Kristin Mmari
Biographic Data
| ID | 270045 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kristin Mmari |
| GIVEN NAMES | Kristin |
| FAMILY NAME | Mmari |
| SIGNATURE | MMARI K |
| AFFILIATIONS | Johns Hopkins University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3087-7105 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 48 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Positive impacts of a universal trauma-informed intervention on student mental health
Effective school-based universal interventions to prevent or reduce mental health problems among upper middle school students are lacking, particularly for student populations with chronic exposure to adversity. To address this gap, we conducted an efficacy trial that compared RAP (Relax, Aware, Personal rating) Club, a trauma-informed universal intervention, with an active control health education program called Healthy Topics (HT). We hypothesi…
“I can’t fail. And my son can’t fail.”
Adolescents and young adults (AYA, aged 15–24) living with HIV have suboptimal antiretroviral treatment adherence compared to their adult counterparts, raising concerns of poor health and drug resistance. While it is known that AYA require caregiver and family support to successfully transition to HIV self-management, there has been limited engagement with caregivers to this end. To fill this gap, we examined caregivers’ experiences of navigating…
Changing paradigms to address gender health inequities for all
Gender health inequalities escalate during early adolescence, a critical period shaping lifelong health trajectories. Boys face heightened mortality, due to elevated rates of externalizing disorders such as conduct issues and substance use, while girls grapple with higher levels of internalizing disorders such as depression and sexual/reproductive health conditions, contributing to increased morbidity. Although global initiatives are bolstering g…
Cultivating Health
Project VITAL (Vacant Lot Improvement to Transform Adolescent Lives) is a study designed to evaluate the impact of revitalized vacant lots on adolescent health in Baltimore, Maryland. We implemented a mixed-methods research approach, which included surveys of 14- to 19-year-olds, observations of nearby vacant lots, and street block assessments during 2023-2024. The aim was to understand how greening vacant lots affected adolescent mental health, …
A process evaluation of “Show Me Strong Kids
A greening theory of change
Neighborhoods are one of the key determinants of health disparities among young people in the United States. While neighborhood deprivation can exacerbate health disparities, amenities such as quality parks and greenspace can support adolescent health. Existing conceptual frameworks of greening‐health largely focus on greenspace exposures, rather than greening interventions. In this paper, we develop and propose a Greening Theory of Change that e…
Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs and Adolescent Food Insecurity
Why do young people engage in dating relationships during early adolescence? An inter-generational qualitative analysis from Blantyre, Malawi
Engagement in dating relationships plays an important role in the health trajectories of young people, particularly during the early adolescent period between ages 10-14. Yet little is known about such relationships among youth in low resource contexts. This study sought to contribute to the literature on this topic by exploring reasons why school-going young people aged 12-14 years engage in dating relationships in Blantyre, Malawi. A thematic a…
How do adolescents navigate Covid-19 information, and why does it matter
Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Adolescent Food Insecurity in Baltimore
How adolescents cope with food insecurity in Baltimore City
Objective: To increase our understanding about food insecurity among urban adolescents, we conducted a qualitative study in Baltimore City with adolescents to: (i) explore how adolescents experience and cope with food insecurity; and (ii) identify community-based approaches or interventions for addressing food insecurity. Design: A total of eight focus groups were conducted across six neighbourhoods. To gather sociodemographic characteristics and…
Measuring gender norms about relationships in early adolescence
This study reveals common perceptions of gendered norms about romantic engagement in early adolescence, normative for both sexes, but socially valued for boys while devaluated for girls. The findings illustrate that social hierarchies of power in romantic relationships form early in adolescence, regardless of cultural setting
Yeah, I’ve grown; I can’t go out anymore’
This analysis is based on data from the Global Early Adolescent Study, which aims to understand the factors that predispose young people aged 10-14 years to positive or negative health trajectories. Specifically, interview transcripts from 202 adolescents and 191 parents across six diverse urban sites (Baltimore, Ghent, Nairobi, Ile Ife, Assuit and Shanghai) were analysed to compare the perceived risks associated with entering adolescence and how…
From fear to resilience
Adolescents in Hillbrow commonly witnessed and had direct experience of many forms of violence in their environment, and these experiences differed markedly by gender. Interventions that build young peoples' social capital and resilience are essential for reducing violence-related trauma and long-term health and social consequences for adolescents in this community
Who Adolescents Trust May Impact Their Health
Addressing Structural and Environmental Factors for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
A deeper understanding of how structure and environment shape the sexual and reproductive health vulnerabilities of youths across a range of outcomes has implications for the development of successful policies and programs. We have discussed some of the key structural and environmental factors that influence the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and the importance of engaging adolesce…
How adolescents perceive their communities
As the world continues to urbanize, our study points to a strong need to examine how the physical aspects of a living environment contribute to the health of adolescents. Specific aspects, such as housing, safety, garbage, and recreational spaces must all be examined as possible pathways for making improvements to health of adolescents, particularly among those living in poor urban environments
Adolescents' perceptions of health from disadvantaged urban communities
Risk and Protective Correlates of Young Women s First Sexual Experiences in Rakai, Uganda
CONTEXT: Sexually active young women bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Information is needed on risk and protective correlates at the family, partner and individual level for the design of programs to encourage safer sexual behaviors and reduce HIV risk among young women. METHODS: The study was conducted among 1,675 sexually experienced women aged 15-24 living in Rakai, Uganda. The sample was taken from an ongoing communit…
Young people's lives and sexual relationships in rural Africa
Young people's lives and sexual relationships in rural Africa: Findings from a large qualitative study in Tanzania." Global Public Health, 8(2), pp. 240–241
Sexual attitudes, behaviours and acculturation among young migrants in Shanghai
China's rates of internal migration increased to an all-time high of over 200 million individuals at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Yet, there is a dearth of information on the lives of young migrant populations. The aim of this study was to explore how migration influences the sexual attitudes and behaviours of 18-24-year-old migrant men and women in Shanghai, China. A total of 64 migrants participated in 10 focus-group discussions a…
Urban Teens and Young Adults Describe Drama, Disrespect, Dating Violence and Help-Seeking Preferences
STI Treatment-Seeking Behaviors Among Youth in Nigeria
There is little research on STIs among young people in Nigeria.It is important to determine gender differences in health-seeking behaviors among youth with self-reported STI symptoms
Factors influencing sexual initiation, multiple partners and condom use among male slum youth in Pune, India
This study examines the factors that influence sexual behaviours among young unmarried males living in urban slums in India, a population characterised by high vulnerability to STI and HIV infections. Data were collected from 600 unmarried male slum youth to examine the relationships between three outcomes of heterosexual behaviour (age at sexual initiation, number of sexual partners and condom use at first intercourse) and factors within the fam…
What Increases Risk and Protection for Delinquent Behaviors Among American Indian Youth
The primary purpose of this study was to compare the risk and protective factors for delinquent behaviors among American Indian youth in three distinct tribal communities. Focus group discussions were used to gather data from elders, parents, youth workers, and youth in each tribal community. Findings showed that the key source for increasing risk and protection for delinquent behaviors among American Indian youth is the family. In particular is …
What Increases Risk and Protection for Delinquent Behaviors Among American Indian Youth
The primary purpose of this study was to compare the risk and protective factors for delinquent behaviors among American Indian youth in three distinct tribal communities. Focus group discussions were used to gather data from elders, parents, youth workers, and youth in each tribal community. Findings showed that the key source for increasing risk and protection for delinquent behaviors among American Indian youth is the family. In particular is …
When a Parent Goes Off to War
The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the consequences of parental deployment for adolescents and their families and (2) to identify potential strategies that may help adolescents cope with a parent's deployment. Eleven focus groups were conducted among adolescents in military families, military parents, and school personnel in military-impacted schools at five military bases. Findings reveal that one of the most prominent sources of s…
Adolescents' perceptions of health from disadvantaged urban communities
Addressing Structural and Environmental Factors for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
A deeper understanding of how structure and environment shape the sexual and reproductive health vulnerabilities of youths across a range of outcomes has implications for the development of successful policies and programs. We have discussed some of the key structural and environmental factors that influence the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and the importance of engaging adolesce…
Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Adolescent Food Insecurity in Baltimore
Who Adolescents Trust May Impact Their Health
Risk and protective factors for HIV among orphans and non-orphans in Tanzania
The objectives of this study were to identify risk and protective factors for engaging in unsafe sex among orphans and non-orphans and to explore whether risk and protection differs by gender and orphan status. The study was carried out in Kisesa ward, in the Mwanza region of Northwest Tanzania. A combination of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from girls and boys as well as from the female caregivers of o…
When a Parent Goes Off to War
The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the consequences of parental deployment for adolescents and their families and (2) to identify potential strategies that may help adolescents cope with a parent's deployment. Eleven focus groups were conducted among adolescents in military families, military parents, and school personnel in military-impacted schools at five military bases. Findings reveal that one of the most prominent sources of s…
STI Treatment-Seeking Behaviors Among Youth in Nigeria
There is little research on STIs among young people in Nigeria.It is important to determine gender differences in health-seeking behaviors among youth with self-reported STI symptoms
Factors influencing sexual initiation, multiple partners and condom use among male slum youth in Pune, India
This study examines the factors that influence sexual behaviours among young unmarried males living in urban slums in India, a population characterised by high vulnerability to STI and HIV infections. Data were collected from 600 unmarried male slum youth to examine the relationships between three outcomes of heterosexual behaviour (age at sexual initiation, number of sexual partners and condom use at first intercourse) and factors within the fam…
What Increases Risk and Protection for Delinquent Behaviors Among American Indian Youth
The primary purpose of this study was to compare the risk and protective factors for delinquent behaviors among American Indian youth in three distinct tribal communities. Focus group discussions were used to gather data from elders, parents, youth workers, and youth in each tribal community. Findings showed that the key source for increasing risk and protection for delinquent behaviors among American Indian youth is the family. In particular is …
Urban Teens and Young Adults Describe Drama, Disrespect, Dating Violence and Help-Seeking Preferences
Sexual attitudes, behaviours and acculturation among young migrants in Shanghai
China's rates of internal migration increased to an all-time high of over 200 million individuals at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Yet, there is a dearth of information on the lives of young migrant populations. The aim of this study was to explore how migration influences the sexual attitudes and behaviours of 18-24-year-old migrant men and women in Shanghai, China. A total of 64 migrants participated in 10 focus-group discussions a…
Risk and Protective Correlates of Young Women s First Sexual Experiences in Rakai, Uganda
CONTEXT: Sexually active young women bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Information is needed on risk and protective correlates at the family, partner and individual level for the design of programs to encourage safer sexual behaviors and reduce HIV risk among young women. METHODS: The study was conducted among 1,675 sexually experienced women aged 15-24 living in Rakai, Uganda. The sample was taken from an ongoing communit…
Young people's lives and sexual relationships in rural Africa
Young people's lives and sexual relationships in rural Africa: Findings from a large qualitative study in Tanzania." Global Public Health, 8(2), pp. 240–241
How adolescents perceive their communities
As the world continues to urbanize, our study points to a strong need to examine how the physical aspects of a living environment contribute to the health of adolescents. Specific aspects, such as housing, safety, garbage, and recreational spaces must all be examined as possible pathways for making improvements to health of adolescents, particularly among those living in poor urban environments
Adolescents' perceptions of health from disadvantaged urban communities
Addressing Structural and Environmental Factors for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
A deeper understanding of how structure and environment shape the sexual and reproductive health vulnerabilities of youths across a range of outcomes has implications for the development of successful policies and programs. We have discussed some of the key structural and environmental factors that influence the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and the importance of engaging adolesce…
Who Adolescents Trust May Impact Their Health
From fear to resilience
Adolescents in Hillbrow commonly witnessed and had direct experience of many forms of violence in their environment, and these experiences differed markedly by gender. Interventions that build young peoples' social capital and resilience are essential for reducing violence-related trauma and long-term health and social consequences for adolescents in this community
Measuring gender norms about relationships in early adolescence
This study reveals common perceptions of gendered norms about romantic engagement in early adolescence, normative for both sexes, but socially valued for boys while devaluated for girls. The findings illustrate that social hierarchies of power in romantic relationships form early in adolescence, regardless of cultural setting
Yeah, I’ve grown; I can’t go out anymore’
This analysis is based on data from the Global Early Adolescent Study, which aims to understand the factors that predispose young people aged 10-14 years to positive or negative health trajectories. Specifically, interview transcripts from 202 adolescents and 191 parents across six diverse urban sites (Baltimore, Ghent, Nairobi, Ile Ife, Assuit and Shanghai) were analysed to compare the perceived risks associated with entering adolescence and how…
How adolescents cope with food insecurity in Baltimore City
Objective: To increase our understanding about food insecurity among urban adolescents, we conducted a qualitative study in Baltimore City with adolescents to: (i) explore how adolescents experience and cope with food insecurity; and (ii) identify community-based approaches or interventions for addressing food insecurity. Design: A total of eight focus groups were conducted across six neighbourhoods. To gather sociodemographic characteristics and…
Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Adolescent Food Insecurity in Baltimore
How do adolescents navigate Covid-19 information, and why does it matter
Why do young people engage in dating relationships during early adolescence? An inter-generational qualitative analysis from Blantyre, Malawi
Engagement in dating relationships plays an important role in the health trajectories of young people, particularly during the early adolescent period between ages 10-14. Yet little is known about such relationships among youth in low resource contexts. This study sought to contribute to the literature on this topic by exploring reasons why school-going young people aged 12-14 years engage in dating relationships in Blantyre, Malawi. A thematic a…
Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs and Adolescent Food Insecurity
A greening theory of change
Neighborhoods are one of the key determinants of health disparities among young people in the United States. While neighborhood deprivation can exacerbate health disparities, amenities such as quality parks and greenspace can support adolescent health. Existing conceptual frameworks of greening‐health largely focus on greenspace exposures, rather than greening interventions. In this paper, we develop and propose a Greening Theory of Change that e…
Positive impacts of a universal trauma-informed intervention on student mental health
Effective school-based universal interventions to prevent or reduce mental health problems among upper middle school students are lacking, particularly for student populations with chronic exposure to adversity. To address this gap, we conducted an efficacy trial that compared RAP (Relax, Aware, Personal rating) Club, a trauma-informed universal intervention, with an active control health education program called Healthy Topics (HT). We hypothesi…
“I can’t fail. And my son can’t fail.”
Adolescents and young adults (AYA, aged 15–24) living with HIV have suboptimal antiretroviral treatment adherence compared to their adult counterparts, raising concerns of poor health and drug resistance. While it is known that AYA require caregiver and family support to successfully transition to HIV self-management, there has been limited engagement with caregivers to this end. To fill this gap, we examined caregivers’ experiences of navigating…
Changing paradigms to address gender health inequities for all
Gender health inequalities escalate during early adolescence, a critical period shaping lifelong health trajectories. Boys face heightened mortality, due to elevated rates of externalizing disorders such as conduct issues and substance use, while girls grapple with higher levels of internalizing disorders such as depression and sexual/reproductive health conditions, contributing to increased morbidity. Although global initiatives are bolstering g…
Psychology (20 works) · Medicine (17 works) · Sociology (15 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (12 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Population (9 works) · Geography (8 works) · Focus group (7 works) · Gerontology (7 works) · Political science (7 works)