Melissa S Jones
Biographic Data
| ID | 246114 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa S Jones |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa S |
| FAMILY NAME | Jones |
| SIGNATURE | JONES M S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Brigham Young University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2201-5241 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 40 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 83 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 40 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Reluctance to Contact Crisis Services Among Youth Who Carry Handguns
Suicide is a leading cause of death among US adolescents, with firearms being a common means of youth suicide. As crisis services have expanded to include digital modalities (e.g., text; online chat), we still know little about the willingness of youth who carry firearms to contact crisis services. The present study examines whether public middle and high school students in Florida who carried handguns reported greater reluctance to contact crisi…
Two Sides of Childhood
This study examines the independent and interactive effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) on adolescent substance use. Guided by resilience theory, we analyze data from the 2024 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, a representative sample of 18,962 high school students. Negative binomial regression models indicate that greater ACE exposure is significantly associated with increased substance us…
For Whom Is School Suspension Criminogenic? Self-Control and Variation in Labeling Effects
A vast literature has demonstrated that adolescents who experience exclusionary discipline in school have an increased likelihood of involvement in subsequent delinquency. These patterns correspond closely with the expectations of labeling theory, which posits that stigmatizing punishments can produce secondary deviance by restricting conventional opportunities, weakening prosocial relationships, and facilitating the adoption of a deviant identit…
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Youth Sports Participation
Shared Households in the U.S
Research on the family structure–adolescent substance use association has largely neglected shared households—those in which non-parent adult figures live in the home—even though the number of these households has increased substantially in the U.S. Using data from the state of Florida, we assessed the association between several shared household structures and adolescent substance use, along with whether their associations were mediated by paren…
Adverse childhood experiences and delinquency
From ACEs to Action
Justice system prevention research has focused heavily on risk factors, overlooking how positive psychological assets may protect vulnerable youth. This study addresses that gap by testing whether optimism mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and arrest in emerging adulthood, and whether this pathway differs by sex. Using data from 2,990 participants in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, adversity was measured at a…
Bullying Victimization, Gender, and Adolescent Substance Use
A substantial body of research has demonstrated that bullying victimization is positively associated with illicit substance use, though whether this relationship is stronger among female or male youth remains unclear. Additionally, while connectedness to school represents a robust protective factor against negative health and behavioral outcomes, limited research has examined if it might weaken the effect of victimization on substance use. Analys…
Trauma in the Halls
Scars that shape us
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Race/Ethnicity, and Suicidality Among Florida High School Students
Previous studies have well-documented that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors. As historically marginalized groups have long experienced poorer socio-emotional outcomes due to systemic and institutional racism, racial stress, and related factors, surprisingly little is known about how ACEs matter across racial/ethnic adolescent groups. This study aims to fil…
Rural-Urban/Suburban Differences in the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Delinquency☆
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognized as significant precursors to delinquency. However, to date, no studies have explicitly examined the interconnectedness of ACEs, residency in rural or urban/suburban areas, and delinquent behavior to discern potential variations among youths residing in these distinct areas. This study aims to address this important gap in existing literature. Data from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Surv…
Homophobia' in the Country? Rural America and the Stigmatization ofLGBTQPeople
In-depth explorations of LGBTQ attitudes among rural Americans are sparse and often rely upon sweeping stereotypes that cluster all perspectives into one broad statement such as 'homophobia' in the country. As a result, little is known about the relationships between rurality and the stigmatization of LGBTQ people. In addition, though research demonstrates that men are less supportive of LGBTQ people than women are, these patterns are unclear amo…
Race, Religion, and Death
How do racial attitudes affect the relationship between religion and support for capital punishment? Past research has clearly established important links between religion, racial attitudes, and capital punishment. Yet, it remains unclear how racial attitudes affect this relationship. We examine this question using a large sample of respondents from the General Social Survey from 1994 to 2018. We find evidence of a strong moderating effect where …
Incarceration Exposure during Pregnancy and Father's Acknowledgment of Paternity
Incarceration carries consequences for families, including negative impacts on female partners and children of incarcerated men. The present study investigates the role of recent incarceration largely of male partners for AOP. Drawing on pooled-cross sectional data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System for 2012-2018 (N = 178,131 in pooled analyses), multinomial logistic regression is used to assess significant differences in the as…
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Later Delinquency
Evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with adolescent and adult delinquency. Simultaneously, studies have identified an association between middle childhood risk factors and subsequent delinquency. However, the research on how the relationship between early ACEs and adolescent delinquency is affected by middle childhood risk factors for delinquency is sparse. The current study addresses this, and other importa…
Early exposure to adverse childhood experiences and delinquent peer association among youth
Gender Differences in Adverse Childhood Experiences, Self-Control, and Delinquency
Considerable research has shown that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with the development of self-control and delinquent behaviors. Still, no studies have explicitly examined ACEs, low self-control, and delinquency to determine if they are jointly associated, including whether this relationship varies by gender. The current study examines this important gap in existing literature. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child…
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Delinquency
Findings point to a need for early ACEs screening and a Trauma-Informed Health Care (TIC) approach in early delinquency prevention efforts. Early intervention efforts that bolster child self-control and curtail early-onset problem behaviors may also disrupt pathways from ACEs to adolescent delinquency
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Functioning during Adolescence
Adverse childhood experiences and adolescent handgun carrying
The Role of Family Support in Gay and Lesbian Individuals' Experiences of Sexual Identity-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence
Many gay and lesbian individuals struggle with family support throughout their life course. In addition, due to their differences in social power and violations of heteronormativity, gay men and lesbian women have unique experiences with family distress. Such difficulties can be related to an increased risk for sexual identity-based discrimination, harassment, and violence (DHV) among gay and lesbian individuals, yet few studies have examined the…
Race and Ethnicity Differences in Police Contact and Perceptions of and Attitudes Toward the Police Among Youth
While investigations examining the effects of direct and vicarious police stops on youth attitudes toward the police have been limited, even less research has explored how these processes vary by race/ethnicity. Thus, this study uses the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to examine how race/ethnicity shapes: (1) the relationship between direct and vicarious police stops and youth attitudes toward police and (2) how the contextual…
Cumulative Stressors and Adolescent Substance Use
The aim of this review is to assess empirical studies from the last 2 decades that have examined the association between cumulative stressors and adolescent substance use. Cumulative stressors were measured in these studies with adverse childhood experiences or adolescent stressful life events inventories. The 109 articles meeting the eligibility criteria that emerged from the review demonstrated a consistent, yet modest, association between cumu…
Sterba’s Problem of Evil vs. Sterba’s Problem of Specificity
In 2019 the noted ethicist and political philosopher James Sterba published a new deductive version of the argument from the problem of evil to the conclusion that an Anselmian God does not exist. In this article I will argue that Sterba’s argument involves a problematic sorites-type paradox that, in order to be consistent, he should view as undermining his argument, since in his previous work on ethics he viewed this same sort of problem as coun…
Early Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Youth Delinquent Behavior in Fragile Families
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified as a key risk factor for a variety of negative health, psychiatric, and behavioral outcomes across the life course. Although recent research has begun to consider the role of ACEs in criminogenic behaviors among youth, few studies to date have assessed the association between early exposure to ACEs and delinquent behavior among nonincarcerated youth. Using data from the Fragile Families an…
Shaping youths' perceptions and attitudes toward the police
Racial differences in the effects of early adverse childhood experiences on adolescent delinquency
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self-Control Development among Youth in Fragile Families
Though considerable research links both a lack of self-control and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to a variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes, few studies to date have explored whether ACEs are associated with deficits in self-control. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW; n = 3,444) and a life course theoretical framework, this study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the rel…
Early adverse childhood experiences and exclusionary discipline in high school
Gender, adverse childhood experiences, and the development of self-control
Gender differences in early adverse childhood experiences and youth psychological distress
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Functioning during Adolescence
Adverse childhood experiences and adolescent handgun carrying
The Role of Family Support in Gay and Lesbian Individuals' Experiences of Sexual Identity-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence
Many gay and lesbian individuals struggle with family support throughout their life course. In addition, due to their differences in social power and violations of heteronormativity, gay men and lesbian women have unique experiences with family distress. Such difficulties can be related to an increased risk for sexual identity-based discrimination, harassment, and violence (DHV) among gay and lesbian individuals, yet few studies have examined the…
Religion, Punitive Sentiment, and the Mediating Effect of Racial Resentment
A 'tough on crime' attitude has dominated criminal justice policy and practice in the United States since the 1970s. In an effort to understand this rise in punitiveness, scholars have identified racial attitudes and religion as significant predictors of punitive sentiment. However, little or no extant research has examined the potential mediating effect of racial resentment on the relationship between religion and punitive attitudes. Using data …
Hopelessness and Youth Violent Behavior
Researchers have often neglected the role of hopelessness in violent behavior during adolescence. Moreover, little research has examined this relationship over time. Using data from Waves I and II of The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we explore the relationship between hopelessness and youth violent behavior over time. Poisson regression was used to analyze contributors to violence in just Wave I, and again across time in Wave…
Rural-Urban/Suburban Differences in the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Delinquency☆
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognized as significant precursors to delinquency. However, to date, no studies have explicitly examined the interconnectedness of ACEs, residency in rural or urban/suburban areas, and delinquent behavior to discern potential variations among youths residing in these distinct areas. This study aims to address this important gap in existing literature. Data from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Surv…
Homophobia' in the Country? Rural America and the Stigmatization ofLGBTQPeople
In-depth explorations of LGBTQ attitudes among rural Americans are sparse and often rely upon sweeping stereotypes that cluster all perspectives into one broad statement such as 'homophobia' in the country. As a result, little is known about the relationships between rurality and the stigmatization of LGBTQ people. In addition, though research demonstrates that men are less supportive of LGBTQ people than women are, these patterns are unclear amo…
Race, Religion, and Death
How do racial attitudes affect the relationship between religion and support for capital punishment? Past research has clearly established important links between religion, racial attitudes, and capital punishment. Yet, it remains unclear how racial attitudes affect this relationship. We examine this question using a large sample of respondents from the General Social Survey from 1994 to 2018. We find evidence of a strong moderating effect where …
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Social Skills Among Youth in Fragile Families
Biblical Faith and Other Religions
Leonard Swidler's Influence on the Work of an American Evangelical and on Romanian Academia
Leonard Swidler’s Influence on the Work of an American Evangelical and on Romanian Academia Michael S. Jones (bio) Keywords Leonard Swidler, Romania, Evangelical Christianity, interreligious dialogue, Lucian Blaga, Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, University of Bucharest, analytic philosophy of religion, Romanian Orthodox, Balkans Dr. Leonard Swidler-he will always be “Dr.” to me, for the respect that this bearded Anabaptist has…
Broken Hearts and Battered Lives
Most incarcerated women suffer from adverse and abusive life histories, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as sexual, physical, emotional abuse, and neglect, and intimate partner violence (IPV). In addition, many have difficulties regulating their anger expression and most participate in illicit drug use. Although many have offered explanations for these relationships, the current study is among the first to utilize an integrate…
Exploring Coercive Control, PTSD, and the Use of Physical Violence in the Pre-prison Heterosexual Relationships of Incarcerated Women
Although coercive control has been recognized over the past few decades as a form of intimate partner violence (IPV), researchers have often overlooked the role of coercive control in criminal behavior. Moreover, little is known about the effects of coercive control in the lives of incarcerated women. Using data from the 2014 Oklahoma Study of Incarcerated Women and Their Children ( n = 337), this study utilizes a feminist pathways theoretical fr…
Introduction to the symposium
Shaping youths' perceptions and attitudes toward the police
Gender, adverse childhood experiences, and the development of self-control
Early Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Youth Delinquent Behavior in Fragile Families
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified as a key risk factor for a variety of negative health, psychiatric, and behavioral outcomes across the life course. Although recent research has begun to consider the role of ACEs in criminogenic behaviors among youth, few studies to date have assessed the association between early exposure to ACEs and delinquent behavior among nonincarcerated youth. Using data from the Fragile Families an…
Hopelessness and Youth Violent Behavior
Researchers have often neglected the role of hopelessness in violent behavior during adolescence. Moreover, little research has examined this relationship over time. Using data from Waves I and II of The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we explore the relationship between hopelessness and youth violent behavior over time. Poisson regression was used to analyze contributors to violence in just Wave I, and again across time in Wave…
Race and Ethnicity Differences in Police Contact and Perceptions of and Attitudes Toward the Police Among Youth
While investigations examining the effects of direct and vicarious police stops on youth attitudes toward the police have been limited, even less research has explored how these processes vary by race/ethnicity. Thus, this study uses the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to examine how race/ethnicity shapes: (1) the relationship between direct and vicarious police stops and youth attitudes toward police and (2) how the contextual…
Cumulative Stressors and Adolescent Substance Use
The aim of this review is to assess empirical studies from the last 2 decades that have examined the association between cumulative stressors and adolescent substance use. Cumulative stressors were measured in these studies with adverse childhood experiences or adolescent stressful life events inventories. The 109 articles meeting the eligibility criteria that emerged from the review demonstrated a consistent, yet modest, association between cumu…
Sterba’s Problem of Evil vs. Sterba’s Problem of Specificity
In 2019 the noted ethicist and political philosopher James Sterba published a new deductive version of the argument from the problem of evil to the conclusion that an Anselmian God does not exist. In this article I will argue that Sterba’s argument involves a problematic sorites-type paradox that, in order to be consistent, he should view as undermining his argument, since in his previous work on ethics he viewed this same sort of problem as coun…
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Social Skills Among Youth in Fragile Families
Gender differences in early adverse childhood experiences and youth psychological distress
Racial differences in the effects of early adverse childhood experiences on adolescent delinquency
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self-Control Development among Youth in Fragile Families
Though considerable research links both a lack of self-control and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to a variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes, few studies to date have explored whether ACEs are associated with deficits in self-control. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW; n = 3,444) and a life course theoretical framework, this study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the rel…
Religion, Punitive Sentiment, and the Mediating Effect of Racial Resentment
A 'tough on crime' attitude has dominated criminal justice policy and practice in the United States since the 1970s. In an effort to understand this rise in punitiveness, scholars have identified racial attitudes and religion as significant predictors of punitive sentiment. However, little or no extant research has examined the potential mediating effect of racial resentment on the relationship between religion and punitive attitudes. Using data …
Early adverse childhood experiences and exclusionary discipline in high school
Early exposure to adverse childhood experiences and delinquent peer association among youth
Gender Differences in Adverse Childhood Experiences, Self-Control, and Delinquency
Considerable research has shown that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with the development of self-control and delinquent behaviors. Still, no studies have explicitly examined ACEs, low self-control, and delinquency to determine if they are jointly associated, including whether this relationship varies by gender. The current study examines this important gap in existing literature. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child…
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Delinquency
Findings point to a need for early ACEs screening and a Trauma-Informed Health Care (TIC) approach in early delinquency prevention efforts. Early intervention efforts that bolster child self-control and curtail early-onset problem behaviors may also disrupt pathways from ACEs to adolescent delinquency
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Functioning during Adolescence
Adverse childhood experiences and adolescent handgun carrying
The Role of Family Support in Gay and Lesbian Individuals' Experiences of Sexual Identity-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence
Many gay and lesbian individuals struggle with family support throughout their life course. In addition, due to their differences in social power and violations of heteronormativity, gay men and lesbian women have unique experiences with family distress. Such difficulties can be related to an increased risk for sexual identity-based discrimination, harassment, and violence (DHV) among gay and lesbian individuals, yet few studies have examined the…
Rural-Urban/Suburban Differences in the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Delinquency☆
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognized as significant precursors to delinquency. However, to date, no studies have explicitly examined the interconnectedness of ACEs, residency in rural or urban/suburban areas, and delinquent behavior to discern potential variations among youths residing in these distinct areas. This study aims to address this important gap in existing literature. Data from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Surv…
Psychology (28 works) · Medicine (20 works) · Poison control (20 works) · Child Abuse and Trauma (19 works) · Injury prevention (19 works) · Human Factors and Ergonomics (18 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (16 works) · Adverse Childhood Experiences (15 works) · Developmental psychology (15 works) · Suicide prevention (15 works)