Publications

Study-In-Brief: The LIGHT initiative used online crowdsourcing contests to gather creative works—art, letters, stories, and poetry—from the public to promote well-being and share health information. Guided by a WHO/TDR framework, three open calls drew 508 diverse submissions. Six key strategies emerged, highlighting themes like cultural identity, destigmatization, and community healing, showing that public-driven creativity can enhance health communication.

https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002146

Study-In-Brief: The article reviews how community-engaged research (CEnR) is used in psychological interventions for youth with sickle cell disease (SCD). Of 235 studies, only eight met criteria, showing CEnR is underused. The review found inconsistent definitions, limited partner demographic reporting, and few clear frameworks. Authors call for clearer terminology, better documentation, and more community involvement to improve equity and effectiveness in SCD research.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107298

Study-In-Brief: The article examines how violence exposure impacts children's social skills. In a study of 162 mother-child pairs affected by intimate partner violence (IPV), children who experienced direct victimization reported less open communication with their mothers, which was linked to lower social competence. While maternal IPV and childhood abuse alone didn't predict social skills, strong mother-child communication emerged as a key protective factor for children's well-being.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107298

Study-In-Brief: This study examined how protective social-ecological factors can reduce depressive symptoms in Black adolescents exposed to adversity. Using data from 141 Black adolescents and their mothers, researchers found that youth who experienced less adversity, had stronger internal assets, and communicated more effectively with their mothers reported fewer depressive symptoms. Importantly, mother-adolescent communication helped buffer the negative impact of adversity on mental health. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing depression in Black adolescents should prioritize strengthening family communication and supporting internal strengths.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-024-01266-x

Study-In-Brief: In the current literature, there has been a need for investigations of the role of intersectionality on health equity. This paper aims to do that and introduce the ways in which the  Self-examination, Talk, Yield time and space to learn from youth, Learn about intersectionality and health inequity, Evaluate policies and strategies (STYLE) framework can be used to promote adolescent health in a post-COVID-19 world. Three case-studies are presented to illustrate how the framework can be beneficial in promoting anti-racism, heterosexism, and transphobia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2024.04.008 

Study-In-Brief: Psychological research has a history of white supremacy and racism, the fields of body image research and practices are no different. The authors provide background on how sampling, measures, frameworks, and dissemination of body image research has upheld white supremacy and racism. As a result, they present the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image (SIBI) framework which considers systematic contexts and how they often portray unnatainable body image ideals. The authors recommend researchers use this framework when dealing with body image scholarship. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101674

Study-In-Brief: Historically, higher education and health care institutions are built on structural racism.  There is an urgent need to increase diversity efforts in the academic health sciences in order for these programs to excel. The team identified 13 meaningful evidence-based strategies to advance racial equity in the academic health sciences. Some of these strategies include emotional and social support, commitment to diversity and inclusion in mission and values, financial support, mentoship and sponsorship, early policies to address lack of diversity. The authors note that these effective strategies are intended to facilitate change at the systemic level.  https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.5412

Study-In-Brief: This paper highlights the historical and contemporary ways in which white supremacy is intertwined with body image research. The authors discuss how white supremacy relates to various body image theories (e.g., thin ideal, drive for muscularity), measures, assessment, and interventions. The authors conclude by describing the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image framework which aims to increase inclusivity and capture intersectionality in body image research. Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101674

Study-In-Brief: This editorial aims to provide a resource to researchers and journalists in the field of Pediatric Psychology that is one, of many, steps towards enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) reporting practices. The resource, known as the Diversity Dimensions Checklist (DDC), serves as a living document aimed at increasing inclusive language, planning, dissemination, and reporting in the field consequentially resulting in representative studies and improved clinical practice. The DDC is set up using the ADDRESSING (age and generation, developmental disability/ acquired disability, religion, ethnicity/race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, indigenous group, national origin/language, and gender) framework which is understanding of the complex nature of identity. The authors recognize the limitations (time, resources, and geographic) with the DDC, but hold the intention of updating the document yearly. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsad094 

Study-In-Brief: This study looked at how weight stigma was related to mental health concerns among college students, and how this association differed across intersectional identities. The research team found that students who reported interpersonal or anticipated weight stigma had higher odds of mental health concerns (binge eating, purging, anxiety, depression). This relationship was stronger for cisgender female students (compared to cisgender male students) and sexual minority students (compared to heterosexual students). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2023.09.021  

Study-In-Brief: Discrimination is a risk factor for post-traumatic stress problems and is common among Black youth (racial discrimination) and individuals with high body weights (weight-related discrimination). Therefore, Black youth with high body weights represent a particularly important group to understand. This study found that higher youth reported resilience and lower discrimination, while caregiver reported higher youth weight-related quality of life was associated with fewer post-traumatic stress problems. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsad030

Study-In-Brief: Individuals between 18-25 are at a higher risk of alcohol misuse that can have lasting negative effects. In-person interventions such as brief motivational interviewing (BMI)/substance-free activity session (SFAS) have been shown to be effective, and mobile platforms may be one way to expand the availability of these interventions. The present study tested a mobile, counselor administered BMI and SFAS intervention against a control group. The intervention was found to be feasible, acceptable, and resulted in a 41% decrease in past-month heavy drinking episodes. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000838

Study-In-Brief: This study explored how patterns of spirituality/religiosity relate to meaning-making among 199 racially diverse young adults. Latent profile analysis revealed four profiles: “Average Spirituality/Religiosity, Higher Negative Religious Coping Class (AHNR),” “High Religiosity, Mixed Spirituality (HRMS),” “Low Religiosity, Lower Spirituality (LRLS),” and “Highest Spirituality/Religiosity, Lower Negative Religious Coping (HLNRC).” https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2022.2074338

Study-In-Brief: This special issue is about how psychologists can help understand and fix the unequal distribution of good health in the United States. Psychologists can help by working with other people and groups to make sure everyone has the same chance to be healthy. There are 14 articles in this special issue, covering three themes: (a) working together, (b) social drivers of health, and (c) social systems. The articles show that psychologists can make a big difference by working with others to find new ways to help people be healthy, and by speaking up for what is right. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001153 

Study-In-Brief: The study investigated how three experimental conditions affected levels of antisemitism, right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), religious fundamentalism, and social desirability among university students. The participants were randomly assigned to either the control group or two experimental conditions (bogus pipeline and altered bogus pipeline), and completed surveys measuring demographics, social desirability, antisemitism, RWA, and religious fundamentalism. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in antisemitism, RWA, and religious fundamentalism across the groups. However, social desirability was significantly lower in the bogus pipeline condition, suggesting potential limitations in the efficacy of this method. https://www.jasnh.com/pdf/Vol19-No2-article1.pdf

Study-In-Brief: Research on Intimate partner violence (IPV) has lacked analysis on demographic and personal life experiences. The authors note the importance of the relative resource theory, which examines violence between partners in relation to unequal resource accessibility, rather than resource-related power. Some of the demographic-related factors included in the article include age (e.g. older women are typically more protective against physical IPV) , employment (e.g. unemployed women see higher rates of IPV), and income (e.g. women with lower income report more IPV). Early intervention through education and community/school-based programs is noted as an important factor in reducing the impact of personal life experiences on IPV frequency. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001171

Study-In-Brief: This article recommends the use of the STYLE (Self-Examination, Talk about racism, yield time to anti-racism work, learn about structural racism, Evaluate policies and practices) framework in approaches of addressing systematic racism. The authors intend for the STYLE framework to be used by professionals in psychology related fields (e.g. social work, public health, etc.). The authors relate the STYLE framework to legal practice as racism is propogated by the legal system and many patients of psychologists may have interactions the system. There is an urgency towards educating future (and current) professionals of these fields about systemic racism and how to combat it in their practice. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1061637 

Study-In-Brief: In our study, we aimed to understand the meaning of weight misperception by examining associations of weight perception with body satisfaction and body awareness along with healthy ideals and culturally normative body ideals. Findings suggest that weight misperception reflects body satisfaction, and not a lack of awareness of body weight/size, definitions of healthy bodies, or culturally normative body ideals. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.08.007

Study-In-Brief: This study aimed to highlight justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) practices in STEM. Racial and ethnic data from the Entomology Department at Texas A&M University revealed that many of the BIPOC faculty in STEM are typically foreign-born nationals (i.e., born outside the U.S.), who were embraced as a majority in their society before moving to the U.S. The experience  and benefits of growing up in a place where you are the majority, compared to growing up as a "minority," is called the “Wakanda Effect."  Building allyships between foreign and native born BIPOC faculty could have powerful results in regard to DEI.               https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmac054

Study-In-Brief: Our study assessed the factor structure of a novel self-report measure of weight- and shape-based social identity threat vulnerability, Social Identities, and Attitudes Scale-Weight and Body Shape (SIAS-WBS). The SIAS-WBS had an acceptable factor structure with 15 subscales that were invariant across race, ethnicity, gender, weight perception, and CDC-defined weight groups.  https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmac054

Study-In-Brief: This pilot study explored associations between familial social support and personal (spirituality, depressive symptoms), relational (parenting practices), and environmental (friend support, community cohesion) factors among 55 Mothers Living with HIV (MLH). Results showed that greater positive parenting, less negative parenting, and greater community cohesion were significantly associated with higher familial social support. Our findings highlight the importance of relational and environmental determinants of social support and suggest potential avenues for prevention and intervention among MLH. https://doi.org/10.1080/15381501.2021.2016538

Study-In-Brief: Our study explored the intersectional differences in weight perception accuracy in a diverse sample of young adults using CDC-defined weight status labels and four separate figure rating scales (FRS). We found that weight perception labels were ineffective in assessing weight status, and FRS accuracy varies by race and gender, suggesting the value of gender and culturally tailored scales. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01166-9 

Study-In-Brief: This study looked at how the frequency of Intimate partner violence (IPV), substance abuse, and demographics (age, income, etc.)  were associated with depression symptoms in women. They found that frequent IPV and tobacco use was correlated with higher depressive symptoms. Factors such as age, income, and alcohol were not associated with depressive symptoms. The study suggests that incorporating measures assessing the frequency of IPV and tobacco use could benefit survivors in treatment. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2020.1869646

Study-In-Brief: Our study explored the associations between depression and parenting among women of color with low-income levels exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV. We found an association between depressive symptoms and negative parenting, which was moderated by HIV status. These findings highlight the added burden that a physical health condition puts on parenting practices and the need to develop family-based strategies to decrease these practices. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22737

Study-In-Brief: This study aimed to consider anti-racist steps needed to improve psychological science. This article presents examples of epistemic oppression within psychological science, including how science is conducted, reported, reviewed, and disseminated. This article offers a needed contribution by providing specific concrete recommendations for different stakeholders, including those involved in the production, reporting, and gatekeeping of science as well as consumers of science. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000905

Study-In-Brief: Our study looked at the relationship between experiencing one or more of the adversities that make up the SAVA syndemic (Substance Abuse, Violence, and AIDS/HIV) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in women. We found that experiencing more than one SAVA was associated with higher PTSS. Additionally, social support moderated the relationship between SAVA and PTSS, with women who experienced one SAVA and high social support showing lower PTSS, while women with exposure to one SAVA and low levels of social support had higher levels of PTSS. These findings demonstrate the effect of co-occurring adversities on PTSS, and also indicate the protective role that social support can play in this relationship. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2020.1783732

Study-In-Brief: In order to hold publishers accountable for promoting diversity and diminishing racism in psychological science, a table with 25 benchmarks was created. Journals can be rated from 0-2 on their ability to include diversity within their publications and research. A score of 0 entails less than 24% of publications met the criteria, while a score of 2 indicates that more than 33% met the criteria. Examples of benchmarks include the recruitment of diverse samples or the use of diversity science approaches. https://psyarxiv.com/zp9em

Study-In-Brief: This study seamlessly intertwined the roles that ethnic identity and community cohesion play in lowering substance use among Black women. Results showed that Black women facing adversity can benefit from a strong sense of ethnic identity and greater unity within their community as these protective factors can significantly lower substance use.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2019.1622477 

Study-In-Brief: In our study, we used a strengths-based approach to assess whether adolescent assets strengthen or weaken the relation between adolescent oppositional defiant behaviors and adolescent-caregiver communication among Black adolescents with high body weights. Overall, assets were associated with adaptive adolescent–caregiver communication and acted as a buffer among Black adolescents with high body weights. Our findings highlight the value of strengths-based interventions among adolescent–caregiver dyads who experience barriers to open communication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02043-w

Study-In-Brief: This project introduces STYLE (Self-examination, Talk about community-police relations and racism, Yield space and time to anti-racism work, Learn about how structural racism impacts child health, Evaluate policies and practices through an anti-racism lens). STYLE offers a framework through which professionals in pediatric psychology can engage in anti-racist work across contexts from clinical care to academic and advocacy settings.   https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-021-09804-1 

Study-In-Brief: Our study investigated how resilience resource variables across the social ecology cluster relate to an individual's ability to bounce back after experiencing IPV. Four resource profiles emerged: (a) generally high (GH); (b) low individual and cultural (LIC); (c) high physical (HP); and (d) low social (LS). These findings suggest nuanced variations in resources and resilience among women exposed to IPV. https://doi.org/10.1891/PA-2020-0017

Study-In-Brief: This study assessed the efficacy of weight-related public health interventions in youth. In a study done by Madsen et al, it was found that there was no difference in BMI between students whose parents were and were not notified. Furthermore, those who had their weight assessed had an increase in weight-related talk and a decrease in body satisfaction. Solmi et al found that between 1986 to 2015, youth reported higher intentions to lose weight, increased dieting, increased exercise, and increased youth identifying themselves as overweight. Those who perceived themselves as overweight were more likely to have depressive symptoms. The study concluded that weight-focused public health interventions were more damaging while interventions targeted at weight-related behaviors were more successful. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2772998   

Study-In-Brief: This study sought to determine if there is a correlation between eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors, and sleep disturbances in young adults. Self-reports of an ED diagnosis, restrictive eating behaviors (fasting/skipping meals), compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, weight loss pills), loss of control or overeating were used along with self-reported sleep disturbances (trouble falling or staying asleep) at a 7-year follow up. All four exposures predicted sleep disturbances in the follow up. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00888-6 

Study-In-Brief: Our study provided treatment to adolescents who struggle with binge eating and emotional eating. We were curious about how adolescent’s body image and beliefs about whether they can control their health would influence how well they responded to our emotional overeating treatment. We found that adolescents who believe that they have control over their own health and who have more positive body image had the best responses to our treatment. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8020102

Study-In-Brief: Our study looks at the relationship between parenting and the spirituality of female caregivers who suffered recent domestic violence by a current or former intimate partner. Our findings show that positive parenting practices, more comfort in talking about their experience with domestic violence, and less comfort discussing substance use were all related with increased spirituality. This shows the importance of parenting and communication strategies for female caregivers suffering recent domestic violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00158-0

Study-In-Brief: This study examines how patterns of maternal strengths are associated with positive parenting practices using a latent profile analysis, which generated classes of individual, relational, and contextual factors to represent the profiles of mothers experiencing adversity. Results show that mothers who endorse greater individual, relational, and contextual factors utilize more positive parenting techniques. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295192.2020.1729611