
Research
In the Waring Lab, we focus on health promotion during pregnancy, the post-partum period, and motherhood. At any time, we are working on multiple research projects related to:
Our research areas
- Use of social media & digital tools for health
- Health information seeking & sharing
- Developing & testing digital lifestyle interventions
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Healthy eating, physical activity, & weight management
- Family food systems & family’s influence on behavior change
Below are highlighted current/recent research projects. All Dr. Waring’s publications are available via her bibliography.
Highlighted current research projects
Personalized podcast playlists to promote mental and physical health among mothers
We have developed an 8-week program in which mothers receive a personalized playlist of episodes from popular podcasts to support and inspire them as they work towards a health-related goal. We will conduct a pilot feasibility trial to assess the feasibility and acceptability of this program.
How parents use artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to answer their child nutrition questions
We are conducting a secondary analysis of data from a survey in which we asked parents about how they use AI, including to answer their child nutrition questions.
Digital messages to help parents evaluate child nutrition content they see on social media
We developed messages to increase parents’ ability to evaluate child nutrition content they see on social media. We conducted a randomized survey to obtain parents’ feedback and test whether the messages increase parents’ knowledge and skills.
How mothers and perinatal persons engage with digital psychoeducational content to promote their mental health and well-being
We conducted a mixed-methods research study to explore how perinatal persons and mothers engage with digital psychoeducation content related to maternal mental health and parenting, and how engagement with content and other community members is associated with mental health and well-being.
Public health surveillance research
We also conduct public health surveillance studies using national public health datasets. Dr. Waring also teaches a graduate course, AH6015, on analyses using these datasets, and often works with graduate students to publish their course projects.
Highlighted recent publications
- Elevated depression symptoms, elevated anxiety symptoms, and frequent loneliness among US adults with children
PMID: 41284970 | Data: Census Household Pulse Survey - Beliefs about genetic risk of cardiometabolic disease and physical activity in young healthy US adults
PMID: 41641479 | Data: HINTS 5 Cycle 4 - Smart device ownership and use of social media, wearable trackers, and health apps among Black women with hypertension in the United States
PMID: 39250778 | Data: HINTS 6 - Awareness and use of MyPlate among US adults with young children
PMID: 39152978 | Data: NHANES 2015-2018 - Subjective cognitive decline and twice-weekly strength training in middle-aged and older US adults
PMID: 38226478 | Data: BRFSS 2019