September 2022 SPH Research Report
A collection of the University at Albany's School of Public Health research from September 2022.
Doctoral student works on large-scale study of the New York State Paid Family Leave Act
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 23, 2022) – A large observational study evaluating New York Paid Family Leave was recently published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. The study is the first to evaluate the utilization of the program, which allows most employed New Yorkers to take up to twelve weeks of paid, protected time off to bond with a newborn or care for a family member with a serious health condition.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Inspires Student to Pursue a Public Health Career
Meet undergraduate public health major Irene Kyei! Like many who end up in the public health field, Kyei initially wanted to practice medicine. Or at least, it seemed like the best possible option. She explains, “Growing up in an African home, my parents told me that I had to become a doctor, a nurse, a lawyer, or a failure. The latter wasn’t really a choice, so I decided to become a doctor.”
Study Shows That Natural Disasters can Impact the Mental Health of Older Adults Years Later
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 20, 2022) – A recent study from the School of Public Health examines the short and long-term mental health effects of Hurricane Sandy on adults 64 years and older. As climate change increases the occurrence of natural disasters, this type of research is crucial for ensuring that adequate public health resources are allocated to the populations most impacted.
Denying Gun Access Based on Drug and Alcohol Misdemeanors May Reduce Gun Violence
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 16, 2022) - A recent study published in Injury Epidemiology shows that denying gun purchases based on a history of convictions related to drug and alcohol use may slightly reduce the number of people who are killed by firearms through homicide and suicide.
Screen time for tots? Erin Bell sheds light on the link between digital media and early child development
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 13, 2022) - Recent research from the UAlbany School of Public Health shows that children under the age of three who spend more time on screens spend less time with other children, which may raise concern for parents—particularly given the fact that many young children have already missed play and socialization opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CTG UAlbany Welcomes New Faculty Fellows
CTG UAlbany’s new faculty fellows program is designed to serve as a platform of intellectual exchange and an appreciation for interdisciplinary scholarship. CTG UAlbany, which works with governments worldwide transforming public services through innovations in technology, policy and management, has maintained a roster of research fellows since its founding nearly 30 years ago.
MS Student Examines Youth Cannabis Use in New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (September 1, 2022) - This summer, Master of Science in Epidemiology student Jericho Adams completed a field placement at the Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and Research under the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Division of Chronic Disease Prevention. Using both the New York State Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the New York State Youth Tobacco Survey, he developed a first-time slide deck and data brief on youth cannabis use throughout New York that will be used by public health professionals.