Behavioral Health | Penn Today

A simple text has the power to increase COVID vaccinations

David Asch of the Wharton School weighed in on a study that found text message reminders boosted vaccination rates in California. “I’m still sometimes amazed at how subtle changes and wording can make a difference,” he said.

A black-and-white drawing of a head with lines signifying the person is speaking.

The intonation Black/biracial men use to speak about race

In a study of college-educated biracial men, ages 18 to 32, sociolinguist Nicole Holliday found that, when asked about race, this group frequently brought up law enforcement unprompted and discussed the subject using vocal tone more generally associated with white speakers.

How to motivate your teen to be a safer driver

M. Kit Delgado of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about ways to motivate teen drivers to avoid phone-related distractions, suggesting people enable an automatic “do not disturb while driving” mode, set up any navigation or music apps before taking off, and install an eye-level phone mount.

Sprinkle donuts falling from sky over a vial of vaccine and a needle.

Vaccine lotteries and beyond: What motivates healthy behaviors

As COVID-19 vaccines have become available to the general public and vaccination rates began to slow, there has been a boom in incentives for receiving the vaccine across the United States. CHIBE’s Kevin Volpp investigates the trend.

A person outside leaning over on a black railing, with leaves and trees blurry in the foreground.

How gender norms and job loss affect relationship status

Research from Penn sociologist Pilar Gonalons-Pons shows that, in cultures that value men as breadwinners, their unemployment can affect the long-term success of a romantic relationship.

Person sitting at a table with blurry people in front and a screen hanging on the wall behind, which reads, "Experiential effects on brain development."

Scientists say active early learning shapes the adult brain

Through the Abecedarian Project, an early education, randomized controlled trial that has followed children since 1971, Penn and Virginia Tech researchers reveal new discoveries about brain structure decades later.

A young person wearing a mask and polka dot t-shirt leaning against a faux wooden wall.

A mental health checkup for children and adolescents, a year into COVID

As a whole, this group experienced a significant short-term psychological toll. Though the long-term consequences aren’t yet known, particularly given how the year disproportionately exacerbated adverse childhood experiences, Penn experts remain cautiously optimistic.

The science behind vaccine incentives

Katy Milkman of the Wharton School was interviewed about using incentives to motivate people to get vaccinated. “The focus is not on the adamant folks who are absolutely against it; it's rather on everyone else,” she said.

Gamification increases physical activity in T2DM patients

Research led by Mitesh Patel of the Perelman School of Medicine tested the effectiveness of gamification on weight loss and physical activity for adults with type 2 diabetes. While physical activity did increase among participants, there were not significant changes to weight loss or diabetes management when compared to the control group.

A group of four people leaning against a wall. The one farthest on the left is wearing a bag diagonal across the chest and holding papers. The second from left has on a purse. The second from right has on a backpack and is holding a blue spiral notebook. The person all the way on the right is pointing to the others and holds a folded piece of white paper and a writing utensil.

Morality isn’t fixed but changes around close relationships

Research from MindCORE postdoc Daniel Yudkin found that the importance people place on certain moral values shifts depending on who is around in a given moment.

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