A5037071382- Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Migration, Health and Trauma
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Sex work and related issues
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
- Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
- Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Community Health and Development
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies
Florida International University
2015-2025
Florida Atlantic University
2020
Khalifa University of Science and Technology
2020
National University of San Marcos
2014
Institute of Social Work
2010
Emerging adulthood has been described as a difficult stage in life and may be particularly stressful for Hispanic emerging adults who are disproportionately exposed to adversity chronic sociocultural stressors. To better prevent treat depressive disorders among adults, more research is needed identify understand modifiable determinants that can help this population enhance their capacity offset recover from As such, study aimed (1) examine the association between resilience symptoms (2)...
Objective Identifying and understanding determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic immigrants is an increasingly significant public health concern. Although prior research has examined associations cultural stressors with Hispanics, few studies have tested these recent adult immigrants. As such, this study aimed to examine (a) the association immigration stress on severity recently immigrated adults (≤ 1 year in United States) (b) moderating effects gender, status, social support....
Religious institutions can be a source of support for recent Latino immigrants struggling to adjust new culture. For undocumented immigrants, who are often marginalized from other formal institutions, they may symbolize place refuge and hope through supportive social networks that mitigate common challenges such as isolation forms immigration stress. This cross-sectional study examined the impact religious capital on stress among documented (N = 408). was associated with higher levels...
Background. Efforts in the prevention and treatment of depression among Hispanic immigrant women require studies to identify modifiable factors depression. Some that may merit investigation are gender roles such as egalitarian attitudes, marianismo, self-silencing. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 231 living Miami-Dade County, Florida. Logistic regression was used examine associations covariates, selfsilencing relation Results. Egalitarian attitudes were not associated with For...
Background: This study examined (a) the direct association of family cohesion on alcohol use severity among adult Hispanic immigrants; (b) indirect via social support; and (c) if gender moderates associations between severity. Method: Mediation moderation analyses were conducted a cross-sectional sample 411 (men = 222, women 189) participants from Miami-Dade, Florida. Results: Findings indicate that higher was directly associated with support lower Higher also Additionally, had an support....
Abstract Introduction Prescription misuse (PM) among adolescents in the United States is a significant public health issue, with reported prevalence of 4.9% 2022. Understanding role social bonds such as parental attachment, peer influence and school engagement crucial for developing effective prevention strategies. Methods Data from 2019 National Survey on Drug Use Health comprised 11,997 aged 12–17 years. PM was measured binary variable, were assessed through scales measuring bonds,...
The escalation of alcohol use among some Latino immigrant groups as their time in the United States increases has been well documented. Yet, little is known about behaviors immigrants before immigration. This prospective longitudinal study examines pre- to postimmigration trajectories a cohort recent immigrants. Retrospective preimmigration data were collected at baseline from sample 455 Cuban, South American, and Central American Latinos ages 18-34 who immigrated less than 1 year prior. Two...
Latinos are disproportionately impacted by drinking and driving arrests alcohol-related fatal crashes. Why, how, these disparities occur remains unclear. The neighborhood environments that recent Latino immigrants encounter in their host communities can potentially influence health behaviors over time, including the propensity to engage driving. This cross-sectional study utilizes a sample of 467 documented undocumented adult United States answer following research questions: (a) How do...
Few studies have examined the sociocultural determinants of risky sexual behavior trajectories among adult Latinas. To longitudinally examine link between behaviors, we followed a sample Latina mother-daughter dyads (
Latina immigrants in the farmworker community are a vulnerable and understudied population at risk of acquiring HIV. Employing CBPR framework, this pilot study was first to evaluate efficacy SEPA, CDC evidenced-based culturally tailored HIV reduction intervention on cohort N = 110 predominantly undocumented community. Findings revealed SEPA effective increasing knowledge decreasing behaviors. However, no changes self-efficacy were found present sample. We posit specific socio-cultural...
Abstract This cross-sectional study explored associations among (a) age of sexual debut; (b) drug abuse; and (c) risk behaviors an urban community-based sample 158 predominantly immigrant, Latina adults. Time in the USA having a mother who used drugs during participants' childhood or adolescence were significantly related to debut. In turn, younger ages debut associated with abuse more (greater number partners, frequent alcohol use before sex, greater levels intoxication from sex)....
Although the risks and protective processes influencing substance use behaviors of adult Latinos have been increasingly examined in literature, abuse among Latinas remains a relatively understudied area. This study associations between mother-daughter attachment 158 Latina mothers their daughters (N = 316). Dyads were categorized into four groups: (a) mother/daughter both drug or alcohol abusers (Dyad 1), (b) mother abuser daughter non-abuser 2), (c) 3), (d) non-abusers 4). Dyad 1...
In 2011, Morehouse School of Medicine convened a summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to discuss issues related the health status people and communities Caribbean region. The provided forum for transparent dialog among researchers, policymakers, advocates from region United States. summit’s theme—improving region’s outcomes through adoption effective practices linking promotion primary care, within context social cultural determinants—called comprehensive integrative model or triangulation...
Objective: Advancing our initial, cross-sectional study, which showed that adult Latinas’ mother–daughter attachment relates to their substance use, the current, longitudinal study tests whether mother and daughter scores at baseline predict use over time. Method: We analyzed data from a convenience sample of 133 Latina mothers (mean age = 52 years, SD 10) daughters 27, 9) 5-year 6-year follow-ups after (attrition rate 16%). Multilevel modeling was used examine effect on Results: Each unit...
Latinos are more likely to delay HIV testing, present care with an AIDS defining illness, and die within one year of learning their HIV-positive status than non-Latino blacks whites. For this paper, we explore the role partner-relationship characteristics health behaviors, in predicting testing among Latina adult women who engaged risky sexual behaviors (i.e., unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex). Data from a convenience sample 168 behavior prior assessment were analyzed for paper. Rates...
Information on the association between alcohol use and Latino sexual risk behavior prior to immigrating United States is scarce. Given this population's rapid growth, documenting influence of recent immigrants' (RLI) behaviors essential. Data immigration were retrospectively collected from 527 RLI ages 18-39 years. Quantity frequency during 90 days pre-immigration measured. Structural equation modeling was used examine relationships. Males, single participants, participants with higher...
Throughout the past decade, HIV rates in Florida—particularly South Florida, where many Latina seasonal farmworkers reside and work—have ranked among highest nation. In this brief report, we delineate important lessons learned preliminary findings from implementation of prevention intervention Progreso en Salud (Progress Health). Among 114 farmworker participants, there were significant increases baseline to 6-month follow-up percentages overall condom use, testing, HIV/AIDS-related...