Deinera Exner‐Cortens
Biographic Data
| ID | 5378106 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Deinera Exner‐Cortens |
| GIVEN NAMES | Deinera |
| FAMILY NAME | Exner‐Cortens |
| SIGNATURE | CORTENS D E |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Calgary |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2021-1350 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 36 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 27 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Risk of Dating Violence Among Sexually Minoritized Relative to Heterosexual Young People in School- and Community-Based Samples
Dating violence (DV) among adolescents and young adults is a prevalent public health concern. Research to date has largely focused on heterosexual young people, resulting in the marginalization of the experiences of sexually minoritized young people. We thus sought to assess sexually minoritized young people’s risk of experiencing past-year physical, sexual, and psychological DV victimization, both as a group and relative to their heterosexual pe…
Research on Law and Policy to Prevent Teen Dating Violence
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a global public health issue with numerous consequences for physical, psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Thus, prevention of TDV has been a focus of research attention for the past several decades. As part of a comprehensive TDV prevention approach, programs, practices, and policies are needed. Yet, no prior research has reviewed the state of the science on laws and policies designed to prevent or addre…
Perceived Everyday Discrimination and Ethnic Disparities in Postpartum Depression
Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention in Healthcare Settings
Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is associated with short- and long-term physical and psychological adverse health outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to implement prevention strategies to address ADV in settings that serve adolescents. One natural point of contact is healthcare settings, as adolescents may present to these settings due to general health concerns and concerns related to ADV exposure. However, little is known about the state of the…
Using social network analysis to identify peer coaches in the real world of elementary schools
Coaching can increase elementary school teachers’ implementation of evidence‐based classroom practices, including equity‐centered or culturally responsive practices. However, coaching by personnel external to schools can be expensive and difficult to sustain. Community science principles and social network research suggest the potential of influential peer leaders in schools to accelerate implementation. In the first phase of a multi‐year project…
Claire Crooks (1973–2024)
Memorializes Claire Crooks (1973-2004), a distinguished clinical child psychologist who dedicated her life's work to advancing the well-being of children and youth through the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions. Claire's well-known work on healthy youth relationships promotion began as a postdoctoral fellow, continuing as a research scientist, and then associate director, at the Centre for Addiction and Me…
Secondary and Tertiary Prevention for Adolescent Dating Violence
Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a pervasive public health issue associated with numerous social, psychological, and physical health consequences. Thus, programs are often implemented to prevent ADV and promote healthy relationships. Although there is a growing body of literature on primary ADV prevention strategies (i.e., prevention), little is known about secondary (e.g., early intervention) and tertiary (e.g., manage and reduce impact once …
Homophobic beliefs and attitudes among mid-adolescent boys
We hypothesized that if the ideas of hybrid masculinities held in our sample, we would find that overt homophobic attitudes and adherence to related patriarchal norms (e.g., avoidance of femininity) would decline over this period, but that the use of homophobic name-calling would remain differentiated in terms of to whom it was directed (e.g., a friend, someone they thought was gay). We did find a significant decline in homophobic attitudes and n…
Affinity and allyship groups to advance inclusion in postsecondary institutions
Identifying Pathways to the Incel Community and Where to Intervene
The term “Incel” refers to a group of boys and/or men who feel that they have been unjustly denied relationships and sex with women due to an unfair social system, and some Incels have committed violence based on these beliefs. More broadly, self-identified Incels face social and mental health issues and can hold negative beliefs about women and other marginalized genders, which may lead them to harm both themselves and others. In this research, …
Elementary School Teachers’ Self-Assessment of Use of Positive Behavior Support Strategies and Goal Setting Related to Equity-Focused Features
The goal of the Maximize Program is to collaborate with educators to develop resources and procedures to facilitate teachers’ use of equity-focused behavioral supports. In this study, we describe teachers’ responses to the first iteration of the interactive Maximize Technology Platform. Ninety elementary school teachers from three schools were encouraged to use the platform to learn about the foundational concept of equity literacy, complete a se…
Changes in Pre-Service Teacher Personal and Professional Attitudes Following a Comprehensive School Health Course
Comprehensive school health (CSH) is a framework that can support teachers in the delivery of health-related content as well as supporting health promotion within the school community. In this study, 222 Bachelor of Education students completed surveys at the beginning and end of a mandatory six-week course on CSH with a body weight-neutral focus. Following the course, participants had significantly positively increased attitudes toward CSH, self…
Embedding equity into school mental health theory
In this article, we present an introduction to the second part of a two‐part special series focused on embedding equity into school mental health. In the previous part, we focused on measurement and practice, and in this second part, we focus on theory
Friendship quality and ethnocultural boys
Tier 1 school mental health programs for middle school youth often focus on healthy relationships promotion. However, the vast majority of these programs take a gender‐ and race‐neutral approach (i.e., content that does not focus on the way that gender, race, and ethnicity intersect to shape relationships and mental health). Embedding these intersections into Tier 1 programs is critical to equitably advancing mental health for middle school youth…
Embedding equity into school mental health theory, research, and practice
In this article, we present an introduction and overview for a two‐part special issue series focused on embedding equity into school mental health through theory, research, and practice. The papers in Part 1 of the special issue series cover critical topics for advancing equitable school mental health, including the centering of community and youth perspectives; a focus on reducing disproportionality in discipline practices; and details on equity…
Exploring risk and protective factors for adolescent dating violence across the social-ecological model
Despite best practice suggesting that ADV prevention strategies should be comprehensive and directed at multiple levels of an individual's social ecology, this systematic scoping review of reviews revealed that very little is known about risk factors beyond the individual and relationship level of the social-ecological model. Further, past research appears steeped in a risk-focused paradigm, given the limited focus on protective factors. Research…
A Systematic Review of Adolescent Masculinities and Associations with Internalizing Behavior Problems and Social Support
Interest in the connection between masculinities and mental health continues to grow. However, no previous systematic review has explored this association for adolescents. We present the systematic review of 29 articles that explore the connection between adherence to stereotypical male gender role norms (e.g., emotional restriction), attributes (e.g., “ambitious”), and identity (most commonly, gender “typicality”) and internalizing behavior prob…
Photo-Based Evaluation
Actively engaging adolescents in meaningful program evaluation is a topic of growing interest. One possibility for such engagement is the use of photographs as part of visual evaluation, so that youth can directly engage with the research process. In this Method Note, we describe the development and implementation of a participatory, photo-based evaluation method for youth health promotion/prevention programs. Youth in this study were participant…
Adolescents’ Interpersonal Negotiation Strategies
Negotiating conflict in healthy ways is key to adolescents' social functioning. This paper examines interpersonal negotiation strategies (INS) (a developmental framework for navigating conflict) across three different contexts (friend, romantic, and parent) in a sample of 212 Canadian mid-adolescents. Adolescents were asked how they would deal with a hypothetical conflict in each context. Adolescents were most advanced at negotiating conflict in …
Preliminary evaluation of a gender-transformative healthy relationships program for adolescent boys
Preventing Gender-Based Violence Among Adolescents and Young Adults
Effective prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents and young adults is a key strategy for reducing rates of gender-based violence (GBV). Numerous initiatives have been developed and evaluated over the past 25 years. There is emerging evidence about effective strategies for universal prevention of dating violence in high school settings and effective bystander interventions on university and college campuses. In addition, th…
Toxic Masculinity and Mental Health in Young Women
The recent release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which focuses on the suicide of an adolescent girl, has been accompanied by a large amount of social commentary. However, most of this commentary focuses on the suicide itself and does not consider how the series constructs the root causes of suicide. In this brief article, we argue that from a feminist social work perspective, the series highlights a key root cause of mental health problem…
Two Years of Relationship-Focused Mentoring for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Adolescents
Theory and teen dating violence victimization
Longitudinal Associations Between Teen Dating Violence Victimization and Adverse Health Outcomes
OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal association between teen dating violence victimization and selected adverse health outcomes. METHODS: Secondary analysis of Waves 1 (1994-1995), 2 (1996), and 3 (2001-2002) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative sample of US high schools and middle schools. Participants were 5681 12- to 18-year-old adolescents who reported heterosexual dating experiences at Wav…
Preventing Gender-Based Violence Among Adolescents and Young Adults
Effective prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents and young adults is a key strategy for reducing rates of gender-based violence (GBV). Numerous initiatives have been developed and evaluated over the past 25 years. There is emerging evidence about effective strategies for universal prevention of dating violence in high school settings and effective bystander interventions on university and college campuses. In addition, th…
Identifying Pathways to the Incel Community and Where to Intervene
The term “Incel” refers to a group of boys and/or men who feel that they have been unjustly denied relationships and sex with women due to an unfair social system, and some Incels have committed violence based on these beliefs. More broadly, self-identified Incels face social and mental health issues and can hold negative beliefs about women and other marginalized genders, which may lead them to harm both themselves and others. In this research, …
A New Measure for Assessing Youth Program Participation
Participation in after‐school programs is an important lever to improve adolescents’ health and well‐being; however, well‐defined measurement of the quality of participation in these programs is limited. The present study validated a newly designed measure of participation in a sample of urban youth enrolled in community‐based after‐school programs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the structure of the 20‐item Tiffan…
Toxic Masculinity and Mental Health in Young Women
The recent release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which focuses on the suicide of an adolescent girl, has been accompanied by a large amount of social commentary. However, most of this commentary focuses on the suicide itself and does not consider how the series constructs the root causes of suicide. In this brief article, we argue that from a feminist social work perspective, the series highlights a key root cause of mental health problem…
Preliminary evaluation of a gender-transformative healthy relationships program for adolescent boys
Using social network analysis to identify peer coaches in the real world of elementary schools
Coaching can increase elementary school teachers’ implementation of evidence‐based classroom practices, including equity‐centered or culturally responsive practices. However, coaching by personnel external to schools can be expensive and difficult to sustain. Community science principles and social network research suggest the potential of influential peer leaders in schools to accelerate implementation. In the first phase of a multi‐year project…
Affinity and allyship groups to advance inclusion in postsecondary institutions
A New Measure for Assessing Youth Program Participation
Participation in after‐school programs is an important lever to improve adolescents’ health and well‐being; however, well‐defined measurement of the quality of participation in these programs is limited. The present study validated a newly designed measure of participation in a sample of urban youth enrolled in community‐based after‐school programs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the structure of the 20‐item Tiffan…
Longitudinal Associations Between Teen Dating Violence Victimization and Adverse Health Outcomes
OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal association between teen dating violence victimization and selected adverse health outcomes. METHODS: Secondary analysis of Waves 1 (1994-1995), 2 (1996), and 3 (2001-2002) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative sample of US high schools and middle schools. Participants were 5681 12- to 18-year-old adolescents who reported heterosexual dating experiences at Wav…
Childhood Poverty and Blood Pressure Reactivity to and Recovery From an Acute Stressor in Late Adolescence
OBJECTIVE: Childhood deprivation is inimical to health throughout the life course. Early experiences of stress could play a role in health inequalities. An important aspect of childhood poverty that has not received much attention is cardiovascular reactivity to and recovery from acute stressors. METHODS: Piecewise, multilevel growth curve regression was used to examine blood pressure reactivity to and recovery from a mental arithmetic task among…
Theory and teen dating violence victimization
Two Years of Relationship-Focused Mentoring for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Adolescents
Preventing Gender-Based Violence Among Adolescents and Young Adults
Effective prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents and young adults is a key strategy for reducing rates of gender-based violence (GBV). Numerous initiatives have been developed and evaluated over the past 25 years. There is emerging evidence about effective strategies for universal prevention of dating violence in high school settings and effective bystander interventions on university and college campuses. In addition, th…
Toxic Masculinity and Mental Health in Young Women
The recent release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which focuses on the suicide of an adolescent girl, has been accompanied by a large amount of social commentary. However, most of this commentary focuses on the suicide itself and does not consider how the series constructs the root causes of suicide. In this brief article, we argue that from a feminist social work perspective, the series highlights a key root cause of mental health problem…
Preliminary evaluation of a gender-transformative healthy relationships program for adolescent boys
Adolescents’ Interpersonal Negotiation Strategies
Negotiating conflict in healthy ways is key to adolescents' social functioning. This paper examines interpersonal negotiation strategies (INS) (a developmental framework for navigating conflict) across three different contexts (friend, romantic, and parent) in a sample of 212 Canadian mid-adolescents. Adolescents were asked how they would deal with a hypothetical conflict in each context. Adolescents were most advanced at negotiating conflict in …
A Systematic Review of Adolescent Masculinities and Associations with Internalizing Behavior Problems and Social Support
Interest in the connection between masculinities and mental health continues to grow. However, no previous systematic review has explored this association for adolescents. We present the systematic review of 29 articles that explore the connection between adherence to stereotypical male gender role norms (e.g., emotional restriction), attributes (e.g., “ambitious”), and identity (most commonly, gender “typicality”) and internalizing behavior prob…
Photo-Based Evaluation
Actively engaging adolescents in meaningful program evaluation is a topic of growing interest. One possibility for such engagement is the use of photographs as part of visual evaluation, so that youth can directly engage with the research process. In this Method Note, we describe the development and implementation of a participatory, photo-based evaluation method for youth health promotion/prevention programs. Youth in this study were participant…
Changes in Pre-Service Teacher Personal and Professional Attitudes Following a Comprehensive School Health Course
Comprehensive school health (CSH) is a framework that can support teachers in the delivery of health-related content as well as supporting health promotion within the school community. In this study, 222 Bachelor of Education students completed surveys at the beginning and end of a mandatory six-week course on CSH with a body weight-neutral focus. Following the course, participants had significantly positively increased attitudes toward CSH, self…
Embedding equity into school mental health theory
In this article, we present an introduction to the second part of a two‐part special series focused on embedding equity into school mental health. In the previous part, we focused on measurement and practice, and in this second part, we focus on theory
Friendship quality and ethnocultural boys
Tier 1 school mental health programs for middle school youth often focus on healthy relationships promotion. However, the vast majority of these programs take a gender‐ and race‐neutral approach (i.e., content that does not focus on the way that gender, race, and ethnicity intersect to shape relationships and mental health). Embedding these intersections into Tier 1 programs is critical to equitably advancing mental health for middle school youth…
Embedding equity into school mental health theory, research, and practice
In this article, we present an introduction and overview for a two‐part special issue series focused on embedding equity into school mental health through theory, research, and practice. The papers in Part 1 of the special issue series cover critical topics for advancing equitable school mental health, including the centering of community and youth perspectives; a focus on reducing disproportionality in discipline practices; and details on equity…
Exploring risk and protective factors for adolescent dating violence across the social-ecological model
Despite best practice suggesting that ADV prevention strategies should be comprehensive and directed at multiple levels of an individual's social ecology, this systematic scoping review of reviews revealed that very little is known about risk factors beyond the individual and relationship level of the social-ecological model. Further, past research appears steeped in a risk-focused paradigm, given the limited focus on protective factors. Research…
Elementary School Teachers’ Self-Assessment of Use of Positive Behavior Support Strategies and Goal Setting Related to Equity-Focused Features
The goal of the Maximize Program is to collaborate with educators to develop resources and procedures to facilitate teachers’ use of equity-focused behavioral supports. In this study, we describe teachers’ responses to the first iteration of the interactive Maximize Technology Platform. Ninety elementary school teachers from three schools were encouraged to use the platform to learn about the foundational concept of equity literacy, complete a se…
Secondary and Tertiary Prevention for Adolescent Dating Violence
Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a pervasive public health issue associated with numerous social, psychological, and physical health consequences. Thus, programs are often implemented to prevent ADV and promote healthy relationships. Although there is a growing body of literature on primary ADV prevention strategies (i.e., prevention), little is known about secondary (e.g., early intervention) and tertiary (e.g., manage and reduce impact once …
Homophobic beliefs and attitudes among mid-adolescent boys
We hypothesized that if the ideas of hybrid masculinities held in our sample, we would find that overt homophobic attitudes and adherence to related patriarchal norms (e.g., avoidance of femininity) would decline over this period, but that the use of homophobic name-calling would remain differentiated in terms of to whom it was directed (e.g., a friend, someone they thought was gay). We did find a significant decline in homophobic attitudes and n…
Affinity and allyship groups to advance inclusion in postsecondary institutions
Identifying Pathways to the Incel Community and Where to Intervene
The term “Incel” refers to a group of boys and/or men who feel that they have been unjustly denied relationships and sex with women due to an unfair social system, and some Incels have committed violence based on these beliefs. More broadly, self-identified Incels face social and mental health issues and can hold negative beliefs about women and other marginalized genders, which may lead them to harm both themselves and others. In this research, …
Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention in Healthcare Settings
Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is associated with short- and long-term physical and psychological adverse health outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to implement prevention strategies to address ADV in settings that serve adolescents. One natural point of contact is healthcare settings, as adolescents may present to these settings due to general health concerns and concerns related to ADV exposure. However, little is known about the state of the…
Using social network analysis to identify peer coaches in the real world of elementary schools
Coaching can increase elementary school teachers’ implementation of evidence‐based classroom practices, including equity‐centered or culturally responsive practices. However, coaching by personnel external to schools can be expensive and difficult to sustain. Community science principles and social network research suggest the potential of influential peer leaders in schools to accelerate implementation. In the first phase of a multi‐year project…
Claire Crooks (1973–2024)
Memorializes Claire Crooks (1973-2004), a distinguished clinical child psychologist who dedicated her life's work to advancing the well-being of children and youth through the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions. Claire's well-known work on healthy youth relationships promotion began as a postdoctoral fellow, continuing as a research scientist, and then associate director, at the Centre for Addiction and Me…
Risk of Dating Violence Among Sexually Minoritized Relative to Heterosexual Young People in School- and Community-Based Samples
Dating violence (DV) among adolescents and young adults is a prevalent public health concern. Research to date has largely focused on heterosexual young people, resulting in the marginalization of the experiences of sexually minoritized young people. We thus sought to assess sexually minoritized young people’s risk of experiencing past-year physical, sexual, and psychological DV victimization, both as a group and relative to their heterosexual pe…
Psychology (21 works) · Medicine (13 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Developmental psychology (11 works) · Political science (10 works) · Sociology (10 works) · Mental health (8 works) · Psychiatry (8 works) · Clinical Psychology (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works)