Student-athlete’s senior thesis published

Erskine College senior Leandro Bolaños Melgar of Peru, a member of the men’s soccer team who is completing a double major in psychology and business administration, has had his senior psychology thesis published in the November 2015 issue of the European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, an internationally refereed scholarly journal published monthly online from Zurich, Switzerland.

Melgar’s article, “Positive Effects of Self-Affirmation and Environmental Behavioral Reinforcers on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption,” combined research in the areas of both psychology and business, Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Briana Van Scoy reports.

The study included participants in Peru and the United States who were exposed to displays regarding the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption and were also sent text messages and emails on the same topic. The study showed an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption as well as in satisfaction with life. According to an abstract of the article, “Findings could be transferred to a larger population in order to modify behavior for healthier worldwide consumption.”

Professor of Psychology Dr. Robert Elsner is listed as corresponding author.

“It’s very exciting to have one of our students published,” Van Scoy said.

See the article here.