CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — A career in dentistry is the goal for both fourth-year biobehavioral health (BBH) students, Melanie Villarreal and Jana Elarousy. The Penn State Lehigh Valley duo channeled their interest in dentistry and behavioral health through collaboration on a research poster that explored factors such as oral health, stigma, and socioeconomic equality and their relationship to mental health.
“My interest in the topic stems from a perspective that oral health is often overlooked as an influence on overall well-being,” Elarousy said. “As someone aspiring to attend dental school, I am interested in understanding the broader social and psychological factors that influence oral health and patient outcomes.”
Villarreal shared her classmate’s interest in exploring the dynamics between oral health and dental aesthetics and their influence on self-esteem and well-being.
“Quality of life is so closely connected to both mental and physical health,” she said. “I wanted to better understand that connection.”
Villarreal represented Penn State Lehigh Valley at the annual Eastern Sociological Society conference in Washington D.C. this past March. She presented the pair’s research alongside more than 100 college and university poster competitors throughout the country, serving as the only representative of Penn State.
“We found that social burdens far outweigh physical burdens pertaining to oral health when linked to mental well-being,” Elarousy said of their work. “Experiences such as embarrassment, stigma and discomfort in social or work settings are actually a stronger predictor of depression than physical oral health symptoms like pain or difficulty eating.”
Villarreal and Elarousy’s research was selected as one of six poster winners awarded for outstanding research at the D.C. conference. Jennifer Parker, associate professor of sociology at Penn State Lehigh Valley, encouraged her students to participate in the opportunity.
“Melanie and Jana represent the very best of what we hope to cultivate in sociology students and in the BBH program here at Penn State,” Parker said. "Their research on oral health and depression shows that they are already thinking beyond the clinical setting by asking how dentistry can address broader inequalities in health care.”
Elarousy noted her experience in the BBH program at Penn State Lehigh Valley a transformative one.
“I chose Penn State Lehigh Valley because the small campus environment allows for meaningful, one-on-one relationships with the professors” she said. “I began my college experience with only a general idea of my goals and the support and mentorship from faculty and staff have helped me develop a clear path for achieving them.”
Villarreal credited her involvement in the Justice, Equity, and Social Impact (JESI) program, an initiative designed to support student research experiences, as the catalyst for her interest in research.
“The JESI program showed me how research can create real social change and it pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, connect with others and explore new perspectives,” she said.
Both Villarreal and Elarousy plan to pursue dental school after graduating from the four-year BBH program at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Penn State Lehigh Valley, established in 1912, combines over a century of academic excellence with personalized instruction and industry-connected faculty. Students can choose from 11 baccalaureate degrees or begin any of Penn State’s 275+ majors through the 2+2 program. With small class sizes and advanced learning technology, our modern campus prepares students for success in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. For more information, please visit lehighvalley.psu.edu