As an athlete most of her life, Ashley Taylor long has been interested in physical activity and how it affects a person’s overall health.
Now a second-year doctoral student in counseling psychology at the University of Houston College of Education, she’s delving into research on health issues. Her article, “Physical activity and sleep problems in homeless adults,” was published in the journal PLOS ONE in July.
Taylor and her co-authors found that homeless people who did not get the recommended level of physical activity were more likely to sleep excessively (10 hours or more a night) – a practice that has been associated with negative health effects.
The co-authors from the HEALTH Research Institute include Co-Director Dr. Lorraine Reitzel, Mentee Dr. Rosenda Murillo, and Research Assistant Professor Dr. Tzu-An Chen. Other co-authors include Dr. Michael Businelle and Dr. Darla Kendzor of the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, and Dr. Lorna McNeill of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Expanding her research experience, Taylor is part of the UHAND Partnership, a collaboration between UH and MD Anderson to help eradicate disparities in cancer risks and outcomes. Taylor also is project coordinator for the Third Ward Wellness Study, a UH project aimed at promoting physical activity, healthy eating habits and positive parenting strategies for families with toddler-aged children.
