Lillian Polanco-Roman
Biographic Data
| ID | 925369 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lillian Polanco-Roman |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lillian |
| FAMILY NAME | Polanco-Roman |
| SIGNATURE | POLANCO-ROMAN L |
| AFFILIATIONS | New School |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5669-1192 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 45 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Structural stressors, neurocognition in reward-related decision making and substance use risk in Puerto Rican early adolescents at two sites
Background: Structural stressors (SS) or mutually reinforcing systems that prevent groups of individuals from accessing opportunities and resources, can impact one's health. Indicators of SS include area-level group differences in income, education and exposure to violence. SS are fundamental causes of health disparities and can be indexed by area-level measures. Area-level SS may influence substance use risk in adolescents and future substance u…
Online racial discrimination, racial-ethnic identity beliefs, and racism-based traumatic stress symptoms among racially-ethnically minoritized adolescents
Online racial discrimination (ORD) has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, and this rise is associated with negative mental health outcomes for racially and ethnically minoritized adolescents. As with offline racial discrimination, ORD can contribute to elevated racism-based traumatic stress (RBTS) symptoms in youth. Racial-ethnic identity beliefs can buffer the harmful effects of racial stressors, but their role in mitigating ORD’s im…
Reasons for nondisclosure of suicide ideation or attempts among adolescents from ethnoracially and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds with a recent suicidal episode
BACKGROUND: Adolescent emergency department visits for suicide ideation or attempts are increasing, particularly among youth of color. Many adolescents do not disclose their suicidal thoughts to anyone prior to presentation, and it is unclear why. The present study examined adolescents' reasons for not disclosing their suicide ideation or attempts prior to presenting for clinical care. METHODS: Adolescents, ages 12-19 years, who presented to emer…
Psychological correlates distinguish suicide ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts among young adults
Individuals who formulate suicide plans (SP) may represent a distinct risk group relative to those who experience suicidal ideation (SI) alone or those who make suicide attempts (SA), yet empirical evidence distinguishing these groups remains limited. The present study examined whether combinations of established psychosocial correlates differentiate SI, SP, and SA histories. Participants were 236 U.S.-based young adults who completed measures of…
Online Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Suicidal Ideation, and Alcohol Misuse Among Ethnoracially Minoritized College Students
Over the past decade, mental health problems have disproportionately increased among U.S. ethnoracially minoritized college students, though explanations for this disparity remain understudied. In the present study, we examined the direct and indirect associations between online racial/ethnic discrimination, suicidal ideation (SI), and alcohol misuse. We also investigated whether internalized racism helps explain the association between online ra…
The impact of multidimensional forms of online racism on posttraumatic stress symptoms
These findings are among the first to illustrate the varied experiences of online racism among Black and Latine youth and the first to support that RI beliefs, particularly private regard beliefs, may serve as a protective factor against the adverse effects of online racism on PTSS, particularly for those with lower exposure levels. This has the potential to influence practice and policy interventions aimed at treating and addressing PTSS among B…
Racism-based traumatic stress symptoms and risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Black and Latine adolescents
RBTS symptoms may be relevant in identifying suicide-related risk, particularly suicide attempts, among Black and Latine adolescents. While these findings provide insights into the relationship between RBTS and suicide-related risk, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and the use of a convenience sample may limit generalizability to the broader Black and Latine populations. Tailored interventions that address the nuanced effects o…
The impact of acculturative stress on internalizing problems among racially and ethnically minoritized adolescents and young adults in the U.S
Sexual and gender minority status predicts additional variance in posttraumatic stress disorder after accounting for conventional trauma exposure
Although tentative, these findings suggest that minority stress may be additive to trauma symptomatology in SGM individuals and therefore be an important factor to consider when assessing for and treating PTSD in this population. Future research that directly measures minority stress should be conducted to validate these findings
Toward an understanding of intergenerational trauma and storytelling in Black families
Parents who shared stories of their trauma with their adult children described that doing so had a positive impact on their well-being. Adult children endorsed feeling similarly in some instances. However, they also experienced an internal conflict, feeling connected to yet burdened by these stories. Silence and protection also played a significant role. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Negative and positive urgency as pathways in the intergenerational transmission of suicide risk in childhood
Our findings support an impulsive pathway in the familial transmission of suicide risk. For all youth, interventions that target multiple UPPS-P facets may help prevent or reduce suicide risk. For offspring whose parents have attempted or died by suicide, clinicians should pay particular attention to children who impulsively act on extreme emotions, as they may be at higher suicide risk
Racism-related experiences and substance use
The role of acculturation and acculturation stress in suicidal behaviors among Latina Adolescents
Online racial discrimination scale
The ORD scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing experiences of online racial discrimination in Black and Latinx adolescents. These findings provide further support for the ORD scale's psychometric properties to help advance this line of research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Is racism like other trauma exposures? Examining the unique mental health effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generali…
4.47, 95% CI [1.77, 11.32]). Overall, rPTEs demonstrated stronger associations with PTSD, MDD, and GAD compared to conventional PTEs. Findings align with racial trauma frameworks proposing that racial/ethnic discrimination is a unique traumatic stressor with distinct mental health impacts on ethnoracially minoritized youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Self- and collective care as radical acts
Racism has been declared a public health threat. With increased direct and vicarious exposure to racism-based violence through social media, we explored the associations between racism-based events and traumatic stress symptomatology, as well as self- and collective care (inclusive of coping, activism, and ethnic and racial identity) through a mixed-methods approach. A total of 104 racism-based events were reported across 43 Black and/or Latine/x…
Culturally responsive assessment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth of color
The significance of youth suicide as a public health concern is underscored by the fact that it is the second-leading cause of death for youth globally. While suicide rates for White groups have declined, there has been a precipitous rise in suicide deaths and suicide-related phenomena in Black youth; rates remain high among Native American/Indigenous youth. Despite these alarming trends, there are very few culturally tailored suicide risk assess…
Ethnic identity protects against feelings of defeat and entrapment on suicide ideation in African American young adults
This study suggests that African Americans who frequently engage in customary traditions and organizations with other African Americans may be protected from the harmful effects of feelings of defeat and entrapment on suicide ideation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Racial/ethnic discrimination, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among ethnoracially minoritized college students
2.22) who identified from an ethnoracially minoritized background (34% Asian, 33% Latinx/Hispanic, 23% Black, and 10% as other ethnoracially minoritized group). They were recruited from a minority-serving institution in the Northeast United States, and completed a battery of surveys online. Findings from multiple hierarchical linear regression models and bootstrapping procedures suggest there is a direct association between racial/ethnic discrimi…
Association Between Exposure to Suicidal Behaviors and Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents
Racial/ethnic discrimination as race-based trauma and suicide-related risk in racial/ethnic minority young adults
Objective: Drawing on race-based trauma models, the present study examined common reactions to trauma exposure (i.e., stress sensitivity, dissociative symptoms, depressive symptoms), as potential explanatory factors in the relation between racial/ethnic discrimination and suicide-related risk among racial and ethnic minority young adults. Method: A group of racial and ethnic minority ( N = 747; 61% women; 63% U.S.-born; 34% Asian American) young …
Emotion expressivity, suicidal ideation, and explanatory factors
A focus on Asian Americans as a homogenous group occludes important ethnic differences in the relation between emotion expressivity and vulnerability to suicidal ideation. Ethnic differences in the function of emotion expressivity should be considered in suicide prevention and interventions among Asian American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adults
Racial discrimination as race-based trauma, coping strategies, and dissociative symptoms among emerging adults
Racial- and ethnic-minority emerging adults who experience racial discrimination, possibly as traumatic, may be more vulnerable to dissociative symptoms. However, different strategies of coping with racial discrimination may differentially impact risk for dissociation. (PsycINFO Database Record
Suicidal ideation among racial/ethnic minorities
Among emerging adults and college students, racial and ethnic minorities experience greater risk for suicidal ideation and behavior than their White counterparts. Research has identified numerous cognitive risk factors for suicidal ideation. However, they have not been well studied among racial and ethnic minorities. The present study examined the association between these factors (brooding rumination, reflective rumination, hopelessness, and dep…
Perceived discrimination, ruminative subtypes, and risk for depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood
Perceived discrimination has been found to increase risk for depression in emerging adulthood, but explanatory cognitive mechanisms have not been well studied. We examined whether the brooding and reflective subtypes of rumination would mediate the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among racial/ethnic minority, versus White, emerging adults, and whether a strong ethnic identity would buffer against this effect. Eme…
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adults
Suicidal ideation among racial/ethnic minorities
Among emerging adults and college students, racial and ethnic minorities experience greater risk for suicidal ideation and behavior than their White counterparts. Research has identified numerous cognitive risk factors for suicidal ideation. However, they have not been well studied among racial and ethnic minorities. The present study examined the association between these factors (brooding rumination, reflective rumination, hopelessness, and dep…
Ethnic identity protects against feelings of defeat and entrapment on suicide ideation in African American young adults
This study suggests that African Americans who frequently engage in customary traditions and organizations with other African Americans may be protected from the harmful effects of feelings of defeat and entrapment on suicide ideation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Racial/ethnic discrimination as race-based trauma and suicide-related risk in racial/ethnic minority young adults
Objective: Drawing on race-based trauma models, the present study examined common reactions to trauma exposure (i.e., stress sensitivity, dissociative symptoms, depressive symptoms), as potential explanatory factors in the relation between racial/ethnic discrimination and suicide-related risk among racial and ethnic minority young adults. Method: A group of racial and ethnic minority ( N = 747; 61% women; 63% U.S.-born; 34% Asian American) young …
Culturally responsive assessment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth of color
The significance of youth suicide as a public health concern is underscored by the fact that it is the second-leading cause of death for youth globally. While suicide rates for White groups have declined, there has been a precipitous rise in suicide deaths and suicide-related phenomena in Black youth; rates remain high among Native American/Indigenous youth. Despite these alarming trends, there are very few culturally tailored suicide risk assess…
Perceived discrimination, ruminative subtypes, and risk for depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood
Perceived discrimination has been found to increase risk for depression in emerging adulthood, but explanatory cognitive mechanisms have not been well studied. We examined whether the brooding and reflective subtypes of rumination would mediate the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among racial/ethnic minority, versus White, emerging adults, and whether a strong ethnic identity would buffer against this effect. Eme…
Suicidal ideation among racial/ethnic minorities
Among emerging adults and college students, racial and ethnic minorities experience greater risk for suicidal ideation and behavior than their White counterparts. Research has identified numerous cognitive risk factors for suicidal ideation. However, they have not been well studied among racial and ethnic minorities. The present study examined the association between these factors (brooding rumination, reflective rumination, hopelessness, and dep…
Racial discrimination as race-based trauma, coping strategies, and dissociative symptoms among emerging adults
Racial- and ethnic-minority emerging adults who experience racial discrimination, possibly as traumatic, may be more vulnerable to dissociative symptoms. However, different strategies of coping with racial discrimination may differentially impact risk for dissociation. (PsycINFO Database Record
Emotion expressivity, suicidal ideation, and explanatory factors
A focus on Asian Americans as a homogenous group occludes important ethnic differences in the relation between emotion expressivity and vulnerability to suicidal ideation. Ethnic differences in the function of emotion expressivity should be considered in suicide prevention and interventions among Asian American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adults
Association Between Exposure to Suicidal Behaviors and Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents
Racial/ethnic discrimination as race-based trauma and suicide-related risk in racial/ethnic minority young adults
Objective: Drawing on race-based trauma models, the present study examined common reactions to trauma exposure (i.e., stress sensitivity, dissociative symptoms, depressive symptoms), as potential explanatory factors in the relation between racial/ethnic discrimination and suicide-related risk among racial and ethnic minority young adults. Method: A group of racial and ethnic minority ( N = 747; 61% women; 63% U.S.-born; 34% Asian American) young …
Ethnic identity protects against feelings of defeat and entrapment on suicide ideation in African American young adults
This study suggests that African Americans who frequently engage in customary traditions and organizations with other African Americans may be protected from the harmful effects of feelings of defeat and entrapment on suicide ideation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Racial/ethnic discrimination, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among ethnoracially minoritized college students
2.22) who identified from an ethnoracially minoritized background (34% Asian, 33% Latinx/Hispanic, 23% Black, and 10% as other ethnoracially minoritized group). They were recruited from a minority-serving institution in the Northeast United States, and completed a battery of surveys online. Findings from multiple hierarchical linear regression models and bootstrapping procedures suggest there is a direct association between racial/ethnic discrimi…
Culturally responsive assessment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth of color
The significance of youth suicide as a public health concern is underscored by the fact that it is the second-leading cause of death for youth globally. While suicide rates for White groups have declined, there has been a precipitous rise in suicide deaths and suicide-related phenomena in Black youth; rates remain high among Native American/Indigenous youth. Despite these alarming trends, there are very few culturally tailored suicide risk assess…
The impact of acculturative stress on internalizing problems among racially and ethnically minoritized adolescents and young adults in the U.S
Sexual and gender minority status predicts additional variance in posttraumatic stress disorder after accounting for conventional trauma exposure
Although tentative, these findings suggest that minority stress may be additive to trauma symptomatology in SGM individuals and therefore be an important factor to consider when assessing for and treating PTSD in this population. Future research that directly measures minority stress should be conducted to validate these findings
Toward an understanding of intergenerational trauma and storytelling in Black families
Parents who shared stories of their trauma with their adult children described that doing so had a positive impact on their well-being. Adult children endorsed feeling similarly in some instances. However, they also experienced an internal conflict, feeling connected to yet burdened by these stories. Silence and protection also played a significant role. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Negative and positive urgency as pathways in the intergenerational transmission of suicide risk in childhood
Our findings support an impulsive pathway in the familial transmission of suicide risk. For all youth, interventions that target multiple UPPS-P facets may help prevent or reduce suicide risk. For offspring whose parents have attempted or died by suicide, clinicians should pay particular attention to children who impulsively act on extreme emotions, as they may be at higher suicide risk
Racism-related experiences and substance use
The role of acculturation and acculturation stress in suicidal behaviors among Latina Adolescents
Online racial discrimination scale
The ORD scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing experiences of online racial discrimination in Black and Latinx adolescents. These findings provide further support for the ORD scale's psychometric properties to help advance this line of research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Is racism like other trauma exposures? Examining the unique mental health effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generali…
4.47, 95% CI [1.77, 11.32]). Overall, rPTEs demonstrated stronger associations with PTSD, MDD, and GAD compared to conventional PTEs. Findings align with racial trauma frameworks proposing that racial/ethnic discrimination is a unique traumatic stressor with distinct mental health impacts on ethnoracially minoritized youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Self- and collective care as radical acts
Racism has been declared a public health threat. With increased direct and vicarious exposure to racism-based violence through social media, we explored the associations between racism-based events and traumatic stress symptomatology, as well as self- and collective care (inclusive of coping, activism, and ethnic and racial identity) through a mixed-methods approach. A total of 104 racism-based events were reported across 43 Black and/or Latine/x…
Online Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Suicidal Ideation, and Alcohol Misuse Among Ethnoracially Minoritized College Students
Over the past decade, mental health problems have disproportionately increased among U.S. ethnoracially minoritized college students, though explanations for this disparity remain understudied. In the present study, we examined the direct and indirect associations between online racial/ethnic discrimination, suicidal ideation (SI), and alcohol misuse. We also investigated whether internalized racism helps explain the association between online ra…
The impact of multidimensional forms of online racism on posttraumatic stress symptoms
These findings are among the first to illustrate the varied experiences of online racism among Black and Latine youth and the first to support that RI beliefs, particularly private regard beliefs, may serve as a protective factor against the adverse effects of online racism on PTSS, particularly for those with lower exposure levels. This has the potential to influence practice and policy interventions aimed at treating and addressing PTSS among B…
Racism-based traumatic stress symptoms and risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Black and Latine adolescents
RBTS symptoms may be relevant in identifying suicide-related risk, particularly suicide attempts, among Black and Latine adolescents. While these findings provide insights into the relationship between RBTS and suicide-related risk, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and the use of a convenience sample may limit generalizability to the broader Black and Latine populations. Tailored interventions that address the nuanced effects o…
Structural stressors, neurocognition in reward-related decision making and substance use risk in Puerto Rican early adolescents at two sites
Background: Structural stressors (SS) or mutually reinforcing systems that prevent groups of individuals from accessing opportunities and resources, can impact one's health. Indicators of SS include area-level group differences in income, education and exposure to violence. SS are fundamental causes of health disparities and can be indexed by area-level measures. Area-level SS may influence substance use risk in adolescents and future substance u…
Online racial discrimination, racial-ethnic identity beliefs, and racism-based traumatic stress symptoms among racially-ethnically minoritized adolescents
Online racial discrimination (ORD) has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, and this rise is associated with negative mental health outcomes for racially and ethnically minoritized adolescents. As with offline racial discrimination, ORD can contribute to elevated racism-based traumatic stress (RBTS) symptoms in youth. Racial-ethnic identity beliefs can buffer the harmful effects of racial stressors, but their role in mitigating ORD’s im…
Reasons for nondisclosure of suicide ideation or attempts among adolescents from ethnoracially and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds with a recent suicidal episode
BACKGROUND: Adolescent emergency department visits for suicide ideation or attempts are increasing, particularly among youth of color. Many adolescents do not disclose their suicidal thoughts to anyone prior to presentation, and it is unclear why. The present study examined adolescents' reasons for not disclosing their suicide ideation or attempts prior to presenting for clinical care. METHODS: Adolescents, ages 12-19 years, who presented to emer…
Psychology (20 works) · Clinical Psychology (15 works) · Ethnic group (13 works) · Poison control (13 works) · Psychiatry (13 works) · Suicide prevention (13 works) · Medicine (12 works) · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies (12 works) · Clinical Psychology (11 works) · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research (10 works)