E M Obasi
Biographic Data
| ID | 12851 |
|---|---|
| NAME | E M Obasi |
| GIVEN NAMES | E M |
| FAMILY NAME | Obasi |
| SIGNATURE | OBASI E M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Houston |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2142-952X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 30 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 108 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 30 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
The Indirect Effects of Negative Affect Reduction Motives on the Relationship Between Sex and Severity of Problems When Trying to Quit Among Black Adults Who Smoke
Background. African American/Black (hereafter referred to as Black) persons who smoke constitute a tobacco disparities group in the United States. Within the Black population, female smokers experience a disproportionate percentage of these disparities and are less likely to quit cigarettes than their male counterparts. Two factors implicated in female smokers’ relatively worse quit success are (1) motives to smoke to reduce negative affect and (…
Racial Regard and Internalizing Symptoms Among Black Youth
Racism-related relational schemas such as negative public regard, a facet of racial identity, can both contribute to or buffer against risk for internalizing psychopathology. Expressive suppression may be a target factor in understanding the complex relationship between negative public regard and internalizing psychopathology. The present investigation examined indirect effects of negative public regard on internalizing symptoms through expressiv…
Pain Severity in Relation to Smoking Cessation Problems and Self-Efficacy for Quitting among Latinx Individuals Who Smoke Cigarettes
Background: Latinx individuals experience significant tobacco cigarette smoking-related diseases and illnesses. Although most Latinx smokers report a desire to quit smoking, evidenced-based cessation treatments are underutilized in this group, which may partially be due to lower likelihood of receiving advice from a healthcare professional. Further, there are a lack of cessation treatments that account for comorbid symptoms/conditions (e.g., co-o…
Exploring Covid-19 Vaccine Attitudes among Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Communities
COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, yet rates of COVID-19 vaccination remain low among these groups. A qualitative study was undertaken to better understand the factors contributing to low vaccine acceptance among these communities. Seventeen focus groups were conducted in English and Spanish from 8/21 to 9/22, with representatives from five critical community sectors: (1) public he…
Collaborative Learning
Individuals with behavioral health conditions account for 50% of annual smoking-related deaths, yet rarely receive tobacco dependence treatment within local mental health authorities (LMHAs). As lack of training and knowledge are key barriers to providing tobacco dependence treatment, Taking Texas Tobacco-Free (TTTF) developed an iterative, 4-6-months train-the-trainer program to embed expertise and delivery of sustained education on tobacco-free…
Organizational-Level Moderators Impacting Tobacco-Related Knowledge Change after Tobacco Education Training in Substance Use Treatment Centers
Tobacco use is disproportionately elevated among patients with substance use disorders relative to the general U.S. population. Tobacco interventions are lacking within substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) due to lack of knowledge and training. This study examined knowledge gain and the organizational factors that might moderate knowledge gains following tobacco education training provided to employees (N = 580) within 15 SUTCs that were parti…
Addressing Smoking Cessation among Women in Substance Use Treatment
Intersecting socially marginalized identities and unique biopsychosocial factors place women with substance use disorders (SUDs) experiencing myriad disadvantages at higher risk for smoking and stigmatization. Here, based on our work with women receiving care for SUDs in four participating treatment/women-serving centers (N = 6 individual clinics), we: (1) describe the functions of smoking for women with SUDs; and (2) explore participants' experi…
Implementation and Outcomes of a Comprehensive Tobacco Free Workplace Program in Opioid Treatment Centers
Tobacco use is exceedingly high among individuals receiving care for opioid addiction, but not commonly addressed by clinicians in treatment settings. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) is a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace (TFW) program that builds treatment centers' capacity to address tobacco use with evidence-based tobacco cessation policies and practices. Here, we examine the process and outcomes of TTTF's implementation within 7 opioid ad…
Implementation and Outcomes of a Train-the-Trainer Program at Behavioral Health Treatment Centers as a Mechanism to Maintain Organizational Capacity to Address Tobacco Use Disorder
Despite prior successful implementation of Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF), an evidence-based tobacco-free workplace program, in local mental health authorities (LMHAs), post-implementation employee attrition necessitated continuing education on tobacco-free policies and tobacco treatment practices. Here, we report on the outcomes of a train-the-trainer program which trained "champions" to deliver tobacco cessation education at their LMHAs. Thre…
Organizational Factors Moderating Changes in Tobacco Use Dependence Care Delivery Following a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Intervention in Non-Profit Substance Use Treatment Centers
Although tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and is elevated among patients with substance use disorders, many substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) do not offer tobacco use interventions (i.e., screening and treatment). This study examined a key outcome of the implementation of a tobacco-free workplace program that provided education and specialized training to employees; namely, changes in clinician provision of the five As …
Chronic stress, autonomic dysregulation and prospective drug use among African American emerging adults
Chronic stress exposure and active coping may interact to affect regulatory mechanisms of the ANS. ANS (dys)regulation may be an important endophenotype for increasing drug use vulnerability among African American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Association of Problematic Alcohol Use and Food Insecurity among Homeless Men and Women
Food insecurity results from unreliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Homeless adults are particularly vulnerable to both food insecurity and problematic alcohol use. The current study examined the link between problematic alcohol use and food insecurity among homeless adults. Participants (N = 528; 62.7% men; M age = 43.6 ± 12.2) were recruited from homeless-serving agencies in Oklahoma City. Problematic alcohol use was measured usin…
Clinician Training in the Adaptation of a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Program in Agencies Serving the Homeless and Vulnerably Housed
Tobacco use is exceedingly high among those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness but not commonly addressed by clinicians. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) is a tobacco control program that addresses known clinician barriers to intervention (e.g., low training receipt, limited resources). Here, we examine the process and outcomes of TTTF's adaptation within four agencies that provide housing or other services to individuals who are homeles…
Tobacco-free Workplace Program at a Substance Use Treatment Center
Objectives: About 65%-87% of substance use disorder patients smoke cigarettes, compared to 14% of the general adult population. Few substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) have comprehensive tobacco-free workplace (TFW) policies or offer tobacco interventions. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) implements an evidence-based TFW program in SUTCs, including at the Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center (BTC). We present a mixed methods case study of…
Association of Fear and Mistrust with Stress Among Sheltered Homeless Adults and the Moderating Effects of Race and Sex
Neighborhood Walkability and Aerobic Physical Activity among Latinos
Objective: In this study, we examined neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) as a moderator in the association between neighborhood walkability and meeting the aerobic physical activity guideline among US Latino adults. Methods: We used 2015 National Health Interview Survey cross-sectional data from 4525 adult US Latino participants ≥18 years of age. NSC and walkability measures were self-reported. Higher walkability scores indicating higher walkabil…
Characterizing Discrimination Experiences by Race among Homeless Adults
Objectives: Among domiciled samples, racial discrimination is a known stressor linked with poorer quality of life. However, homeless adults may be particularly vulnerable to discrimination due to multiple factors beyond race. In this study, we characterized perceived discrimination and its reported impact on quality of life in a sample of adults who were homeless. Methods: Homeless adults recruited from Oklahoma City self-reported their socio-dem…
Alcohol Use in Context
Characterizing Alcohol Use Behaviors among Homeless Men and Women
Objectives: In this study, we characterized alcohol use behaviors by sex among sheltered homeless adults and explored associations with health and readiness to change drinking behaviors. Methods: Participants (N = 581; 63.7% men; M age = 43.6, 29.4% white) self-reported alcohol use and readiness to change drinking behaviors. Sex differences were analyzed via Wilcoxon ranksum, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and ANCOVAs. Results: Overall, 3…
The role of minority stress in second-generation Black emerging adult college students’ high-risk drinking behaviors
Findings underscore the need to better understand the influence of acculturative stress on high-risk drinking behaviors among second-generation Black emerging adult college students: an understudied population in both the acculturation and alcohol use literatures. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Effects of Alcohol and Cigarette Consumption on Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Rural African Americans
Objective: Rurally situated African Americans suffer from stress and drug-related health disparities. Unfortunately, research on potential mechanisms that underlie this public health problem have received limited focus in the scientific literature. This study investigated the physiological impact of nicotine and alcohol use on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) functioning, a biomarker previously linked to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal functioning. M…
Interactive Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity and Subjective Social Status on Psychological Symptomatology in Black Adults
Anxiety sensitivity is the fear of anxiety-related sensations and subjective social status is a self-perception of social standing relative to others: both constructs have been linked to psychological symptomatology. This study investigated the interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and social status in relation to anxiety and depressive symptomatology expression among 124 black adults. Participants provided sociodemographics and completed se…
The moderating role of implicit alcohol-related cognitions in hazardous alcohol use
The present study applied the Go/No-Go Association Test (GNAT; Nosek & Banaji, 2001) to measure alcohol-related implicit cognitions. Additionally, it assessed the role of implicit cognitions as a potential moderator in the relationship between explicit predictors of alcohol use and hazardous drinking behavior. University undergraduate students ( N = 214) completed self-report questionnaires assessing reasons for drinking and reported alcohol use.…
The Built Food Environment and Dietary Intake among African-American Adults
Maximizing healthy offerings in venue-rich metropolitan areas might provide direction for policies to reduce obesity
The Association of Black Psychologists
The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) was founded on September 2, 1968, in San Francisco, California, in response to the American Psychological Association’s failure to address the mental health needs of the Black community. This revolutionary idea was borne out of the efforts of Black early career psychologists and student activists from across the United States. ABPsi, as the first national ethnic psychological association, has led the…
An empirical investigation of acculturative stress and ethnic identity as moderators for depression and suicidal ideation in college students
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of acculturative stress and ethnic identity to depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation in college students. The SAFE Acculturative Stress Scale, Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Measure, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Suicide Scale were administered to 452 college students. The authors found that acculturative stress and ethnic identity moderated the depression-suicide ideation re…
The role of minority stress in second-generation Black emerging adult college students’ high-risk drinking behaviors
Findings underscore the need to better understand the influence of acculturative stress on high-risk drinking behaviors among second-generation Black emerging adult college students: an understudied population in both the acculturation and alcohol use literatures. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Association of Black Psychologists
The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) was founded on September 2, 1968, in San Francisco, California, in response to the American Psychological Association’s failure to address the mental health needs of the Black community. This revolutionary idea was borne out of the efforts of Black early career psychologists and student activists from across the United States. ABPsi, as the first national ethnic psychological association, has led the…
Construction and validation of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (Maspad)
This paper describes the development of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (MASPAD), a bidimensional instrument designed to assess acculturation strategies (i.e., Traditionalist, Integrationist, Assimilationist, and Marginalist). Two studies were conducted to describe the development of the MASPAD and to assess its psychometric properties. Data were collected from 367 African American participants in Atlanta…
Mentors' Influence on Mexican American Students' Career and Educational Development
Effects of mentoring on Mexican American high school students' career aspirations were examined. Results indicated most students had a mentor, and mentors were most helpful through role modeling, verbal encouragement, personal support, and providing career guidance. Gender differences were found on several outcome variables but were not detected based on sex or ethnic match, or the presence of a mentor. Los efectos de mentoring en estudiantes mex…
Ethnic group differences in reasons for living and the moderating role of cultural worldview
Patterns of suicide resilience vary considerably across ethnic groups and are an understudied dimension of suicide science. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between cultural worldview and "reasons for living," an alternative index for suicide risk in a cross-cultural sample. The Reasons for Living Inventory and Worldview Analysis Scale were administered together with measures of hopelessness and depressive symptoms…
Racial Regard and Internalizing Symptoms Among Black Youth
Racism-related relational schemas such as negative public regard, a facet of racial identity, can both contribute to or buffer against risk for internalizing psychopathology. Expressive suppression may be a target factor in understanding the complex relationship between negative public regard and internalizing psychopathology. The present investigation examined indirect effects of negative public regard on internalizing symptoms through expressiv…
Chronic stress, autonomic dysregulation and prospective drug use among African American emerging adults
Chronic stress exposure and active coping may interact to affect regulatory mechanisms of the ANS. ANS (dys)regulation may be an important endophenotype for increasing drug use vulnerability among African American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Association of Fear and Mistrust with Stress Among Sheltered Homeless Adults and the Moderating Effects of Race and Sex
Mentors' Influence on Mexican American Students' Career and Educational Development
Effects of mentoring on Mexican American high school students' career aspirations were examined. Results indicated most students had a mentor, and mentors were most helpful through role modeling, verbal encouragement, personal support, and providing career guidance. Gender differences were found on several outcome variables but were not detected based on sex or ethnic match, or the presence of a mentor. Los efectos de mentoring en estudiantes mex…
Construction and Initial Validation of the Worldview Analysis Scale (WAS)
This study describes the development of the Worldview Analysis Scale (WAS), an instrument designed to assess the way in which people perceive, think, feel, and experience the world. Four studies were conducted to describe the scale development of the WAS and to assess its psychometric properties. Eight hundred sixteen African, African American, European, European American, and multiethnic participants served as the validation sample. Exploratory …
An empirical investigation of acculturative stress and ethnic identity as moderators for depression and suicidal ideation in college students
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of acculturative stress and ethnic identity to depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation in college students. The SAFE Acculturative Stress Scale, Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Measure, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Suicide Scale were administered to 452 college students. The authors found that acculturative stress and ethnic identity moderated the depression-suicide ideation re…
Ethnic group differences in reasons for living and the moderating role of cultural worldview
Patterns of suicide resilience vary considerably across ethnic groups and are an understudied dimension of suicide science. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between cultural worldview and "reasons for living," an alternative index for suicide risk in a cross-cultural sample. The Reasons for Living Inventory and Worldview Analysis Scale were administered together with measures of hopelessness and depressive symptoms…
Construction and validation of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (Maspad)
This paper describes the development of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (MASPAD), a bidimensional instrument designed to assess acculturation strategies (i.e., Traditionalist, Integrationist, Assimilationist, and Marginalist). Two studies were conducted to describe the development of the MASPAD and to assess its psychometric properties. Data were collected from 367 African American participants in Atlanta…
The Association of Black Psychologists
The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) was founded on September 2, 1968, in San Francisco, California, in response to the American Psychological Association’s failure to address the mental health needs of the Black community. This revolutionary idea was borne out of the efforts of Black early career psychologists and student activists from across the United States. ABPsi, as the first national ethnic psychological association, has led the…
The moderating role of implicit alcohol-related cognitions in hazardous alcohol use
The present study applied the Go/No-Go Association Test (GNAT; Nosek & Banaji, 2001) to measure alcohol-related implicit cognitions. Additionally, it assessed the role of implicit cognitions as a potential moderator in the relationship between explicit predictors of alcohol use and hazardous drinking behavior. University undergraduate students ( N = 214) completed self-report questionnaires assessing reasons for drinking and reported alcohol use.…
The Built Food Environment and Dietary Intake among African-American Adults
Maximizing healthy offerings in venue-rich metropolitan areas might provide direction for policies to reduce obesity
Interactive Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity and Subjective Social Status on Psychological Symptomatology in Black Adults
Anxiety sensitivity is the fear of anxiety-related sensations and subjective social status is a self-perception of social standing relative to others: both constructs have been linked to psychological symptomatology. This study investigated the interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and social status in relation to anxiety and depressive symptomatology expression among 124 black adults. Participants provided sociodemographics and completed se…
The role of minority stress in second-generation Black emerging adult college students’ high-risk drinking behaviors
Findings underscore the need to better understand the influence of acculturative stress on high-risk drinking behaviors among second-generation Black emerging adult college students: an understudied population in both the acculturation and alcohol use literatures. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Effects of Alcohol and Cigarette Consumption on Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Rural African Americans
Objective: Rurally situated African Americans suffer from stress and drug-related health disparities. Unfortunately, research on potential mechanisms that underlie this public health problem have received limited focus in the scientific literature. This study investigated the physiological impact of nicotine and alcohol use on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) functioning, a biomarker previously linked to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal functioning. M…
Alcohol Use in Context
Characterizing Alcohol Use Behaviors among Homeless Men and Women
Objectives: In this study, we characterized alcohol use behaviors by sex among sheltered homeless adults and explored associations with health and readiness to change drinking behaviors. Methods: Participants (N = 581; 63.7% men; M age = 43.6, 29.4% white) self-reported alcohol use and readiness to change drinking behaviors. Sex differences were analyzed via Wilcoxon ranksum, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and ANCOVAs. Results: Overall, 3…
Neighborhood Walkability and Aerobic Physical Activity among Latinos
Objective: In this study, we examined neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) as a moderator in the association between neighborhood walkability and meeting the aerobic physical activity guideline among US Latino adults. Methods: We used 2015 National Health Interview Survey cross-sectional data from 4525 adult US Latino participants ≥18 years of age. NSC and walkability measures were self-reported. Higher walkability scores indicating higher walkabil…
Characterizing Discrimination Experiences by Race among Homeless Adults
Objectives: Among domiciled samples, racial discrimination is a known stressor linked with poorer quality of life. However, homeless adults may be particularly vulnerable to discrimination due to multiple factors beyond race. In this study, we characterized perceived discrimination and its reported impact on quality of life in a sample of adults who were homeless. Methods: Homeless adults recruited from Oklahoma City self-reported their socio-dem…
Association of Problematic Alcohol Use and Food Insecurity among Homeless Men and Women
Food insecurity results from unreliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Homeless adults are particularly vulnerable to both food insecurity and problematic alcohol use. The current study examined the link between problematic alcohol use and food insecurity among homeless adults. Participants (N = 528; 62.7% men; M age = 43.6 ± 12.2) were recruited from homeless-serving agencies in Oklahoma City. Problematic alcohol use was measured usin…
Clinician Training in the Adaptation of a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Program in Agencies Serving the Homeless and Vulnerably Housed
Tobacco use is exceedingly high among those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness but not commonly addressed by clinicians. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) is a tobacco control program that addresses known clinician barriers to intervention (e.g., low training receipt, limited resources). Here, we examine the process and outcomes of TTTF's adaptation within four agencies that provide housing or other services to individuals who are homeles…
Tobacco-free Workplace Program at a Substance Use Treatment Center
Objectives: About 65%-87% of substance use disorder patients smoke cigarettes, compared to 14% of the general adult population. Few substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) have comprehensive tobacco-free workplace (TFW) policies or offer tobacco interventions. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) implements an evidence-based TFW program in SUTCs, including at the Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Center (BTC). We present a mixed methods case study of…
Association of Fear and Mistrust with Stress Among Sheltered Homeless Adults and the Moderating Effects of Race and Sex
Organizational-Level Moderators Impacting Tobacco-Related Knowledge Change after Tobacco Education Training in Substance Use Treatment Centers
Tobacco use is disproportionately elevated among patients with substance use disorders relative to the general U.S. population. Tobacco interventions are lacking within substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) due to lack of knowledge and training. This study examined knowledge gain and the organizational factors that might moderate knowledge gains following tobacco education training provided to employees (N = 580) within 15 SUTCs that were parti…
Addressing Smoking Cessation among Women in Substance Use Treatment
Intersecting socially marginalized identities and unique biopsychosocial factors place women with substance use disorders (SUDs) experiencing myriad disadvantages at higher risk for smoking and stigmatization. Here, based on our work with women receiving care for SUDs in four participating treatment/women-serving centers (N = 6 individual clinics), we: (1) describe the functions of smoking for women with SUDs; and (2) explore participants' experi…
Implementation and Outcomes of a Comprehensive Tobacco Free Workplace Program in Opioid Treatment Centers
Tobacco use is exceedingly high among individuals receiving care for opioid addiction, but not commonly addressed by clinicians in treatment settings. Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) is a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace (TFW) program that builds treatment centers' capacity to address tobacco use with evidence-based tobacco cessation policies and practices. Here, we examine the process and outcomes of TTTF's implementation within 7 opioid ad…
Implementation and Outcomes of a Train-the-Trainer Program at Behavioral Health Treatment Centers as a Mechanism to Maintain Organizational Capacity to Address Tobacco Use Disorder
Despite prior successful implementation of Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF), an evidence-based tobacco-free workplace program, in local mental health authorities (LMHAs), post-implementation employee attrition necessitated continuing education on tobacco-free policies and tobacco treatment practices. Here, we report on the outcomes of a train-the-trainer program which trained "champions" to deliver tobacco cessation education at their LMHAs. Thre…
Organizational Factors Moderating Changes in Tobacco Use Dependence Care Delivery Following a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Intervention in Non-Profit Substance Use Treatment Centers
Although tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and is elevated among patients with substance use disorders, many substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) do not offer tobacco use interventions (i.e., screening and treatment). This study examined a key outcome of the implementation of a tobacco-free workplace program that provided education and specialized training to employees; namely, changes in clinician provision of the five As …
Chronic stress, autonomic dysregulation and prospective drug use among African American emerging adults
Chronic stress exposure and active coping may interact to affect regulatory mechanisms of the ANS. ANS (dys)regulation may be an important endophenotype for increasing drug use vulnerability among African American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Psychology (25 works) · Medicine (21 works) · Clinical Psychology (14 works) · Environmental health (13 works) · Psychiatry (13 works) · Clinical Psychology (12 works) · Social Psychology (10 works) · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes (10 works) · Psychological intervention (8 works) · Smoking Behavior and Cessation (8 works)