Jie Weiss has conducted research in health promotion and risk behavior prevention among cultural diverse adolescent population both in the US and China. Her research uses the Behavioral Decision-Making model as a theoretical framework to examine people’s lifestyle choices in various health domains, such as smoking, alcohol and other drug use, physical activity, and eating behaviors. Dr. Weiss has served as PI and Co-PI for research projects funded by NIH, CDC, and the State of California. Her other research interests include investigating the impact of psychosocial and emotional factors on risk perceptions, and motivation in health behavior change and maintenance. She is particularly interested in “real-time” data collection technology.
Theory
In recent years, Jie Weiss’s research has been built around a cognitive-behavioral model that utilizes Decision Making Theory to examine people’s risk perceptions, lifestyle choices, motivation for behavior change, and maintenance of healthy behaviors. She has argued for modifying the classical multiattribute model by adding a new parameter, “Momentary Salience”, that captures the variation in people’s choices across time and circumstance. The use of the new model is illustrated in several chapters of the recently published book, “A science of decision making: The legacy of Ward Edwards”.
For more information go to the links below:
Read More (A Science of Decision Making: The Legacy of Ward Edwards)
Read More (Oxford University Press)
Purchase information (Amazon)
Research on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use
Jie Weiss has been Principal Investigator for several research projects, supported by federal (NIH & CDC) and State of California grants, that investigate smoking, alcohol initiation, and ecstasy use among culturally diverse adolescents and college students. These studies propound a multi-attribute utility model as descriptive of adolescents’ decisions to initiate smoking, alcohol and other drug use. Findings from these studies indicate that youth were more likely to choose smoking, alcohol and other drug use if they perceive more positive consequences of the usage. Findings have been presented via invited talks and presentations at national and international conferences. Read More
For more information go to below links:
Smoking and Alcohol Initiation
Investigator page
Why Early Teens Decide to Smoke and Drink
Seminar Program
Agenda
Obesity Prevention Research
Jie Weiss also utilizes the behavioral decision making model in her obesity prevention research, including community projects that promote a healthy diet and physical activity. As the associate director for the Center for Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles and Obesity Prevention, she has worked with her colleagues as Co-Principal Investigator on multiple research projects supported by the CDC and the State of California. Read More
For more information go to below links:
Center for Prevention of Childhood Obesity
A Mothers Decision Making Process (AllBookstores.com)
Read More
Physical activity in children with Prader Willi Syndrome
The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based, parent-led physical activity intervention for children and adolescents with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) compared to an overweight, non-PWS sample. Children and adolescents with PWS and children and adolescents without the syndrome and their families will participate in a 3-month home-based intervention aiming to increase PA levels and improving motor, physical, and psychological parameters. In addition, parents will participate in a decision-reporting intervention that instructs parents/guardians to document their daily decisions regarding their child's physical activity. PA and other parameters in participants will be assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and at 6- month follow-up. As a Co-PI on this project, Jie Weiss utilizes the Ecological Momentary Assessment method with the PDAs (handheld computers) to collect “real time” data and to demonstrate that asking parents to document their daily decisions regarding their child’s PA serves to increase that activity.
Publications
For more information go to the link : Read More