Dexter R Voisin
Biographic Data
| ID | 159989 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Dexter R Voisin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Dexter R |
| FAMILY NAME | Voisin |
| SIGNATURE | VOISIN D R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Chicago |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3666-8913 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 102 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 217 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 102 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 8 |
Adverse Adolescent Experiences and Condomless Sex Among Heterosexual and Sexually Minoritized African American Adolescents: Religious Participation as a Buffer
Objective: The present study examines whether religious participation buffers the association between adverse adolescent experiences and condom use and whether findings might differ by sexual identity. Method: In this exploratory study, a cross-sectional survey, which was administered between August 2013 and January 2014 to 230 adolescents identifying as heterosexual and 56 identifying as sexual minorities in Chicago, is analyzed. The moderating …
Bullying Victimization and Internalizing Symptoms of Adolescents in Chicago’s Southside: Differences by Family Structure
The current study explores whether the association between bullying victimization and internalizing symptoms differs when family structure is considered. The study participants were African American adolescents in four of Chicago’s Southside neighborhoods, ages 13 to 18. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of bullying victimization and internalizing symptoms was similar across family structur…
Exposure to community violence and internalizing symptoms: The risk of substance use in African American youth
African American adolescents are often disproportionately exposed to community violence, which increases their risk of using substances and developing internalizing symptoms. While these associations are well established in the literature, a limited number of studies have examined substance use as a pathway for the development of internalizing symptoms following exposure to community violence. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and a cross-…
Family closeness and bullying perpetration: The roles of associating with antisocial peers, bullying victimization, exposure to community violence, and gender differences among African American adoles…
Bullying victimization and perpetration negatively affect African American students' physical and mental health. Among the many risk factors associated with bullying behaviors, associating with antisocial peers, and exposure to community violence may function as important contextual risk factors, particularly among African American youth residing in underserved urban communities. However, few studies have explored the degree to which family close…
Public assistance and bullying in the United States: Who is likely to be a perpetrator, victim, or both
The present study investigates whether there is a relationship between the types of public assistance and subtypes of children’s bullying involvement. The study employs latent class analysis to explore which subgroups of public assistance recipients experience the greatest risk of bullying, victimization, or both. Data were derived from the National Survey of Children’s Health in 2016. The sample consisted of 34,790 caregivers of children, aged s…
Religiosity as a Protective Factor for Bullying Victimization and Substance Use in the USA: Examining Differences for Heterosexual and Sexual Minority African American Adolescents in Chicago’s Southsi…
The Changing Social Work Landscape: Addressing Race and Antiracism
Are adolescents in Chicago who report writing about violence less at risk of adverse outcomes when bullied
Black Male Bodies in White Female Spaces: Power, Dominance, and Myth in Social Work Education
In 2008, the Council for Social Work Education re-envisioned its accreditation framework. The primary intent was to advance more equitable social work educational environments, which required highlighting curriculum content, and the culture of human interchange. Still, little has been provided regarding their intersectional effects on classroom culture, or students’ educational experiences. To respond to this gap, this study explores the realitie…
Religiosity and Associations with Substance Use and Delinquency Among Urban African American Adolescents
An exploratory study of community violence and HIV care engagement among Black gay and bisexual men
This study examined the relationship between exposure to community violence and HIV care engagement among 107 Black gay or bisexual men living with HIV in Chicago. Measures assessed the importance of demographic covariates (age, annual income, health insurance status, and years living with HIV), community violence exposures, mental health, social support, in explaining variations in missed doses of antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication and miss…
Police Violence Experienced by Black Gay and Bisexual Men: The Effects on HIV Care Engagement and Medication Adherence
Associations Between Exposure to Neighborhood Violence and Firearm Possession Among Chicago Adults
Does Sharing Activities With Parents Protect African American Adolescents From Low Self-Esteem When Bullied
Subtypes of Bullying and Friends' Delinquency: Is Religiosity a Moderator
Increasingly, bullying research has focused on identifying protective factors associated with bullying involvement (e.g., victim, perpetrator) and adverse outcomes. In this study, religiosity was examined as a protective factor in the relationship between bullying involvement and friends' delinquency among a large sample of low-income urban African American adolescents ( N = 753). Analysis of the cross-sectional data indicated that bullying perpe…
Perceptions of Sexual Risk and HIV/STI Prevention Among Black Adolescent Girls in a Detention Center: An Investigation of the Role of Parents and Peers
Examining the Relationship between Anti-Black Racism, Community and Police Violence, and Covid-19 Vaccination
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged against a backdrop of long-standing racial inequities that contributed to significant disparities in COVID-19 mortality, morbidity, and eventually, vaccination rates. COVID-19 also converged with two social crises: anti-Black racism and community and police violence. The goal of this study was to examine the associations between community violence, police violence, anti-Black racism, and COVID-19 vaccination…
The Inherent Violence of Anti-Black Racism and its Effects on HIV Care for Black Sexually Minoritized Men
Future Orientation as a Moderator of Bullying Victimization and School Outcomes: Comparing Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Urban African American Adolescents
Bullying victimization remains to be a public health concern in the United States, especially among sexual and ethnic minority youth. However, few studies have examined how school outcomes might be associated with bullying victimization among heterosexual and sexual minority African American youth and the factors that may attenuate that relationship. To address this gap, this study surveyed 462 heterosexual and 102 sexual minority African America…
Would Caring Teachers Buffer the Link Between Violence Victimization and Early Sexual Initiation? Comparing Heterosexual and Non-Heterosexual African American Youth
Understanding the impact of police brutality on Black sexually minoritized men
The Relationship between Religion, Substance Misuse, and Mental Health among Black Youth
Studies suggest that religion is a protective factor for substance misuse and mental health concerns among Black/African American youth despite reported declines in their religious involvement. However, few studies have investigated the associations among religion, substance misuse, and mental health among Black youth. Informed by Critical Race Theory, we evaluated the correlations between gender, depression, substance misuse, and unprotected sex…
Subtypes of Bullying and Types of Substance Use among Urban African American Adolescents: Who Is Likely to Use What
The present study examined the types of drugs likely to be used by bullies, victims, and bully/victims. Participants comprise African American adolescents from three high schools, one youth church group, two community youth programs, and four public venues in low-income communities in Chicago's Southside. A series of logistic regression analyses and latent class analyses were employed. Victims are likely to use alcohol, marijuana, and lean/krokod…
Potential Pathways From Peer Victimization to Alcohol Use Among Biracial Adolescents: The Intervening Role of Parental Support
BACKGROUND: This study examined pathways from peer victimization to alcohol use and the role of parental support in mediating potential peer effects among biracial youth. Given a significant dearth of research on biracial youth, this study addresses this significant gap in the extant literature. METHODS: Secondary data analyses were conducted using the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study in the United States. This study enrolled …
Correlates of depression among Black girls exposed to violence
Future Orientation as a Protective Factor for African American Adolescents Exposed to Community Violence
For African American youth disproportionately exposed to community violence and the associated risk of externalizing behaviors, developmental assets that reduce the risk for externalizing behaviors and enhance adaptive coping should be explored. In a sample of 572 African American adolescents ( Mage = 15.85; SD = 1.42), the current study explored whether future orientation or gender buffered the impact of community violence exposure on externaliz…
A conceptual model of HIV disclosure in casual sexual encounters among men who have sex with men
HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact men who have sex with men (MSM). Advances in highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) have successfully helped HIV-infected individuals lead longer, healthier, and presumably more sexually active lives. Consequently, secondary prevention approaches aimed at reducing the rate of HIV transmission have raised important questions about the role of sexual communication, namely HIV disclosure, as a …
Community Violence Exposure and Adolescent Delinquency: Examining a Spectrum of Promotive Factors
This study examined whether promotive factors (future expectations, family warmth, school attachment, and neighborhood cohesion) moderated relationships between community violence exposure and youth delinquency. Analyses were conducted using N = 2,980 sixth to eighth graders ( Mage = 12.48; 41.1% males) from a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse sample. After controlling for demographic factors, delinquency was positively associat…
Behavioral health correlates of exposure to community violence among African-American adolescents in Chicago
Future orientation and health related factors among African American adolescents
Broken windows: Relationship between neighborhood conditions and behavioral health among low-income African American adolescents
This study explored the association between neighborhood conditions and behavioral health among African American youth. Cross-sectional data were collected from 683 African American youth from low-income communities. Measures for demographics, neighborhood conditions (i.e. broken windows index), mental health, delinquency, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors were assessed. Major findings indicated that participants who reported poorer neighb…
You’re an Open Target to Be Abused”: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and HIV Self-Disclosure Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a health crisis among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV-related stigma presents a primary barrier to sexual communication and effective HIV prevention. Using in-depth, qualitative interviews conducted with 20 HIV-positive Black MSM between 2007 and 2008 in Chicago, Illinois, we explored the themes related to HIV-related stigma and the underlying messages HIV-positive Black MSM receive regarding their status. Stig…
Examining Parental Monitoring as a Pathway From Community Violence Exposure to Drug Use, Risky Sex, and Recidivism Among Detained Youth
This study examined whether parental monitoring mediated the relationship between community violence exposure and a spectrum of behaviors such as recidivism, risky sex, and drug use among youth with a history of being detained. It also explored whether risk pathways differed by gender. Adolescents (n = 550) who were detained or previously detained were recruited from eight regional detention facilities in Georgia. Audio computer-assisted self-int…
Proud I Am Negative: Maintaining HIV-seronegativity among Black MSM in New York City
HIV incidence among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) is at epidemic proportions. However, the vast majority of studies have focused on risk factors related to HIV infections with a dearth of research on resiliency and how BMSM maintain seronegativity. Using three focus groups ( N = 29) comprised of BMSM in New York City, this study explored psychosocial factors and practices related to maintaining seronegativity. Major themes included havin…
The relationship between Black and gay community involvement and HIV-related risk behaviors among Black men who have sex with men
Blackgay men must navigate identities and stigmas related to being gay and Black, and report higher HIV incidence relative to their white male counterparts although they report lower rates of drug use and risky sexual behaviors. This study examined whether closeness to the gay or Black community correlated with HIV related risk and protective behaviors. Data were drawn from uConnect, a population-based cohort study of YBMSM on Chicago's South Sid…
Testing three pathways to substance use and delinquency among low-income African American adolescents
Pathways to Drug and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Detained Adolescents
PURPOSE: Among a sample of detained youth, to investigate pathways that link witnessing community violence, in the 12 months prior to being detained, to drug and sexual risk behaviors, in the two months preceding detainment. METHODS: Using A-CASI technology, data was collected from 559 detained adolescents on demographics, family factors, peer influences, religiosity, witnessing community violence, and drug and sexual risk behaviors. RESULTS: Con…
Ecological Factors Associated with STD Risk Behaviors among Detained Female Adolescents
The authors used Bronfenbrenner's conceptual framework of an ecological systems model to examine factors that are independently associated with sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk behaviors among 280 sexually active detained female adolescents. Using computer-assisted self-interviewing procedures, the authors assessed individual characteristics, peer relations, community factors, and media influences and their association to STD risk behavior…
Early Onset of Sexual Intercourse and Parental Incarceration among African American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing
Violence exposure and bullying among African American adolescents: Examining the protective role of academic engagement
Testing Pathways Linking Exposure to Community Violence and Sexual Behaviors Among African American Youth
Ecologies of risk among African American girls in juvenile detention
Brief report: The protective effects of school engagement for African American adolescent males
This study examined whether school engagement was protective with regard to externalizing behaviors, gang involvement, sexual debut, and unsafe sexual behaviors among African American adolescent males. Self-administered surveys were administered to 219 male students from an urban Chicago high school. Controlling for age and socioeconomic status, higher school engagement levels were associated with lower rates of aggressive behaviors, lower levels…
Correlates of gang involvement and health-related factors among African American females with a detention history
Low school engagement and sexual behaviors among African American youth: Examining the influences of gender, peer norms, and gang involvement
Peer victimization and substance use among African American adolescents and emerging adults on Chicago’s Southside
Urban African-American youth residing in poorly resourced communities are at a heightened risk of peer victimization, which consequently increases their likelihood of risky behaviors such as substance use. The present study examined whether there was a direct relationship between peer victimization and substance use and whether it was mediated by negative peer norms, internalizing problems, and bullying perpetration. African-American youth (n = 6…
Community Violence Exposure and Sexual Behaviors in a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Adults: The Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Gender
This study examined whether exposure to community violence was related to sexual risk behaviors in a nationally representative sample of young adults and if there were gender or racial/ethnic differences in these relationships. The analytic sample for this study was drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and was composed of 7,726 unmarried, heterosexual African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic/Latino young adults aged 18…
Gang Norms and Risky Sex Among Adolescents With a History of Detention
Prior studies have examined whether or not belonging to a gang was associated with risky sexual behaviors. However, the literature has yet to explore whether it is not just gang membership but gang norms that are associated with risky sex, which was the primary aim of this study. Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing technology was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 136 adolescent detainees who reported gang involvement. Demogr…
Bullying victimization, psychosocial functioning, and protective factors: Comparing African American heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents in Chicago's Southside
African American heterosexual and sexual minority (SM) adolescents report widespread bullying victimization (BV), which is associated with poorer psychosocial functioning. However, studies examining potential protective factors that moderate this association are limited. Using data from a cross‐sectional study conducted in Chicago, we examined the association between BV and psychosocial functioning among a sample of heterosexual ( n = 475) and SM…
A longitudinal examination of African American adolescent females detained for status offense
Family ecology and HIV sexual risk behaviors among African American and Puerto Rican adolescent males
This study examined the relationship between family ecology and HIV sexual risk behavior among African American and Puerto Rican adolescent males. Family, psychosocial, and HIV risk factors were assessed in 171 African American and 187 Puerto Rican adolescent males. Findings suggest that family ecology, culture, and gender role variables may differentially affect HIV sexual risk behaviors within these groups
The relationship between violence exposure and HIV sexual risk behaviors: Does gender matter
This study examined the association between violence exposures and HIV risk behaviors among 409 adolescents and whether such associations are gendered. Results indicated that adolescents exposed to either childhood sexual abuse or family or community violence were almost 3 and 4 times more likely, respectively, than peers not exposed to such violence to report a higher number of HIV-related risk behaviors. In addition, boys exposed to family viol…
Ecological Factors Associated with STD Risk Behaviors among Detained Female Adolescents
The authors used Bronfenbrenner's conceptual framework of an ecological systems model to examine factors that are independently associated with sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk behaviors among 280 sexually active detained female adolescents. Using computer-assisted self-interviewing procedures, the authors assessed individual characteristics, peer relations, community factors, and media influences and their association to STD risk behavior…
Exporting a US HIV/Aids prevention program to a Caribbean island-nation: Lessons from the field
English Compared with the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This article outlines a recent venture between researchers in Chicago and a Trinidadian social service agency to adapt a US-based HIV prevention intervention for teens. French En comparaison avec les autre nations caraïbéennes anglophones, les îles de Trinidad et Tobago sont affectées de fac ̧ on disproportionnée par l…
Witnessing community violence and health-risk behaviors among detained adolescents
This study examines whether witnessing community violence, in the 12 months prior to juvenile detention, is related and health-related outcomes in the 2 months prior to being detained among 550 youth. Participants answered survey questions using audio-computer assisted self-interviewing procedures, which assessed demographic, problem, and drug and sexual risk behaviors. Multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for significant covariates…
Pathways to Drug and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Detained Adolescents
PURPOSE: Among a sample of detained youth, to investigate pathways that link witnessing community violence, in the 12 months prior to being detained, to drug and sexual risk behaviors, in the two months preceding detainment. METHODS: Using A-CASI technology, data was collected from 559 detained adolescents on demographics, family factors, peer influences, religiosity, witnessing community violence, and drug and sexual risk behaviors. RESULTS: Con…
What African American Male Adolescents Are Telling Us about HIV Infection among Their Peers: Cultural Approaches for HIV Prevention
This study explored the beliefs of African American male adolescents concerning the high rates of HIV infection among their peers and their reasons for those beliefs. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 16 male African Americans, and a thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Half of the participants believed that peers were not becoming infected at higher rates than white youths and reported high rates of sexual risk taking. …
Low school engagement and sexual behaviors among African American youth: Examining the influences of gender, peer norms, and gang involvement
Examining the relationship between psychotropic medication use and testing positive for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea among detained adolescents
Mechanisms linking violence exposure and school engagement among African American adolescents: Examining the roles of psychological problem behaviors and gender
This study examines whether the relationship between violence exposure and school engagement is mediated by psychological problem behaviors and whether such relationships are gendered. Five hundred and sixty-three high school African American adolescents (ages 13-19 years) completed questionnaires that assessed two types of violence exposure (community violence and marital conflict), psychological problem behaviors (e.g., posttraumatic stress dis…
A conceptual model of HIV disclosure in casual sexual encounters among men who have sex with men
HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact men who have sex with men (MSM). Advances in highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) have successfully helped HIV-infected individuals lead longer, healthier, and presumably more sexually active lives. Consequently, secondary prevention approaches aimed at reducing the rate of HIV transmission have raised important questions about the role of sexual communication, namely HIV disclosure, as a …
Ecological factors associated with sexual risk behaviors among detained adolescents: A systematic review
Examining Parental Monitoring as a Pathway From Community Violence Exposure to Drug Use, Risky Sex, and Recidivism Among Detained Youth
This study examined whether parental monitoring mediated the relationship between community violence exposure and a spectrum of behaviors such as recidivism, risky sex, and drug use among youth with a history of being detained. It also explored whether risk pathways differed by gender. Adolescents (n = 550) who were detained or previously detained were recruited from eight regional detention facilities in Georgia. Audio computer-assisted self-int…
You Get More Respect,’ Reasons for Sex Among African American High School Youth: A Qualitative Study
African American adolescents continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unanticipated pregnancies. In-depth, face-to-face interviews among a convenience sample of 32 African American adolescents (16 male and 16 female) were used to explore the reasons why some adolescents decided to engage in sex while others chose to delay sexual debut. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Among the ov…
In their own words: Racial/ethnic and gender differences in sources and preferences for HIV prevention information among young adults
The purpose of this study was to examine where young adults were obtaining their HIV prevention information, and determine if there were consumption preferences based on gender and race/ethnicity. We conducted a series of race/ethnic and gender-concordant 2-hour focus groups, and qualitative analyses identified common domains. Sixty adolescents attended 6 focus groups. Findings revealed that primary informational sources were television and adver…
A Response to Anastas and Coffey: The Science of Social Work and its Relationship to Social Work Education and Professional Organizations
Relationships are central to the profession of social work; relationships with allied disciplines, among professional social work organizations, and between classroom and field education. However, embedded within these relationships are historical tensions, and contemporary opportunities that can advance both the science of social work and the status of the profession. This article mainly highlights opportunities for advancing professional relati…
A longitudinal examination of risk and protective factors associated with drug use and unsafe sex among young African American females
Gang Norms and Risky Sex Among Adolescents With a History of Detention
Prior studies have examined whether or not belonging to a gang was associated with risky sexual behaviors. However, the literature has yet to explore whether it is not just gang membership but gang norms that are associated with risky sex, which was the primary aim of this study. Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing technology was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 136 adolescent detainees who reported gang involvement. Demogr…
You’re an Open Target to Be Abused”: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and HIV Self-Disclosure Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a health crisis among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV-related stigma presents a primary barrier to sexual communication and effective HIV prevention. Using in-depth, qualitative interviews conducted with 20 HIV-positive Black MSM between 2007 and 2008 in Chicago, Illinois, we explored the themes related to HIV-related stigma and the underlying messages HIV-positive Black MSM receive regarding their status. Stig…
A longitudinal examination of sexually transmitted infection/HIV prevention knowledge and sexually transmitted infections among African-American adolescent females
This study examines whether sexually transmitted infection prevention knowledge predicts the acquisition of biologically confirmed sexually transmitted infections among African-American adolescent females. A total of 715 females were recruited from public health clinics in Atlanta, Georgia, and using audio computer-assisted self-interview technology, we assessed for demographics, sexually transmitted infection prevention knowledge, risky sexual b…
Dynamic social support networks of younger black men who have sex with men with new HIV infection
Rising rates of HIV infection among younger black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the USA have generated a public health emergency. Living with HIV requires deep and persistent social support often available only from close confidants. Enlisting endogenous support network members into the care of HIV-infected YBMSM may help shape sustainable supportive environments, leading to long-term improvements in mental and HIV-specific health outcomes…
Sex is violence’: A frican‐ A merican parents' perceptions of the link between exposure to community violence and youth sexual behaviours
In C hicago, A frican‐ A merican youth experience disproportionately high rates of exposure to community violence. Growing evidence documents that such exposures are related to youth sexual behaviours. This qualitative study seeks to illuminate the various ways in which violence and sex are intertwined in the lives of A frican‐ A merican youth. Analysing data from four focus groups ( N = 54), major themes indicated that parents linked community v…
Correlates of gang involvement and health-related factors among African American females with a detention history
Testing Pathways Linking Exposure to Community Violence and Sexual Behaviors Among African American Youth
Factors related to help-seeking attitudes about professional mental health services among Jamaican immigrants
Using survey data collected from 115 first-generation Jamaican immigrants residing in New York City, this study identified factors that were associated with their attitudes toward seeking professional mental health services. Results indicated that persons reporting psychological distress, negative stigma and attributions about mental illness, and positive social support from friends were less likely than their counterparts to report positive atti…
Psychology (90 works) · Medicine (79 works) · Clinical Psychology (60 works) · Psychiatry (54 works) · Social Psychology (45 works) · Developmental psychology (44 works) · Clinical Psychology (43 works) · Environmental health (41 works) · Poison control (36 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (33 works)