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Shayla Holub

Shayla Holub

Associate Professor
Department Head, Psychology

Research Interests: Socialization of children's healthy eating, body image, and fat-bias using multiple methods

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Professional Preparation

Ph.D. - Psychology
Bowling Green State University - 2005
M.A. - Psychology
Bowling Green State University - 2003
B.S. - Experimental Psychology
Millikin University - 2000

Research Areas

Research Interest
The goal of my research program is to promote physical and psychological health of children and families. To do this, I investigate how parents socialize their children’s eating habits using multiple methods, including behavioral observation, self-report, and experiments. Current projects are being conducted to examine autonomy promoting feeding practices, factors related to parents’ use of specific feeding practices, and family dynamics around mealtimes. In addition, because I am interested in promoting the psychological health of young children, I examine preschoolers’ attitudes about weight and body size. Specifically, I am conducting research to examine the development of body image and anti-fat bias.

Publications

Nelson, J. A., & Holub, S. C. (2022). Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of daily mealtime coparenting, Appetite, 168, 10575.  2022 - publications
Boyer, B., Nelson, J.A., & Holub, S. C. (2021). Sex differences in the relation between body mass index trajectories and adolescent social adjustment. Social Development, 30, 1094-1113. 2021 - publications
Hinkley, S.B*., Holub, S.C. & Menter, A. (2020). The validity of cutaneous body image as a construct and as a mediator of the relationship between cutaneous disease and mental health. Dermatology and Therapy, 10, 203–211.  2020 - publications
Tan, C.*, & Holub, S. C. (2018). The effects of happiness and sadness on children’s snack consumption. Appetite, 123, 169-174. 2018 - publications
Ruhl, H.*, Holub, S. C., & Dolan, E. A*. (2016). The Reasoned/Reactive Model: A new approach to examining eating decisions among female college dieters and nondieters. Eating Behaviors, 23, 33-40.  2016 - publications
Boyer, B., Nelson, J.A., & Holub, S.C. (2015). BMI trajectories in early childhood predicting cardiovascular risk in adolescence, Journal of Adolescent Health, 56, 599-605.  2015 - publications
 Tan, C.*, & Holub, S. C. (2015). Emotion regulation feeding practices link parents’ emotional eating to children’s emotional eating: A moderated mediation study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40, 657-663.


2015 - publications
Holub, S. C., Haney, A. M., & Roelse, H. (2012). Deconstructing the concept of the healthy eater self-schematic: Relations to dietary intake, weight and eating cognitions. Eating Behaviors, 13, 106-111. 2012 - Publication

Appointments

Assistant Professor
UT Dallas [2005–2012]
Psychology
Associate Professor
UT Dallas [2012–2025]
Psychology

Projects

Gender differences in children's conceptions of heroes
2003–2003 Mullins, D. N., Holub, S. C., & Tisak, M. S., Poster presented at the Biemuial Meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development. Tampa, FL.
What are children thankful for? An archival analysis of gratitude before and after the terrorist attacks
2003–2003 Dalrymple, J., Holub, S., Gordon, A. K., & Musher-Eizemnan, D., Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Los Angeles, CA.
Effects of age and tempo in the timing control of rhythmic performance: A lifespan study
2003–2003 McCauley, D., Reiss-Jones, M., Holub, S. C., Miller, N., & Moynihan, H., Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the New England Sequencing and Timing Conference. New Haven, CT.
Preschool children's dieting behaviors and understanding of the word "diet"
2003–2003 Musher-Eizemnan, D. R., Persson, A. V., Holub, S. C., Goldstein, S. E., Edwards-Leeper, L. A., Collins, A., & Miller, A. B., Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development. Tampa, FL.
Developmental changes in the timing and control of rhythmic movements: A lmzspan perspective
2002–2002 McCauley, D., Holub, S. C., Miller, N., Miller, J .P. (r). Poster presented at the Annual BGSU Research Conference: In Celebration of Research in All Disciplines. Bowling Green, OH.

Additional Information

Honors and Awards
  • 2010 Annual Excellence in Teaching Award from School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS)
  • 2009 Galerstein Women's Center Honoree
  • 2005 New Investigator Award, Cooper Institute Conference
  • 2004 Dissertation Fellowship for the 2004-2005 Academic Year, Bowling Green State University
  • 2004 Shanklin Award Finalist for Excellence in Research, Social and Behavioral Sciences Division, Bowling Green State University
  • 1999 Scovill Award Winner for Scholarship, Leadership and Service, Millikin 
Ad-Hoc Reviewer
  • American Journal of Media Psychology
  • Appetite
  • Early Education and Development
  • European Review of Applied Psychology
  • International Journal of Obesity
  • International Journal of Pediatric Obesity
  • Journal of Health Psychology
  • Society for Research on Child Development Biennial Meeting Conference Submissions (2009 & 2011)
Membership in Professional Organizations
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Society for Research in Child Development
  • Society for Research on Adolescence
  • Society of Pediatric Psychology
  • Sigma Xi
  • Association for Psychological Science

News Articles

Halloween Treats Don't Have to be Scary, Prof Says
Halloween Treats Don't Have to be Scary, Prof Says Halloween means fun for kids — but also the tricky temptation of treats. “Many parents worry about their children’s eating habits,” said Dr. Shayla Holub, who studies the development of healthy eating behaviors as an assistant professor in School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. More than 30 percent of American children are estimated to be overweight, and the number is rising. Children who are overweight are at risk for many medical problems and may be targets of hurtful teasing. Holub, who is seeking participants for her studies in the Center for Children and Families, recommends that parents discuss food choices with their children, so young people can help make their own decisions after trick-or-treating.
Lecture to Offer Tips on Fighting Childhood Obesity
Lecture to Offer Tips on Fighting Childhood Obesity One in three children in America are considered at risk for becoming overweight, a trend that has worsened since the ’80s and ’90s. The good news, according to Dr. Shayla Holub, developmental psychologist in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, is that parents and educators can reduce the odds. “The current environment can promote obesity in children, but parents can step in to help their children develop healthy eating habits,” said Holub.She points to the need for parent education so that parents can make informed decisions when feeding their children.“Approximately 40 percent of children’s total energy intake comes from discretionary fat and sugar,” she said. “Once a parent understands this intake, he or she can make critical changes.”
Prof to Study Weight and Mental Health in Children
An assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences has received a grant to study the relationship between weight and psychological health in young children. Dr. Shayla Holub’s study will involve 150 children between ages 4 and 6. She is one of 10 applicants to receive research grants totaling about $150,000 from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. “The way we think and feel about our bodies begins forming at a very young age. This study will help identify ways to nurture a positive self-image in very young children, regardless of their size and weight,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Funding

Psychosocial outcomes related to childhood obesity during the preschool years.
$14,998 - Hogg Foundation for Mental Health [2009–2010]
The role of parents' restrictive feeding practices and general parenting style in children's eating attitudes and behavior
$27,357 - Timberlawn Psychiatric Research Foundation, INC. [2006–2006]