Uche Aneni, MBBS, MHS
Assistant Professor of Child PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Beyond User-Centered Design: Designing Digital Health Technologies for Substance Use Prevention and Treatment in Children and Youth
Singh K, Camenga D, Aneni K, Hieftje K. Beyond User-Centered Design: Designing Digital Health Technologies for Substance Use Prevention and Treatment in Children and Youth. 2025, 231-249. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-84655-7_10.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDigital health interventionsSubstance use preventionHealth interventionsDevelopment of digital interventionsAssociated with numerous adverse health outcomesNumerous adverse health outcomesMental health disordersDigital health technologiesAdverse health outcomesFuture addictionHealth outcomesDigital interventionsSubstance use disordersUser-centered design approachHealth disordersHealth technologiesYouth substance useInterventionIncreased riskSubstance useUse disorderPreventionYouthChildrenUser experience evaluationAdolescent extracurricular activities and perception of risk of harm from binge drinking
Szapary C, Meyer J, Fernandes C, Boomer T, Fiellin L, Aneni K. Adolescent extracurricular activities and perception of risk of harm from binge drinking. PLOS Mental Health 2025, 2: e0000278. PMID: 40510398, PMCID: PMC12162072, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000278.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWeekly binge drinkingRisk of harmPerception of riskBinge drinkingPreventing excessive alcohol consumptionSchool-basedNumerous adverse health consequencesMultivariate logistic regression modelUnderage binge drinkingCommunity-based activitiesCross-sectional analysisCross-sectional analysis of adolescentsAdverse health consequencesLogistic regression modelsExcessive alcohol consumptionNo significant associationAnalysis of adolescentsPolicy-level supportSchool-based activitiesPreventive interventionsHealth datasetsAlcohol consumptionHealth consequencesRelevant covariatesPrimary outcome
2024
Applying a community‐engaged participatory machine learning model
Asabor E, Aneni K, Weerakoon S, Opara I. Applying a community‐engaged participatory machine learning model. American Journal Of Community Psychology 2024, 74: 262-268. PMID: 39279135, DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12765.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth researchCommunity psychologistsPublic health researchExperiences of peopleStructural humilityHealth inequalitiesHealth careCommunity stakeholdersPriority settingMachine learning techniquesTarget populationCommunity contextHealthLived experienceImprove outcomesCommunity insightsLearning techniquesProblem formationPsychologistsPositive membersStage of machine learningMachine learning researchCommunityDecision-makingCareA Qualitative Exploration on Risk and Protective Factors of Substance Use Among Black Adolescent Girls
Opara I, Brooks-Stephens J, Aneni K, Asabor E, Weerakoon S, Duran-Becerra B. A Qualitative Exploration on Risk and Protective Factors of Substance Use Among Black Adolescent Girls. Journal Of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology 2024, ahead-of-print: 1-14. PMID: 38748661, PMCID: PMC12002422, DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2024.2344171.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlack adolescent girlsSubstance useAdolescent girlsFactors of substance useProtective factorsAbuse prevention programsSubstance abuse prevention programsPrevention programsEcological systems theoretical frameworkSystems theoretical frameworkParticipants' narrativesLived experienceGender-specificSocial environmentDrug useUnique risk factorsCoping mechanismsQualitative explorationFocus groupsThematic analysisTheoretical frameworkStudy findingsIntervention developmentSub-themesGirlsBrief Parent-Child Substance Use Education Intervention for Black Families in Urban Cities in New Jersey: Protocol for a Formative Study Design
Opara I, Pierre K, Cayo S, Aneni K, Mwai C, Hogue A, Becker S. Brief Parent-Child Substance Use Education Intervention for Black Families in Urban Cities in New Jersey: Protocol for a Formative Study Design. JMIR Research Protocols 2024, 13: e55470. PMID: 38722676, PMCID: PMC11117129, DOI: 10.2196/55470.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERBlack youthBlack familiesSubstance useUrban communitiesPrevention programsCulturally tailored interventionsAdvisory boardCommunity advisory boardFamily advisory boardEvidence-based interventionsEnvironment-level factorsInfluence substance useDelay substance useSubstance use educationPrevention education programUrban citiesProtective factorsPublic health issueParent-child dyadsADAPT-ITTTheater testingNew JerseyTailored interventionsEducational interventionFamily Functioning and Unmet Mental Health Needs among School-Aged Youth
Aneni K, Kim S, Meyer J, de la Vega I, Imo U, Onyeaka H, Baiden P, Woolston J. Family Functioning and Unmet Mental Health Needs among School-Aged Youth. Adolescent Psychiatry 2024, 14: 99-116. DOI: 10.2174/0122106766286711240509061416.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUnmet mental health needsMental health needsLow family resilienceHealth needsSchool-aged youthChildren aged 6Family resilienceMaternal healthParenting aggravationAssociated with improved health outcomesFamily functioningAssociated with lower oddsAged 6Mental health servicesMultivariate logistic regression modelCross-sectional analysisLogistic regression modelsFamily-level factorsPositive family functioningParental well-beingChildren's HealthHealth outcomesHealth servicesProportion of youthLower odds
2023
Developing Ethics and Equity Principles, Terms, and Engagement Tools to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity in AI and Machine Learning: Modified Delphi Approach
Hendricks-Sturrup R, Simmons M, Anders S, Aneni K, Clayton E, Coco J, Collins B, Heitman E, Hussain S, Joshi K, Lemieux J, Novak L, Rubin D, Shanker A, Washington T, Waters G, Harris J, Yin R, Wagner T, Yin Z, Malin B. Developing Ethics and Equity Principles, Terms, and Engagement Tools to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity in AI and Machine Learning: Modified Delphi Approach. JMIR AI 2023, 2: e52888. PMID: 38875540, PMCID: PMC11041493, DOI: 10.2196/52888.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociations between Health-Related Use of Social Media and Positive Lifestyle Behaviors: Findings from a Representative Sample of US Adult Smokers
Onyeaka H, Chido-Amajuoyi O, Daskalakis E, Deary E, Boardman A, Basiru T, Muoghalu C, Uwandu Q, Baiden P, Nkemjika S, Aneni K, Amonoo H. Associations between Health-Related Use of Social Media and Positive Lifestyle Behaviors: Findings from a Representative Sample of US Adult Smokers. Substance Use & Misuse 2023, 59: 527-535. PMID: 38037958, PMCID: PMC10922700, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2287199.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth-related social media useHealth-related purposesSmoking cessationCigarette smokersHealth promotionWeekly strength trainingCardiovascular risk factorsHealth Information National Trends SurveyPositive lifestyle behaviorsMultivariable logistic regressionUS adult smokersDaily vegetable intakeWeekly physical activityNational Trends SurveyPositive health behaviorsCurrent smokersGuideline recommendationsLifestyle behaviorsSmoking interventionsVegetable intakeRisk factorsAdult smokersPhysical activitySmokersHealth behaviorsIdentifying Game-Based Digital Biomarkers of Cognitive Risk for Adolescent Substance Misuse: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Study
Aneni K, Chen C, Meyer J, Cho Y, Lipton Z, Kher S, Jiao M, de la Vega I, Umutoni F, McDougal R, Fiellin L. Identifying Game-Based Digital Biomarkers of Cognitive Risk for Adolescent Substance Misuse: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Study. JMIR Research Protocols 2023, 12: e46990. PMID: 37995115, PMCID: PMC10704313, DOI: 10.2196/46990.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Video Game Intervention to Prevent Opioid Misuse Among Older Adolescents: Development and Preimplementation Study
Aneni K, Fernandes C, Hoerner L, Szapary C, Boomer T, Fiellin L. A Video Game Intervention to Prevent Opioid Misuse Among Older Adolescents: Development and Preimplementation Study. JMIR Serious Games 2023, 11: e46912. PMID: 37921851, PMCID: PMC10656656, DOI: 10.2196/46912.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid misuseVideo game interventionMental health crisisMental healthPreventive interventionsOlder adolescentsGame interventionHealth Belief ModelMental health risksHealth crisisComorbid conditionsCurrent opioidFocus groupsSubstance misuseMental disordersProtective factorsBelief ModelInterventionDigital interventionsAdolescentsHealth risksFormative workHealthMisuseRisk
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- September 12, 2024
A chance for teens to learn about public health
- August 14, 2024
Aneni receives grant to develop digital substance use intervention for Black teens
- June 10, 2024
Yale Child Study Center welcomes 2024 summer interns
- April 12, 2024
Spring 2024 postgraduate associate travel award recipients announced
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