2021
Sociopolitical control as a mediator between ethnic identity and social support on 30-day drug use among black girls
Opara I, Hill A, Calhoun A, Francois M, Alves C, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Sociopolitical control as a mediator between ethnic identity and social support on 30-day drug use among black girls. Journal Of Ethnicity In Substance Abuse 2021, 22: 606-625. PMID: 34533434, PMCID: PMC8926931, DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2021.1975007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTesting the factor structure of the brief sense of community scale among black girls and the relationship with ethnic identity, empowerment and social support
Opara I, Lardier D, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Testing the factor structure of the brief sense of community scale among black girls and the relationship with ethnic identity, empowerment and social support. Children And Youth Services Review 2021, 127: 106095. PMID: 34305217, PMCID: PMC8294162, DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106095.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntrapersonal psychological empowermentPsychological empowermentConfirmatory factor analysisPsychological SOCSocial supportBrief SenseEthnic identityFactor structureSecond-order factor structureBlack girlsFive-factor modelPsychological senseFactor analysisRelated variablesGirlsSupportEmpowermentSenseIdentityBSCSRegression-based approachCommunity scaleScaleMeasuresFindingsCoping in the Time of COVID-19: Buffering Stressors With Coping Strategies
Okafor C, Bautista K, Asare M, Opara I. Coping in the Time of COVID-19: Buffering Stressors With Coping Strategies. Journal Of Loss And Trauma 2021, 27: 83-91. PMID: 35173557, PMCID: PMC8845574, DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2021.1914987.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental health tollSymptoms of depressionBehavioral disengagementCoping strategiesEmotional reasonsSocial supportSubstance useHealth tollAnxietyPolicy-making effortsDepressionOdds of feelingGeneral populationDisengagementFeelingsStressorsParticipantsAdultsCross-sectional studyInterventionCOVID-19FindingsSupportSymptoms
2020
Ethnic Identity, Empowerment, Social Support and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Adolescent Girls: Examining Drug Use as a Mediator
Opara I, Rodas E, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Ethnic Identity, Empowerment, Social Support and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Adolescent Girls: Examining Drug Use as a Mediator. Child And Adolescent Social Work Journal 2020, 39: 71-86. PMID: 35462639, PMCID: PMC9031836, DOI: 10.1007/s10560-020-00706-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlack adolescent girlsAdolescent girlsSocial supportSexual risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsEthnic identity scoresEthnic identityNortheastern urban communityDrug useLower sexual risk behaviorsStructural equation modelingPsychological empowermentHigher ethnic identity scoresHypothesized modelResiliency skillsStrengths-based lensEquation modelingFemale adolescentsRisky behaviorsSubstance abuseProtective factorsIdentity scoresBlack girlsGirlsCultural strengthsIntrapersonal psychological empowerment profiles on ethnic identity, social support, and lifetime drug use among Hispanic adolescent girls
Opara I, Lardier D, Fernandez Y, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Intrapersonal psychological empowerment profiles on ethnic identity, social support, and lifetime drug use among Hispanic adolescent girls. Journal Of Ethnicity In Substance Abuse 2020, 21: 886-913. PMID: 32787746, PMCID: PMC8191478, DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2020.1803780.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHispanic adolescent girlsIntrapersonal psychological empowermentPsychological empowermentAdolescent girlsSocial supportSociopolitical Control ScaleEthnic identityTwo-factor structureConfirmatory factor analysisHigh social supportDrug useControl ScaleFactor structureLatent class analysisLifetime drug useFactor analysisDistinct cluster groupsRelated variablesClass analysisGirlsPrevention researchCluster groupsEmpowermentHigh levelsSupportComment 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
2019
Validation of the Abbreviated Socio-Political Control Scale for Youth (SPCS-Y) Among Urban Girls of Color
Opara I, Rivera Rodas E, Lardier D, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Validation of the Abbreviated Socio-Political Control Scale for Youth (SPCS-Y) Among Urban Girls of Color. Child And Adolescent Social Work Journal 2019, 37: 83-95. PMID: 32982036, PMCID: PMC7516891, DOI: 10.1007/s10560-019-00624-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGirls of colorLatent class cluster analysisAMOS structural equation modeling softwareSocial work practiceStrengths-based approachUrban girlsSocial workEthnic identityWork practiceUnited States communitiesNeighborhood senseStates communitiesSocial supportYouthConfirmatory factor analysisSociopolitical Control ScaleCommunityEmpowermentGirlsDrug useIdentityCFA resultsPracticeFactor analysisPractitionersA study of psychological sense of community as a mediator between supportive social systems, school belongingness, and outcome behaviors among urban high school students of color
Lardier D, Opara I, Bergeson C, Herrera A, Garcia‐Reid P, Reid R. A study of psychological sense of community as a mediator between supportive social systems, school belongingness, and outcome behaviors among urban high school students of color. Journal Of Community Psychology 2019, 47: 1131-1150. PMID: 30883801, PMCID: PMC6581577, DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22182.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPsychological SOCSchool belongingnessPsychological senseSocial supportNegative developmental trajectoriesSupportive social systemRisk behaviorsUrban high school studentsHigh school studentsYouth of colorDevelopmental trajectoriesMediating variablePsychological symptomsSubstance useCommunity programsBelongingnessUS urban communitiesSchool studentsDepressive symptomsViolent behaviorCommunity-based activitiesFoster supportYouthStudents of colorSocial systems