Marla Eisenberg, Sc.D., M.P.H.

Assistant Professor
Phone: (612) 624-9462
Fax: (612) 626-2134
eisen012@umn.edu

Dr. Eisenberg is an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine. She received her baccalaureate degree from the University of Wisconsin and her Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health. Dr. Eisenberg earned her Doctor of Science degree from Harvard University School of Public Health and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Eisenberg teaches research methodology seminars in the interdisciplinary fellowship programs in the Division and provides individual mentoring for fellows on their research projects. She conducts adolescent health research with the Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center, and her research focus is social influences on health behaviors of adolescents.

Honors and Awards

• Irvine McQuarrie Research Scholar Award, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2006
• Schochet GLBT Research Award, Office for Multicultural and Academic Affairs, University of Minnesota, 2006
• Pediatric Loan Repayment Program, National Institutes of Health, 2005 - 2010
• New Investigator Award, Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2003
• Harvard Education Program in Cancer Prevention Pre-doctoral Fellowship (T32), National Cancer Institute, 1998-2001

Research Interests

• Influences on adolescent sexual behaviors
• Health issues of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth
• Body image and weight control behaviors
• Teasing and bullying

Selected Recent Publications

Eisenberg ME. Madsen N. Oliphant JA. Resnick M. Beyond the Call of Duty: A qualitative study of teachers’ extra tasks related to sexuality education. American Journal of Sexuality Education, in press.

Eisenberg ME. Madsen N. Oliphant JA. Resnick M. Policies, principals and parents: Multilevel challenges and supports in teaching sexuality education. Sex Education, in press.

Larson NI. Neumark-Sztainer D. Hannan PJ. Eisenberg ME. Harwood E. Do young adults participate in surveys that ‘go green’? Response rates to a web and mailed survey of weight-related behaviors. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development, in press.

Ackard DM. Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Associations between adolescent dating violence and sexual risk behaviors among male and female older adolescents. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, in press.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Eisenberg ME. Wall MM. Loth KA. Yoga and Pilates: Associations with body image and disordered eating behaviors in a population-based sample of young adults. International Journal of Eating Disorders, in press.

Secor-Turner M. Sieving RE. Eisenberg ME. Skay C. Sources of Information about Sex and Risky Sexual Behaviors. Sex Education, in press.

Taliaferro LA. Eisenberg ME. Johnson KE. Nelson TF. Neumark-Sztainer D. Sport participation during adolescence and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 23(1):3-10. 2011.

Lagus KA. Bernat DH. Bearinger LH. Resnick MD. Eisenberg ME. Parental Perspectives on Sources of Sex Information for Young People. Journal of Adolescent Health, doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.10.007. Available online 1/15/11.

Eisenberg ME. Berge J. Fulkerson JA. Neumark-Sztainer D. Weight Comments by Family and Significant Others in Young Adulthood. Body Image, 8(1):12-19. 2011.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Larson N. Fulkerson J. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Family meals and adolescents: What have we learned from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens)? Public Health Nutrition, 13(7):1113-11121. 2010.

Eisenberg ME. Madsen N. Oliphant JA. Sieving RE. Resnick M. “Am I qualified? How do I know?” A qualitative study of sexuality educators’ training experiences. American Journal of Health Education, 41(6):337-344. 2010.

van den Berg, P. Mond J. Eisenberg ME. Ackard D. Neumark-Sztainer D. The link between body image and self-esteem: Similarities across gender, age, weight status, race, and socioeconomic status. Journal of Adolescent Health, 47(3):290-296. 2010.

van den Berg P. Keery H. Eisenberg M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Maternal and adolescent report of mothers’ weight-related attitudes and behaviors: Longitudinal associations with adolescent outcomes. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35(10):1093-102. 2010.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Friends’ dieting and the development of disordered eating behaviors among adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 47(1):67-73. 2010.

Barnes AJ. Eisenberg ME. Resnick MD. Suicide and Self-Injury among Children and Youth with Chronic Health Conditions. Pediatrics, 125:889-895. 2010.

Eisenberg ME. Ackard DM. Resnick MD. Neumark-Sztainer D. Casual sex and emotional health in sexually active young adults: Are “friends with benefits” psychologically damaging? Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 41(4):231–237. 2009.

Bernat DH. Harpin S. Eisenberg ME. Bearinger LH. Resnick MD. Parental Support for the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45:525-527. 2009.

Eisenberg ME. Bernat DH. Bearinger, LH. Resnick MD. Condom provision and education in Minnesota public schools: A telephone survey of parents. Journal of School Health, 79:416-424. 2009.

Larson NI, Neumark-Sztainer D, Harnack L, Wall M, Story M, Eisenberg ME. Calcium and dairy intake: Longitudinal trends during the transition to young adulthood and correlates of calcium intake. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 41:254-260. 2009.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Feldman S. Does TV viewing during family meals make a difference in adolescent substance use? Preventive Medicine, 48(6);585–587. 2009.

Boutelle K. Eisenberg ME. Becker M. Neumark-Sztainer D. The reciprocal relationship between parent-child connectedness and adolescent emotional functioning over 5 years. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66:309–316. 2009.

Haines J. Neumark-Sztainer D. Hannan PJ. van den Berg P. Eisenberg ME. Longitudinal and secular trends in weight-related teasing during adolescence. Obesity, 16(2s): S18-S23. 2008.

van den Berg P. Neumark-Sztainer D. Eisenberg ME. Haines J. Racial/ethnic differences in weight-related teasing in adolescents. Obesity, 16: S3-S10. 2008.

Loth K. van den Berg P. Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Stressful life events as a predictor of unhealthy weight control behaviors: Findings from Project EAT. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(5):514-6. 2008.

Crow SJ. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Are body dissatisfaction, eating disturbances, and body mass index predictors of suicide behavior in adolescents? A longitudinal study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(5):887-892. 2008.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Fulkerson JA. Story M. Family meals and substance use: Is there a long-term protective effect? Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(2):151-156. 2008. (Noted in the American Journal of Medicine SmartBrief, http://www.smartbrief.com/servlet/wireless ? issueid=40AAD487-7E1E-41FD-B76C-4C5C82D8F37F&sid=0cf3676a-ec90-42db-be20-a65f2412ede5, August, 2008)

Larson NI. Neumark-Sztainer D. Harnack L. Wall M. Story M. Eisenberg ME. Fruit and Vegetable Intake Correlates during the Transition to Young Adulthood. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(1):33-37, 2008.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Peer Harassment and Disordered Eating. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 20(2):155-164, 2008.

Eisenberg ME. Bernat DH. Resnick MD. Bearinger LH. Support for comprehensive sexuality education: Perspectives from parents of school-age youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(4):352-359, 2008.

Larson NI. Neumark-Sztainer D. Harnack L. Wall M. Story M. Eisenberg ME. Fast Food Intake: Longitudinal Trends during the Transition to Young Adulthood and Correlates of Intake. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(1): 79-86, 2008.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Eisenberg ME. Fulkerson JA. Larson NI. Story M. Do family meals protect adolescents from disordered eating behaviors? Longitudinal findings from Project EAT. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 162(1):17-22, 2008.

Crow S. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Suicidal behavior in adolescents: Relationship to weight status, weight control behaviors, and body dissatisfaction. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 41(1):82-87, 2008.

Hall-Lande J. Eisenberg ME. Christianson S. Neumark-Sztainer D. Social Isolation, Psychological Health, and Protective Factors in Adolescence. Adolescence, 42(166):265-86, 2007

Eisenberg ME. Ackard DM. Resnick MD. Protective factors and suicide risk among adolescents with a history of sexual abuse. Journal of Pediatrics, 151:482-7. 2007.

Ackard DM. Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. The Impact of Adolescent Dating Violence on the Behavioral and Psychological Health of Boys and Girls. Journal of Pediatrics, 151:476-81. 2007.

Feldman S. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Turn the TV off and come to dinner! Associations between watching TV during family meals and dietary intake among adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 39:257-263. 2007.

Stang J. Kong A. Story M. Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Food and Weight Related Patterns and Behaviors of Hmong Adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(6):936-41. 2007.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Wall M. Haines J. Story M. Eisenberg ME. Why does dieting predict weight gain in adolescents? Findings from Project EAT-II: A five-year longitudinal study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107: 448-455. 2007.

Vertalino M. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Participation in weight-related sports is associated with higher use of unhealthy weight control behaviors and steroid use in adolescent males and females. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107:434-440. 2007.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Wall MM. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Hannan PJ. Overweight status and weight control behaviors in adolescents: Longitudinal and secular trends from 1999-2004. Preventive Medicine. 43:52-59. 2006.

Eisenberg ME. Resnick MD. Suicidality among gay, lesbian and bisexual youth: the role of protective factors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 39: 662–668. 2006.

Paxton SJ. Neumark-Sztainer D. Hannan P. Eisenberg ME. Body dissatisfaction prospectively predicts depressive symptoms and low self-esteem in adolescent girls and boys. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 35(4):539-49. 2006.

Eisenberg ME. Bearinger LH. Sieving RE. Swain C. Resnick MD. Parents’ communication with adolescents about sexual behavior: a missed opportunity for prevention? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(6): 893-902. 2006.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Paxton SJ. Five-year change in body satisfaction among adolescents. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 61(4):521-527. 2006.

Paxton S. Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Prospective predictors of body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls and boys: A five year longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 42(5): 888-899. 2006.

Keery H. Eisenberg ME. Boutelle KN. Neumark-Sztainer D. Story M. Relationships between maternal and adolescent weight-related behaviors and concerns: The role of perception. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 61:105-111. 2006.

Eisenberg, ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Haines J. Wall MM. Weight-teasing and emotional well-being in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from Project EAT. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(6):675-683. 2006.

Crow S. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Psychosocial Correlates of Dieting among Overweight and Non-overweight Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(5):569-574. 2006.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Wall MM. Guo J. Story M. Haines J. Eisenberg M. Obesity, disordered eating, and eating disorders in a longitudinal study of adolescents: How do dieters fare five years later? Journal of American Dietetic Association, 106:559-568. 2006. (Awarded an honorable mention for the 2006 Huddleson Award, for JADA manuscripts which made an important contribution to the dietetics profession)

Sieving RE. Eisenberg ME. Pettingell S. Skay C. Friends’ Influence on Adolescents’ First Sexual Intercourse. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 38(1):13-19. 2006.

Haines J. Neumark-Sztainer D. Eisenberg ME. Hannan PJ. Weight-teasing and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Pediatrics, 117: e209-e215. 2006.

Larson N. Story M. Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Food Preparation and Purchasing Roles in Adolescence: Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics and Diet Quality. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106(2):106:211-218. 2006.

Kelly AM. Wall M. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Neumark-Sztainer D. Adolescent girls with high body satisfaction: Who are they and what can they teach us? Journal of Adolescent Health, 37(5):391-6. 2005.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Lust KD. Weight-related issues and high-risk sexual behaviors among college students, Journal of American College Health, 54(2):95-101. 2005.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Story M. Perry C. The role of social norms and friends’ influences on unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescent girls, Social Science and Medicine, 60:1165-1173. 2005.

Hanson NI. Neumark-Sztainer D. Eisenberg ME. Story M. Wall M. Associations between Parental Report of the Home Food Environment and Adolescent Intakes of Fruits, Vegetables, & Dairy Foods. Public Health Nutrition, 8(1):77-85. 2005.

Eisenberg ME. Swain C. Sieving R. Bearinger LH. Resnick MD. Parental Notification Laws for Minors' Access to Contraception - What Do Parents Say? Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 159:120-125. 2005. (Abstracted in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 37(2):100-101. 2005.)

Eisenberg ME. Aalsma MC. Bullying and peer victimization: A position paper for the Society for Adolescent Medicine, Journal of Adolescent Health, 36:88-91, 2005.

Abroms L. Fagan P. Eisenberg ME. Lee HS. Remba N. Sorensen G. The STRENGTH Ezine: An Application of Email for Health Promotion in Adolescent Girls. American Journal of Health Promotion, 19(1):28-32. 2004.

Eisenberg ME. Olson RE. Neumark-Sztainer D. Story M. Bearinger LH. Correlations between family meals and psychosocial well-being among adolescents, Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 158:792-796. 2004.

Sorensen G. Fagan P. Hunt MK. Stoddard AM. Girod K. Eisenberg M. Frazier L. Changing channels for tobacco control with youth: developing an intervention for working teens. Health Education Research, 19:250-260. 2004.

Eisenberg ME. Bearinger LH. Sieving R. Swain C. Resnick MD. Parents' beliefs about condoms and oral contraceptives: are they medically accurate? Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(2):50-57. 2004.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Perry C. Peer harassment, school connectedness and school success, Journal of School Health, 73(8):311-316. 2003.

Eisenberg ME. Wechsler H. Social influences on substance-use behaviors of college students with same-sex experience: Findings from a national study. Social Science and Medicine, 57(10):1913-23. 2003.

Eisenberg ME. Neumark-Sztainer D. Story M. Weight-based teasing and associations with emotional well-being among adolescents. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 157:733-738. 2003. (Abstracted in Journal of the American Medical Association, 290(20):2643. 2003)

Eisenberg M. Wechsler H. Substance Use Behaviors among College Students with Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Experiences: Results from a National Survey. Addictive Behaviors, 28(5): 899-913. 2003.
Eisenberg ME. Forster JL. Adolescent smoking behavior: measures of social norms. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25(2), 122-128. 2003.

Fagan P. Eisenberg ME. Frazier L. Stoddard A. Avurnin J. Sorensen G. Employed Adolescents and Beliefs about Self-Efficacy to Avoid Tobacco Use. Addictive Behaviors, 28:613-626. 2003.

Eisenberg ME. The association of campus resources for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students with college students' condom use. Journal of American College Health, 51(3):109-116. 2002.

Eisenberg ME. Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors between College Students with Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Experiences: Results from a National Survey. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30(6):575-589. 2001.

Fagan P. Eisenberg M. Stoddard AM. Frazier L. Sorensen G. Social Influences, Social Norms, Social Support and Smoking Behavior Among Adolescent Workers. American Journal of Health Promotion, 15(6):414-421. 2001.

Eisenberg ME, Wagenaar AC, Neumark-Sztainer D: Viewpoints of Minnesota Students on School-Based Sexuality Education, Journal of School Health, 67(8):322-326. 1997.

French SA, Story M, Jeffery RW, Snyder MP, Eisenberg ME, Sidebottom A, Murray D. Pricing Strategy to Promote Fruit and Vegetable Purchase in High School Cafeterias, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 97(9):1008-1110. 1997.

Monographs, Reports, and Book Chapters

Eisenberg ME. Sieving RE. Oliphant JA. Resnick MD. Teachers’ Perspectives on Sexuality Education: Final Report. Prepared for the Bird & Bees Project of Pro-Choice Resources (Minneapolis, MN). 2010.

Kim YA. Eisenberg ME. Ahmad MA. Srivastava J. Modeling Trust in Online Social Networks to Improve Adolescent Health Behaviors. Prepared for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Public Health Informatics. 2010.

Eisenberg ME. von Hippel C. Sex and Sexuality in Emerging Adulthood. Prepared by invitation for the Changing SEA project of the Life Cycle Institute at Catholic University of America. http://changingsea.org/eisenberg.htm. 2010.

Eisenberg ME. Sieving RE. Oliphant JA. Teachers’ Perspectives on Sexuality Education: A Summary of Focus Group Findings. Prepared for the Bird & Bees Project of Pro-Choice Resources (Minneapolis, MN). 2009.

Neumark-Sztainer D. Eisenberg M. Weight bias in a teen’s world. In: Weight Bias: Nature, Consequences and Remedies. Edited by KD Brownell, RM Puhl, MB Schwartz, L Rudd. Guilford Press. New York. 2005.

Eisenberg, ME. Resnick MD. Voices from the Heartland: Parents' Views on Parental Notification Laws for Adolescent Reproductive Health Care. Prepared for the Region V / Title X Family Planning Training Program (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). 2003.

Sorensen G, Emmons K, Hunt MK, Eisenberg M, Johnston D. Public Health Interventions Targeting Health Behaviors: Building on Research to Date. Prepared by invitation for the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, Committee on Health and Behavior: Research, Practice and Policy. 1999.