Research, 12(suppl), 305-P.

Davison, K. K., Downs, D. S., & Birch, L. L. (2004). Girls' elicit support from their parents which in turn predicts their physical activity. American Academy of Sports Medicine. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(5), S298.
Davison, K. K., & Birch, L.L. (2003). Behavioral predictors of healthy weight maintenance. Poster presentation. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, July 2003, Quebec, Canada.

Davison, K. K. & Birch, L. L. (2003). Encouragement from family and friends explains approximately 40 percent of the variance in adolescents' physical activity. Oral presentation. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, July 2003, Quebec, Canada.

Savage, J., Davison, K.K., Birch, L.L. (2003) Physical activity is related to fitness and weight status among 11-year-old girls. Federal Association for the Study of Experimental Biology. The FASEB Journal, 17, A4071.

Davison, K. K., Susman, E. J., & Birch, L.L (2002). Percent body fat and waist circumference from ages 5 to 9 years predict early puberty in girls. Federal Association for the Study of Experimental Biology. The FASEB Journal, 16(4): A376 Part1.

Davison, K. K., Cutting, T.M., & Birch. L.L. (2002). Activity-related parenting practices predict girls' physical activity. Nutrition Week. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75, 341-342S.

Davison, K. K., & Birch. L. L. (2001). Girls' weight concerns across ages 5 to 9 years predict their eating attitudes and dietary restraint at age 9. Poster presentation. Eating Disorders Research Society, November 2001, Albuquerque, NM.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Obesigenic Families: Parents' dietary intake and physical activity predict girls' risk of overweight. North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity Research, 9(suppl),102S.

Davison, K. K., Cutting, T., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Fathers' physical activity and encouragement of activity predicts daughters' attitudes toward activity and activity patterns. North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity Research, 9(suppl), 121S.

Cutting, T., Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). General inclination toward activity is more highly correlated with BMI in adults as compared to measures of the basic dimensions (FITT) of physical activity. North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Obesity Research, 9(suppl), 121S.

Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Processes linking weight status and self-concept in girls aged 5 to 7 years. Poster presentation. Society for Research on Child Development, April 2001, Minneapolis, MN.

Grants:

5/01/04 - 4/01/08
Predictors of physical activity among adolescent girls. R01. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Development. Principal Investigator: Kirsten K. Davison ($849,267)

10/1/02 - 9/30/04
Community-Based Interventions to Prevent Chronic Disease. Centers for Disease Control. Principal Investigator: D.S. Strogatz ($1,376,099) for Prevention Research Center ($378,385 for Research Project). K. K. Davison, co-Investigator for center and co-investigator for core research project (15%), A Social-Ecological Approach to Diabetes Prevention and Management: Assessing Multiple Levels of Influence.

9/30/2004-7/31/2007
EXPORT Center for Health Disparities in Smaller Cities. National Institutes of Health. National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Principal Investigator L. Schell ($1,240,249); K.K. Davison, Pilot Study Director.