World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Social Sciences and Humanities
USA
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Social Sciences and Humanities

D-Index
85
Citations
31515
World Ranking
267
National Ranking
122

Medicine

D-Index
85
Citations
31555
World Ranking
14472
National Ranking
7318

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Social Sciences and Humanities in United States Leader Award

Overview

Marsha Dowda is affiliated with the University of South Carolina in the United States and specializes in medical research with a focus on public health, environmental and occupational health, physiology, developmental and educational psychology, general health professions, and transportation. Their work primarily addresses issues related to obesity, physical activity, diet, children's physical and motor development, health and lifestyle studies, urban transport and accessibility, child nutrition and feeding issues, and health and wellbeing research.

Their recent publications cover a range of topics within these fields. Notable papers include:

  • Patterns of age-related change in physical activity during the transition from elementary to high school, 2022, Preventive Medicine Reports
  • Longitudinal Associations Between Psychosocial, Home, and Neighborhood Factors and Children's Physical Activity, 2020, Journal of Physical Activity and Health
  • Linking Activity, Nutrition, and Child Health (LAUNCH): protocol for a longitudinal cohort study of children as they develop from infancy to preschool age, 2020, BMC Public Health
  • Associations between three measures of physical activity and selected influences on physical activity in youth transitioning from elementary to middle school, 2021, Sports Medicine and Health Science
  • Walkability indices and children's walking behavior in rural vs. urban areas, 2021, Health & Place

Marsha Dowda frequently collaborates with several researchers across their publications. Frequent co-authors include:

  • Russell R. Pate
  • Ruth P. Saunders
  • Rod K. Dishman
  • Kerry L. McIver
  • A Bucko

Their research has been published in multiple venues, with repeated contributions to the following journals and platforms:

  • UNC Libraries
  • Journal of Physical Activity and Health
  • Journal of School Health
  • Childhood Obesity
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Their work integrates multiple disciplines related to medicine, with a significant portion dedicated to public health and environmental issues as well as developmental psychology. Their research topics span critical areas such as physical activity and health, childhood development, nutrition, and factors influencing health behaviors, including environmental and neighborhood influences on physical activity.

Best Publications

  • Age and gender differences in objectively measured physical activity in youth.

    Stewart G. Trost;Russell R. Pate;James F. Sallis;Patty S. Freedson

  • Evaluating a model of Parental influence on youth physical activity

    Stewart G Trost;James F Sallis;Russell R Pate;Patty S Freedson

  • Motor skill performance and physical activity in preschool children.

    Harriet G. Williams;Karin A. Pfeiffer;Jennifer R. O'Neill;Marsha Dowda

  • Associations between physical activity and other health behaviors in a representative sample of US adolescents

    Russell R. Pate;Gregory W. Heath;Marsha Dowda;Stewart G. Trost

  • Validation and Calibration of an Accelerometer in Preschool Children

    Russell R. Pate;Maria João C. A. Almeida;Kerry L. McIver;Karin A. Pfeiffer

  • Physical Activity Among Children Attending Preschools

    Russell R. Pate;Karin A. Pfeiffer;Stewart G. Trost;Paula Ziegler

  • MEASURING ENJOYMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

    R W. Motl;R K. Dishman;R Saunders;M Dowda

  • Sports Participation and Health-Related Behaviors Among US Youth

    Russell R. Pate;Stewart G. Trost;Sarah Levin;Marsha Dowda

  • Compliance with physical activity guidelines: prevalence in a population of children and youth.

    Russell R. Pate;Patty S. Freedson;James F. Sallis;Wendell C. Taylor

  • Enjoyment mediates effects of a school-based physical-activity intervention.

    Rod K. Dishman;Robert W. Motl;Ruth P. Saunders;Gwen A. Felton

  • Physical activity in overweight and nonoverweight preschool children.

    Stewart G. Trost;John R. Sirard;Marsha Dowda;Karin A. Pfeiffer

  • Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of a school-based physical-activity intervention among adolescent girls

    Rod K. Dishman;Robert W. Motl;Ruth P. Saunders;Gwen A. Felton

  • Sedentary behaviour in youth

    Russell R Pate;Jonathan A Mitchell;Wonwoo Byun;Marsha Dowda

  • Social and Environmental Factors Associated With Preschoolers’ Nonsedentary Physical Activity

    William H. Brown;Karin A. Pfeiffer;Kerry L. McIver;Marsha Dowda

  • A prospective study of the determinants of physical activity in rural fifth-grade children

    Stewart G. Trost;Russell R. Pate;Ruth P. Saunders;Dianne S. Ward

  • Correlates of Vigorous Physical Activity for Children in Grades 1 Through 12: Comparing Parent-Reported and Objectively Measured Physical Activity

    James F. Sallis;Wendell C. Taylor;Marsha Dowda;Patty S. Freedson

  • Tracking of physical activity in young children.

    Russell R. Pate;Tom Baranowski;Marsha Dowda;Stewart G. Trost

  • Promotion of physical activity among high-school girls: a randomized controlled trial.

    Russell R. Pate;Dianne Stanton Ward;Ruth P. Saunders;Gwen Felton

  • Physical self-concept and self-esteem mediate cross-sectional relations of physical activity and sport participation with depression symptoms among adolescent girls.

    Rod K. Dishman;Derek P. Hales;Karin A. Pfeiffer;Gwen A. Felton

  • Directly Observed Physical Activity Levels in Preschool Children

    Russell R. Pate;Kerry L. McIver;Marsha Dowda;William H. Brown

Frequent Co-Authors

Russell R. Pate
Russell R. Pate University of South Carolina
Ruth P. Saunders
Ruth P. Saunders University of South Carolina
Karin A. Pfeiffer
Karin A. Pfeiffer Michigan State University
Dianne S. Ward
Dianne S. Ward University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Stewart G. Trost
Stewart G. Trost University of Queensland
Rod K. Dishman
Rod K. Dishman University of Georgia
John R. Sirard
John R. Sirard University of Massachusetts Amherst
James F. Sallis
James F. Sallis University of California, San Diego
Robert W. Motl
Robert W. Motl University of Illinois at Chicago
Sara Wilcox
Sara Wilcox University of South Carolina

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Social Sciences and Humanities in the USA opens diverse online degree options and career directions. For those interested in advanced psychology careers, the best online psyd programs offer the flexibility to earn a doctorate in psychology remotely, preparing graduates for clinical and leadership roles. If your passion is in marriage and family therapy, consider exploring online mft degrees, which are designed for students seeking a streamlined path toward licensure and practice.

Cost is a key concern for many students. Fortunately, there are several masters in psychology online cheap options, ideal for those seeking to advance without heavy financial burden. For educators and administrators aiming to move up in academia or leadership, edd degrees can be completed online in an accelerated format.

Online programs provide flexible scheduling and broader access, making it easier than ever to tailor your Social Sciences or Humanities education to your career goals and lifestyle.

Best Scientists Citing Marsha Dowda

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles