Sheri Lokken Worthy

Research

I have explored a range of consumer-related topics in my research including consumer vulnerability, savings, and financial risk-taking behaviors.  I have been part of a multi-state research group that investigated the psychological and economics factors related to saving, and behavioral economics, financial decision-making and information management across the lifespan. We conducted focus groups and online experiments to investigate student loan decision making, housing purchase, and retirement planning. I also evaluated Turning the Tide on Poverty, a project implemented in several states to encourage civic engagement and grass-roots problem solving of community issues in rural, poverty-striken areas. 

Teaching

Family Resource Management; Consumer Economics; Intro to Family & Consumer Sciences

Books

Dyk, P., Monroe, P., Tyler-Mackey, C., Welborn, R., & Worthy, S. L. (2018). Turning the Tide on Poverty, Editors: Lionel Beaulieu and Alice Diebel. Routledge. Available: https://www.routledge.com/Turning-the-Tide-on-Poverty/Beaulieu-Diebel/p/book/9781138081192

Current Classes

FHCE 3000: Family Resource Management

FHCE 8901: Graduate Seminar

FHCE 5160/7160: Consumer Economics Capstone

FACS 2000E: Intro to Family and Consumer Sciences

Current Research

My current research focuses on consumer health and well-being. I am part of the multi-state research group studying behavioral economics and the intersection of healthcare and financial decision making across the lifespan.

Job Description

As Associate Dean for Academic Programs for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Dr. Sheri Worthy is responsible for leading the development and implementation of all major activities related to the college's teaching mission. 

Publications

Worthy, S. & Lee, H. (in press). Healthy lifestyle and well-being through the lens of family and consumer sciences, Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Parks, J., Johnson, P., Worthy, S. L., & Moorman, D. (in press). Examining college students' attitudes toward poverty during the adult role in the Community Action Poverty Simulation. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension. 

Parks, J. & Worthy, S. (2023). Using Spent’s online poverty simulation to teach family and consumer sciences students about poverty. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. 115(2), 35-38. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14307/JFCS115.2.35 

McInnis, A., Worthy, S. L., & Medvedev, K. (2022). Incorporating a sustainability module into the College of Family and Consumer Sciences FACS 2000 Course at the University of Georgia. International Journal of Home Economics, 15(2), 167-175. 

Lee, H. J., & Worthy, S. L. (2021). Adoption of fad diets through the lens of the diffusion of innovations, Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, DOI: 10.111/fcsr.12419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fcsr.12419.

Lee, H. J. & Worthy, S. L. (2021). Changes in consumer wellness during the early weeks of the pandemic. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 113(3), 36-43.

Lee, H. J. & Worthy, S. L. (2021). A qualitative analysis of young adult health and wellness perceptions, behaviors, and information seeking, Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 9(2), available: https://www.jhseonline.com/article/view/918.

Worthy, S., Mountain, T., Chatterjee, S. et al. (2020). Differences in the Determinants of Retirement Preparation between Farm and Non Farm Households. Journal of Applied Farm Economics, 3(2), 42-58. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jafe/vol3/iss2/5/

Bartholomae, S., Kiss, E., Jurgenson, J., O’Neill, B., Worthy, S., & Kim, J. (2019). Framing the human capital investment decision: Examining gender bias in student loan borrowing. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 40(1), 132-145 DOI: 10.1007/s10834-018-9603-6.

Moore, H., Carswell, A., Worthy, S. & Nielsen, R., (2019). Residential satisfaction among students: Examining high-end amenity student housing. Family and Consumer Science Research Journal, 47(3). 260-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcsr.12298.

Johnson, C., Evans, D., Worthy, S., & O’Neil, B. (2016). Using virtual focus groups in Extension research. Journal of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Available: http://www.neafcs.org/assets/documents/journal/2016%20jneafcs.pdf

Johnson, C., O’Neil, B., Worthy, S. L., Lown, J. & Bowen, C. (2016). What are student loan borrowers thinking? Insights from focus groups on college selection and student loan decision-making, Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 27(2).

Dyk, P., Monroe, P., Tyler-Mackey, C., Welborn, R., & Worthy, S. L. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: History, theoretical frameworks, and methods, Community Development, 47(3), 287-303. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1164734

Tyler-Mackey, C., Monroe, P., Dyk, P. Welborn, R., & Worthy, S. L. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: Community climate in economically distressed rural communities, Community Development, 47(3), 304-321. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1164206

Worthy, S. L., Tyler-Mackey, C., Dyk, P., Monroe, P., & Welborn, R. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: Perception of leaders and leadership in economically distressed communities, Community Development, 47(3), 322-340. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1167098

Worthy, S. L., Downey, L., Dyk, P., C., Monroe, P., Tyler-Mackey, & Welborn, R. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: Community champions as critical elements of success in turning around economically distressed communities, Community Development, 47(3), 341-357. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1167096

Monroe, P., Tyler-Mackey, C., Dyk, P., Welborn, R., Worthy, S. L., Lowe, C., & Pickett, N. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: Sustainability of community engagement in economically distressed communities, Community Development, 47(3), 358-374. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1165273

Welborn, R., Downey, L., Dyk, P., Monroe, P., Tyler-Mackey, C., & Worthy, S. L. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: The role of Cooperative Extension Service in the initiative, Community Development, 47(3), 375-384. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1167097

Welborn, R., Downey, L., Dyk, P., Monroe, P., Tyler-Mackey, C., & Worthy, S. L. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: Documenting impacts through Ripple Effect Mapping, Community Development, 47(3), 385-402. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1167099

Worthy, S. L., & Beaulieu, L. J. (2016). Turning the Tide on Poverty: Strategies and challenges related to tackling poverty in rural communities in the South, Community Development, 47(3), 403-410. DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1165274

Worthy, S. L., Pilcher, K., Lokken, K. L., & Crump, A. (2012). Factors influencing consumer vulnerability to weight-loss advertising among obese consumers. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 104(4), 46-51.

Jonkman, J., Blinn-Pike, L., & Worthy, S. L., (2012). College students: Is gambling moderated by partenting style and/or family environment? Journal of Behavioral Addiction, 1(4), 1-8.

Hayhoe, C., Cho, S., DeVaney, S., Worthy, S. L., Kim, J. & Gorham, E. (2012) How do distrust and anxiety affect saving behavior? Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 41(1), 69-85.

Gutter, M. S., Dorman, R., Hayhoe, C. R., DeVaney, S. A., Evans, D. A., Kim, J., Bowen, C., Cheang, M., Cho, S. H., Gorham, E., Lown, J., Mauldin, T., Solheim, C., & Worthy, S. L. (2012) Exploring the relationship of economic, sociological, and psychological factors to the savings behavior of low-to moderate-income households. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 41(1), 86-101.

Worthy, S. L., Lokken, K. L., Pilcher, K., & Boeka, A. (2010). Demographic and lifestyle variables associated with obesity. Health Education Journal, 69(4), 372-380. http://www.mdlinx.com/nursing/news-article.cfm/3408938

Blinn-Pike, L., & Worthy, S. L., & Jonkman, J. (2010). Adolescent gambling: An introduction to an emerging field of research, Journal of Adolescent Health, 47(3), 223-236.

Worthy, S. L., Jonkman, J. N., & Blinn-Pike, L. (2010). Sensation-seeking, risk-taking, and problematic financial behaviors of college students, Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 31(2), 161-170.

Worthy, S. L. (2009). FCS undergrads at Mississippi State learn research process, Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 101(3), 47.

Thiagarajan, P., Lueg, J. E., Ponder, N., Worthy, S. L., & Taylor, R. D. (2009). The effects of role strain on the consumer decision process for groceries in single parent households. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 16(3), 207-215.  

Worthy, S. L., Taylor, J. C., & Cheek, W. K. (2008). Mississippi State undergrad program teaches grant writing, Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 100(4), 51-52.

Lokken, K.L., Worthy, S.L., Ferraro, F.R., & Attmann, J. (2008, July). Bulimic symptoms and body image dissatisfaction in college women: More affected by climate or race? Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied,142(4), 386-394.

Pike, L. B., Worthy, S. L., Jonkman, J.N., & Smith, G.R. (2008). Emerging adult versus adult status among college students: Examination of explanatory variables. Adolescence, 43(171), 577-591.

McBride, C., Collins, S., Bell, C., Quinn, C., & Worthy, S. L. (2008). Parents’ influence on children’s weight-related behaviors, Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences. Available: http://www.kon.org/urc/v7/mcbride.html. First place paper in volume 7, 2008.

Pike, L. B., & Worthy, S. L. (2008). Undergraduate women who have gambled in casinos: Are they at risk? Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 37(1), 71-83.

Leppert, B. & Worthy, S. L. (2008). Predictors of binge drinking among college students. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences. Available: www.kon.org/urc/urc_research_journal7.html

Worthy, S. L. (2007). Educating tomorrow’s global consumers through life experience in London. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 99(4), 42-43.

Trautmann, J., Worthy, S. L., & Lokken, K. L. (2007). Body dissatisfaction, bulimic symptoms, and clothing practices among college women. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 141(5), 485-498.

Alford, M., Farrell, S., Roby, C., Staples, S., & Worthy, S. L. (2007). The effect of gasoline prices on college students’ expenditures. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences. Available: http://www.kon.org/urc/v6/alford.html

Pike, L. B., Worthy, S. L., & Jonkman, J. N. (2007). Disordered gambling among adolescents versus college students: A meta-analytic comparison. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23(2), 175-183.

Humphrey, A. K., Brown, K. S., Bell, J., Lee, D., Worthy, S. L. (2006). Investigating role strain and stress in dual-earner and single-earner families. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences, 5. Available: http://www.kon.org/urc/v5/humphrey.html

Young, M., Cain, C., Fesmire, A., Williams, C., & Worthy, S. L. (2006). Child, adolescent, and adult stress related to natural disasters. Undergraduate Research Journal, 5, Available: http://www.kon.org/urc/v5/young.html

Worthy, S. L., Trautmann, J., Miller, B.R., Hyllegard, K., Lakner, H., Damhorst, M., Bastow-Shoop, H., Lyons, N., & Manikowske, L. (2005). Online home furnishings and furniture shopping practices of rural consumers. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 97(4), 30-35.

Worthy, S. L., Hyllegard, K., Damhorst, M., Trautmann, J., Bastow-Shoop, H., Gregory, S., Lakner, H., Lyons, N., & Manikowske, L. (2004). Rural consumers’ attitudes toward the Internet for information search and product purchase. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 33(1), 81-99. 

Lokken, K.L., Worthy, S.L., & Trautmann, J. (2004). Examining the links among magazine preference, levels of awareness and internalization of sociocultural appearance standards, and presence of eating-disordered symptoms in college women. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 32(4), 361-381.

Lokken, S., Cheek, W., & Hastings, S. (2003). The impact of technology training on family and consumer sciences teachers’ attitudes toward using computers as an instructional medium. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education, 21(1). Available: www.natefacs.org/JFCSE/jfcse.htm

Lokken, S.L., Cross, G., Halbert, L., Lindsey, G., Derby, C., & Stanford, C. (March 2003). Comparing online and non-online shoppers. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 27(2), 126-133.

Lokken, S.L., Byrd, S.H., & Hope, K.J. (Summer 2002). Assessing nutrition risk and sociodemographic characteristics of low-income older adults living in Mississippi. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly, 21(4), 21-37.

Black, C. R., Lokken, S. L., & Dodson, W. (2002). Use of pork variety products by elderly African Americans living in the Southeastern US. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 16, A254.

Hastings, S. W., Cheek, W. K., & Lokken, S. L. (2001). Preliminary impacts of an innovative FCS curriculum. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 93(4), 58-62. 

Lokken, S.L., & Hope, K.J. (2000). Food assistance needs of low-income elderly: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 92(2), 46-50.