Colleen M Ray
Biographic Data
| ID | 181244 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Colleen M Ray |
| GIVEN NAMES | Colleen M |
| FAMILY NAME | Ray |
| SIGNATURE | RAY C M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6629-0790 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 24 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Mixed Methodological Pilot Evaluation of a Program to Prevent Sexual Exploitation of High School Youth
Despite increasing concerns about child sexual exploitation (CSE), we know little about how to prevent this prevalent public health issue. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a mixed methodological pilot evaluation of a school-based program - READY to Stand® (RTS) - aimed at preventing CSE perpetration and victimization and increasing bystander intervention - among high school students in an urban setting. The RTS program includes six…
Randomized Control Trial Protocol to Evaluate an Engaged-Bystander Approach to Prevent Child Sex Trafficking
Risk factors for child sex trafficking (CST) include substance use among familial traffickers, family violence, and poverty. Our research team will develop a novel intervention and prevention program based on these risk factors to reduce CST. We describe the design and methods we will use to evaluate our county-level cluster randomized control trial (cRCT) conducted in middle schools. Research aims include testing the combined effectiveness of 1)…
The See It to Stop It Indicator Tool to Identify Child Sex Trafficking: Acceptability, Feasibility, Utility, and Outcomes
Adolescents involved in sex trafficking may not engage in help-seeking behavior due to fear, stigma, and lack of awareness about available resources. Likewise, professionals interacting with these youth may have little guidance on how to identify risk or respond when trafficking concerns are detected. This study describes the development, feasibility, acceptability, utility, and outcomes of the See It to Stop It Indicator (SITSII) tool for middle…
Creating a Youth Sex Trafficking Prevention Curriculum Using CBPAR: Challenges, Successes, and Lessons Learned
Project LIVE (Love, Inclusivity, Values, and Education) is a five-year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based curriculum aimed at preventing the sexual exploitation of children (SEC) utilizing community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) methods. This paper describes challenges, successes, and lessons learned throughout the first two years of the project (P…
Training Initiation and Completion in a Cluster Randomized Control Trial to Reduce Child Sex Trafficking in Middle Schools
Child sex trafficking (CST) has significant consequences for youth, families, and communities. Developing effective strategies to engage educational staff in reducing CST is essential given the time staff spend with students. This paper identifies predictors of training initiation and completion among middle school staff (MSS) engaged in a cluster randomized control trial (cRCT) to reduce CST. Methods: Staff were invited to complete a pre-interve…
A Multi-Site Consortium on Familial Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Brief Report on Lessons Learned and Future Directions
CSTOP Now: Psychometric Evaluation of Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Measures for Use with Educators
Child sex trafficking (CST) is a worldwide public health and social justice issue. Evaluations of prevention program effectiveness have been limited by the lack of validated measures to assess CST-related constructs. We drew from theory to adapt measures of adult sex trafficking and intimate partner violence precursors or risk factors to develop measures assessing CST constructs including CST myths, self-confidence to address CST, and comfort in …
Exploring the Links between Individual Types of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self-Reported Psychiatric and Neurocognitive Conditions
Interpersonal Violence Victimization Experiences of Middle School Youth: An Exploration by Gender and Sexual/Romantic Attraction
Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at increased risk for interpersonal violence victimization compared to heterosexual youth. The current study examined how self-reported victimization (i.e., bullying, sexual harassment and dating violence) among middle school youth varied as a function of sexual/romantic attraction as well as gender identity. Cross-sectional data were gathered from students at seven middle schools in New England (n = 2245). Mean co…
Impact of Social Isolation during the Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Homelessness: Qualitative Interviews with Behavioral Health Providers
The United States is experiencing a syndemic of homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health conditions, which has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is expected that mitigation strategies will curb community transmission of COVID-19, the unintended consequences of social isolation on mental health and substance use are a growing public health concern. Awareness of changing mental health and substance use tr…
Mutual Influence? Gender, Partner Pregnancy Desires, Fertility Intentions, and Birth Outcomes in U.S. Heterosexual Couples
Competing hypotheses exist with regard to how men’s and women’s pregnancy desires and intentions are associated with births among contemporary heterosexual couples. There are compelling cultural and structural reasons to support either the hypothesis that men’s desires and intentions (patriarchal) or that women’s desires and intentions (matriarchal) will have more influence, or that both partner’s desires and intentions will be associated with bi…
Short Message Service Surveying With Homeless Youth: Findings From a 30-Day Study of Sleeping Arrangements and Well-Being
Little is known about the location and consistency of sleeping arrangements among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) and how this is linked to their well-being. This study addresses this gap using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via short message service (SMS) surveying with 150 YEH over 30 days, to examine how various sleeping arrangements are associated with depression, marijuana use, support received, and service utilization. Results …
Social and psychological resources among homeless youth: Protection against risk for physical victimization
This study examines child physical abuse, social and psychological resources, and street physical victimization among 150 homeless youth from the Midwest. Path analyses results show that males have higher self-efficacy than females, while older youth and those who experienced less child physical abuse reported higher self-esteem. Self-efficacy and self-esteem were positively associated with social support as was being younger and having experienc…
Risk and protective factors for substance use among youth experiencing homelessness
Public support for the death penalty in a red state: The distrustful, the angry, and the unsure
Set against the backdrop of Nebraska’s 2015 legislative repeal of the death penalty and the 2016 electoral reinstatement, we examined public support for capital punishment. Using two years of statewide survey data, we compared respondents who preferred the death penalty for murder, those who preferred other penalties, and those who were unsure, a respondent group often excluded from research. To understand what distinguishes among these groups, w…
Stability and change in personal fertility ideals among U.S. women in heterosexual relationships
BACKGROUND: Demographers typically ask about societal, not personal, fertility ideals. Societal ideals are probably more stable than personal ideals. Assessing whether personal fertility ideals are as stable as societal ideals could inform models of population fertility change and models of well-being associated with fertility outcomes. METHODS: We use the two-wave National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB) to model stability and change in fert…
Understanding the Link between Victimization and Alcohol Use among Homeless Youth Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Most prior research on victimization and alcohol use among homeless youth is retrospective and thus does not allow researchers to determine the sequencing of these events. We address this gap using ecological momentary assessment via short message service surveying with homeless youth during 30 days. Multilevel binary logistic regression results revealed that experiencing physical or sexual victimization on a specific day was positively associate…
Role of Social Environmental Protective Factors on Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Midwestern Homeless Youth
We employ a social stress framework, which examines the influence of multiple stressors (e.g., physical abuse, foster care placement) on an individual's ability to function (e.g., mental well-being), to longitudinally examine the effects of stressful life events on mental health and the role of the social environment in this process among 150 homeless youth. Results revealed that numerous stressors, such as physical abuse and running away from ho…
Stability and change in personal fertility ideals among U.S. women in heterosexual relationships
BACKGROUND: Demographers typically ask about societal, not personal, fertility ideals. Societal ideals are probably more stable than personal ideals. Assessing whether personal fertility ideals are as stable as societal ideals could inform models of population fertility change and models of well-being associated with fertility outcomes. METHODS: We use the two-wave National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB) to model stability and change in fert…
Understanding the Link between Victimization and Alcohol Use among Homeless Youth Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Most prior research on victimization and alcohol use among homeless youth is retrospective and thus does not allow researchers to determine the sequencing of these events. We address this gap using ecological momentary assessment via short message service surveying with homeless youth during 30 days. Multilevel binary logistic regression results revealed that experiencing physical or sexual victimization on a specific day was positively associate…
Public support for the death penalty in a red state: The distrustful, the angry, and the unsure
Set against the backdrop of Nebraska’s 2015 legislative repeal of the death penalty and the 2016 electoral reinstatement, we examined public support for capital punishment. Using two years of statewide survey data, we compared respondents who preferred the death penalty for murder, those who preferred other penalties, and those who were unsure, a respondent group often excluded from research. To understand what distinguishes among these groups, w…
Role of Social Environmental Protective Factors on Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Midwestern Homeless Youth
We employ a social stress framework, which examines the influence of multiple stressors (e.g., physical abuse, foster care placement) on an individual's ability to function (e.g., mental well-being), to longitudinally examine the effects of stressful life events on mental health and the role of the social environment in this process among 150 homeless youth. Results revealed that numerous stressors, such as physical abuse and running away from ho…
Interpersonal Violence Victimization Experiences of Middle School Youth: An Exploration by Gender and Sexual/Romantic Attraction
Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at increased risk for interpersonal violence victimization compared to heterosexual youth. The current study examined how self-reported victimization (i.e., bullying, sexual harassment and dating violence) among middle school youth varied as a function of sexual/romantic attraction as well as gender identity. Cross-sectional data were gathered from students at seven middle schools in New England (n = 2245). Mean co…
Short Message Service Surveying With Homeless Youth: Findings From a 30-Day Study of Sleeping Arrangements and Well-Being
Little is known about the location and consistency of sleeping arrangements among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) and how this is linked to their well-being. This study addresses this gap using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via short message service (SMS) surveying with 150 YEH over 30 days, to examine how various sleeping arrangements are associated with depression, marijuana use, support received, and service utilization. Results …
Role of Social Environmental Protective Factors on Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Midwestern Homeless Youth
We employ a social stress framework, which examines the influence of multiple stressors (e.g., physical abuse, foster care placement) on an individual's ability to function (e.g., mental well-being), to longitudinally examine the effects of stressful life events on mental health and the role of the social environment in this process among 150 homeless youth. Results revealed that numerous stressors, such as physical abuse and running away from ho…
Public support for the death penalty in a red state: The distrustful, the angry, and the unsure
Set against the backdrop of Nebraska’s 2015 legislative repeal of the death penalty and the 2016 electoral reinstatement, we examined public support for capital punishment. Using two years of statewide survey data, we compared respondents who preferred the death penalty for murder, those who preferred other penalties, and those who were unsure, a respondent group often excluded from research. To understand what distinguishes among these groups, w…
Stability and change in personal fertility ideals among U.S. women in heterosexual relationships
BACKGROUND: Demographers typically ask about societal, not personal, fertility ideals. Societal ideals are probably more stable than personal ideals. Assessing whether personal fertility ideals are as stable as societal ideals could inform models of population fertility change and models of well-being associated with fertility outcomes. METHODS: We use the two-wave National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB) to model stability and change in fert…
Understanding the Link between Victimization and Alcohol Use among Homeless Youth Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Most prior research on victimization and alcohol use among homeless youth is retrospective and thus does not allow researchers to determine the sequencing of these events. We address this gap using ecological momentary assessment via short message service surveying with homeless youth during 30 days. Multilevel binary logistic regression results revealed that experiencing physical or sexual victimization on a specific day was positively associate…
Social and psychological resources among homeless youth: Protection against risk for physical victimization
This study examines child physical abuse, social and psychological resources, and street physical victimization among 150 homeless youth from the Midwest. Path analyses results show that males have higher self-efficacy than females, while older youth and those who experienced less child physical abuse reported higher self-esteem. Self-efficacy and self-esteem were positively associated with social support as was being younger and having experienc…
Risk and protective factors for substance use among youth experiencing homelessness
Mutual Influence? Gender, Partner Pregnancy Desires, Fertility Intentions, and Birth Outcomes in U.S. Heterosexual Couples
Competing hypotheses exist with regard to how men’s and women’s pregnancy desires and intentions are associated with births among contemporary heterosexual couples. There are compelling cultural and structural reasons to support either the hypothesis that men’s desires and intentions (patriarchal) or that women’s desires and intentions (matriarchal) will have more influence, or that both partner’s desires and intentions will be associated with bi…
Short Message Service Surveying With Homeless Youth: Findings From a 30-Day Study of Sleeping Arrangements and Well-Being
Little is known about the location and consistency of sleeping arrangements among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) and how this is linked to their well-being. This study addresses this gap using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via short message service (SMS) surveying with 150 YEH over 30 days, to examine how various sleeping arrangements are associated with depression, marijuana use, support received, and service utilization. Results …
Impact of Social Isolation during the Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Homelessness: Qualitative Interviews with Behavioral Health Providers
The United States is experiencing a syndemic of homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health conditions, which has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is expected that mitigation strategies will curb community transmission of COVID-19, the unintended consequences of social isolation on mental health and substance use are a growing public health concern. Awareness of changing mental health and substance use tr…
Interpersonal Violence Victimization Experiences of Middle School Youth: An Exploration by Gender and Sexual/Romantic Attraction
Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at increased risk for interpersonal violence victimization compared to heterosexual youth. The current study examined how self-reported victimization (i.e., bullying, sexual harassment and dating violence) among middle school youth varied as a function of sexual/romantic attraction as well as gender identity. Cross-sectional data were gathered from students at seven middle schools in New England (n = 2245). Mean co…
CSTOP Now: Psychometric Evaluation of Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Measures for Use with Educators
Child sex trafficking (CST) is a worldwide public health and social justice issue. Evaluations of prevention program effectiveness have been limited by the lack of validated measures to assess CST-related constructs. We drew from theory to adapt measures of adult sex trafficking and intimate partner violence precursors or risk factors to develop measures assessing CST constructs including CST myths, self-confidence to address CST, and comfort in …
Exploring the Links between Individual Types of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self-Reported Psychiatric and Neurocognitive Conditions
Mixed Methodological Pilot Evaluation of a Program to Prevent Sexual Exploitation of High School Youth
Despite increasing concerns about child sexual exploitation (CSE), we know little about how to prevent this prevalent public health issue. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a mixed methodological pilot evaluation of a school-based program - READY to Stand® (RTS) - aimed at preventing CSE perpetration and victimization and increasing bystander intervention - among high school students in an urban setting. The RTS program includes six…
Randomized Control Trial Protocol to Evaluate an Engaged-Bystander Approach to Prevent Child Sex Trafficking
Risk factors for child sex trafficking (CST) include substance use among familial traffickers, family violence, and poverty. Our research team will develop a novel intervention and prevention program based on these risk factors to reduce CST. We describe the design and methods we will use to evaluate our county-level cluster randomized control trial (cRCT) conducted in middle schools. Research aims include testing the combined effectiveness of 1)…
The See It to Stop It Indicator Tool to Identify Child Sex Trafficking: Acceptability, Feasibility, Utility, and Outcomes
Adolescents involved in sex trafficking may not engage in help-seeking behavior due to fear, stigma, and lack of awareness about available resources. Likewise, professionals interacting with these youth may have little guidance on how to identify risk or respond when trafficking concerns are detected. This study describes the development, feasibility, acceptability, utility, and outcomes of the See It to Stop It Indicator (SITSII) tool for middle…
Creating a Youth Sex Trafficking Prevention Curriculum Using CBPAR: Challenges, Successes, and Lessons Learned
Project LIVE (Love, Inclusivity, Values, and Education) is a five-year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based curriculum aimed at preventing the sexual exploitation of children (SEC) utilizing community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) methods. This paper describes challenges, successes, and lessons learned throughout the first two years of the project (P…
Training Initiation and Completion in a Cluster Randomized Control Trial to Reduce Child Sex Trafficking in Middle Schools
Child sex trafficking (CST) has significant consequences for youth, families, and communities. Developing effective strategies to engage educational staff in reducing CST is essential given the time staff spend with students. This paper identifies predictors of training initiation and completion among middle school staff (MSS) engaged in a cluster randomized control trial (cRCT) to reduce CST. Methods: Staff were invited to complete a pre-interve…
A Multi-Site Consortium on Familial Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Brief Report on Lessons Learned and Future Directions
Psychology (12 works) · Poison control (9 works) · Medicine (8 works) · Suicide prevention (8 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (7 works) · Clinical Psychology (7 works) · Sex work and related issues (7 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (6 works) · Psychiatry (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works)