Millions of women in the U.S. experience eating disorders at some point in their lives. Nahila Nzina, originally from Cameroon, is researching this critical issue at City College. Her ultimate goal? To open her own clinic focused on diversity in psychology—particularly for underserved communities. With only 4% of psychologists being black, Nzina believes that many communities are being underserved, in a time when there is a call for mental health counseling. Diversity stands at the root of her passion, and CCNY caught her eye because of its diversity. As a female, Muslim student, the diversity of the Muslim student organization is also an added bonus at CCNY.
She is currently enrolled in a BA-MA accelerated program at CCNY that allows her to earn both degrees consecutively. Her BA concentrated on psychological research, and she will soon transition into her MA studies in mental health counseling.
Her hands-on research began at the electroencephalogram, EEG, lab, which had equipment that amplified brain wave activity and software mapping. The research focussed on studying brain activity in individuals with high and low ADHD classifications and people who have high versus low TikTok use.
She subsequently designed her own study focusing on frontal alpha asymmetry—the difference in brain activity between the left and right hemispheres.
Using the SONA platform to recruit participants, Nzina administered a consent form, demographic questionnaire, TikTok usage survey, eating attitudes survey, and a body image assessment—all while recording EEG data.
“In terms of the brain activity with emotional processing, women with higher body dissatisfaction have more negative affect when they’re seeing a thin body than when they’re seeing a, when they see a larger or a neutral body,” Nzina said.
Nzina hopes that her research can help “women who have eating disorders and their body dissatisfaction.” While research has been her focus at CCNY, Nzina hopes to get clinical experience and open up her own practice. “I’ll be able to specialize in what I did my research on, and I’ll also be able to in certain populations,” she said.
Emma is an undergraduate student at Baruch College, where she is studying Journalism and Psychology. She’s Editor-in-Chief for Dollars & Sense magazine and Business Editor for The Ticker newspaper. As well as a freelance writer at BK Reader.