Recent Publications

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.

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.

Study-In-Brief: Our 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).” Findings highlight the heterogeneity of spirituality/religiosity and relevancy to meaning-making.

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.

Study-In-Brief: Our study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) focused on alcohol consumption in a pilot randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomized to receive either (a) education or (b) an alcohol BMI and behavioral economic substance-free activity session (SFAS), each followed by 4 weeks of mini sessions. Comparatively, participants found the intervention to be useful, interesting, relevant, and effective, with no between-group differences. There were no statistically significant group differences in drinks per week or alcohol-related problems at follow-up, but BMI + SFAS participants reported fewer past-month HDEs than those who received the education arm. Our findings indicate that live text-messaging with a counselor is a feasible and well-received way to deliver a brief alcohol intervention to reduce harmful alcohol use in emerging adults.

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.

Study-In-Brief: In our study, we were interested in if factors that influence one’s development, such as parents, caregivers, the environment, etc., impacted one’s prejudice against Jewish people. Our findings show that there are several of these factors related with increased prejudice against Jewish people. 

Study-In-Brief: Our study explores whether an individual’s experience of racial conflict and racial distance affects the relationship between racial discrimination and depression. Results show that this conflict and distance does play a role in the relationship between racial discrimination and depression. However, further research is needed to pinpoint where this experience affects the relationship.

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. 

Study-In-Brief: Our study provided strategies on increasing respectful and useful conversations to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. We were curious to see how faith leaders in mainly Black congregations can help reduce HIV infections. We found that, although faith leaders felt comfortable discussing sexuality, the Scripture and the stigma around sexuality and homosexuality limited the conversations.  

Study-In-Brief: Our study focuses on Black adolescents who go through a 10-week group intervention to prevent their emotional-overeating and binge-eating behaviors. During this intervention, they learn skills like accepting reality, tolerating distress, regulating emotions, achieving personal goals, and more. Our results show the participants found that the acceptance-based skills were the most helpful part of treatment. 

Study-In-Brief: Although parent-child communication about substance use, violence, and HIV/AIDS may be a preventative factor for future generations experiencing the same, mothers have a hard time with this type of conversations. Our study focuses on factors that affect the mothers’ comfort with having these conversations. Results show that mother’s who are victims of and perpetrators of violence are less willing to communicate with their children about their experiences. We found that the child’s age is a significant factor in this relationship. 

Study-In-Brief: In our study, we were interested in whether the mother’s exposure to domestic violence by an intimate partner as a child, and the amount of violence experienced with a current partner, has an impact on negative parenting practices. Our findings suggest that the association between current domestic violence severity and negative parenting practices was affected by the exposure as a child to domestic violence. This further shows the intergenerational nature of violence, meaning it carries over to the next generations.

Study-In-Brief: About 33% of college students are considered "overweight" or "obese", so Dr. Thurston and her colleagues looked into what role positive body image plays in their  depressive symptoms. In simple terms, the results show that more exercise and body positivity are associated with a lower level of depression symptoms. 

Study-In-Brief: Unfortunately, It is not rare for children to witness sexual, physical, and /or psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) in their household. Exposure to IPV can be detrimental but can also build resilience as a result. This study found that after examining youth maladaptive functioning and pro social skills, exposure to IPV can produce positive or negative functioning outcomes. 

Study-In-Brief: There is not enough literature on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)  as it can co-exist within women who are exposed to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). In this paper, Dr. Thurston and colleagues examine GAD and the protective roles of essential support systems such as family, community, and friends as it relates to IPV. Results showcased the importance of examining various supports for women who are experiencing IPV.

Study-In-Brief: Researchers examined the co-occurrence of substance abuse, violence, and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) adversities in mothers living with HIV. They were also concerned with how resilience can serve as a moderator in this relationship. Using a syndemic conceptual framework, findings showcased that SAVA adversities heightened depression in mothers living with HIV while resilience was a protective factor that lowers these effects.

Study-In-Brief: Our study took a look at how internalized weight stigma (IWS), or self-directed ridicule about one’s body size, is related to depression and how one perceives their body size in young adults. We found that in higher-weight and lean, Black individuals, IWS influences the relationship between how one perceives their body size and depression.  

Study-In-Brief: Our team designed a 10-week group intervention that teaches dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills to adolescents that struggle with binge and emotional eating, called the Emotional Overeating Intervention. In this paper, we describe a checklist that can be used for other researchers and clinicians to apply this intervention. 

Study-In-Brief: This study examines the effects of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety on weight and perceived physical health in young adults. Latent profile analyses revealed 3 profiles: 1) High Shape/Weight Influence (HSWI), 2) Low Shape/Weight, Depression, and Anxiety Influence (LSWDAI), and 3) High Depression and Anxiety Influence (HDAI). Findings demonstrate that overvaluation of shape and weight is associated with elevated weight and worse perceived health. 

Study-In-Brief: Our study examines the protective role of resilience when looking at the relationship between stress and binge eating symptoms among adult female college students. While higher stress levels were significantly associated with serious binge eating symptoms, resilience was found to level out this relationship. High resilience levels were also associated with less serious binge eating symptoms in participants who viewed themselves as having high stress levels. 

Study-In-Brief: This commentary discusses a study conducted with Latino and non-Latino White youth with spina bifida and how family functioning impacts their psychosocial functioning. The study highlights the importance of examining disruption and resilience in the context of chronic illness across racial and ethnic identities, and a need for more research that examines psychosocial and family dynamics in Latino youth with spina bifida. 

Study-In-Brief: This study examines factors which influence parent’s intentions of seeking formal and informal help for child internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Results demonstrated that problem recognition was linked with higher intentions of seeking help from almost all informal and formal resources. The study underscores the importance of reducing barriers to help-seeking and increasing parent’s problem recognition to improve health equity.