Karly Geller
Links
Degrees
Post-doctorate, University of Hawaii Cancer Center | Post-doctorate, Kansas State University
Ph.D., Kansas State University
M.Ed., University of Virginia
B.A., University of West Florida
Research Interests
My research suggests a complex interaction between the social and environmental influences on youth and adult health behavior that, if understood further and translated into practice, could greatly contribute to the prevention of disease. Applying my measurement validation experience, I have begun to develop age and context appropriate measurement tools that capture the social and environmental influences on youth and young adults’ health and multiple health behavior (i.e., lifestyle behavior). More specifically, I intend to target shared social experiences (e.g., active time, sedentary time, meals, etc.) with parents and peers, as well as capture youth and young adults’ perception of the physical environment as it relates to their health and health behaviors (e.g., proximity to physical activity opportunities, walkability).
I intend to continue exploring youth/young adult health and health-risk behavior (esp., physical activity and sedentary behavior) with the ultimate intention of intervention development, implementation, and dissemination. More specifically, I am interested in multiple health behavior promotion, as I believe a holistic lifestyle approach is necessary in order to have a true health impact. I also intend to target health behavior over time, examining the most salient influences on young adults’ healthy behavior maintenance.
Health promotion research and intervention efforts have successfully promoted the initial adoption of healthy behaviors, such as physical activity. However, research has not yet successfully promoted the long-term maintenance of healthy behaviors like regular physical activity; and this maintenance is especially difficult during certain life transitions (e.g., high school to college; college graduates to professionals and matriarchs/patriarchs). I have become familiar with several theoretical approaches to health promotion, including Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, Prochaska’ s Transtheoretical Model, and Deci & Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory; I plan to continue these endeavors.
Courses Taught
KNH 395 Research Methods, KNH 402 Senior Capstone, KNH 441/541 Environmental Health, KNH 612 Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion, KNH 621 Research Methods
Publications
Geller., K. S., Capito, A. M., & Marsh, Z. T. (2024). Physical activity and sedentary behaviors and the impact on college student stress, depression, and anxiety. MOJ Sports Medicine, 7(1). eISSN: 2574-9935.
Ubbes, V. A., Geller, K., & Whitesel, S. (2024). . American Journal of Health Education, 1-13.
Geller, K. S. (2022). . Research in Health Science, 7(1).
Geller, K. S., Harmon, B., Burse, N., & Strayhorn, S. (2019). . Journal of Religion and Health, 58, 977-991.
Geller, K. S., Welker, K. Williams, R., & Tigue, G. B. (2018). Clustering of multiple chronic disease risk behaviors
among middle school youth. Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research, 6(2). DOI: 10.26717/ BJSTR.2018.06.001310.
Geller, K. S., Welker, K., Williams, R., Tigue, G. (2018). Clustering of multiple chronic disease risk behaviors among middle school youth. BJSTR, 6(2). MS.ID.001310. DOI: 10.26717/ BJSTR.2018.06.001310.
Rosenkranz, R, Geller, K., Kolt, G., Maeder, A., Duncan, M., Caperchione, C., Savage, T., Itallie, A. V. (2018). . Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 22(4).
Geller, K., Renneke, K., Custer, S., Tigue, G. (2018). Intrinsic and extrinsic motives support adults’ regular physical activity maintenance. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 2, E62-E66.
Geller, K., Lancaster, E., Hill, C., Bettinger, S. (2018). Are collegiate athletes as healthy as we think they are? Translational Behavioral Medicine, doi.org/10.1093/tbm/iby039.
Geller, K., Harmon, B., Burse, N., Strayhorn, S. (2018). Church-based social support's impact on African Americans' physical activity and diet varies by support type and source. Journal of Religion and Health, doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0576-4.
Kazimierczuk, F., Geller, K., Sellers, S., Smith, M., & Baszile. (2017). African American women and obesity through the prism of race, Health Education & Behavior, 45(3), 371-380.
Kazimierczuk, F., Geller, K., Sellers, S. Baszile, D, and Smith, M. (2017). Race, Class, Gender, and the Obesity Epidemic, Journal of Pan African Studies, 10(1):76-110.
Geller, K. S., Lippke, S., Nigg, C. R. (2016). Future directions of multiple behavior change research. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 39(5). DOI 10.1007/s10865-016-9809-8. Impact factor: 2.227, Acceptance rate: 20%.
Geller, K. S., Harris, J. M., & Moore, J. A. (2016). Residential proximity and its impact on college students’ body mass index. American Journal of Health Sciences, 7(1), 1-7.
Geller, K. S., Melbye, M. J., Rosenkranz, R. R., Shoemaker, C., & Dzewaltowski, D. A. (2015). Measuring elementary-aged children’s self-efficacy and proxy efficacy for gardening and related health behaviors. HortTechnology, 25(6), 731-741.
Kahrs, J. L., & Geller, K. S. (2014). Clustering of Multiple Risk Behaviors among Ethnically Diverse Adolescents Living in Hawaii. Health, 6(17), 2333-2341.
Geller, K. S., Alvarez, A. R., Nigg, C. R., Oasay, A., & Timbobolan, J. (2014). Parent and friend influences on the multiple health behavior of adolescents living in Hawaii. California Journal of Health Promotion, 12(2), 55-68.
Geller, K. S., Herbert, M. A. (2014). Identifying and measuring multilevel influences on college-aged athletes’ multiple health behavior: A pilot study. Health, 6 (7), 576-586.