A timely study by Kaylin Spinelli '22 earned Fourth Place overall and First Place in Behavioral Sciences among the 750 papers submitted to the JYEM 2021 Research Competition.
Two other Sacred Heart Academy seniors, Cayla Midy and Tori Famularo, were awarded “First Place – Social Sciences” and “Second Place – Behavioral Sciences,” respectively for their original research. Judges included faculty from several prestigious universities that sponsor the competition and the journal.
Kaylin’s “Generalized anxiety disorder and sleep quality during the COVID-19 outbreak in adolescents and their parents: a web-based cross-sectional survey,” Cayla’s “American Blacks: The power of Representation," and Tori's “Assessing student stress in single-sex college preparatory schools in New York and Puerto Rico,” will be considered for publication in the winter 2021-22 volume of Journal of Young Explorers Meta. In addition, Kaylin will receive a cash prize. All three girls are also eligible for virtual internships in a STEM subfield of interest with Ivy League university faculty.
Tori Famularo ’22 (Behavioral Sciences): 175 females at two separate single-sex high schools in both New York and Puerto Rico completed surveys measuring stress/anxiety within their school environments. Like students at other college preparatory schools, the girls reported a high prevalence of physical and psychological correlates of stress and related unhealthy behaviors such as chronic sleep deprivation and low life satisfaction.
Cayla Midy ’22 (Social Sciences): Black Americans and Afro-Caribbeans are often viewed as monolithic despite cultural differences. 146 African-Americans completed a survey examining their opinions on policing, representation, opportunities for success, and BLM. Significant differences were observed in attitudes towards policing, current affairs, and representation between African-Americans from varied cultural groups.
Kaylin Spinelli ’22 (Behavioral Sciences): Are essential workers and their families at increased risk for mental illness? 120 female adolescents from an all-girls academy in New York and their parents completed surveys measuring anxiety and sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data concludes essential workers and their families are at elevated risk for anxiety and other forms of mental illness.