Alejandra Fernandez, M.S., Ph.D. Titles and Appointments Assistant Professor School School of Public Health Department Public Health Biography Download Curriculum Vitae Alejandra Fernandez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Peter O' Donnell School of Public Health. Dr. Fernandez completed her undergraduate and master's program at Texas A&M University and her doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin. She then went on to complete a post-doctoral position at the University of Miami funded through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIDA Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research. Her post-doctoral work primarily focused the measurement of family functioning as a means of identifying adolescents' risk substance use and adverse sexual health outcomes. Currently, Dr. Fernandez is funded through a NIH NHLBI Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01) that address the high prevalence of obesity among Hispanic youth by examining multi-level factors that increase obesity risk behaviors using ecological momentary assessment methodology. The study has two main aims: 1) Conduct secondary data analysis using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study to examine direct and moderating effects on the longitudinal trajectories of obesity risk behaviors and status; and 2) Pilot and implement an ecological momentary assessment protocol to assess the role of momentary changes in family functioning on physical activity, sleep, and nutrition among Hispanic adolescents. Education Graduate School (2017) Research Interest Adolescent health Family-based interventions Obesity-risk behaviors Substance use behaviors Publications Featured Publications Familias con Orgullo: Pilot Study of a Family Intervention for Latinx Sexual Minority Youth to Prevent Drug Use, Sexual Risk Behavior, and Depressive Symptoms. Estrada Y, Lozano A, Tapia MI, Fernández A, Harkness A, Scott D, Lee TK, Rahman A, Prado G, Prev Sci 2024 Sep Sexual Orientation and Adolescent Health Outcomes: A Latent Profile Approach. Fernandez A, Ochoa LG, Lozano A, Lee TK, Estrada Y, Tapia M, Crespo SDL, Prado G, Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers 2024 Sep 11 3 508-516 Refining Multilevel Barrier and Facilitator Measures for HIV Testing and PrEP Among Latino Sexual Minority Men. Lozano A, Weinstein ER, Fernandez A, Bainter S, Atuluru P, Hurtado A, Morales V, Prado G, Safren SA, Harkness A, Am J Health Promot 2024 Jan 38 1 19-39 Correction to: Acculturative Stress and Self-rated Health Among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of the Social Environment and Social Support. Taskin T, Torres L, Roncancio AM, Valente MJ, Fernandez A, Rahman A, Nehme L, Okeke D, Lozano A, Ruiz E, West AE, Cano MÁ, J Immigr Minor Health 2023 Dec 25 6 1392 Sociocultural influences on alcohol expectancies in early adolescence: Findings from the ABCD study. Sanchez M, Gonzalez MR, Fernandez A, Barton A, Diaz V, Wang W, Health Psychol 2023 Dec 42 12 842-855 Acculturative Stress and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of the Social Environment and Social Support. Taskin T, Torres L, Roncancio AM, Valente MJ, Fernandez A, Rahman A, Nehme L, Okeke D, Lozano A, Ruiz E, West AE, Cano MÁ, J Immigr Minor Health 2023 Dec 25 6 1382-1391 Does Binge-Watching eHealth Intervention Content Impact Outcomes? Lozano A, Fernandez A, Rhodes CA, Estrada Y, Graefe B, Tapia MI, Prado G, J Adolesc Health 2023 Oct 73 4 664-671 Screening for Adolescent Risk Behaviors: Preliminary Evidence for a Family Functioning Tool. Fernandez A, Lozano A, Lee TK, Prado G, Int J Behav Med 2023 Aug Measurement Invariance of Family Functioning Among Latina/o/x Sexual Minority Youth and Heterosexual Latina/o/x Youth. Lozano A, Ocasio MA, Boga DJ, Fernandez A, Hodge S, Estrada Y, Cano MÁ, Prado G, LGBTQ Fam 2023 19 5 367-381 The Intergenerational Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Hispanic Families: The Mediational Roles of Parental Depression and Parent-Adolescent Communication. Ochoa LG, Fernandez A, Lee TK, Estrada Y, Prado G, Fam Process 2022 Mar 61 1 422-435 Results 1-10 of 22 1 2 3 Next Last Professional Associations/Affiliations Texas A&M University (2005-2010) Texas A&M University (2010-2012) University of Miami (2019-2021) University of Texas at Austin (2012-2017)
