Danielle Hawkins

Supersized alcopops are ready-to-drink flavored alcoholic beverages that have up to five times the alcohol content of beer and appear to be marketed toward young drinkers. A new George Mason University study led by Dr. Matthew Rossheim found that calls to U.S. poison control centers for supersized alcopops disproportionately involved underage drinkers compared to calls for other alcohol products. Better regulation of their alcohol content and retail availability is urgently needed to protect youth.

As we mark the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Health and Human Services has published a special report capturing the many ways in which College faculty, staff, and students rose to the occasion over the past year. Learn more about the College’s contributions in Academics and Instruction, University Response and Service, Community Response and Practice, and Research. Thank you to everyone in the College for their dedication and service over the past year. It is nearly impossible to convey the full impact your work has had on our students, the University, and our community.

New research led by George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services faculty Dr. Michelle Williams assessed African American breast cancer survivors’ risk factors and knowledge about cardiovascular disease in the Deep South. They found that although African American breast cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors, their knowledge about CVD is low.

A study led by Dr. Kenneth Griffin of George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services and researchers at National Health Promotion Associates (NHPA) finds that the Cadet Healthy Personal Skills (CHiPS) program shows promise in reducing unwanted sexual contact in military academies. The intervention, which was rigorously tested with more than 800 cadets during their first year at the academy, addresses a critical gap in evidence-based interventions.

New George Mason University study is first to examine unmet basic menstrual health needs, (often called ‘period poverty’) and associations with depression among college students. More than 14% of participants reported lack of access to menstrual products in the past year, and 10% reported period poverty every month. Women who experienced period poverty were more likely to report symptoms suggestive of moderate or severe depression.

In the first national study to assess use of e-cigarettes among adults with disabilities, George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services researchers found that e-cigarette use was more than twice as likely among adults with a cognitive disability (12.0%), an independent living disability (11.0%), or two or more disabilities (9.2%), compared to adults without disabilities (4.8%)

George Mason University study finds large majority of universities studied made quick announcements following the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration

New George Mason University study of adults on probation uncovers higher levels of hostility and risk-taking among recent consumers of these high alcohol content flavored beverages

New George Mason University study highlights opportunity to increase testing for sexually transmitted infections among this high-risk population