Shayna Cunningham, MHS, PhD
Assistant Professor AdjunctDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor Adjunct
Biography
Shayna Cunningham, PhD, is a Research Scientist in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at the Yale School of Public Health. Working in both the private sector and in academic settings, she has been engaged in education, advocacy, and scholarship with the goal of promoting deeper understanding of the fundamental determinants of sexual and reproductive health disparities as well as solutions to reduce or eliminate them. She has led and collaborated on a wide variety of applied research projects focused on the multilevel factors that influence individuals' health behaviors and outcomes. Her areas of expertise include the use of mixed methods research design, implementation science, and program and policy development and evaluation. She has extensive experience working in multi-disciplinary teams, and collaborating with individuals from government, the private-sector, community-based organizations, and academic institutions.
Last Updated on April 07, 2025.
Departments & Organizations
- Obesity Research Working Group
- Yale School of Public Health
Education & Training
- PhD
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2007)
- MHS
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2002)
Research
Overview
Dr. Cunningham is currently the Principal Investigator for an evaluation, funded by Merck for Mothers, on the use of community health workers to improve outcomes among pregnant women with chronic disease in three United States cities and a co-investigator for Yale's Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium. Recent past projects include a United Health Foundation-sponsored initiative to develop and implement an innovative group prenatal care model and assess its impact on perinatal outcomes and healthcare costs and a Health Resources and Services Administration-funded study aimed at describing patterns and identifying multi-level factors that impact variation in utilization and costs of maternity services.
Public Health Interests
Community Health; Aging; Chronic Diseases; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice; Mental Health; Reproduction
ORCID
0000-0001-8876-9962
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Shayna Cunningham's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Shayna Cunningham's research output by year.
Jeannette Ickovics, PhD
Jessica Lewis, PhD, LMFT
Leslie M. Rickey, MD, MPH
Ashley Hagaman, PhD, MPH
Claire Masters, MS, PMP
Deepa Camenga, MD, MHS, FAAP
18Publications
108Citations
Publications
2025
A Scoping Review of Quantitative Assessments of Women’s Bladder Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs
LaCoursiere D, Cunningham S, Vaughan C, Low L, Chu H, Markland A, Newman D, Gahagan S, Wyman J. A Scoping Review of Quantitative Assessments of Women’s Bladder Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs. Journal Of Women's Health 2025 PMID: 40533088, DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2024.0997.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsBladder healthWomen's knowledgePelvic floor muscle exercisesUrinary Incontinence Knowledge ScaleInvestigator-designed instrumentCommunity-dwelling womenUrinary incontinenceSurvey instrumentPopulation-based studyCross-sectional designFull-text articlesKnowledge of urinary incontinencePelvic floor dysfunctionMuscle exerciseIncontinence QuizScoping reviewHealth topicsCommunity-basedHealth attitudesQuantitative studyHealth knowledgeKnowledge scaleMeasure knowledgeQuestionnaire itemsData extractionEvaluating a train-the-trainer approach for implementing obstetric life support in diverse healthcare contexts throughout Arizona: a mixed methods protocol
Cunningham S, Carandang R, Wood L, Barry M, Baker P, Murphy M, Roth C, Becker L, Thomson B, Mosesso V, Vidosh J, Phelps J, Sutton B, Grady J, Annis-Brayne K, Shields A. Evaluating a train-the-trainer approach for implementing obstetric life support in diverse healthcare contexts throughout Arizona: a mixed methods protocol. BMC Health Services Research 2025, 25: 707. PMID: 40375088, PMCID: PMC12083141, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-025-12739-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHospital-based healthcare workersTrain-the-trainer approachBirth centersIn-hospital birth centerEmergency medical services agenciesFreestanding birth centerDiverse healthcare settingsMedical services agenciesLife supportDiverse healthcare contextsMaternal cardiac arrestSimulation-based curriculumMixed-methods studyMedical emergencyPrehospital contextHealthcare qualityPatient safetyReduce disparitiesMaternal morbidityHealth systemHealthcare settingsImplementation sitesHealthcare contextHealthcare workersNational stakeholdersInfluence of resilience and social support on the association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms during pregnancy: A moderated mediation model
Carandang R, Lewis J, Masters C, Ickovics J, Cunningham S. Influence of resilience and social support on the association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms during pregnancy: A moderated mediation model. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2025, 383: 435-442. PMID: 40334869, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.05.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSocial supportDepressive symptomsFood insecurityAssociation of food insecurityInfluence of food insecurityAdverse effects of food insecurityEffects of food insecurityGroup prenatal carePregnant individualsChronic food insecurityInfluence of resilienceMediation modelPrenatal careTrimester of pregnancyRisk factorsIndirect associationsModerated mediation modelAssociationInsecurityPregnancySymptomsSupportChronically foodCareIndividualsAssociations Between U.S. Women’s Toileting Behaviors and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of RISE for HEALTH Study Data
Berry A, Brady S, Burgio K, Cunningham S, Gahagan S, James A, Low L, LaCoursiere D, Lipman T, McGwin G, Mueller M, Palmer M, Rodriguez-Ponciano D, Smith A, Sutcliffe S, Williams B, Wyman J, Newman D. Associations Between U.S. Women’s Toileting Behaviors and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of RISE for HEALTH Study Data. Journal Of Women's Health 2025, 34: 653-664. PMID: 40029194, DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2024.0743.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLower urinary tract symptomsUrinary tract symptomsCross-sectional analysisDelayed voidingPremature voidingToileting behaviorsPopulation-based cohort studyYear old womanAssociated with urgencyCommunity-dwelling womenUnhealthy toileting behaviorsAge modified associationsUrgency incontinenceEmptying symptomsPostmicturition symptomsProportional odds logistic regressionCohort studyUrine storageBladder healthEducating young womenModified associationsYoung womenLogistic regressionAge groupsPrematurityAssociation between prenatal depressive symptoms and receipt of recommended maternal and infant care postpartum
Masters C, Carandang R, Rojina J, Lewis J, Ickovics J, Cunningham S, Hagaman A. Association between prenatal depressive symptoms and receipt of recommended maternal and infant care postpartum. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2025, 375: 174-179. PMID: 39862978, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.01.111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPrenatal depressive symptomsPostpartum check-upPrenatal depressionDepressive symptomsImpact health care accessImpact of maternal depressionCheck-upGroup prenatal careMaternal mental healthInfant receiptHealth care accessMental health interventionsReceipt of recommended vaccinationsReceipt of vaccinationPostpartum healthcareCare accessNo significant associationHealth interventionsPostpartum individualsMaternal depressionPrenatal careYear postpartumMental healthMonths postpartumPotential confounders
2024
Bladder Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs among US Adolescent Women
Camenga D, Brady S, Bilger A, Klusaritz H, Lipman T, Levin E, Brown O, Cunningham S, LaCoursiere D, James A, Gahagan S, Hebert-Beirne J, Low L, Consortium P, Brubaker L, Mueller E, Acevedo-Alvarez M, Fitzgerald C, Hardacker C, Hebert-Beirne J, Griffith J, Kenton K, Simon M, Brown O, Geynisman-Tan J, Mueller M, Markland A, Vaughan C, Coyne-Beasley T, Burgio K, Lewis C, McGwin G, Williams B, Lukacz E, LaCoursiere D, Gahagan S, Nodora J, Low L, Miller J, Smith A, McGwin G, Rudser K, Brady S, Fok C, Harlow B, Scal P, Rockwood T, Newman D, Smith A, Berry A, Bilger A, Lipman T, Klusaritz H, Stapleton A, Wyman J, Sutcliffe S, James A, Lowder J, Meister M, Rickey L, Camenga D, Cunningham S, Brubaker L, Bethesda, Norton J. Bladder Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs among US Adolescent Women. Journal Of Pediatric And Adolescent Gynecology 2024, 38: 60-67. PMID: 39374689, PMCID: PMC11769763, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2024.09.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrevention of Lower Urinary Tract SymptomsPrevent lower urinary tract symptomsLower urinary tract symptomsBladder healthUrinary tract symptomsFocus groupsData related to knowledgeWomen's overall healthQuality of lifeExposure to formal educationRelated to knowledgeHealthy behaviorsWomen's knowledgeEnvironmental barriersPreventive interventionsHealth knowledgeOverall healthInductive approachLife courseHealthBladder functionLack of informationAdolescent womenStigmaBladderExploring women's bladder self‐care practices: A qualitative secondary analysis
Wyman J, Burgio K, Newman D, Cunningham S, Hebert‐Beirne J, Low L, Meister M, Stapleton A, Gahagan S, Williams B, Brubaker L, Mueller E, Acevedo‐Alvarez M, Fitzgerald C, Hardacker C, Hebert‐Beirne J, Griffith J, Kenton K, Simon M, Brown O, Geynisman‐Tan J, Mueller M, Markland A, Vaughan C, Coyne‐Beasley T, Burgio K, Lewis C, McGwin G, Williams B, Lukacz E, LaCoursiere D, Gahagan S, Nodora J, Low L, Miller J, Smith A, McGwin G, Rudser K, Brady S, Fok C, Harlow B, Scal P, Rockwood T, Newman D, Smith A, Berry A, Bilger A, Lipman T, Klusaritz H, Stapleton A, Wyman J, Sutcliffe S, James A, Lowder J, Meister M, Rickey L, Camenga D, Cunningham S, Brubaker L, Norton J. Exploring women's bladder self‐care practices: A qualitative secondary analysis. Journal Of Advanced Nursing 2024, 81: 909-925. PMID: 38864346, PMCID: PMC11635011, DOI: 10.1111/jan.16257.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSelf-care practicesStandards for Reporting Qualitative ResearchBladder healthPrevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research ConsortiumWomen's experiencesHealth promotion interventionsSemi-structured discussion groupsReporting Qualitative ResearchPromote bladder healthSelf-care behaviorsPublic health professionalsSocial ecological modelQualitative secondary analysisPublic health messagesPelvic floor musclesFocus group studyPromotion interventionsPhysical activityHealth professionalsNational Institute of DiabetesHealth messagesFocus groupsAdult women's experiencesSecondary analysisCommunity-dwelling adult womenBuilding Community Engagement Capacity in a Transdisciplinary Population Health Research Consortium.
James A, Nodora J, Maki J, Harlow B, Low L, Coyne-Beasley T, Cunningham S, El-Fahmawi A, Klusaritz H, Lipman T, Simon M, Hebert-Beirne J. Building Community Engagement Capacity in a Transdisciplinary Population Health Research Consortium. Journal Of Community Engagement And Scholarship 2024, 16: 10. PMID: 39055611, PMCID: PMC11271685, DOI: 10.54656/jces.v16i2.496.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsCommunity engagementCommunity-engaged research approachCommunity-engaged researchNational Institutes of HealthEngagement capacityInstitutes of HealthResearch translationLong-term engagementResearch ConsortiumImpact of findingsResearch prioritiesMarginalized populationsNational InstituteResearch qualityConsortium membersBuilding momentumEngagementCommunityConsortiumResearch approachHealthStrategic planningIncreasing inclusionReal-life situationsReciprocal engagementAssociation between mindful and practical eating skills and eating behaviors among racially diverse pregnant women in four selected clinical sites in the United States
Carandang R, Epel E, Radin R, Lewis J, Ickovics J, Cunningham S. Association between mindful and practical eating skills and eating behaviors among racially diverse pregnant women in four selected clinical sites in the United States. Nutrition And Health 2024, 31: 757-766. PMID: 38584400, DOI: 10.1177/02601060241246353.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsEating skillsEating behaviorsEmotional eatingNutritional intakePregnant womenQuality of nutritional intakeRacially diverse pregnant womenClinical sitesDiverse pregnant womenPregnant woman's abilityMethods:</b> ParticipantsHunger cuesHealthy eatingResidual change scoresChange scoresMyPlateFood diariesPredicted emotional eatingMindful eatingLogistic regressionWomen's abilityRegular useThird trimesterEatingPregnancyDiscrimination and perinatal depressive symptoms: The protective role of social support and resilience
Masters C, Lewis J, Hagaman A, Thomas J, Carandang R, Ickovics J, Cunningham S. Discrimination and perinatal depressive symptoms: The protective role of social support and resilience. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2024, 354: 656-661. PMID: 38484882, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPerinatal depressive symptomsGroup prenatal careAdverse effects of discriminationSocial supportDepressive symptomsPrenatal careEffects of discriminationPregnant peopleAssociated with less depressive symptomsAssociated with depressive symptomsEffect of social supportModerating effect of social supportHigh social supportLess depressive symptomsPerinatal depressionSocial determinantsMonths postpartumLinear regression modelsSelf-report measuresPostpartum periodTrimester of pregnancyPostpartumPsychological factorsRegression modelsCare
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