2023
Young Adults at the National Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: Understanding the Impact and Future Challenges of Social Distancing on Mental Health Outcomes
Malik S, Opara I, Lardier D, Younger J, Greene R. Young Adults at the National Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak: Understanding the Impact and Future Challenges of Social Distancing on Mental Health Outcomes. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2023, 21: 33. PMID: 38248498, PMCID: PMC10815492, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRates of depressionYoung adultsMental health servicesMental health diagnosesMental health outcomesMental health crisisDiverse population of young adultsPopulation of young adultsLifetime mental health diagnosisSocio-demographic variablesIncreased alcohol useHealth outcomesHealth servicesNational epicenterMental healthHealth diagnosisDepressive symptomsPrevention researchSevere anxietyAlcohol useNew YorkSevere depressionSocial distancingArea of New YorkDiverse populationsAdolescent Polysubstance Use and Co-Occurring Weapon Carrying, Bullying Victimization, and Depressive Symptomology: Patterns and Differences in the United States
Weerakoon S, Henson-Garcia M, Abraham A, Vidot D, Messiah S, Opara I. Adolescent Polysubstance Use and Co-Occurring Weapon Carrying, Bullying Victimization, and Depressive Symptomology: Patterns and Differences in the United States. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2023, 1-12. PMID: 37477824, PMCID: PMC11229529, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01573-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBullying victimizationPolysubstance useUnited StatesPrevalence of polysubstance useWeapon-carryingMultiracial youthVictimsBullyingYouthWeaponsPolysubstance combinationsAdolescent substanceFrequent useRisky behaviorsNational prevalenceNon-Hispanic whitesMental healthLogistic regressionHigh school studentsPoor mental healthPolysubstanceViolenceDepressive symptomsDemographic characteristicsOdds
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 analysisAssociationSuicide Among Black Children: An Integrated Model of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide and Intersectionality Theory for Researchers and Clinicians
Opara I, Assan M, Pierre K, Gunn J, Metzger I, Hamilton J, Arugu E. Suicide Among Black Children: An Integrated Model of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide and Intersectionality Theory for Researchers and Clinicians. FOCUS The Journal Of Lifelong Learning In Psychiatry 2022, 20: 232-240. PMID: 37153126, PMCID: PMC10153497, DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.22020003.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Symptoms of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Okafor C, Asare M, Bautista K, Opara I. Symptoms of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. American Journal Of Health Studies 2021, 36 PMID: 34335012, PMCID: PMC8321393, DOI: 10.47779/ajhs.2021.638.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOdds of feelingSymptoms of distressAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemicSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemicCoronavirus 2 pandemicGeneral healthRecent smokingPsychosocial factorsTreatment interventionsTargeted preventionYounger ageMental healthCOVID-19 pandemicSymptomsDepressionOddsUnited StatesDistressHealthPandemicSmokingPrevention
2020
Suicide among Black Children: An Integrated Model of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide and Intersectionality Theory for Researchers and Clinicians
Opara I, Assan M, Pierre K, Gunn J, Metzger I, Hamilton J, Arugu E. Suicide among Black Children: An Integrated Model of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide and Intersectionality Theory for Researchers and Clinicians. Journal Of Black Studies 2020, 51: 611-631. PMID: 34305168, PMCID: PMC8301214, DOI: 10.1177/0021934720935641.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInterpersonal-psychological theoryBlack childrenSuicide researchIntersectionality theoryGender minority statusUnderstudied factorMental healthWhite youthRacial discriminationMinority statusSuicide riskChildrenRisk of suicideConceptual paperIntegrated modelWhite childrenSuicideSocioeconomic statusResearchCritical gapRates of suicideTheoryYouthResearchersDiscriminationComment on Project THANKS: Examining HIV/AIDS-Related Barriers and Facilitators to Care in African American Women: A Community Perspective
Amutah-Onukagha N, Mahadevan M, Opara I, Rodriguez M, Baxter A, Trusdell M, Kelly J. Comment on Project THANKS: Examining HIV/AIDS-Related Barriers and Facilitators to Care in African American Women: A Community Perspective. Journal Of The International Association Of Providers Of AIDS Care (JIAPAC) 2020, 19: 2325958220936406. PMCID: PMC7436835, DOI: 10.1177/2325958220936406.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAfrican American womenAmerican womenCommunity-based health centersHealth literacy needsMultiple chronic diseasesSubstance use disordersMental health outcomesChronic diseasesChronic illnessHealth centersUse disordersDual diagnosisHealth outcomesHIVMental healthFuture interventionsComorbiditiesWomenSocial supportInterventionLicensed social workersComplicationsIllnessDiseaseDiagnosis