Rebecca M Cunningham
Biographic Data
| ID | 342120 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rebecca M Cunningham |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rebecca M |
| FAMILY NAME | Cunningham |
| SIGNATURE | CUNNINGHAM R M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Michigan |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6382-2365 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 31 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 66 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 31 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Residential Racial Segregation and Youth Firearm Aggression
Youth interpersonal firearm violence disproportionately affects Black youth, with residential racial segregation as a key determinant. Racially segregated neighborhoods, which are economically isolated (e.g., neighborhood disadvantage), are linked to increased exposure to violence. This exposure, in turn, is a determinant of youth firearm aggression (i.e., using a gun on someone else). Mechanisms from residential racial segregation to firearm agg…
Community engagement, greening, and violent crime
Researchers have documented that vacant lot greening can reduce community‐level crime and violence. Busy Streets Theory (BST) suggests that residents who are involved in the greening process can help to improve physical environments and build social connections that deter crime and violence. Yet few researchers have explored how community engagement in the greening process may affect crime and violence outcomes. We applied BST to test the effects…
Prevention of sexual violence among college students
Objective Preventing sexual violence among college students is a public health priority. This paper was catalyzed by a summit convened in 2018 to review the state of the science on campus sexual violence prevention. We summarize key risk and vulnerability factors and campus-based interventions, and provide directions for future research pertaining to campus sexual violence. Results and Conclusions: Although studies have identified risk factors fo…
Current Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States
Adult Help Seeking Behaviors Following Firearm-Related IPV and Threats to a Child
Community Greening, Fear of Crime, and Mental Health Outcomes
Unmaintained vacant land in urban areas is associated with a number of negative outcomes for residents of urban areas, including mental and physical health, safety, and quality of life. Community programs which promote land parcel maintenance in urban neighborhoods have been found to reverse some of the effects that unmaintained land has on nearby residents. We explored how land parcel maintenance is associated with mental health outcomes using d…
Retaliatory attitudes as mediator of exposure to violence and firearm aggression among youth
Firearm injury is a significant public health concern among youth living in the United States. Youth with exposure to violence (ETV) are more susceptible to carrying and using a firearm. Few researchers, however, have examined psychological mechanisms undergirding the association between ETV and firearm aggression. Retaliatory attitudes have been discussed as a potential mediator linking ETV with firearm aggression. Moreover, organized activity p…
How Multi-disciplinary Research Centers and Networks Can Advance the Science of Firearm Injury Prevention
Firearm injuries are a leading cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S., but there is a dearth of federal funding for research on firearm injury prevention, compared to funding for research on other injuries and diseases. University research centers/institutes (C/Is) are in a position to help generate such research: they are multidisciplinary, have the capacity to conduct large-scale research projects, and commonly address complex health and so…
Patterns of same-day alcohol and cannabis use in adolescents and young adults with risky alcohol use
Same-day alcohol and cannabis use is relatively common in adolescents and young adults, constituting a higher-risk behavior relative to single-substance use. However, the association between quantity of alcohol and cannabis use on co-use days is understudied. We examined the association between the quantity of alcohol and same-day cannabis use with a multilevel regression analysis in a sample of youth (16-24 years old) with risky alcohol use. Par…
Creating a ‘choose your topic’ massive open online course
Injury Prevention for Children and Teens ' is a novel approach to injury prevention education that is broad, science-based, accessible, and not cost-prohibitive for a diverse group of global learners
Use of extreme risk protection orders to reduce gun violence in Oregon
Research Summary We examined petition and respondent characteristics from extreme risk protection order (ERPO) cases in Oregon for the 15 months after implementation ( n = 93). Most petitions were filed by law enforcement (65%) a were more likely to be granted than petitions filed by family/household members ( p < 0.001). Most ERPO respondents were reported by petitioners to have histories of suicidality (73%) or interpersonal violence (75%), wit…
Youth Firearm Injury Prevention
Longitudinal pathway from violence exposure to firearm carriage among adolescents
INTRODUCTION: Exposure to violence is a risk factor for firearm carriage. Youth exposed to violence also have difficulty envisioning positive future outcomes (e.g., educational outcomes), which can increase the likelihood of firearm carriage over time. Researchers, however, have not yet examined whether changes in exposure to violence over time can influence the developmental trajectories of firearm carriage. To address this gap, we (1) examined …
Implementing a State‐Adopted High School Health Curriculum
BACKGROUND: The Michigan Model for HealthTM (MMH) is the official health curriculum for the State of Michigan and prevailing policy and practice has encouraged its adoption. Delivering evidence-based programs such as MMH with fidelity is essential to program effectiveness. Yet, most schools do meet state-designated fidelity requirements for implementation (delivering 80% or more of the curriculum). METHODS: We collected online survey (N = 20) and…
Alcohol and cannabis motives
Findings suggest that cannabis use motives associated with increasing positive affect may be most compelling for those engaging in alcohol/cannabis use on a given day. Intervention programs for alcohol/cannabis use should address alcohol and cannabis use motives in relation to increasing positive affect and engaging in social situations
Description and initial evaluation of a values-based campus sexual assault prevention programme for first-year college students
Preventing sexual assault in college and university settings is an important public health priority. The college campus is a high-risk setting for experiencing sexual assault while at university. Many campuses utilise brief educational programmes to prevent sexual assault, but these programmes are rarely evaluated. In this paper, we provide a programme description and evaluation data from a sexual assault prevention programme administered to firs…
Evaluation of the dualistic model of passion for alcohol consumption among emerging adults engaged in risky drinking
Understanding factors influencing risky drinking among emerging adults could enhance interventions to reduce adverse outcomes. As a motivational construct, the dualistic model of passion (i.e., obsessive passion: drinking is compelling and conflicts with other life activities/values; harmonious passion: drinking is an important, but not overwhelming, part of life) offers a novel explanation for persistent alcohol use. Yet, the dualistic model of …
Correlation of Minority Status, Cyberbullying, and Mental Health
Understanding the Role of Alcohol, Anxiety, and Trait Mindfulness in the Perpetration of Physical and Sexual Dating Violence in Emerging Adults
This study examines alcohol consumption, anxiety, trait mindfulness, and physical and sexual dating violence aggression (PDV and SDV) among 735 emerging adults (18-25 years) in an urban emergency department. Of the total sample, 27.2% perpetrated PDV and 16.5% perpetrated SDV. Alcohol was positively associated with PDV/SDV. Anxiety was positively associated with PDV. Mindfulness was negatively associated with PDV/SDV. Interaction analyses reveale…
Age‐Specific Associations Between Violence Exposure and Past 30‐Day Marijuana and Alcohol Use
Using data from a cohort study of students at risk for high school dropout, we examined associations between violence exposure and past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use. We used varying-coefficient regression with person-level fixed effects to estimate how those associations changed within-person across ages approximately 14-23. Generally, violence perpetration was most strongly associated with substance use, within-person. Substance use became i…
Busy Streets Theory
Lack of maintenance on vacant neighborhood lots is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress for nearby residents. Overgrown grasses and dense brush provide hiding spots for criminals and space to conduct illicit activities. This study builds upon previous research by investigating greening programs that engage community members to conduct routine maintenance on vacant lots within their neighborhoods. The Clean & Green prog…
Technology-Based Interventions and Trainings to Reduce the Escalation and Impact of Alcohol Problems
There has been a rapid increase in the development of technological innovations to reduce the escalation and impact of alcohol problems among adolescents and adults. Technology-based interventions offer the possibility of reaching individuals who otherwise might not seek treatment, (e.g., those in remote areas, those not perceiving a need for treatment, or others who may resist treatment). This article describes four case examples of technology-b…
Feasibility and acceptability of text messaging to assess daily substance use and sexual behaviors among urban emerging adults
Participants in this urban, resource-constrained sample found the daily text message methodology acceptable for reporting sensitive information. With rapid advancements in technologies and increased accessibility, text messaging remains a promising methodology for the study of daily processes in substance use and HIV risk behaviors. Keywords: text messaging; assessment; emerging adults; substance use; risky sex; mobile technology
Voices from Flint
Two-Year Trajectories of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Drug-Using Adolescents and Emerging Adults in an Urban Community
Busy Streets Theory
Lack of maintenance on vacant neighborhood lots is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress for nearby residents. Overgrown grasses and dense brush provide hiding spots for criminals and space to conduct illicit activities. This study builds upon previous research by investigating greening programs that engage community members to conduct routine maintenance on vacant lots within their neighborhoods. The Clean & Green prog…
The Relationship Between Cumulative Risk and Promotive Factors and Violent Behavior Among Urban Adolescents
Resiliency theory posits that some youth exposed to risk factors do not develop negative behaviors due to the influence of promotive factors. This study examines the effects of cumulative risk and promotive factors on adolescent violent behavior and tests two models of resilience—the compensatory model and the protective model—in a sample of adolescent patients (14–18 years old; n = 726) presenting to an urban emergency department who report viol…
Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Violent Behavior Among Urban African American Youths From Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood
Objectives. We examined developmental trajectories of alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths and the longitudinal relationship between these behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Methods. Our sample included 649 African American youths (49% male) followed for 8 years. We assessed violent behavior and alcohol use by asking participants how often they had engaged in each behavior in the preceding 12 months.…
Community engagement, greening, and violent crime
Researchers have documented that vacant lot greening can reduce community‐level crime and violence. Busy Streets Theory (BST) suggests that residents who are involved in the greening process can help to improve physical environments and build social connections that deter crime and violence. Yet few researchers have explored how community engagement in the greening process may affect crime and violence outcomes. We applied BST to test the effects…
Community Greening, Fear of Crime, and Mental Health Outcomes
Unmaintained vacant land in urban areas is associated with a number of negative outcomes for residents of urban areas, including mental and physical health, safety, and quality of life. Community programs which promote land parcel maintenance in urban neighborhoods have been found to reverse some of the effects that unmaintained land has on nearby residents. We explored how land parcel maintenance is associated with mental health outcomes using d…
Understanding the Role of Alcohol, Anxiety, and Trait Mindfulness in the Perpetration of Physical and Sexual Dating Violence in Emerging Adults
This study examines alcohol consumption, anxiety, trait mindfulness, and physical and sexual dating violence aggression (PDV and SDV) among 735 emerging adults (18-25 years) in an urban emergency department. Of the total sample, 27.2% perpetrated PDV and 16.5% perpetrated SDV. Alcohol was positively associated with PDV/SDV. Anxiety was positively associated with PDV. Mindfulness was negatively associated with PDV/SDV. Interaction analyses reveale…
Voices from Flint
Modeling the Injury Prevention Impact of Mandatory Alcohol Ignition Interlock Installation in All New US Vehicles
Objectives. We estimated the injury prevention impact and cost savings associated with alcohol interlock installation in all new US vehicles. Methods. We identified fatal and nonfatal injuries associated with drinking driver vehicle crashes from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and National Automotive Sampling System’s General Estimates System data sets (2006–2010). We derived the estimated impact of universal interlock installation using a…
Retaliatory attitudes as mediator of exposure to violence and firearm aggression among youth
Firearm injury is a significant public health concern among youth living in the United States. Youth with exposure to violence (ETV) are more susceptible to carrying and using a firearm. Few researchers, however, have examined psychological mechanisms undergirding the association between ETV and firearm aggression. Retaliatory attitudes have been discussed as a potential mediator linking ETV with firearm aggression. Moreover, organized activity p…
Age‐Specific Associations Between Violence Exposure and Past 30‐Day Marijuana and Alcohol Use
Using data from a cohort study of students at risk for high school dropout, we examined associations between violence exposure and past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use. We used varying-coefficient regression with person-level fixed effects to estimate how those associations changed within-person across ages approximately 14-23. Generally, violence perpetration was most strongly associated with substance use, within-person. Substance use became i…
Alcohol Availability and Violence among Inner‐City Adolescents
Researchers recognize that the connection between alcohol and peer violence may relate to community level ecological factors, such as the location of businesses that sell alcohol. Building on previous research among adults, this study examines the relationship between alcohol outlet density and violent behaviors among adolescents, taking into account demographic characteristics, individual alcohol use, and neighborhood level socioeconomic indicat…
Residential Racial Segregation and Youth Firearm Aggression
Youth interpersonal firearm violence disproportionately affects Black youth, with residential racial segregation as a key determinant. Racially segregated neighborhoods, which are economically isolated (e.g., neighborhood disadvantage), are linked to increased exposure to violence. This exposure, in turn, is a determinant of youth firearm aggression (i.e., using a gun on someone else). Mechanisms from residential racial segregation to firearm agg…
How Multi-disciplinary Research Centers and Networks Can Advance the Science of Firearm Injury Prevention
Firearm injuries are a leading cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S., but there is a dearth of federal funding for research on firearm injury prevention, compared to funding for research on other injuries and diseases. University research centers/institutes (C/Is) are in a position to help generate such research: they are multidisciplinary, have the capacity to conduct large-scale research projects, and commonly address complex health and so…
Use of extreme risk protection orders to reduce gun violence in Oregon
Research Summary We examined petition and respondent characteristics from extreme risk protection order (ERPO) cases in Oregon for the 15 months after implementation ( n = 93). Most petitions were filed by law enforcement (65%) a were more likely to be granted than petitions filed by family/household members ( p < 0.001). Most ERPO respondents were reported by petitioners to have histories of suicidality (73%) or interpersonal violence (75%), wit…
Youth Firearm Injury Prevention
Youth Violence
Physicians can manage and treat probable victims of gang violence without breaching the youth’s confidentiality. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association
Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Violent Behavior Among Urban African American Youths From Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood
Objectives. We examined developmental trajectories of alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths and the longitudinal relationship between these behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Methods. Our sample included 649 African American youths (49% male) followed for 8 years. We assessed violent behavior and alcohol use by asking participants how often they had engaged in each behavior in the preceding 12 months.…
Alcohol Availability and Violence among Inner‐City Adolescents
Researchers recognize that the connection between alcohol and peer violence may relate to community level ecological factors, such as the location of businesses that sell alcohol. Building on previous research among adults, this study examines the relationship between alcohol outlet density and violent behaviors among adolescents, taking into account demographic characteristics, individual alcohol use, and neighborhood level socioeconomic indicat…
A Latent Class Analysis of Adolescent Gambling
The Relationship Between Cumulative Risk and Promotive Factors and Violent Behavior Among Urban Adolescents
Resiliency theory posits that some youth exposed to risk factors do not develop negative behaviors due to the influence of promotive factors. This study examines the effects of cumulative risk and promotive factors on adolescent violent behavior and tests two models of resilience—the compensatory model and the protective model—in a sample of adolescent patients (14–18 years old; n = 726) presenting to an urban emergency department who report viol…
Modeling the Injury Prevention Impact of Mandatory Alcohol Ignition Interlock Installation in All New US Vehicles
Objectives. We estimated the injury prevention impact and cost savings associated with alcohol interlock installation in all new US vehicles. Methods. We identified fatal and nonfatal injuries associated with drinking driver vehicle crashes from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and National Automotive Sampling System’s General Estimates System data sets (2006–2010). We derived the estimated impact of universal interlock installation using a…
Two-Year Trajectories of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Drug-Using Adolescents and Emerging Adults in an Urban Community
Technology-Based Interventions and Trainings to Reduce the Escalation and Impact of Alcohol Problems
There has been a rapid increase in the development of technological innovations to reduce the escalation and impact of alcohol problems among adolescents and adults. Technology-based interventions offer the possibility of reaching individuals who otherwise might not seek treatment, (e.g., those in remote areas, those not perceiving a need for treatment, or others who may resist treatment). This article describes four case examples of technology-b…
Feasibility and acceptability of text messaging to assess daily substance use and sexual behaviors among urban emerging adults
Participants in this urban, resource-constrained sample found the daily text message methodology acceptable for reporting sensitive information. With rapid advancements in technologies and increased accessibility, text messaging remains a promising methodology for the study of daily processes in substance use and HIV risk behaviors. Keywords: text messaging; assessment; emerging adults; substance use; risky sex; mobile technology
Voices from Flint
Correlation of Minority Status, Cyberbullying, and Mental Health
Understanding the Role of Alcohol, Anxiety, and Trait Mindfulness in the Perpetration of Physical and Sexual Dating Violence in Emerging Adults
This study examines alcohol consumption, anxiety, trait mindfulness, and physical and sexual dating violence aggression (PDV and SDV) among 735 emerging adults (18-25 years) in an urban emergency department. Of the total sample, 27.2% perpetrated PDV and 16.5% perpetrated SDV. Alcohol was positively associated with PDV/SDV. Anxiety was positively associated with PDV. Mindfulness was negatively associated with PDV/SDV. Interaction analyses reveale…
Age‐Specific Associations Between Violence Exposure and Past 30‐Day Marijuana and Alcohol Use
Using data from a cohort study of students at risk for high school dropout, we examined associations between violence exposure and past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use. We used varying-coefficient regression with person-level fixed effects to estimate how those associations changed within-person across ages approximately 14-23. Generally, violence perpetration was most strongly associated with substance use, within-person. Substance use became i…
Busy Streets Theory
Lack of maintenance on vacant neighborhood lots is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress for nearby residents. Overgrown grasses and dense brush provide hiding spots for criminals and space to conduct illicit activities. This study builds upon previous research by investigating greening programs that engage community members to conduct routine maintenance on vacant lots within their neighborhoods. The Clean & Green prog…
Description and initial evaluation of a values-based campus sexual assault prevention programme for first-year college students
Preventing sexual assault in college and university settings is an important public health priority. The college campus is a high-risk setting for experiencing sexual assault while at university. Many campuses utilise brief educational programmes to prevent sexual assault, but these programmes are rarely evaluated. In this paper, we provide a programme description and evaluation data from a sexual assault prevention programme administered to firs…
Evaluation of the dualistic model of passion for alcohol consumption among emerging adults engaged in risky drinking
Understanding factors influencing risky drinking among emerging adults could enhance interventions to reduce adverse outcomes. As a motivational construct, the dualistic model of passion (i.e., obsessive passion: drinking is compelling and conflicts with other life activities/values; harmonious passion: drinking is an important, but not overwhelming, part of life) offers a novel explanation for persistent alcohol use. Yet, the dualistic model of …
Longitudinal pathway from violence exposure to firearm carriage among adolescents
INTRODUCTION: Exposure to violence is a risk factor for firearm carriage. Youth exposed to violence also have difficulty envisioning positive future outcomes (e.g., educational outcomes), which can increase the likelihood of firearm carriage over time. Researchers, however, have not yet examined whether changes in exposure to violence over time can influence the developmental trajectories of firearm carriage. To address this gap, we (1) examined …
Implementing a State‐Adopted High School Health Curriculum
BACKGROUND: The Michigan Model for HealthTM (MMH) is the official health curriculum for the State of Michigan and prevailing policy and practice has encouraged its adoption. Delivering evidence-based programs such as MMH with fidelity is essential to program effectiveness. Yet, most schools do meet state-designated fidelity requirements for implementation (delivering 80% or more of the curriculum). METHODS: We collected online survey (N = 20) and…
Alcohol and cannabis motives
Findings suggest that cannabis use motives associated with increasing positive affect may be most compelling for those engaging in alcohol/cannabis use on a given day. Intervention programs for alcohol/cannabis use should address alcohol and cannabis use motives in relation to increasing positive affect and engaging in social situations
Patterns of same-day alcohol and cannabis use in adolescents and young adults with risky alcohol use
Same-day alcohol and cannabis use is relatively common in adolescents and young adults, constituting a higher-risk behavior relative to single-substance use. However, the association between quantity of alcohol and cannabis use on co-use days is understudied. We examined the association between the quantity of alcohol and same-day cannabis use with a multilevel regression analysis in a sample of youth (16-24 years old) with risky alcohol use. Par…
Creating a ‘choose your topic’ massive open online course
Injury Prevention for Children and Teens ' is a novel approach to injury prevention education that is broad, science-based, accessible, and not cost-prohibitive for a diverse group of global learners
Use of extreme risk protection orders to reduce gun violence in Oregon
Research Summary We examined petition and respondent characteristics from extreme risk protection order (ERPO) cases in Oregon for the 15 months after implementation ( n = 93). Most petitions were filed by law enforcement (65%) a were more likely to be granted than petitions filed by family/household members ( p < 0.001). Most ERPO respondents were reported by petitioners to have histories of suicidality (73%) or interpersonal violence (75%), wit…
Youth Firearm Injury Prevention
Prevention of sexual violence among college students
Objective Preventing sexual violence among college students is a public health priority. This paper was catalyzed by a summit convened in 2018 to review the state of the science on campus sexual violence prevention. We summarize key risk and vulnerability factors and campus-based interventions, and provide directions for future research pertaining to campus sexual violence. Results and Conclusions: Although studies have identified risk factors fo…
Current Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States
Medicine (28 works) · Psychology (26 works) · Environmental health (19 works) · Poison control (18 works) · Suicide prevention (14 works) · Clinical Psychology (12 works) · Injury prevention (12 works) · Psychiatry (11 works) · Developmental psychology (10 works) · Human Factors and Ergonomics (10 works)