by Rachel Ward, Student Public Relations Writer
As colleges nationwide search for better ways to support student mental health, an interdisciplinary team of Cedarville University student researchers is contributing to the conversation through the Mind-Body Study, a long-term project examining how daily habits affect emotional health and academic performance.
Led by Dr. Chao Liu, associate professor of psychology, the team presented a professional development seminar at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago in April, explaining its research methodology and highlighting early findings. Dr. Haisong Ye, an instructional designer at Cedarville’s Center for Teaching and Learning, provided technical support in developing the data collection framework and also contributed to the seminar presentation.
Mind-Body Study Examines Student Mental Health and Daily Habits
Launched in 2024, the Mind-Body Study examines how behaviors such as sleep, movement and, in the future, screen use shape college students’ well-being. As mental health remains a growing concern in higher education, the project contributes to broader efforts to understand what supports student success.
Interdisciplinary Research Team Combines Psychology and Computer Science
The research team reflects a cross-disciplinary approach, combining experience from psychology and computer science. Samuel Babbert, a junior psychology student from Columbus, Ohio, served as the project coordinator for the 2025-26 research team.
Additional team members included Mia Engert, a junior psychology student from Victor, New York; Aaron Pachucki, a senior psychology student from Rexford, New York; Grace Shi, a senior allied health student from China; Teagan Warren, a senior psychology student from Springboro, Ohio; Doreen Yin, a junior computer science student from China; and Phoebe Zhu, a third-year pharmacy student from Yunnan, China.
“Coming together from different disciplines, we all have different perspectives,” said Babbert. “I think that helped inform our research questions and the way we interpreted the results.”
The study used a GPS tracking system through an app on students’ phones to measure movement duration, timing and location. Participants also completed assessments throughout the day in real time to capture emotional data and reduce recall bias.
Movement Linked to Improved Emotional Health in College Students
Key findings showed that movement during the day was associated with reduced negative emotions on the same day and increased positive emotions the following day. In contrast, nighttime movement correlated with lower academic performance, likely due to its effect on sleep, a finding consistent with previous research.
“I’m really proud of this team,” said Liu. “They did a wonderful job at the conference and worked hard at data collection. They represented the university well and represented Christ well. That makes my heart very happy.”
As the Mind-Body Study moves forward, Liu plans to investigate the effects of screen use on mental health, adding to a growing international discussion about student wellness and strategies for addressing mental health challenges worldwide.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
