Melissa Jean Bopp, PhD - Penn State Cancer Institute
Researcher Profile

Melissa Jean Bopp, PhD
Associate Professor, Kinesiology
Scientific Program:Cancer Control
Research Interests
- Exercise
- Students
- Health
- African Americans
- Walking
- Population
- Demography
- Occupational Groups
- Health Promotion
- Health Behavior
- Recreation
- Mental Health
Recent Publications
2023
Rovniak, LS, Cho, JAY, Freivalds, A, Kong, LAN, De Araujo-Greecher, M, Bopp, M, Sciamanna, CN & Rothrock, L 2023, 'Effects of Desk Pedaling Work Rate on Concurrent Work Performance among Physically Inactive Adults: A Randomized Experiment', Medicine and science in sports and exercise, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 20-31. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003026
Wilson, OWA, Elliott, LD, Cardinal, BJ, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2023, 'Physical Activity Behaviors and Campus Recreation Use of Students Enrolled in Summer Transition Programs at a Large Northeastern United States University', Recreational Sports Journal, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 67-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/15588661231157681
Wilson, OWA, Powers, SL, Frederick, GM, Peterson, KT & Bopp, M 2023, 'Transgender and Nonbinary College Student Inclusivity in Campus Recreation: Perceptions of North American Staff', Recreational Sports Journal, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 74-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/15588661231156439
Elliott, LD, Lieberman, M, Rovniak, L, Bose, M, Holmes, L & Bopp, MJ 2023, 'What are States doing to Encourage Safe Routes to School Programming in Disadvantaged Communities? Findings from a U.S. Mixed-Methods Survey', Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981221140363
2022
Elliott, LD & Bopp, M 2022, 'Bicycle advocacy organizations and coalitions’ capacity for equitable programming: Findings from a national survey', Journal of Transport and Health, vol. 25, 101367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101367
Powers, SL, Wilson, OWA & Bopp, M 2022, 'Challenges Faced and Solutions Implemented in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic among North American College Campus Recreation Staff', Recreational Sports Journal, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/15588661211052077
Sciamanna, CN, Ballentine, NH, Bopp, M, Chinchilli, VM, Ciccolo, JT, Delauter, G, Fisher, A, Fox, EJ, Jan De Beur, SM, Kearcher, K, Kraschnewski, JL, Lehman, E, McTigue, KM, McAuley, E, Paranjape, A, Rodriguez-Colon, S, Rovniak, LS, Rutt, K, Smyth, JM, Stewart, KJ, Stuckey, HL & Tsay, A 2022, 'Correction to: Working to increase stability through exercise (WISE): screening, recruitment, and baseline characteristics (Trials, (2021), 22, 1, (809), 10.1186/s13063-021-05761-0)', Trials, vol. 23, no. 1, 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06018-0
Panza, M, Redman, G, Vierimaa, M, Vella, SA, Bopp, M & Evans, MB 2022, 'Developing and evaluating a peer-based mental health literacy intervention with adolescent athletes', PloS one, vol. 17, no. 12 December, e0274761. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274761
Elliott, LD, Tran, B, Dzieniszewski, E, Duffey, M, Wilson, OWA & Bopp, M 2022, 'Differences in United States college student physical activity and exercise self-efficacy based on gender and race/ethnicity', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2093117
Bhuiyan, N, McNeill, LH, Bopp, M, Downs, DS & Mama, SK 2022, 'Fostering spirituality and psychosocial health through mind-body practices in underserved populations', Integrative Medicine Research, vol. 11, no. 1, 100755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2021.100755
Bopp, M, Wilson, OWA, Elliott, LD, Holland, KE, Duffey, M & Papalia, Z 2023, 'Gender and race/ethnicity differences in occupational activity among students', Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 170-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2022.2134282
Baker, K, Bopp, M, Bulger, SM, Chen, YC, Duffey, ML, Myers, B, Voelker, DK & Woodard, KF 2022, 'Kinesiology Faculty Reflections on COVID-19 and Future Directions in Online Education', Kinesiology Review, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 303-310. https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2022-0017
Elliott, LD, Wilson, OWA, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2022, 'Participation in Higher Intensity Physical Activity Predicts Lower Depressive Symptom Incidence in College Students', International Journal of Exercise Science, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 667-675.
Wilson, OWA, Powers, SL & Bopp, M 2022, 'Policies and Practices for Equity: Perspectives of Campus Recreation Staff in North America', Recreational Sports Journal, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 152-165. https://doi.org/10.1177/15588661221089340
Wilson, OWA, Gouda, D, Cardinal, BJ, Holland, KE, Elliott, LD, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2022, 'Power 5 conference institutions’ summer transition program physical activity promotion efforts: A review', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2056417
Wilson, OWA, Bullen, C, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2022, 'The association between vaping and health behaviors among undergraduate college students in the United States', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2076097
Elliott, LD, Peterson, KT, Dzieniszewski, E, Wilson, OWA & Bopp, M 2022, 'The intersection of gender identity, sexual orientation, and active transportation behavior: An exploratory study', Journal of Transport and Health, vol. 26, 101477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101477
Elliott, LD, McLeod, K & Bopp, M 2022, 'U.S. complete streets initiatives are lacking explicit language surrounding various demographic populations: A call to action', Transport Policy, vol. 123, pp. 40-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.05.003
Elliott, LD & Bopp, M 2022, 'United States’ universities are forgetting about equitable bicycle programming on campus', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2141058
2021
Wilson, OWA, Panza, MJ, Evans, MB & Bopp, M 2021, 'A scoping review on college student physical activity: How do researchers measure activity and examine inequities?', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 728-736. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2020-0370
Bopp, M, Wilson, O, Elliott, L, Papalia, Z & Duffey, M 2021, 'Association between active transport habits and physical activity levels in a diverse sample of college students in the United States', Journal of Public Health (Germany). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01424-7
Bopp, M, Mama, SK, Wilson, OWA & Elliott, LD 2022, 'Breaking down race-related barriers to recreational cycling: experiences from diverse cycling groups', World Leisure Journal, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 166-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2021.1937304
Alessio, HM, Bassett, DR, Bopp, MJ, Parr, BB, Patch, GS, Rankin, JW, Rojas-Rueda, D, Roti, MW & Wojcik, JR 2021, 'Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Physical Inactivity: Is Active Transportation Part of the Solution?', Medicine and science in sports and exercise, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 1170-1178. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002569
Wilson, OWA, Jones, BA & Bopp, M 2021, 'College student aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity: Disparities between cis-gender and transgender students in the United States', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1895808
Wilson, OWA, Bhuiyan, N & Bopp, M 2021, 'Factors contributing to gender inequities in physical activity and campus recreation facility use', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1965150
Wilson, OWA, Jones, H, Mama, SK, Guthrie, H, Papalia, Z, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2021, 'Female college student weight perception discordance', Journal of American College Health, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1645678
Piatkowski, D & Bopp, M 2021, 'Increasing Bicycling for Transportation: A Systematic Review of the Literature', Journal of Urban Planning and Development, vol. 147, no. 2, 04021019. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000693
Knudson, D & Bopp, M 2021, 'Measuring Learning and Promoting Academic Integrity in Online Instruction', Kinesiology Review, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 436-442. https://doi.org/10.1123/KR.2021-0037
Wilson, OWA, Holland, K, Bopp, CM & Bopp, M 2021, 'The apparent need for better communication between clinicians and patients regarding elevated blood pressure among United States emerging adults', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1990070
Kim, J, Mowen, A, Hickerson, B, Graefe, A & Bopp, M 2021, 'The association of cultural and environmental factors with mental health among Asian immigrants', International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 464-473. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-11-2020-0105
Wilson, OWA, Holland, KE, Elliott, LD, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2021, 'The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US college students’ physical activity and mental health', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 272-278. https://doi.org/10.1123/JPAH.2020-0325
Elliott, LD, Wilson, OWA & Bopp, M 2021, 'University bicycle programming capacity for underrepresented student populations: Pedaling toward equitable opportunities', Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.2002339
Elliott, LD, Wilson, OWA, Holland, KE & Bopp, M 2021, 'Using Exercise as a Stress Management Technique During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Differences Between Men and Women in College', International Journal of Exercise Science, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 1234-1246.
Ryerson, NC, Wilson, OWA, Pena, A, Duffy, M & Bopp, M 2021, 'What happens when the party moves home? The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. college student alcohol consumption as a function of legal drinking status using longitudinal data', Translational behavioral medicine, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 814-820. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab006
2020
Mama, SK, Bhuiyan, N, Bopp, MJ, McNeill, LH, Lengerich, EJ & Smyth, JM 2020, 'A faith-based mind-body intervention to improve psychosocial well-being among rural adults', Translational behavioral medicine, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 546-554. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz136
Bhuiyan, N, Kang, JH, Papalia, Z, Bopp, CM, Bopp, M & Mama, SK 2022, 'Assessing the stress-buffering effects of social support for exercise on physical activity, sitting time, and blood lipid profiles', Journal of American College Health, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 1563-1569. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1810055
Wilson, OWA, Matthews, PJ, Duffey, M, Papalia, Z & Bopp, M 2020, 'Changes in health behaviors and outcomes following graduation from higher education', International Journal of Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 131-139.
Wilson, OWA, Bopp, CM, Papalia, Z, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2020, 'College Students’ Experiences and Attitudes Toward Physical Activity Counseling', Journal for Nurse Practitioners, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 623-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.06.006
Rovniak, LS, Adams, MA, Sciamanna, CN, Kong, L, Sullivan, N, Costalas, S, Bopp, M & Kuzmik, A 2020, 'Effects of bluetooth-enabled desk ellipticals on office work performance: Rationale, design, and protocol for a randomized trial with overweight and obese adults', JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 9, no. 1, e16275. https://doi.org/10.2196/16275
Rosso, AC, Wilson, OWA, Papalia, Z, Duffey, M, Kline, CE & Bopp, M 2020, 'Frequent restful sleep is associated with the absence of depressive symptoms and higher grade point average among college students', Sleep health, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 618-622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2020.01.018
Wilson, OWA, Bopp, CM, Papalia, Z, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2022, 'Freshman physical activity constraints are related to the current health behaviors and outcomes of college upperclassmen', Journal of American College Health, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 1112-1118. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1785475
Wilson, OWA, Colinear, C, Guthrie, D & Bopp, M 2022, 'Gender differences in college student physical activity, and campus recreational facility use, and comfort', Journal of American College Health, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 1315-1320. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1804388
Wilson, OWA, Garra, S, Bopp, M & Bopp, CM 2021, 'Incorporating the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension diagnostic criteria into metabolic syndrome criteria will significantly increase the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among college students', Journal of Human Hypertension, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 517-523. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-020-0369-6
Kim, J, Mowen, AJ, Hickerson, BD, Graefe, A & Bopp, M 2020, 'Relationship of perceived environmental characteristics to self-efficacy and leisure time physical activity among Asian immigrants in the U.S.', Health Promotion Perspectives, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 366-372. https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.2020.55
Agans, JP, Wilson, OWA & Bopp, M 2020, 'Required health and wellness courses: Associations with college student physical activity behavior and attitudes', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 632-640. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2019-0362
Wilson, OWA, Elliott, LD, Duffey, M, Papalia, Z & Bopp, M 2020, 'The contribution of active travel to meeting physical activity recommendations among college students', Journal of Transport and Health, vol. 18, 100890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100890
Kutz, JL, Bopp, M & Gravish Hurtack, LA 2020, 'What’s holding them back? Informing retention and success of kinesiology undergraduates', Kinesiology Review, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 331-336. https://doi.org/10.1123/KR.2020-0043
2019
Bopp, M, Wilson, OWA, Duffey, M & Papalia, Z 2019, 'An examination of active travel trends before and after college graduation', Journal of Transport and Health, vol. 14, 100602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2019.100602
Vainshelboim, B, Bopp, CM, Wilson, OWA, Papalia, Z & Bopp, M 2021, 'Behavioral and Physiological Health-Related Risk Factors in College Students', American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 322-329. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619872436
Wilson, OWA, Zou, ZH, Bopp, M & Bopp, CM 2019, 'Comparison of obesity classification methods among college students', Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 430-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2019.09.003
Wilson, OWA, Papalia, Z, Duffey, M & Bopp, M 2019, 'Differences in college students' aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activities based on gender, race, and sexual orientation', Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 16, 100984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100984
Webb, BL, Harmon, BE & Bopp, M 2019, Faith-Based Settings and Physical Activity Promotion. in Physical Activity and Public Health Practice. Springer Publishing Company, pp. 141-157. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826134592.0010
Wilson, OWA, Galascio, MM & Bopp, M 2021, 'Freshmen weight and body composition change determinants: A scoping review', Journal of American College Health, vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 298-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1665053
Wilson, OWA, Bopp, CM, Papalia, Z & Bopp, M 2019, 'Objective vs self-report assessment of height, weight and body mass index: Relationships with adiposity, aerobic fitness and physical activity', Clinical obesity, vol. 9, no. 5, e12331. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12331
Wilson, OWA, Graupensperger, S, Blair Evans, M & Bopp, M 2019, 'The temporal association between physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption: A longitudinal within- And between-person investigation', Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 274-280. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2018-0162
Sims, D & Bopp, M 2020, 'Using parental active travel behavior and beliefs to predict active travel to school among children', International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 343-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2018.1558469