Body and Soul
Mental Health

A New and Present Danger


With one out of 166 children classified as having some form of autism, and with the number rising, detection and early intervention is at the forefront of many parents' minds. The Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, founded by executive director Sandra Harris, has been a pioneer in autism research, education, and outreach for decades. Ongoing studies analyze the outcome of treatment at a very young age, examine the factors that lead to disruptive classroom behavior, and evaluate a variety of intervention methods.

Douglass Developmental Disabilities
Center

Sandra Harris

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall


Charlotte Markey, an associate professor of pyschology at Rutgers–Camden, conducts research on social and personality influences on our health. Her research attempts to answer questions such as what affects how we view our body image and what influences what we eat. One recent study took a look at how romantic partners attempt to control each other's eating behaviors. Another examined associations among young women's body image, self-esteem, and impressions of reality television makeover shows and their interest in obtaining cosmetic surgery. Women who found these shows inspiring and realistic were more likely to express an interest in obtaining plastic surgery.

Charlotte Markey

Lasting Effects


Does the explanation for adult substance abuse lie in childhood depression and anxiety? That's the question that Naomi Marmorstein, associate professor of psychology at Rutgers–Camden, is working hard to answer. In the process, she's also looking for a possible link between early substance abuse and adult anxiety and depression. As an associate at the Center for Children and Childhood Studies, Marmorstein embodies the center's mission to promote an understanding of childhood experience through research and to find real-world applications that enhance the life of children and the adults they'll become.

Center for Children and Childhood Studies
Naomi Marmorstein