Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · PsychologyAdolescent Risk Behavior Research Lab
Jungmeen Kim-Spoon · Blacksburg, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. Jungmeen Kim-Spoon's lab studies the factors that influence risky behaviors in adolescents and young adults, particularly those related to substance use. The research focuses on how brain development and psychosocial factors, such as poverty and social support, affect decision-making processes that lead to health risk behaviors. By following young people over several years, the lab aims to understand how these elements interact and to develop better prevention strategies for substance misuse and addiction.
substance usehealth risk behaviorsneuroscienceadolescencepsychosocial factorslongitudinal studyaddiction preventiondecision-makingbrain development
Research Aims
3AIM 01Assess the links between brain control and reward systems and health risk behaviors in youths.
AIM 02Examine the impact of childhood adversity on young adult risk behaviors.
AIM 03Investigate how social integration influences decision-making and reduces health risk behaviors.
Skills the Lab Values
longitudinal data analysisneuroimaging techniquespsychosocial survey methodsstatistical modelingcognitive assessmentsdata collectionrisk behavior assessmentcommunity-based research methodsdata interpretation
Output against the department
Publications100bottom 26% of dept.218th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.2kbottom 31% of dept.203rd of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.