D Stephens
Biographic Data
| ID | 15612 |
|---|---|
| NAME | D Stephens |
| GIVEN NAMES | D |
| FAMILY NAME | Stephens |
| SIGNATURE | STEPHENS D |
| AFFILIATIONS | Florida International University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6636-6625 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 44 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 174 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 44 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2001 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Perceptions of work-life balance in Latina emerging adults in the US
Work-life balance (WLB) has been a widely researched topic for over five decades. Despite the great amount of knowledge accumulated on balancing work and personal life roles and responsibilities, noteworthy gaps remain to be addressed, especially regarding groups with intersectional identities such as Latina emerging adults (EAs). This population is important to study because of their forecasted increase in the US job market. Qualitative methods …
Dynamics of Youth Violence and the Prevention Efforts of Fútbol for Good Programs in Colombia
Am I feelin’ myself? A focus group study of African American college students’ attitudes toward gender ideals in commercial rap music videos and their relevance for self-images
Black American commercial rap videos have been criticized for portraying stereotypical gender ideals concerning gender-appropriate behaviors, appearances and attractivity, and heterosexual relationships. We explored to what extent African American college students reject (REJ) and value (VAL) gender ideals in these videos. Additionally, we examined the connections between the perception of these ideals and students’ actual and ought self-images (…
Lessons Learned from a Drop-In Center for Girls Who Have Experienced Commercial Sexual Exploitation
The relationship between celebrities and body image ideals among Hispanic and Black women
It Validates Her Identity”: A Mixed Methods Approach to Examining Culture, Context, and Family Engagement in an Urban Afterschool Program for Black and Hispanic Girls
Neighborhood OST (out-of-school-time) programs can provide a safe and accessible setting and promote positive youth development for Black and Hispanic girls in under-resourced communities. The present mixed-methods study examined program-level cultural and contextual influences in family engagement among 24 girl-caregiver dyads (aged 11–15, 83% Black, 13% Hispanic) in a partnering OST program, Girl Power Rocks, Inc. While quantitative analyses mi…
Through the Excuse of Football, We Strengthen Medical Services: How Football-Oriented Sport for Development Organizations Prevent Youth Violence by Promoting Healthy Development in Colombia
In the context of persistent violence affecting Colombian youth, this paper investigates the role of football-oriented Sport for Development (SfD) organizations in mitigating adolescent violence. Through in-depth interviews, 10 non-governmental organizations' (NGOs) leaders that are part of the Gol y Paz network presented their perspectives on factors exposing plural adolescents to violence, the strategies they implement to prevent violence, and …
Fostering collective action for adolescent well-being: Citizen science in a Colombian semi-rural area
We present findings from the Our Voice in Barú project, examining adolescent engagement in citizen science to address environmental and social factors affecting well-being in a semi-rural Afro-descendant community in Latin America. The project aimed to identify barriers and enablers of well-being, informing adolescent-led actions for sustainable environmental changes relevant to adolescent health. Utilizing the Our Voice citizen science method, w…
Anti-human Trafficking Service Professionals in India: Challenges and Barriers to Service Provision
Sex trafficking (ST) interventions in India typically follow the “three R’s” – rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Anti-human trafficking service organizations (AHTSOs) play an essential role in implementing the “three Rs,” influencing India’s anti-trafficking policy and aid for trafficking survivors. However, few investigations have explored AHTSOs professionals’ perceptions of their roles and the multilevel factors that influence their a…
It’s more like the girl doesn’t really have to do anything”: Hispanic college women’s sexual initiation strategy perceptions
Community Fútbol Coaches Working Together to Prevent Violence and Promote Positive Youth Development in Colombia
In resource‐limited settings in Colombia, there is a lack of safe spaces for youth, with adolescent males being 10 times more susceptible to physical violence than females. Acknowledging the potential of community‐led sports‐based interventions, we examined how community fútbol (a.k.a. soccer or football) coaches in the Caribbean region of Colombia prevent youth violence exposure. By conducting in‐depth qualitative interviews with 13 community co…
Sociodemographic patterns of preterm birth and low birth weight among pregnant women in rural Mysore district, India: A latent class analysis
Few studies have utilized person-centered approaches to examine co-occurrence of risk factors among pregnant women in low-and middle-income settings. The objective of this study was to utilize latent class analysis (LCA) to identify sociodemographic patterns and assess the association of these patterns on preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW) in rural Mysore District, India. Secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study among …
Resistir: Hispanic undergraduate STEM majors’ perceptions of barriers and supports toward degree persistence
Colombian Adolescents’ Perceptions of Violence and Opportunities for Safe Spaces Across Community Settings
During adolescence, access to safe environments is critical for healthy development. This study analyzed adolescents’ perceptions of safety in personal and public spaces in the semi-rural community of Santa Ana, Colombia on the Island of Barú (95.8% of inhabitants live in poverty). We used thematic analysis to explore adolescents’ experiences and reflections to identify the factors influencing their perception of safety across different community…
Black Women's Body Image: Implications for Identity Formation and Well-Being
This paper serves as the introduction to a special issue on Black women's body image. Today, controlling images of Black women, such as the Jezebel, Mammy, and Sapphire stereotypes, are evident in controversial public and corporate policies regarding natural hair choices, differential judicial outcomes for darker-skinned Black women, and inequitable responses to Black women's COVID-19 symptoms and maternal health experiences. In response to these…
Drip Too Hard? Commercial Rap Music and Perceived Masculinity Ideals and Actual Self-Evaluations among Black U.S. and Dutch Adolescent Men
Popular American commercial rap is believed to (re)produce cultural narratives of masculinity. Yet, there is no knowledge about the relationship between consumption of idealized masculinity in rap and young (Black) men’s senses of masculine selves. This study aims to explore how sixteen American and Dutch Black adolescent men perceive ideals of masculine behavior, physical appearance, and mate desirability in commercial rap. Grounded in social co…
A culture of care: How Lotus House Women's Shelter heals program participants through genuineness, space, high expectations, dignity, individualized attention, and community
The present study was designed to examine perceptions of Lotus House Women's Shelter from the perspective of former program participants, for the purpose of informing shelter programming and policies. Our qualitative research followed a community-based participatory research framework. Fifty diverse women graduates of Lotus House Women's Shelter participated in eight focus groups to discuss their experiences with Lotus House and other shelters. F…
Nonconsensual Porn as a Form of Intimate Partner Violence: Using the Power and Control Wheel to Understand Nonconsensual Porn Perpetration in Intimate Relationships
Over the last decade, nonconsensual porn (NCP), or the sharing of sexually explicit material without a person’s consent, has become a growing problem with potentially far-reaching adverse consequences for victims. The purpose of this article is to propose and consider a framework for advancing the field’s understanding of NCP within the context of intimate relationships including situating NCP relative to other forms of relational abuse. Specific…
Hispanic women’s perceptions of teenage sexting: Qualitative analyses using a sexual scripting framework
Research on sexting perceptions and practices among high school students is extensive; however, this work has focused on predominately White samples, ignoring Hispanic adolescent young women's experiences and interpretations related to sexting. This study used qualitative methods to examine Hispanic college women's reflections on their engagement in and perceptions of image-based sexting during high school. A total of 56 Hispanic college women pa…
Exploring Partner Scarcity: Highly Educated Black Women and Dating Compromise
Reproductive Justice Special Issue Introduction “Reproductive Justice: Moving the Margins to the Center in Social Issues Research”
Reproductive justice recognizes that women and girls’ reproductive health is shaped by intersecting systemic oppressions (e.g., racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism) which affect their ability to make meaningful choices about their reproductive lives. The articles in this issue represent a coordinated effort to apply the reproductive justice framework to the scientific study of social issues. Consistent with reproductive justice principles, all…
Cultural Factors Influencing Young Adult Indian Women's Beliefs about Disclosing Domestic Violence Victimization
According to India's National Family Health Survey (Ghosh, 2007), over one third of women in India have experienced domestic violence (DV). In this study, we examined young adult Indian women's attitudes toward domestic violence DV help seeking behaviors using a reproductive justice framework. A total of 81 young adult women age 18–24 from Mysore, India, participated via in‐depth qualitative focus groups. Findings suggested that informal familial…
Reframing HIV Stigma and Fear: Considerations from Social-ecological and Evolutionary Theories of Reproduction
Barriers to HPV Vaccination Among Unvaccinated, Haitian American College Women
Background: Haitian women residing in the United States are disproportionately affected by cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been licensed in the United States since 2006. Vaccination rates are less than optimal overall, and the rates are particularly low among young black women. We investigated barriers to HPV vaccination in a sample of Haitian American college women. Methods: Thirty self-identified Haitian American women, …
Exploring Individual Differences in the Relationship Between Cultural Identity Processes and Well-Being
Although studies have explored how cultural identity impacts young people’s daily lives, these studies have exclusively focused on daily variability in cultural identity salience, overlooking daily variability in the underlying developmental processes. In the present study, we used a 12-day daily assessment conducted with 873 Hispanic college students to address these gaps by examining daily variability in ethnic and U.S. belonging, exploring bet…
Freaks, gold diggers, divas, and dykes: The sociohistorical development of adolescent African American women’s sexual scripts
The Effects of Images of African American Women in Hip Hop on Early Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Physical Attractiveness and Interpersonal Relationships
Hip Hop Honey or Video Ho: African American Preadolescents’ Understanding of Female Sexual Scripts in Hip Hop Culture
Oppositional Consciousness within an Oppositional Realm: The Case of Feminism and Womanism in Rap and Hip Hop, 1976-2004
Reproductive Justice Special Issue Introduction “Reproductive Justice: Moving the Margins to the Center in Social Issues Research”
Reproductive justice recognizes that women and girls’ reproductive health is shaped by intersecting systemic oppressions (e.g., racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism) which affect their ability to make meaningful choices about their reproductive lives. The articles in this issue represent a coordinated effort to apply the reproductive justice framework to the scientific study of social issues. Consistent with reproductive justice principles, all…
The Role of Skin Color on Hispanic Women’s Perceptions of Attractiveness
This study relies on qualitative methods to investigate Hispanic women’s skin color perceptions. The primary goal is to identify the relevance of these perceptions on their beliefs about their own physical attractiveness. Thirty-four self-identified White-Hispanic women attending a large Hispanic Serving Institution in the southeastern United States were interviewed for this study. Unlike previous research findings on Hispanic women’s skin color …
The Influence of Skin Color on Heterosexual Black College Women's Dating Beliefs
Black women's skin color perceptions were identified utilized qualitative methods. The primary goal was to identify the relevance of these perceptions on their understandings about dating preferences and related beliefs about appropriate scripts using a Black feminist thought framework. Twenty- eight self- identified Black women attending a large university in the southeastern United States were interviewed for this study. Lighter- skin was perce…
Hispanic College Men's Perceptions of Appropriate Strategies for Initiating Sexual Intercourse with Women
Cultural Values Influencing Immigrant Haitian Mothers' Attitudes Toward Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Daughters
Although research has shown that mothers significantly influence daughters' willingness to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), cultural factors influencing immigrant Haitian mothers' willingness to have adolescent daughters to be vaccinated are unknown. This is of concern as this population experiences disproportionately higher rates of HPV infection and related cervical cancers. This study identifies cultural beliefs influencin…
Colombian Adolescents’ Perceptions of Violence and Opportunities for Safe Spaces Across Community Settings
During adolescence, access to safe environments is critical for healthy development. This study analyzed adolescents’ perceptions of safety in personal and public spaces in the semi-rural community of Santa Ana, Colombia on the Island of Barú (95.8% of inhabitants live in poverty). We used thematic analysis to explore adolescents’ experiences and reflections to identify the factors influencing their perception of safety across different community…
A culture of care: How Lotus House Women's Shelter heals program participants through genuineness, space, high expectations, dignity, individualized attention, and community
The present study was designed to examine perceptions of Lotus House Women's Shelter from the perspective of former program participants, for the purpose of informing shelter programming and policies. Our qualitative research followed a community-based participatory research framework. Fifty diverse women graduates of Lotus House Women's Shelter participated in eight focus groups to discuss their experiences with Lotus House and other shelters. F…
Exploring Partner Scarcity: Highly Educated Black Women and Dating Compromise
Ni Pardo, Ni Prieto: The Influence of Parental Skin Color Messaging on Heterosexual Emerging Adult White-Hispanic Women's Dating Beliefs
The influence of Hispanic parental processes on daughters' intimate relationships have been widely studied in the psychology literature. However, although skin color values have been found to directly inform dating preferences, research examining the influence of parental skin color beliefs is non-existent. Thirty-four emerging adult Hispanic women participated in this qualitative study which examined their beliefs about parental skin color belie…
Cultural Factors Influencing Young Adult Indian Women's Beliefs about Disclosing Domestic Violence Victimization
According to India's National Family Health Survey (Ghosh, 2007), over one third of women in India have experienced domestic violence (DV). In this study, we examined young adult Indian women's attitudes toward domestic violence DV help seeking behaviors using a reproductive justice framework. A total of 81 young adult women age 18–24 from Mysore, India, participated via in‐depth qualitative focus groups. Findings suggested that informal familial…
The influence of masculinity scripts on heterosexual Hispanic college men’s perceptions of female-initiated sexual coercion
The present study uses qualitative methods to examine the perceptions and experiences of femaleinitiated sexual coercion among Hispanic college men. Four categories of findings related to Hispanic college men’s perceptions of female-initiated sexual coercion were analyzed: 1) beliefs about of male victimization; 2) types of female-initiated coercion; 3) appropriate responses to female-initiated coercion; and 4) messages about appropriate heterono…
The Influence of Social Institutions on African American Women's Sexual Values and Attitudes
Few researchers have examined the sexual values and attitudes of African American women. Through the use of focus group interviews, this study examined how African American women's sexual values and attitudes were shaped by their experiences with certain social institutions. The researcher (MRA) found that the sexual values and attitudes of African American women were negatively influenced by their experiences with sexuality education, religious …
It Validates Her Identity”: A Mixed Methods Approach to Examining Culture, Context, and Family Engagement in an Urban Afterschool Program for Black and Hispanic Girls
Neighborhood OST (out-of-school-time) programs can provide a safe and accessible setting and promote positive youth development for Black and Hispanic girls in under-resourced communities. The present mixed-methods study examined program-level cultural and contextual influences in family engagement among 24 girl-caregiver dyads (aged 11–15, 83% Black, 13% Hispanic) in a partnering OST program, Girl Power Rocks, Inc. While quantitative analyses mi…
African American Single Mothers and Children in Context: A Review of Studies on Risk and Resilience
Sister‐to‐Sister Talk: Transcending Boundaries and Challenges in Qualitative Research With Black Women
Our purpose is to discuss the challenges that Black women researchers face when doing qualitative research with Black women on sensitive topics. From a Black feminist perspective, we explore the dynamics of race, class, and gender in the informant‐researcher relationship between Black women. We also share five recommendations for conducting ethical qualitative research with Black women: contextualizing research, contextualizing subjectivity, tria…
Freaks, gold diggers, divas, and dykes: The sociohistorical development of adolescent African American women’s sexual scripts
Integrating Black feminist thought into conceptual frameworks of African American adolescent women's sexual scripting processes
This paper integrates Black feminist thought with Simon and Gagnon's (). Sexual Scripts: Permanence and Change. Archives of Several Behaviour, 15, 97–120.) framework of sexual script development to illustrate ways in which sexuality socialization, messages, and meanings are internalized and are manifested through sexual scripts among African American adolescent women. The influence of the media, peers, family, and racial and gender identity facto…
Oppositional Consciousness within an Oppositional Realm: The Case of Feminism and Womanism in Rap and Hip Hop, 1976-2004
The Influence of Social Institutions on African American Women's Sexual Values and Attitudes
Few researchers have examined the sexual values and attitudes of African American women. Through the use of focus group interviews, this study examined how African American women's sexual values and attitudes were shaped by their experiences with certain social institutions. The researcher (MRA) found that the sexual values and attitudes of African American women were negatively influenced by their experiences with sexuality education, religious …
Hip Hop Honey or Video Ho: African American Preadolescents’ Understanding of Female Sexual Scripts in Hip Hop Culture
The Effects of Images of African American Women in Hip Hop on Early Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Physical Attractiveness and Interpersonal Relationships
Ni Pardo, Ni Prieto: The Influence of Parental Skin Color Messaging on Heterosexual Emerging Adult White-Hispanic Women's Dating Beliefs
The influence of Hispanic parental processes on daughters' intimate relationships have been widely studied in the psychology literature. However, although skin color values have been found to directly inform dating preferences, research examining the influence of parental skin color beliefs is non-existent. Thirty-four emerging adult Hispanic women participated in this qualitative study which examined their beliefs about parental skin color belie…
The Influence of Skin Color on Heterosexual Black College Women's Dating Beliefs
Black women's skin color perceptions were identified utilized qualitative methods. The primary goal was to identify the relevance of these perceptions on their understandings about dating preferences and related beliefs about appropriate scripts using a Black feminist thought framework. Twenty- eight self- identified Black women attending a large university in the southeastern United States were interviewed for this study. Lighter- skin was perce…
The Role of Skin Color on Hispanic Women’s Perceptions of Attractiveness
This study relies on qualitative methods to investigate Hispanic women’s skin color perceptions. The primary goal is to identify the relevance of these perceptions on their beliefs about their own physical attractiveness. Thirty-four self-identified White-Hispanic women attending a large Hispanic Serving Institution in the southeastern United States were interviewed for this study. Unlike previous research findings on Hispanic women’s skin color …
Cultural Values Influencing Immigrant Haitian Mothers' Attitudes Toward Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Daughters
Although research has shown that mothers significantly influence daughters' willingness to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), cultural factors influencing immigrant Haitian mothers' willingness to have adolescent daughters to be vaccinated are unknown. This is of concern as this population experiences disproportionately higher rates of HPV infection and related cervical cancers. This study identifies cultural beliefs influencin…
The influence of masculinity scripts on heterosexual Hispanic college men’s perceptions of female-initiated sexual coercion
The present study uses qualitative methods to examine the perceptions and experiences of femaleinitiated sexual coercion among Hispanic college men. Four categories of findings related to Hispanic college men’s perceptions of female-initiated sexual coercion were analyzed: 1) beliefs about of male victimization; 2) types of female-initiated coercion; 3) appropriate responses to female-initiated coercion; and 4) messages about appropriate heterono…
Cross-sex versus same-sex experience and relationship satisfaction: Addressing diverse social networks among Orthodox Jews
Romantic experiences in adolescence often predict relationship stability and marital status in adulthood. Religious practice and belief also have been linked to increased marital satisfaction and overall wellbeing. However, certain religions limit cross-sex interaction in areas of education, social and romantic relationships. Although gender segregation has been studied in educational and occupational contexts, no previous research has addressed …
Young Hispanic Men and Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Choices
This exploratory descriptive study examined perceived vulnerabilities to human papillomavirus (HPV) and the correlation to factors influencing vaccine beliefs and vaccine decision making in young Hispanic males attending a large public urban university. Only 24% of participants believed that the HPV vaccine could prevent future problems, and 53% said they would not be vaccinated. The best predictors of HPV vaccination in young Hispanic men were a…
Hispanic College Men's Perceptions of Appropriate Strategies for Initiating Sexual Intercourse with Women
Hispanic Parents’ Conflict Tactics Influence on College Women’s Verbal Aggression Victimization
Prior research has shown that college women in the United States are experiencing significantly high rates of verbal aggression (VA); approximately 20% to 30% of college women experience VA in their intimate relationships. Research has shown that familial conflict experiences directly influence these outcomes. Unfortunately, studies focusing on Hispanic college women’s experiences are almost nonexistent, despite the fact that they are members of …
Social Networks Influencing Black Girls' Interpretations of Chris Brown's Violence Against Rihanna
This study identifies the social networks used by urban Black girls to interpret a highly publicized episode of dating violence and ensuing conflicts between hip-hop stars Chris Brown and Rihanna. Forty-three adolescent Black girls (age 11-17 years) were asked how they heard about the relationship conflicts and what they thought about them. The media, school peers, friends, and family members emerged as the key social networks participants relied…
Barriers to HPV Vaccination Among Unvaccinated, Haitian American College Women
Background: Haitian women residing in the United States are disproportionately affected by cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been licensed in the United States since 2006. Vaccination rates are less than optimal overall, and the rates are particularly low among young black women. We investigated barriers to HPV vaccination in a sample of Haitian American college women. Methods: Thirty self-identified Haitian American women, …
Exploring Individual Differences in the Relationship Between Cultural Identity Processes and Well-Being
Although studies have explored how cultural identity impacts young people’s daily lives, these studies have exclusively focused on daily variability in cultural identity salience, overlooking daily variability in the underlying developmental processes. In the present study, we used a 12-day daily assessment conducted with 873 Hispanic college students to address these gaps by examining daily variability in ethnic and U.S. belonging, exploring bet…
Conversations about sexual activity within Haitian families: Implications for HPV vaccine uptake
Objective : Parents play an integral role in young adults' sexual health including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine decision-making. The objective of this study was to explore conversations regarding sexual activity in Haitian households and the influence of such conversations on young Haitian women's HPV vaccine discussion with their parents. Methods: From a large university in the southeastern United States, 30 Haitian-American college women …
Reframing HIV Stigma and Fear: Considerations from Social-ecological and Evolutionary Theories of Reproduction
Exploring Partner Scarcity: Highly Educated Black Women and Dating Compromise
Reproductive Justice Special Issue Introduction “Reproductive Justice: Moving the Margins to the Center in Social Issues Research”
Reproductive justice recognizes that women and girls’ reproductive health is shaped by intersecting systemic oppressions (e.g., racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism) which affect their ability to make meaningful choices about their reproductive lives. The articles in this issue represent a coordinated effort to apply the reproductive justice framework to the scientific study of social issues. Consistent with reproductive justice principles, all…
Cultural Factors Influencing Young Adult Indian Women's Beliefs about Disclosing Domestic Violence Victimization
According to India's National Family Health Survey (Ghosh, 2007), over one third of women in India have experienced domestic violence (DV). In this study, we examined young adult Indian women's attitudes toward domestic violence DV help seeking behaviors using a reproductive justice framework. A total of 81 young adult women age 18–24 from Mysore, India, participated via in‐depth qualitative focus groups. Findings suggested that informal familial…
Psychology (36 works) · Sociology (31 works) · Social Psychology (24 works) · Developmental psychology (20 works) · Gender Studies (16 works) · Social Psychology (16 works) · Gender Studies (13 works) · Political science (13 works) · Medicine (12 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (10 works)