Edward A. Smith, D.P.H.

1983, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Director of Evaluation Research, Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development

105G Henderson South
(814) 865-1201
eas8@psu.edu

Research

Most of my work has centered around adolescent risk behaviors, specifically preventing unwanted teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, substance use, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. This research focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs aimed at improving the lives of adolescents and young adults. Much of this research works at the interface between scientific and applied research, working with program providers, developers, and administrators to improve programs by incorporating pragmatic evaluation findings. The settings for these programs have included schools, health clinics, camps, and community and recreation centers. This research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the United States Navy, the Department of Justice, state and provincial health departments, and private foundations.

Description of Current Projects

Adolescent Drug and HIV Prevention in South Africa

Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, HealthWise is a comprehensive, risk-reduction life skills curriculum for adolescents. The overall goals of the HealthWise curriculum are to (1) reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other STIs, (2) reduce drug and alcohol abuse, and (3) increase positive use and experience of free and leisure time. The curriculum consists of twelve lessons for Grade 8 learners, and six lessons for Grade 9 learners. This program is being evaluated with a randomized controlled trial involving over 7,500 adolescents living near Cape Town, South Africa.

Capacity Building for Research on HIV Stigma in
South Africa

This project, which is headed by Collins Airhihenbuwa (Penn State Department of Biobehavioral Health), partners with the Human Sciences Research Council and two universities in South Africa to enhance the research capability of faculty and students to conduct research on the reduction of HIV stigma. This project is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Education

Frostburg State College, B.S., 1971
West Virginia University, M.A., 1972
University of North Carolina, Dr. P.H., 1983

Professional Experience

1983-1986: Assistant Professor, Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Department of Population Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins Universtiy, Baltimore, MD
1986-1989: Assistant Professor, Department of Health Studies and the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, The University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
1989-1993: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Education, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
1993-1995: Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
1995-1999: Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
1999-Present: Director of Evaluation Research, Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development, College of Health and Human Development; Director of the Prevention and Methodology Training Program;The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Selected Publications:

Patrick, M.E., Collins, L.M., Smith, E., Caldwell, L., Flisher, A.J. & Wegner, L. (accepted). A prospective longitudinal model of substance use onset among South African adolescents. Substance Use and Misuse.

Palen, L., Smith, E., Caldwell, L.L., Flisher, A.J., Wegner, L. & Vergnani, T. (accepted). Inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse among South African high school students. Journal of Adolescent Health.

Smith, E.A., Palen, L., Caldwell, L.L., Graham, J., Flisher, A., Wegner, L., Mathews, C., Vergnani, T. (in press). Substance use and sexual risk prevention in South Africa: An evaluation of the HealthWise Program. Prevention Science.

Caldwell, L.L., Younker, A., Wegner, L., Patrick, M., Vergnani, T., Smith, E.A., Flisher, A.J. (2008). Understanding leisure related program effects by using process data in the HealthWise South Africa project. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 26(2), 146-162 .

Palen, L., Graham, J. G., Smith, E. A., Caldwell, L. L., Mathews, C., & Flisher, A. J. (2008). Rates of missing responses in PDA versus paper assessments. Evaluation Review, 32(3) 257-272.

Wegner, L., Flisher, A.J., Caldwell, L., Vergnani, T., Smith, E. (2007). HealthWise South Africa: Cultural Adaptation of a School-Based Risk Prevention Program. Health Education Research Journal; doi:10.1093/her/cym064.

Smith, E.A. & Caldwell, L. L. (2007). Adapting evidence-based programs to new contexts: What needs to be changed? Journal of Rural Health. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2007.00122. 23 (S1), 37-41.

Vicary, J. R., Smith, E. A., Swisher, J. D., Bechtel, L. J., Elek, E., Henry, K. L. & Hopkins, A. (2006). Results of a three year study of two methods of delivery of life skills training. Health Education and Behavior, 33(3), 325-339.

Bechtel, L. J., Vicary, J. R., Swisher, J. D., Smith, E. A., Hopkins, A. M., Henry, K. L., et al. (2006). An interdisciplinary approach for the integration and diffusion of substance abuse prevention programs. Journal of School Health, 37(4),219-225.

Mpofu, E., Caldwell, L., Smith, E., Flisher, A. J., Mathews, C., Wegner, L., & Vergnani, T. (2006). Rasch modeling of the structure of health risk behavior in South African adolescents. Journal of Applied Measurement, 7(3),323-334.

Henry, K. L., Smith, E.A., & Caldwell, L. L. (2006). Deterioration of academic achievement and marijuana use onset among rural adolescents. Health Education Research; doi: 10.1093/her/cyl083.

Swisher, J. D., Smith, E. A., Vicary, J. R., Bechtel, L. J. & Hopkins, A. M. (2004). A cost-effectiveness comparison of two approaches to Life Skills Training. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 48 (1), 71-80.

Smith, E. A., Swisher, J. D., Vicary, J. R., Bechtel, L. J., Minner, D., Henry, K. L. & Palmer, R. (2004).Evaluation of Life Skills Training and Infused-Life Skills Training in a rural setting. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 48(1), 51-70.

Caldwell, L. L., Baldwin, C. K., Walls, T. & Smith, E. A. (2004). Preliminary effects of a leisure education program to promote healthy use of free time among middle school adolescents. Journal of Leisure Research. 36, 310-335.

Caldwell, L. L., Smith, E. A., Wegner, L., Vergnani, T., Mpofu, E., Flisher, A., & Matthews, C. (2004). HealthWise South Africa: Developing a Life Skills Curriculum for Young Adults. World Leisure Journal, 3, 4-14.

Vicary, J. R., Henry, K. L., Bechtel, L. J., Swisher, J. D., Smith, E. A., Wylie, R., et al. (2004). Life Skills Training effects for high and low risk rural junior high school females. Journal of Primary Prevention, 25(4), 399-416.

Henry, K. L., Smith, E. A. & Hopkins, A. M. (2002). The effect of active parental consent on the ability to generalize the results of an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention trial to rural adolescents. Evaluation Review, 26(6), 645-655.

Caldwell, L. L., Kivel, B. D., Smith, E. A., & Hayes, D. (1999). The leisure context of adolescents who are lesbian or gay: An exploratory study. Journal of Leisure Research, 30, 341-355.

Vicary, J. R., Smith, E. Caldwell, L., & Swisher, J. (1998). Relationship of changes in adolescents' leisure activities to alcohol use. American Journal of Health Promotion, 22(4), 276-282.

COMMIT Research Group. (1995). Community intervention trial for smoking cessation (COMMIT): I. Cohort results from a four-year community intervention. American Journal of Public Health, 85(2), 183-192.

COMMIT Research Group. (1995). Community intervention trial for smoking cessation (COMMIT): II. Changes in adult cigarette smoking prevalence. American Journal of Public Health, 85(2), 193-200.

Levin, D., Smith, E. A., Caldwell, L. L., & Kimbrough, J. (1995). Violence and high school sports participation. Pediatric Exercise Science 7(4), 379-388.

Caldwell, L. L. & Smith, E. A. (1995). Health behaviors of leisure alienated youth. Society and Leisure, 18(1), 143-156.

Smith, E. A. & Caldwell, L. L. (1994). Participation in high school sports and adolescent sexual activity. Pediatric Exercise Science, 6(1), 69-74.

Smith, E. A., & Dickson, L. L. (1993). The impact of a condom desensitization program on female college students. Health Values, 17(3), 21-31.

Smith, E. A. & Zabin, L. S. (1993). Marital and birth expectations of urban adolescents. Youth and Society, 25(1), 62-74.

Caldwell, L. L., Smith, E. A., & Weissenger, E. (1992). Development of a leisure experience battery for adolescents: Parsimony, stability and validity. Journal of Leisure Research, 24(4), 361-376.

Caldwell, L. L., Smith, E. A., & Weissenger, E. (1992). The relationship of leisure activities and perceived health of college students. Society and Leisure, 15(2), 545-556.

COMMIT Research Group. (1991). Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT): Summary of Design and Intervention. Journal of National Cancer Institute, 83, 1620-1628.

Herold, E. S. Fisher, W. A., Smith, E. A., & Yarber, W. A. (1990). Sex and the prevention of STD/AIDS and pregnancy among youth. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 81(2), 141 -145.

Smith, E. A. & Caldwell, L. L. (1989). The perceived quality of leisure experiences among smoking and nonsmoking adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 9(1-2), 153-162.

Caldwell, L. L. & Smith, E. A. (1988). Leisure: An overlooked component of health promotion. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 79(2), 44-48.

Zabin, L. S., Hirsch, M. B., Smith, E. A., Smith, M., Emerson, M. K., King, T. M., Streett R., & Hardy J. B. (1988). The Baltimore pregnancy prevention program for urban teenagers: What did it cost? Family Planning Perspectives, 20(4), 188-192.

Zabin, L. S., Hardy, J. B., Smith, E. A., & Hirsch, M. B. (1986). Adolescent pregnancy prevention programs: A model for research and evaluation. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 7, 77-87.

Zabin, L. S., Hardy, J. B., Smith, E. A., & Hirsch, M. B. (1986). Substance use and its relation to sexual activity among inner-city adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 7, 320-331.

Zabin, L. S., Hirsch, M. B., Smith, E. A., Streett, R., & Hardy, J. B. (1986). Evaluation of a school and clinic based primary pregnancy prevention program for inner city junior and senior high school males and females. Family Planning Perspectives, 18(3), 119-126.

Zabin, L. S., Smith, E. A., & Hirsch, M. B. (1986). Ages of physical maturation and first intercourse in black teenage males and females. Demography, 23(4), 595-605.

Zabin, L. S., Cushner, I.. M., & Smith, E. A. (1986). A study of women requesting interval contraceptive sterilization who do and do not return for surgery. Fertility and Sterility, 45(6), 76-884.

Smith, E. A., Udry, J. R., & Morris, N. M. (1985). Pubertal development and friends: A bio-social explanation of adolescent sexual behavior. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26, 183-192.

Smith, E. A. & Udry, J. R. (1985). Coital and non-coital sexual behaviors of white and black adolescents. American Journal of Public Health, 75(10), 1200-1203.

Zabin, L. S., Hirsch, M. B., & Smith, E. A. (1984). Adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviors: Are they consistent? Family Planning Perspectives, 16(4), 181-185.