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Family and Preventive Medicine

Adam C. Alexander, PhD

Assistant Professor


Health Promotion Research Center
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
655 Research Parkway, Suite 400
Oklahoma City, OK  73104

(405) 271-6872

Adam-Alexander@ouhsc.edu


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