Adam C. Alexander, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He earned a Ph.D. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Memphis School of Public in 2018, and his dissertation titled, “Identifying pathways to postdisaster smoking and alcohol consumption after a natural disaster: Findings from Hurricane Katrina,” was awarded the Morton Dissertation Award by the University of Memphis.
Dr. Alexander is a health disparities researcher with a specialty in tobacco research. His research program is broadly focused on understanding and eliminating tobacco-related health disparities among African Americans and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. He leads an interdisciplinary research agenda that extends from the laboratory directly into the community.
Dr. Alexander is currently focused on developing interventions that promote smoking cessation among African Americans and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, such as adults experiencing homelessness. Dr. Alexander recognizes that African Americans and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations may face more and sometimes unique stressors when trying to quit smoking, which is why his research program also explores the extent to which factors such as discrimination, skin color, life stressors, including childhood trauma, affect smoking cessation outcomes.
Dr. Alexander's research sometimes extends beyond tobacco to address other health behaviors contributing to health disparities, such as physical activity and sedentary behavior. He also explores how stress and trauma influence mental health and other forms of substance use, such as methamphetamine, marijuana, and alcohol.
Academic Section(s):
OUFMC Research Division
Education:
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, Ph.D., 2018 Social and Behavioral Sciences
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, MS, 2016 General Psychology
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, BA, 2012 Psychology
Fellowship:
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 09/2018 − 07/2020
Clinical/Research Interests:
- Tobacco-related health disparities among African Americans
- The impact of trauma and stress on physical and mental health, and health behavior
- Moderation and mediation analyses
- Structural equation modeling
- Mixed-methods research
Funding:
1 K01 MD015295-01A1 Role: Principal Investigator 05/08/2021 – 01/31/2026
HealthyCells: A Culturally-Tailored Smoking Cessation Smartphone Intervention for African Americans with Adjunctive Treatment for Sedentary Behavior
Sponsor: National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities
Role: Principal Investigator 11/20/2020 – 6/30/2021
Project Trinity (Health, Hope, and Healing): The Oklahoman African American Health Cohort Study
Sponsor: TSET Health Promotion Research Center
R01CA237331 Role: Co-Investigator 04/01/2021 – 03/31/2026
Automated Mobile Contingency Management for Smoking Cessation among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Adults
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute
P30CA225520 Role: Co-Investigator 05/01/2021 – 04/30/2022
A pilot randomized controlled trial to determine feasibility and potential efficacy of COLO-CARE
Sponsor: Stephenson Cancer Center
Select Publications:
Santiago-Torres, M., Kwon, D. M., Mull, K. E., Sullivan, B. M., Ahluwalia, J. S., Alexander, A. C., et al. (2023). Efficacy of Web-Delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Helping Black Adults Quit Smoking. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10(6), 2816-2825.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36414931
Alexander, A. C., Waring, J. J. C., Noble, B., Bradley, D., Olurotimi, O., Fronheiser, J., et al. (2023). Perceptions of Mental Health and Exploring the Role of Social Activism Among African Americans Exposed to Media Coverage of Police Brutality and Protests. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10(3), 1403-1413.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35595915
MacCuaig, W. M., Thomas, A., Claros-Sorto, J. C., Gomez-Gutierrez, J. G., Alexander, A. C., Wellberg, E. A., et al. (2022). Differential expression of microRNA between triple negative breast cancer patients of African American and European American descent. Biotechnic & Histochemistry, 97(1), 1-10.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34979848
Rangu, N., Frank-Pearce, S. G., Alexander, A. C., Hebert, E. T., Ra, C., Kendzor, D. E., et al. (2022). Non-adherence to psychiatric medication in adults experiencing homelessness is associated with incurred concussions. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 958169.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35966999
Boozary, L. K., Frank-Pearce, S. G., Alexander, A. C., Waring, J. J. C., Ehlke, S. J., Businelle, M. S., Cohn, A. M., & Kendzor, D. E. (2021). Correlates of ECigarette Use among Adults Initiating Smoking Cessation Treatment. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 108724.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108724
Carter, A. L. & Alexander, A. C. (2021). 'It’s a Whole Different Atmosphere': A Qualitative Examination of Social Support as a Facilitator of Exercise During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Health Promotion Practice, 22(5), 622-630.
https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211013005
Alexander, A. C., Waring, J. J. C., Hébert, E. T., Ra, C. K., Rangu, N., Kendzor, D. E., & Businelle, M. S. (2021). Identifying mechanisms that link pain to smoking relapse during a quit attempt. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 35(1), 52–61.
https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000595
Hernandez, D. C., Daundasekara, S. S., Zvolensky, M. J., Reitzel, L. R., Santa Maria, D., Alexander, A. C., Kendzor, D. E., & Businelle, M. S. (2020). Urban stress indirectly influences psychological symptoms through its association with distress tolerance and perceived social support among adults experiencing homelessness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 5301.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155301
Ahuja, N., Schmidt, M., Dillon, P. J., Alexander, A. C., & Kedia, S. (2020). Online Narratives of Methamphetamine Use and Risky Sexual Behavior: Can Shame-Free Guilt Aid in Recovery? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(1), 323-332.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508020-01777-w
Kendzor, D. E., Businelle, M. S., Waring, J. J. C., Mathews, A., Geller, D. W., Barton, J. M., Alexander, A. C., et al. (2020). Automated Mobile Delivery of Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Adults: A Feasibility Study. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 8(4), e15960.
https://doi.org/10.2196/15960
Alexander, A. C., Olurotimi, O.*, Hébert, E. T., Ra, C. K., Businelle, M. S., & Kendzor, D. E. (2020). Subjective social status is indirectly associated with short-term smoking cessation through nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Journal of Health Psychology, 26(12), 2320-2329.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320911432
Hébert, E. T., Ra, C. K., Alexander, A. C., Helt, A., Moisiuc, R., Kendzor, D. E., et al. (2020). A Mobile Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Smoking Cessation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(3), e16907.
https://doi.org/10.2196/16907
Carter, A. L., & Alexander, A. C. (2020). Soul Food : [Re] framing the African-American Farming Crisis Using the Culture-Centered Approach. Frontiers in Communication, 5: 5.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00005
Allen, A. M., Jung, A. M., Alexander, A. C., Allen, S. S., Ward, K. D., & Al’Absi, M. (2020). Cannabis Use and Stressful Life Events during the Perinatal Period: Cross‐sectional Results from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Data, 2016. Addiction, 115(9), 1707-1716.
https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15003
Carter, A. L., & Alexander, A. C. (2019). A Qualitative Exploration of Women’s Experiences Who Belong to a “Fitness Community.” American Journal of Health Education, 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2019.1687365
Alexander, A. C., Nollen, N. L., Ahluwalia, J. S., Hébert, E. T., Businelle, M. S., & Kendzor, D. E. (2019). Darker skin color is associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation among males but not females. Social Science & Medicine, 240, 112562.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112562
Waring, J. J. C.*, Hébert, E. T., Alexander, A. C., Kendzor, D. E., & Businelle, M. S. (2020). Evaluating the influences of social support and smoking cues on daily smoking abstinence among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults. Addictive Behaviors, 100, 106107.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106107
Alexander, A. C., Hébert, E. T., Businelle, M. S., & Kendzor, D. E. (2019). Greater perceived importance of earning abstinence-contingent incentives is associated with smoking cessation among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults. Addictive Behaviors, 95, 202–205.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.04.001
Alexander, A. C., Hébert, E. T., Businelle, M. S., & Kendzor, D. E. (2019). Everyday discrimination indirectly influences smoking cessation through post-quit self-efficacy. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 198, 63–69.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.033
Links to Published Work:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/adam.alexander.1/bibliography/57873734/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adam_Alexander