2023
Assessing the Prevalence Rates of Internalizing Symptomatology Among Multiracial Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review
Henson-García M, Weerakoon S, Duncan C, Choe T, Opara I, A. Baker K, L. Sterling K, Messiah S. Assessing the Prevalence Rates of Internalizing Symptomatology Among Multiracial Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2023, 1-14. PMID: 38042957, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01636-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInternalizing symptomsMultiracial adolescentsPrevalence of anxiety symptomsInternalizing symptomatologyAnxiety symptomsDepressive symptomatologySymptomatologyPrevalence estimatesMethodological inconsistenciesAdolescentsSystematic reviewSymptomsPrevalence ratesPeer-reviewed studiesAPA PsycInfoOvid MEDLINEComprehensive searchPrevalenceStudy selectionUnited StatesEpidemiological research
2022
The Association Between Racial Attitudes, Alcohol Use and Mood Disorders Among Black Adolescents
Opara I, Lardier D, Boyd D, Boateng A, Brawner B. The Association Between Racial Attitudes, Alcohol Use and Mood Disorders Among Black Adolescents. Journal Of Prevention 2022, 44: 85-104. PMID: 36156761, PMCID: PMC9892305, DOI: 10.1007/s10935-022-00706-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBlack adolescentsRacial attitudesAlcohol useMood disordersPositive racial identityTraumatic eventsPreliminary supportAdolescent SurveyExperiences of racismRacism awarenessCriminal justice involvementWhite adolescentsMental healthSubstance useAdolescentsAwareness domainJustice involvementPrevention programmingRacial identityRacial discriminationAttitudesDisordersRacial groupsRegression analysisAssociation
2021
The brief sense of community scale: Testing dimensionality and measurement invariance by gender among Hispanic/Latinx youth
Lardier D, Opara I, Cantu I, Garcia‐Reid P, Reid R. The brief sense of community scale: Testing dimensionality and measurement invariance by gender among Hispanic/Latinx youth. Journal Of Community Psychology 2021, 50: 409-425. PMID: 33938003, PMCID: PMC8563485, DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22585.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntrapersonal psychological empowermentHispanic/Latinx youthPsychological sensePsychological empowermentBrief SenseLatinx youthSecond-order factor structureMultigroup confirmatory factor analysisSecond-order factor modelEthnic identityFeelings of belongingnessFour-factor modelConfirmatory factor analysisLatinx adolescentsMeasurement invarianceFactor structureEmotional connectionFactor analysisFactor modelYouthSenseBelongingnessEmpowermentAdolescentsTheoretical discussionMental health burden among Black adolescents: the need for better assessment, diagnosis and treatment engagement
Opara I, Weissinger G, Lardier D, Lanier Y, Carter S, Brawner B. Mental health burden among Black adolescents: the need for better assessment, diagnosis and treatment engagement. Social Work In Mental Health 2021, 19: 88-104. PMID: 34248423, PMCID: PMC8262091, DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2021.1879345.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental health symptomsMental health treatmentHealth symptomsHealth treatmentMental health burdenTrauma exposure historyBlack adolescentsHealth burdenDepressive symptomsTreatment groupsDiagnostic criteriaTreatment engagementLogistic regressionSymptomsAnxiety disordersSubstance useExposure historyAdolescentsTreatmentRecent suicidalityPsychological factorsBetter assessmentGroupDiagnosisSuicidality
2020
Parenting profiles of academic and racial socialization: Associations with academic engagement and academic self-beliefs of African American adolescents
Metzger I, Cooper S, Griffin C, Golden A, Opara I, Ritchwood T. Parenting profiles of academic and racial socialization: Associations with academic engagement and academic self-beliefs of African American adolescents. Journal Of School Psychology 2020, 82: 36-48. PMID: 32988462, PMCID: PMC8219402, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2020.07.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdolescents' academic outcomesAcademic outcomesSocialization practicesRacial socializationAcademic engagementParental socialization practicesLatent profile analysisAfrican American adolescentsParenting profilesProfile membershipSchool psychologistsAdolescent participantsAfrican American caregiversAmerican adolescentsSocializersAmerican caregiversAcademic socializationSocializationAdolescentsProfile analysisCurrent investigationEngagementSchool systemPsychologistsEthnic minorities
2019
A Conceptual Framework Exploring Social Media, Eating Disorders, and Body Dissatisfaction Among Latina Adolescents
Opara I, Santos N. A Conceptual Framework Exploring Social Media, Eating Disorders, and Body Dissatisfaction Among Latina Adolescents. Hispanic Journal Of Behavioral Sciences 2019, 41: 363-377. PMID: 31452577, PMCID: PMC6709692, DOI: 10.1177/0739986319860844.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLatina adolescentsEthnic identityBody imageSocial media usageSocial media influenceMedia usageSocial mediaMedia influenceObjectification theoryBody dissatisfactionMental health disparitiesIntersectionality theoryEating DisordersConceptual frameworkProtective factorsAdolescentsIdentityDisorder predictorsDissatisfactionSpecific approachHealth disparitiesMediumTheoryDisordersImages
2017
The Effects of School-Based Discrimination on Adolescents of Color Sexual Health Outcomes: A Social Determinants Approach
Respress B, Amutah-Onukagha N, Opara I. The Effects of School-Based Discrimination on Adolescents of Color Sexual Health Outcomes: A Social Determinants Approach. Social Work In Public Health 2017, 33: 1-16. PMID: 29199912, DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2017.1378953.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSexual risk behaviorsSexual health outcomesHealth outcomesRisk behaviorsFuture prevention workSocial determinants approachSexual risky behaviorAdolescent sexual risk behaviorInfection diagnosisSignificant predictorsSexual behaviorAfrican AmericansAdolescentsRisky behaviorsRepresentative sampleOutcomesPrevention workAdolescents of colorSchool performanceClear disparityHigh school-aged studentsEffects of schoolDisparitiesFindingsDiagnosis