Joan S Tucker
Biographic Data
| ID | 91855 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Joan S Tucker |
| GIVEN NAMES | Joan S |
| FAMILY NAME | Tucker |
| SIGNATURE | TUCKER J S |
| AFFILIATIONS | RAND Corporation |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5024-0887 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 83 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 329 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 83 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1972 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 12 |
Investigating Change in Psychosocial Outcomes for Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles With and Without Pregnancy Experiences
Context Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) have higher rates of pregnancy than stably housed young adults. Pregnant and parenting YAEH face several challenges, but little is known about outcome change over time. Methods 276 YAEH (aged 18–25, 28% female sex at birth) receiving services at drop‐in centers in Los Angeles, California, participated in an intervention study to address substance use and sexual health. At each survey, particip…
Health-related social control among U.S. adults ages 30–80: Associations with alcohol use over four years
Associations between service use and behavioral health trajectories among young adults experiencing homelessness
Perceptions from emerging adults with a history of homelessness on their experiences with housing, health and other support services
Adolescent Cannabis Misuse Scale: Longitudinal Associations with Substance Use, Mental Health, and Social Determinants of Health in Early Adulthood
BACKGROUND: Some patterns of cannabis use may presage risk for long-term negative effects. We examined associations between a novel adolescent cannabis misuse scale and early-adult life course outcomes. METHODS: We performed a secondary data analysis of a cohort of Los Angeles, CA high school students from grade 9 through age 21. Participants reported baseline individual demographic and family characteristics at grade 9, adolescent cannabis misus…
Alcohol and Cannabis Use Within Emerging Adults’ Committed Romantic Relationships: Associations With Relationship Functioning and Quality of Life
This study examines alcohol and cannabis use within emerging adults' committed romantic relationships and its association with relationship functioning (satisfaction, stability) and well-being (life satisfaction, anxiety, depression). Participants completed surveys in 2020 and 2021 (N=1,214). Latent profile analysis identified four classes of couples' substance use patterns: concordant (similar) infrequent use (81.9% of sample), near-daily partne…
Secondary Outcomes of a Brief Group Alcohol and Risky Sex Intervention for Emerging Adults Experiencing Homelessness
AWARE is a four-session group-based motivational enhancement intervention designed to reduce substance use and sexual risk behavior among emerging adults experiencing homelessness. Expanding on promising intervention effects on substance use and risky sex outcomes, this study explored intervention effects on changes in secondary outcomes from baseline to 12-month post-intervention: depression, physical health (general health ratings, physical sym…
Sociodemographic and Behavioral Risk Correlates of PrEP Interest and Use Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles
Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) are at elevated risk for HIV compared to their stably housed peers. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV infection, yet YAEH have been largely overlooked in PrEP efforts to date despite YAEH reporting high overall interest in PrEP. We assessed individual, social, and structural variables associated with PrEP interest and use among a sample of 195 YAEH (ages 18-25) recru…
The Association between Housing Stability and Perceived Quality of Life among Emerging Adults with a History of Homelessness
Many cities across the United States are experiencing homelessness at crisis levels, including rises in the number of unhoused emerging adults (18–25). Emerging adults experiencing homelessness may be at higher risk of experiencing negative outcomes, given that being unhoused increases risk for a variety of behaviors. To better understand the current living circumstances of emerging adults with a history of homelessness, as well as their percepti…
How Do College Students Use Their Free Time? A Latent Profile Analysis of Leisure Activities and Substance Use
College is a critical period of transition to independence and the substantial amount of time that students have to participate in leisure activities may be conducive to substance use. However, little is known about the associations between leisure activities and substance use over time, or whether these associations differ by residential status (i.e., living with parents vs. on their own). Using latent profile analysis, this study found six dist…
Alcohol and Cannabis Use Trajectories and Outcomes in a Sample of Hispanic, White, and Asian Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults
Substance use disproportionately affects health and psychosocial outcomes for some racial/ethnic groups, but few longitudinal studies examine the extent to which sexual and gender minority (SGM) emerging adults of different racial/ethnic groups may experience disparities in outcomes at similar levels of alcohol or cannabis use. This study used five waves of annual survey data (spanning 2015 (average age 18) to 2020 (average age 23)) from an ongoi…
Neighborhood social environment change in late adolescence predicts substance use in emerging adulthood
Cross-Lagged Associations of Insecure Attachment Style, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Behavior During Emerging Adulthood
Patterns of Substance Use and Associations with Mental, Physical, and Social Functioning: A Latent Class Analysis of a National Sample of U.S. Adults Ages 30–80
Objective: Trends show increased substance use among adults, yet little research on general population samples has examined differential patterns of licit and illicit substance use that can inform prevention and treatment efforts. This study identifies distinct patterns (classes) of substance use among 30- to 80-year olds, identifies demographic subgroups with the highest probability of class memberships, and compares classes on key indicators of…
Associations of social capital with binge drinking in a national sample of adults: The importance of neighborhoods and networks
Effects of homophobic name‐calling and verbal sexual harassment on substance use among young adults
Verbal aggression victimization, such as homophobic name‐calling, has been linked to heavier substance use among young people, but little longitudinal research has examined how different types of victimization may affect substance use or whether certain psychosocial factors moderate these risks. In a diverse cohort ( N = 2,663), latent transition analysis was used to model heterogeneity in victimization (age 19) and substance use (age 20). Four v…
Changes in Adult Alcohol Use and Consequences During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the US
This survey study examines individual-level changes in alcohol use in US adults and associated negative consequences, from before to during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sources of cannabis among young adults and associations with cannabis-related outcomes
Long-term Associations Between Substance Use-Related Media Exposure, Descriptive Norms, and Alcohol Use from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Health, Homelessness Severity, and Substance Use among Sexual Minority Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Comparison of Bisexual Versus Gay and Lesbian Youth
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) youth are overrepresented among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH), and health disparities among LGBQ youth are well-documented. LGBQ youth are typically aggregated as a single sexual minority group; however, research suggests that bisexual youth may have greater mental health, substance use, and physical health risks relative to their gay and lesbian peers. In a probability sample of LGBQ YEH in …
A qualitative study of smoking cessation experiences and perceptions among homeless young adults
Up to 70% of homeless youth smoke, but there is little information available on their smoking cessation experiences and perceptions to guide cessation intervention efforts. This study examined reasons for quitting smoking, previous experiences quitting smoking, and preferences for smoking cessation programs among homeless young adults. Four focus groups (N = 27) were conducted in centers serving homeless 18–25 year olds in Los Angeles. Sessions w…
Factors associated with drop-in center utilization among unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness
The Co-evolution of Bullying Perpetration, Homophobic Teasing, and a School Friendship Network
Associations of Alcohol and Marijuana Use With Condom Use Among Young Adults: The Moderating Role of Partner Type
This study used multiple levels of analysis to examine associations of alcohol and marijuana (AM) use with condom use, including the moderating role of partner type, in a general sample of 754 sexually active young adults (mean age = 18.6, SD = 0.63; 77% non-White). Multivariable models examined associations over the past 30 days (global) and at the most recent sexual event (event specific). Over the past 30 days, participants who had a recent ca…
Recruitment and Retention of Homeless Youth in a Substance Use and HIV-risk Reduction Program
Conducting intervention studies with homeless populations can be difficult, particularly in terms of retaining participants across multiple sessions and locating them for subsequent follow-up assessments. Homeless youth are even more challenging to engage due to substance use, mental health problems, wariness of authority figures, and frequent relocations. This article describes methods used to successfully recruit a sample of 200 homeless youth …
Does childhood personality predict longevity
Key models relating personality and health predict that personality in childhood is indicative of later health and longevity. Longevity predictions are tested using data derived from the 7-decade longitudinal study initiated by L. M. Terman 1921 (L. M. Terman & M. H. Oden, 1947). Variables representing major dimensions of personality are used in statistical survival analyses of longevity in 1,178 males and females. Conscientiousness in childhood …
Childhood conscientiousness and longevity: Health behaviors and cause of death
Selection and Influence Mechanisms Associated With Marijuana Initiation and Use in Adolescent Friendship Networks
Friends are thought to influence adolescent drug use. However, few studies have examined the role of drugs in friendship selection, which is necessary to draw sound conclusions about influence. This study applied statistical models for social networks to test the contribution of selection and influence to associations in marijuana use among friends in two large high schools ( N = 1,612; M age = 16.4). There was evidence for friend selection based…
Sampling to Reduce Respondent Burden in Personal Network Studies and Its Effect on Estimates of Structural Measures
Recently, researchers have been increasingly interested in collecting personal network data. Collecting this type of data is particularly burdensome on the respondents, who need to elicit the names of alters, answer questions about each alter (network composition), and evaluate the strength of possible relationships among the named alters (network structure). In line with the research of McCarty et al., the authors propose reducing respondent bur…
Running Away From Home: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Risk Factors and Young Adult Outcomes
Who Is Supporting Homeless Youth? Predictors of Support in Personal Networks
Homeless youth lack the traditional support networks of their housed peers, which increases their risk for poor health outcomes. Using a multilevel dyadic analytic approach, this study identified characteristics of social contacts, relationships, and social networks associated with the provision of tangible and emotional support to homeless youth (N = 419, M age = 20.09, SD = 2.80). Support providers were likely to be family members, sex-partners…
From Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Smoking
Objectives. We used data gathered from 6259 youths between the ages of 13 and 23 years to compare trends in smoking among 4 racial/ethnic groups. Methods. We weighted trend data to represent baseline respondent characteristics and evaluated these data with linear contrasts derived from multiple regression analyses. Results. Although African Americans exhibited higher initiation rates than Whites, they exhibited consistently lower rates of regular…
Social Networks of Homeless Youth in Emerging Adulthood
Understanding Pregnancy‐Related Attitudes and Behaviors: A Mixed‐Methods Study of Homeless Youth
Effective and accessible pregnancy prevention and family planning programs for homeless youth are needed. Youths' ambivalence toward pregnancy and feelings of relationship commitment warrant attention as possible areas for programs to address
Increased Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Migratory Homeless Youth: Exploring the Role of Social Network Composition
When, Where, Why and with Whom Homeless Women Engage in Risky Sexual Behaviors: A Framework for Understanding Complex and Varied Decision-Making Processes
Parental divorce: Effects on individual behavior and longevity
Using an archival prospective design, the authors studied associations among parental divorce occurring during participants' childhood, adult psychosocial mediators, and mortality over the life span of a subgroup of participants (N = 1,261) in the Terman Life Cycle Study (1921-1991). Children from divorced families grew up to show a higher risk of premature mortality across the life span. The higher mortality risk for men was explained, in part, …
To educate or to incarcerate: Factors in disproportionality in school discipline
Social networks, time homeless, and social support: A study of men on Skid Row
Homeless men are frequently unsheltered and isolated, disconnected from supportive organizations and individuals. However, little research has investigated these men's social networks. We investigate the structure and composition of homeless men's social networks, vis-a-vis short- and long-term homelessness with a sample of men drawn randomly from meal lines on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Men continuously homeless for the past six months display net…
Intrapersonal Characteristics and the Timing of Divorce: A Prospective Investigation
Data from two longitudinal studies (Normative Aging Study and Terman Life Cycle Study) were used to investigate the intrapersonal predictors of earlier and later divorce. Initially married individuals were classified as having not divorced, divorced before 20 years of marriage, or divorced after 20 or more years of marriage. Individuals rated as more disagreeable (angry, vain/egotistical, lacking sympathy/tenderness) and more impulsive (lacking c…
Monogamy on the Street: A Mixed Methods Study of Homeless Men
In this study, we used a mixed methods approach to explore the determinants of relationship patterns and risky sex among homeless men living in downtown Los Angeles. This involved analysis of qualitative interviews focused on gender ideology and sexual events ( n = 30) as well as structured interviews ( n = 305) focused on homeless men’s sexual partners, sexual behaviors, and social networks. We found that men valued committed relationships but w…
Stability of Physical Activity across the Lifespan
Physical activity is associated with various health-relevant psychosocial and physiological processes, but activity stability across extended time periods is inadequately understood. This lifespan longitudinal cohort study examined activity levels of 723 males and 554 females. Associations across time were computed and structural equation modeling compared a one factor model and a simplex model. Results showed activity levels are somewhat stable …
Recruitment and Retention of Homeless Youth in a Substance Use and HIV-risk Reduction Program
Conducting intervention studies with homeless populations can be difficult, particularly in terms of retaining participants across multiple sessions and locating them for subsequent follow-up assessments. Homeless youth are even more challenging to engage due to substance use, mental health problems, wariness of authority figures, and frequent relocations. This article describes methods used to successfully recruit a sample of 200 homeless youth …
Masculinity and HIV risk among homeless men in Los Angeles
HIV continues to be a serious public health problem for men who have sex with women (MSW), especially homeless MSW. Although consideration of gender has improved HIV prevention interventions, most of the research and intervention development has targeted how women's HIV risk is affected by gender roles. The effect of gender roles on MSW has received relatively little attention. Previous studies have shown mixed results when investigating the asso…
Nonexperts’ Recognition of Structure in Personal Network Data
Network-based interventions are gaining prominence in the treatment of chronic illnesses; however, little is known about what aspects of network structure are easily identified by nonexperts when shown network visualizations. This study examines which structural features are recognizable by nonexperts. Nineteen nonexperts were asked to pile sort 68 network diagrams. Results were analyzed using multidimensional scaling, discriminant analysis, clus…
Examination of neighborhood disadvantage and sleep in a multi-ethnic cohort of adolescents
Experiencing Interpersonal Violence: Perspectives of Sexually Active, Substance-Using Women Living in Shelters and Low-Income Housing
As part of a larger study, the authors investigated experiences of recent violence among sexually active, substance-using women. Structured interviews were conducted with 172 women living in shelters and low-income housing, 41 of whom also completed an in-depth interview on their worst violent episode. Structured interviews indicated that rape and self-blame were more common among sheltered women. In-depth interviews suggested that sheltered wome…
Social Control of Health Behaviors: A Comparison of Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults
Social control can positively influence health behaviors, but changes in social networks over time may cause older adults to experience less health-related social control. The size and composition of social control networks, and receipt of health-related social control, were examined in a probability sample of 509 household residents (aged 25-80 years) in Los Angeles County who completed a telephone survey. Compared with younger and middle-aged a…
Long-term Associations Between Substance Use-Related Media Exposure, Descriptive Norms, and Alcohol Use from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Befriending Risky Peers: Factors Driving Adolescents’ Selection of Friends with Similar Marijuana Use
Differential Effects of Streaming on Primary School Attainment
S ummary . Studies of streaming policy typically show small differences in average attainment between different school regimes. Data are presented for 13 mixed‐sex junior schools which show different effects of school regime on boys’ and girls’ attainment in relation to intelligence. Individual differences in Reading and Comprehension are more strongly related to differences in intelligence among boys in streamed schools and among girls in non‐st…
Does childhood personality predict longevity
Key models relating personality and health predict that personality in childhood is indicative of later health and longevity. Longevity predictions are tested using data derived from the 7-decade longitudinal study initiated by L. M. Terman 1921 (L. M. Terman & M. H. Oden, 1947). Variables representing major dimensions of personality are used in statistical survival analyses of longevity in 1,178 males and females. Conscientiousness in childhood …
Psychosocial and behavioral predictors of longevity: The aging and death of the "Termites."
Impulsive, undercontrolled personalities and major family stresses are known predictors of impaired adjustment, but long-term health effects are unclear. In an archival prospective cohort design, we followed up on L. M. Terman's (Terman & Oden, 1947) sample of gifted children by collecting and coding death certificates for the half of the sample that is now dead. Statistical survival analyses were used to predict longevity and cause of death as a…
Psychosocial and behavioral predictors of longevity: The aging and death of the "Termites."
Childhood conscientiousness and longevity: Health behaviors and cause of death
Gender Differences and Sexism in the Knowledge and Use of Slang
Parental divorce: Effects on individual behavior and longevity
Using an archival prospective design, the authors studied associations among parental divorce occurring during participants' childhood, adult psychosocial mediators, and mortality over the life span of a subgroup of participants (N = 1,261) in the Terman Life Cycle Study (1921-1991). Children from divorced families grew up to show a higher risk of premature mortality across the life span. The higher mortality risk for men was explained, in part, …
Intrapersonal Characteristics and the Timing of Divorce: A Prospective Investigation
Data from two longitudinal studies (Normative Aging Study and Terman Life Cycle Study) were used to investigate the intrapersonal predictors of earlier and later divorce. Initially married individuals were classified as having not divorced, divorced before 20 years of marriage, or divorced after 20 or more years of marriage. Individuals rated as more disagreeable (angry, vain/egotistical, lacking sympathy/tenderness) and more impulsive (lacking c…
Adult attachment style, interpersonal communication competence, and social support
Individuals with a more secure attachment style report having larger and more satisfying social support networks Individuals with a more anxious or a more avoidant attachment style, by contrast, report having smaller and less satisfying support networks The present study examined the role of interpersonal communication competence (ICC) as a possible mediator of the association between attachment and social support in a sample of college undergrad…
Substance use and mental health correlates of nonadherence to antiretroviral medications in a sample of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection
Ten-Year Prospective Study of Public Health Problems Associated With Early Drinking
Objective. To compare early nondrinkers, experimenters, and drinkers on the prevalence of problem behaviors at grades 7 and 12 and at age 23 (N = 6338, 4265, and 3369, respectively). Methods. Results are based on longitudinal self-report data from individuals who were originally recruited from 30 California and Oregon schools at grade 7 (1985) and assessed again at grade 12 (1990) and at age 23 (1995). Logistic regression was used to develop weig…
HIV Risk Behaviors and Their Correlates Among HIV-Positive Adults with Serious Mental Illness
Personal and psychosocial characteristics associated with psychiatric conditions among women with human immunodeficiency virus
Interpersonal Violence, Substance Use, and HIV-Related Behavior and Cognitions: A Prospective Study of Impoverished Women in Los Angeles County
Physical violence against impoverished women: A longitudinal analysis of risk and protective factors
Social Control of Health Behaviors: A Comparison of Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults
Social control can positively influence health behaviors, but changes in social networks over time may cause older adults to experience less health-related social control. The size and composition of social control networks, and receipt of health-related social control, were examined in a probability sample of 509 household residents (aged 25-80 years) in Los Angeles County who completed a telephone survey. Compared with younger and middle-aged a…
From Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Smoking
Objectives. We used data gathered from 6259 youths between the ages of 13 and 23 years to compare trends in smoking among 4 racial/ethnic groups. Methods. We weighted trend data to represent baseline respondent characteristics and evaluated these data with linear contrasts derived from multiple regression analyses. Results. Although African Americans exhibited higher initiation rates than Whites, they exhibited consistently lower rates of regular…
Experiencing Interpersonal Violence: Perspectives of Sexually Active, Substance-Using Women Living in Shelters and Low-Income Housing
As part of a larger study, the authors investigated experiences of recent violence among sexually active, substance-using women. Structured interviews were conducted with 172 women living in shelters and low-income housing, 41 of whom also completed an in-depth interview on their worst violent episode. Structured interviews indicated that rape and self-blame were more common among sheltered women. In-depth interviews suggested that sheltered wome…
Longevity following the experience of parental divorce
Sexual Risk among Impoverished Women: Understanding the Role of Housing Status
Cigarette smoking from adolescence to young adulthood: Women’s developmental trajectories and associates outcomes
Predictors of Unprotected Sex with Non-cohabitating Primary Partners among Sheltered and Low-income Housed Women in Los Angeles County
This study investigated associations of substance use, relationship abuse and HIV self-protective behavior with unprotected sex among 290 impoverished women with a non-cohabitating primary partner. Unprotected sex was associated with having a physically or psychologically abusive partner among low-income housed women, and having an abusive partner who also drank to intoxication among women living in shelters. Indicators of HIV self-protective beh…
Understanding Differences in Substance Use Among Bisexual and Heterosexual Young Women
Stability of Physical Activity across the Lifespan
Physical activity is associated with various health-relevant psychosocial and physiological processes, but activity stability across extended time periods is inadequately understood. This lifespan longitudinal cohort study examined activity levels of 723 males and 554 females. Associations across time were computed and structural equation modeling compared a one factor model and a simplex model. Results showed activity levels are somewhat stable …
Homeless Women’s Personal Networks: Implications for Understanding Risk Behavior
The goal of this exploratory study was to examine the composition of homeless women's personal networks in order to better understand the social context of risk behavior in this vulnerable population. Twenty-eight homeless women residing in temporary shelters in Los Angeles County provided detailed information about their extended personal networks. Women named 25 people with whom they had contact during the past year, and then were asked a serie…
Psychology (79 works) · Medicine (66 works) · Psychiatry (48 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (43 works) · Clinical Psychology (39 works) · Social Psychology (38 works) · Clinical Psychology (35 works) · Developmental psychology (31 works) · Gerontology (31 works) · Social Psychology (31 works)