Social Health and Participation Laboratory

General Laboratory Description

Dr. Jessica Kersey directs the Social Health and Participation Laboratory, conducting community-engaged research to enhance social health (social participation and connection) outcomes among people with acquired brain injury. Dr. Kersey’s research focuses on understanding the environmental and social factors that influence social and community participation, including social support, social determinants of health, and accessibility of systems and services. She also aims to examine the effect of participation on health. Research is grounded in the values, perspectives, and priorities of people with brain injury and their family members, and involves co-designed and co-delivered interventions.

Please visit our lab’s website here! [[email protected]]

General Description of Student Activities

Students in the Social Health and Participation Laboratory will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the research process, including literature reviews, recruitment, screening, assessments, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, and scientific writing and presentations. Students will also be involved in developing and growing community collaborations. We encourage students from all backgrounds to join the Social Health and Participation Laboratory, including students with disabilities and from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and gender identities. Flexible hours are available for some research activities. Additional learning opportunities will focus on developing a deeper understanding of social and environmental influences on health, the social model of disability, and community-engaged research methods.

Examples of Projects

• ENGAGE-TBI is a community-based intervention that relies on social learning, guided discovery and skilled practice to improve community participation outcomes after brain injury. It is co-led by an occupational therapist and a peer mentor with a brain injury. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in a feasibility clinical trial through administration of research assessments and support for group community outings.
• SUPPORT-TBI is a new intervention that involves both a person with a brain injury and a close family member who work together to develop strategies for a sustainable, meaningful, reciprocal relationship to continue to support each other through life with a brain injury. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in administration of research assessments, qualitative interviews, data management, and data analysis.
• Hospital to Community Connections is conducted in partnership with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri. This project seeks to implement a formal transition from hospital-based care after a new brain injury to community-based support systems and services. It involves enhanced education at the time of brain injury and direct referral to community-based resource facilitation. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in developing and sustaining relationships with brain injury rehabilitation and inpatient programs, implementation data collection and analysis, and development of education materials.
• Participant Perspectives on Participation in Clinical Research is a qualitative study examining the values and priorities of diverse people with brain injury that drive decisions about whether to participate in research. It further examines supportive structures, accommodations, and outreach efforts that may make research more accessible to people with brain injury. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in qualitative interviews, data management, and data analysis.
• Long COVID Repository is a collaboration with WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy's Clinical Division. This study collects a standardized battery of assessments on clients seeking clinical occupational therapy due to complications related to long COVID. Assessments focus on changes in activity and participation outcomes, along with the affect of Long COVID symptoms on daily life activities. Students will have the opportunity to be involved with data management, data analysis, and scientific writing and presentations.