Robert Atkins

PhD, RN
Assistant Professor

Mail:

Rutgers, The State University of NJ
College of Nursing
Ackerson Hall, Room 102
180 University Avenue
Newark, New Jersey 07102-1897

Office:

Conklin Hall, Room 212
Office Hours: By Appointment
Phone: 973.353.3835
Fax: 973.353.1277
Email: ratkins@rutgers.edu
Website: http://surveys.rutgers.edu/facsurv/html/Robert_L._Atkins.html

Education:

PhD: Department of Public Health, Temple University
MSN: College of Nursing, Rutgers University
BSN: University of Pennsylvania
BA: Political science and American civilizations, Brown University

Research and Clinical Interests:

Dr. Atkins’s research addresses theory and practice for improving the life chances of children and youth living in high-poverty, urban neighborhoods. This interest grows from his experiences in Camden—one of America’s poorest cities--as a school nurse, the director of a public health initiative, and as the founder of a youth development program (see http://children.camden.rutgers.edu/STARR/index.htm). Dr. Atkins’ research with nationally representative longitudinal survey data illuminates the effects of urban poverty on child and adolescent development. Dr. Atkins’ current work explores four questions about the development of youth living in high-poverty neighborhoods: 1) What social and institutional processes mediate the relationship of high-poverty neighborhoods to the health and well-being of youth living in those neighborhoods? 2) How does stress influence personality development in childhood? 3) How does childhood personality influence the emergence of risky and health-damaging behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood? 4) What do youth in high-poverty neighborhoods do to promote, maintain, or restore their own health? Weblink to updated CV:
http://surveys.rutgers.edu/facsurv/CV/Robert_L._Atkins_CV.pdf

Professional and Community Activities:

• The Camden STARR Program: a youth development initiative focusing on adolescents in Camden, New Jersey. For more info follow this link: http://children.camden.rutgers.edu/STARR/index.htm
• Healthy Futures for Camden Youth: a community-based project that enrolls Camden children and families in the NJ FamilyCare program. For more info follow this link: http://camden-nt1.rutgers.edu/hfcy/

Recent Publications:

• Atkins, R. & Matsuba, K. (in press). The association of childhood personality on risky sexual behaviors during adolescence. Journal of School Health.
• Atkins, R. & Hart, D. (2008). The under-controlled do it first: childhood personality and sexual debut. Research in Nursing and Health.
• Hart, D., Atkins, R. & Matsuba, K. (2008). Hart, D., Atkins, R. & Matsuba, K. (2008). The association of neighborhood poverty with personality change in childhood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 1048-1061.
• Atkins, R. (2008). Getting the Most from Nursing School: A Guide to Becoming a Nurse. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
• Atkins, R. (2007). The association of personality type in early childhood with violence in adolescence. Research in Nursing and Health, 30, 308-319.
• Atkins, R. (2007). The association of personality and the likelihood of serious unintentional injury during childhood. Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
• Atkins, R. (2007). The association of personality type in early childhood with violence in adolescence. Research in Nursing and Health, 30, 308-319.
• Hart, D., Donnelly, T., Youniss, J. & Atkins, R. (in press). High School Community Service as a Predictor of Adult Voting and Volunteering. American Educational Research Journal.
• Matsuba, K., Hart, D. & Atkins, R. (in press). Psychological and Social-Structural Influences on Commitment to Volunteering. Journal of Research in Personality.
• Hart, D., Atkins, R., & Tursi, N. (2006). Origins and developmental influences on self-esteem. In M. Kernis (Ed.) Self-esteem: Issues and answers (pp. 157-162). London: Psychology Press.
• Atkins, R., Hart, D., & Donnelly, T. (2005). The association of childhood personality type with volunteering during adolescence. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly
• Hart, D., Atkins, R., Markey, P., & Youniss, J. (2004). Youth bulges in communities: The effect of age structure on adolescent civic knowledge and civic participation. Psychological Science,15, 591-597.
• Atkins, R. & Hart, D. (2004). Moral identity development and school attachment. In D. Lapsley and D. Narvaez (Eds.) (2004). Morality, Self and Identity: Essays in Honor of Augusto Blasi. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
• Hart, D., Atkins, R., & Fegley, S. (2003). Personality and development in childhood: A person-centered approach. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 68(1, Serial No. 272).
• Atkins, R. & Hart, D. (2003). Neighborhoods, adults, and the development of civic identity in urban youth. Applied Developmental Science, 7, 156-165.
• Hart, D. & Atkins, R. (2002). Fostering citizenship in urban youth. Applied Developmental Science, 6 227-237.

Honors and Awards:

• Philadelphia 76ers: Hometown Heroes Award 2006- December 2006
• Campbell Soup Foundation: Hometown Heroes Award 2006- October 2006
• Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame Inductee- September, 2006
• Community Planning and Advocacy Council Anna M. Sample Community Advocacy Award – June, 2006
• Concerned Black Nurses of Newark Outstanding Achievement in Research Award – May, 2006
• 2007 Institute for Nursing: Men in Nursing Calendar nominee