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 populations
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
Alcohol Use Cravings as a Mediator Between Associated Risk Factors on Increased Alcohol Use among Youth Adults in New York During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Opara I, Malik S, Lardier D, Gamble-George J, Kelly R, Okafor C, Greene R, Parisi D. Alcohol Use Cravings as a Mediator Between Associated Risk Factors on Increased Alcohol Use among Youth Adults in New York During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 2021, 39: 415-429. PMID: 34898835, PMCID: PMC8664084, DOI: 10.1080/07347324.2021.1950091.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCOVID-19 diagnosisAlcohol useCOVID-19 pandemicAssociated risk factorsYears of ageMental health symptomsYoung adult populationPublic health professionalsAlcohol use preventionResidents 18Mean ageRisk factorsSleep disturbancesHealth professionalsTreatment resourcesHealth symptomsAdult populationUse preventionSpecific psychological factorsCOVID-19 eraSocial isolationCravingMediatorsDiagnosisTotal sample