McNair Scholar 2020 Bruktawit Zewdie
Bruktawit Zewdie is a senior at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Health and Wellness and minoring in public health. Her research interests involve studying the impact of emotional trauma on mental and physical health. Other interests include awareness and promotion of public health as well as understanding the factors contributing to health disparities.
My dream is to get my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, focusing on health promotion and prevention. My goal is to improve the well-being and quality of life for all communities, including my Ethiopian community.
Research project
Prospective Study on Childhood Emotional Abuse and Health Outcomes
Abstract: Emotional abuse can be defined as insult and criticisms from an older individual that threatens a child's self-worth through intimidation, manipulation, or refusal to be pleased by the child’s behaviors. Children that have experienced emotional abuse have been linked to predictable traumatic behaviors during adolescence and adulthood. Common behaviors that are shown in traumatized adolescents and adults include higher in illegal substances, anxiety, and depression. Although less studied than psychological health, childhood emotional abuse may also predict physical health problems. Childhood maltreatment has been linked to several health problems in adulthood. In this study, we were able to determine the short term and long-term effects after childhood maltreatment by analyzing the Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) study. The data being used show a statistically significant correlation between the presence of psychological abuse at age 12 of individuals and various health risks including problems with fears/phobias, STD other than AIDS, speech issues, the onset of cerebral palsy, the diagnosis of diabetes, and experiencing depression (ps< .05), although at various effect sizes. None of the other correlations with other physical health issues were statistically significant.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Viann Nguyen-Feng is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She serves as core faculty in the counseling/clinical masters program and directs the Mind-Body Trauma Care Lab. Dr. Nguyen-Feng is originally from Alexandria, Virginia and moved to Minnesota for her counseling psychology doctorate on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. This is her first year as a McNair summer faculty mentor. Read more about her and her lab here.