Health and Human Services News

What’s in a personality?

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We often hear about personality types and tests, especially in the workplace.  

Many offices use tests like the NEO-PI or the Hexaco to evaluate how employees work and interact with each other.  

But what’s in a personality? Are our personalities permanent? Are they shaped by our experiences? How do we know personality tests are accurate? 

Dr. Amber Abernathy, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Paul Deal, psychology department head, answer these questions and more in the July episode of the “Health Queries” podcast.  

“I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to psychology and personality, and it plays a big role in our everyday lives,” Abernathy said. “It involves everything — how you see the world, how you take in events, how you interact with other people, how you cope — so it’s important to know where you fall on the scale.” 

Listen to the episode

Dairy vs. non-dairy milk: What’s the difference?

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Dairy alternatives like oat milk, soy milk and almond milk are quickly becoming a replacement for dairy milk in many diets. But how do they compare nutritionally?

Registered dietitian and Missouri State dietetics clinical assistant professor Natalie Allen answers your questions about the risks and benefits of dairy alternatives in June’s “Health Queries” episode.

Here’s a taste:

“The most important thing with dairy intake is to drink milk while the bones are forming,” Allen said. “If a middle-aged mom tells me I’m going to put almond milk in my coffee, that’s a lot different than somebody saying, ‘I’m not going to allow my kindergartener to drink milk.'”

Listen to the episode to learn more

Read interview transcript.

OT and PT 101

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Occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) have differences when it comes to treating patients.

OT focuses on helping patients relearn everyday tasks, like brushing teeth or cooking a meal. Physical therapy focuses on rehabilitating movement after injury, trauma or overuse pain.

However, the two disciplines often work together to form a comprehensive treatment plan for a recovering patient.

“We often work with someone who is post-stroke or post-brain injury,” said Dr. Traci Garrison, clinical assistant professor of OT at Missouri State. “So, they have movement issues, cognitive issues and psychosocial issues. With this patient, my PT colleagues will work on balance and specific transfers, while I help the individual get back to everyday tasks, like dressing themselves. It’s a very collaborative process.”

Dr. Traci Garrison works with a student in a biomedical sciences class in 2016.

Garrison and Dr. Jason Shaw, assistant professor of physical therapy, discuss the partnership between OT and PT in April’s “Health Queries” episode.   

Listen to the episode

View episode transcript.