Alejandra Fernandez, M.S., Ph.D. - Faculty Profile - UT Southwestern
Biography
Download Curriculum Vitae
Alejandra Fernandez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Peter O' Donnell School of Public Health. Dr. Fernandez completed her undergraduate and master's program at Texas A&M University and her doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin. She then went on to complete a post-doctoral position at the University of Miami funded through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIDA Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research. Her post-doctoral work primarily focused the measurement of family functioning as a means of identifying adolescents' risk substance use and adverse sexual health outcomes.
Currently, Dr. Fernandez is funded through a NIH NHLBI Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01) that address the high prevalence of obesity among Hispanic youth by examining multi-level factors that increase obesity risk behaviors using ecological momentary assessment methodology. The study has two main aims: 1) Conduct secondary data analysis using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study to examine direct and moderating effects on the longitudinal trajectories of obesity risk behaviors and status; and 2) Pilot and implement an ecological momentary assessment protocol to assess the role of momentary changes in family functioning on physical activity, sleep, and nutrition among Hispanic adolescents.
Education
Graduate School
(2017)
Research Interest
Adolescent health
Family-based interventions
Obesity-risk behaviors
Substance use behaviors
Publications
Featured Publications
Familias con Orgullo: Pilot Study of a Family Intervention for Latinx Sexual Minority Youth to Prevent Drug Use, Sexual Risk Behavior, and Depressive Symptoms.
Estrada Y, Lozano A, Tapia MI, Fernández A, Harkness A, Scott D, Lee TK, Rahman A, Prado G,
Prev Sci
2024 Sep
Sexual Orientation and Adolescent Health Outcomes: A Latent Profile Approach.
Fernandez A, Ochoa LG, Lozano A, Lee TK, Estrada Y, Tapia M, Crespo SDL, Prado G,
Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers
2024 Sep 11 3 508-516
Refining Multilevel Barrier and Facilitator Measures for HIV Testing and PrEP Among Latino Sexual Minority Men.
Lozano A, Weinstein ER, Fernandez A, Bainter S, Atuluru P, Hurtado A, Morales V, Prado G, Safren SA, Harkness A,
Am J Health Promot
2024 Jan 38 1 19-39
Correction to: Acculturative Stress and Self-rated Health Among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of the Social Environment and Social Support.
Taskin T, Torres L, Roncancio AM, Valente MJ, Fernandez A, Rahman A, Nehme L, Okeke D, Lozano A, Ruiz E, West AE, Cano MÁ,
J Immigr Minor Health
2023 Dec 25 6 1392
Sociocultural influences on alcohol expectancies in early adolescence: Findings from the ABCD study.
Sanchez M, Gonzalez MR, Fernandez A, Barton A, Diaz V, Wang W,
Health Psychol
2023 Dec 42 12 842-855
Acculturative Stress and Self-rated Health among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of the Social Environment and Social Support.
Taskin T, Torres L, Roncancio AM, Valente MJ, Fernandez A, Rahman A, Nehme L, Okeke D, Lozano A, Ruiz E, West AE, Cano MÁ,
J Immigr Minor Health
2023 Dec 25 6 1382-1391
Does Binge-Watching eHealth Intervention Content Impact Outcomes?
Lozano A, Fernandez A, Rhodes CA, Estrada Y, Graefe B, Tapia MI, Prado G,
J Adolesc Health
2023 Oct 73 4 664-671
Screening for Adolescent Risk Behaviors: Preliminary Evidence for a Family Functioning Tool.
Fernandez A, Lozano A, Lee TK, Prado G,
Int J Behav Med
2023 Aug
Measurement Invariance of Family Functioning Among Latina/o/x Sexual Minority Youth and Heterosexual Latina/o/x Youth.
Lozano A, Ocasio MA, Boga DJ, Fernandez A, Hodge S, Estrada Y, Cano MÁ, Prado G,
LGBTQ Fam
2023 19 5 367-381
The Intergenerational Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Hispanic Families: The Mediational Roles of Parental Depression and Parent-Adolescent Communication.
Ochoa LG, Fernandez A, Lee TK, Estrada Y, Prado G,
Fam Process
2022 Mar 61 1 422-435
Professional Associations/Affiliations
Texas A&M University (2005-2010)
Texas A&M University (2010-2012)
University of Miami (2019-2021)
University of Texas at Austin (2012-2017)