Carolyn T. Halpern, PhD

Dr. Halpern is professor and chair of the Department of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is also a developmental psychologist and deputy director/co-investigator of the Waves IV and V National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) program project.

Dr. Halpern’s research interests center on improving understanding of healthy sexual development and the implications of adolescent experiences for developmental and demographic processes into adulthood, particularly as these relate to sexual and romantic relationships.

Dr. Halpern has nearly 30 years of research experience in the study of adolescent and young adult sexuality and risk-taking in both U.S. and global settings, and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications on these topics. She has received multiple university-wide and national awards for mentoring and academic leadership.

Honors and Awards

Recipient John E. Larsh Jr. Student Mentorship Award

2016, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Nominated for Carolina Women’s Leadership Council Mentoring Award, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2014, UNC-CH

Nominee for the John Larsh Student Mentorship Award

2014, UNC-CH

Recipient Loretta Lacey Academic Leadership Award

2010, National Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health

Recipient National Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health Loretta Lacey Academic Leadership Award

2010, UNC-CH

Recipient Graduate School Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring

2009, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Delta Omega

2007, Honorary Public Health Society

Nominated for Carolina Women’s Leadership Council Mentoring Award, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2007, UNC-CH

Nominated for the Graduate School Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2007, UNC-CH

Nominated for the Graduate School Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2006, UNC-CH

Nominee for the Bernard G. Greenberg Alumni Endowment Award

2004, UNC-CH

Nominee for the John Larsh Student Mentorship Award, Spring

2001, n/a

Nominee for McGavran Excellence in Teaching Award, Spring

2000, n/a

Representative Courses

Research Methods in MCH

Research and Evaluation in MCH

Teaching Interests

Research Activities

Dr. Halpern’s research interests center on improving understanding of healthy sexual development and the implications of adolescent experiences for developmental and demographic processes into adulthood. Her early research focused on the hormonal underpinnings of pubertal change and how the interactions of physical, psychological and social changes contribute to adolescent sexual initiation and behavior. Her current research examines comprehensive sexual initiation patterns among youth, and the implications of those patterns for later sexual behavior and adult health. Most of her research uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), for which Dr. Halpern serves as Deputy Director.

Service Activities

2017 – present  NIH CIHB - Community Influences on Health Behavior Study Section, Standing Member

2016 – present  Member of Unintended Pregnancy Priority Working Group, NC State Health Improvement plan

2016 - present  Member Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for NIDDK funded clinical consortium titled Adolescent Bariatrics: Assessing Health Benefits and Risks  (Teen-LABS) study

2016 – Present  Chair, Resource Development Committee, Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens, North Carolina (SHIFT NC); [Formerly Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina]

2015 – present  Associate Editor for Public Health and Policy, Journal of Adolescent Health

2014 – present  Member, Dean’s Council

2014 – present  Member, Chairs’ Committee

2013 - present  Advisory Board Member, Future of Sex Education (FoSE) Collaboration

2013 – Present  Member, Board of Directors, Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens, North Carolina (SHIFT NC); [Formerly Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina]

Practice Activities

Program Committee Member for the 2018 Meeting of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.

Organizer and chair for the session “Adolescent Risk Behaviors and Health” for 2018 meeting of the Population Association of America.

Key Publications

Sexual partner accumulation from adolescence to early adulthood in populations with physical disabilities in the United States. Kahn NF, Halpern CT. (2021). Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(5), 991-998.
View publication

Subjective Health: Comparing the reliability of contemporaneous, retrospective, and proxy reports of overall health. 2. Bollen K, **Gutin I, Halpern CT, Harris KM. (2021). Social Science Research, 96.
View publication

Development of a Method for Identifying Individuals with Intellectual Disability within a Population Study. **Franklin MS, Silva SG, Maslow GR, Halpern CT, Merwin EI, Docherty SL. (2020). Nursing Research, 69(6), 436–447.

Preterm birth and receipt of postpartum contraception among women with Medicaid in North Carolina. Tucker CM, Berrien K, Menard MK, Herring AH, Daniels J, Rowley D, Halpern CT. (2020). Maternal and Child Health Journal, 24(5), 640–650.

Patterns of risk and protective factors among Alaska children: Association with maternal and child wellbeing. Austin AE, Gottfredson NC, Halpern CT, Zolotor AJ, Marshall SW, Parrish JW, Shanahan ME. (2020). Child Development.

Heterogeneity in risk and protection among Alaska Native/American Indian and non- Native children. Austin AE, Gottfredson NC, Marshall SW, Halpern CT, Zolotor AJ, Parrish JW, Shanahan ME. (2020). Prevention Science, 21(1), 86-97.

Preconception and prenatal predictors of early experiences of risk and protection among Alaska children. Austin AE, Gottfredson NC, Zolotor AJ, Halpern CT, Marshall SW, Parrish JW, Shanahan ME.  (2020). Maternal and Child Health Journal, 24(1), 82-89.

Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Across Early- and Mid-Life Among the Add Health Cohort. Hargrove TW, Halpern CT, Gaydosh L, Hussey JM, Whitsel EA, Dole N, Hummer RA, Harris KM. (2020). Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

Research note: A prenotice greeting card’s impact on response rates and response times. Griggs AK, Powell RJ, Keeney J, Waggy M, Harris KM, Halpern CT, Dean S. (2019). Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 10(4), 421-432.

Maltreatment experience in childhood and average excess body mass from adolescence to young adulthood. Sokol R, Ennett ST, Shanahan ME, Gottfredson NC, Poti JM, Halpern CT, Fisher EB. (2019). Child Abuse and Neglect..

Is developmental change in gender typed behavior associated with adult sexual orientation? Kahn NK, Halpern CT. (2019). Developmental Psychology., 55(4), 855–865.

The Depths of Despair Among US Adults Entering Midlife. L Gaydosh, R Hummer, T Hargrove, C Halpern, J Hussey, E Whitsel, N Dole, K Harris. (2019). American Journal of Public Health, 109(5), 774-780.

Transitioning from in-person mode to web-mail mixed mode in a panel survey. D Liao, P Biemer, K Harris, B Burke, C Halpern. (2019).

Intergenerational effects of mass incarceration: Parental incarceration and children’s earnings in young adulthood. M Turner, C Halpern. (2019).

Effects of Two Educational Posters on Contraceptive Knowledge and Intentions: A Randomized Controlled Trial. S Anderson, L Frerichs, A Kaysin, S Wheeler, C Halpern, K Lich (2019). Obstetrics and gynecology, 133(1), 53-62.

Halpern CT, Harris KM. Subjective Health: Comparing the reliability of contemporaneous, retrospective, and proxy reports of overall health. Bollen K, **Gutin I, Halpern CT, Harris KM. (2021). Social Science Research., 96.
View publication

Metabolic Syndrome and Economic Strain Among Sexual Minority Young Adults. S Goldberg, K Conron, C Halpern (2019). LGBT health, 6(1), 1-8.

Variations in the timing of first sexual experiences among populations with physical disabilities in the United States. N Kahn, C Suchindran, C Halpern (2019). Disability and health journal, 12(2), 155-163.

Education

PhD, Developmental Psychology, University of Houston, 1982

MA, Developmental Psychology, University of Houston, 1979

BS, Psychology, University of Houston, 1976