Staff: Jennifer A. Zink, PhD
Jennifer A. Zink, PhD
Cancer Prevention Fellow
jennifer.zink@nih.gov
240-620-0689
Jennifer (Jen) Zink, PhD, is a Cancer Prevention Fellow in the Behavioral Research Program. Jen's research focuses the emotional and physical health implications of engagement in sedentary behavior and physical activity among youth.
Jen earned her PhD in Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research) from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. Her doctoral research was supported by a T32 Cancer Control and Epidemiology training fellowship and was primarily focused on the emotional antecedents and consequences of sedentary behavior among adolescents. During this time, she also served as a project manager on a randomized crossover trial that tested the acute metabolic, affective, and cognitive effects of interrupting sedentary time.
Jen earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Miami. Immediately following, she worked as a research coordinator on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Transformation Grant to implement and evaluate a novel school-based physical activity program throughout Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Current and/or past BRP mentors include David Berrigan.
Research Areas
- Pediatric Energy Balance Behaviors
- Childhood Obesity
- Primary Cancer Prevention
Selected Publications and Presentations
- Zink J, Liu B, Yang CH, Herrick KA, Berrigan D. Differential associations between television viewing, computer use, and adiposity by age, gender, and race/ethnicity in United States youth: A cross-sectional NHANES analysis. Pediatr Obes 2023 Oct; 18(10):e13070.
- Zink J, O'Connor SG, Blachman-Demner DR, Wolff-Hughes DL, Berrigan D. Examining the Bidirectional Associations Between Sleep Duration, Screen Time, and Internalizing Symptoms in the ABCD Study. J Adolesc Health 2023 Oct 17; S1054-139X(23):00484-6.
- Zink J, Nicolo M, Imm K, Ebrahimian S, Yu Q, Lee K, Zapanta K, Huh J, Dunton GF, Goran MI, Page KA, Dieli-Conwright CM, Belcher BR. Interstitial glucose and subsequent affective and physical feeling states: A pilot study combining continuous glucose monitoring and ecological momentary assessment in adolescents. J Psychosom Res 2020 Aug; 135.
- Zink J, Belcher BR, Imm K, Leventhal AM. The relationship between screen-based sedentary behaviors and symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth: a systematic review of moderating variables. BMC Public Health 2020 Apr 10; 20(1):472.
- Zink J, Belcher BR, Kechter A, Stone MD, Leventhal AM. Reciprocal associations between screen time and emotional disorder symptoms during adolescence. Prev Med Rep 2019 Jan 25; 13:281-288.
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