My program of research focuses on contextual aspects of neighborhoods—such as exposure to community violence and sexual harassment— and their influence on adolescents’ psychological and academic functioning. I use a resilience framework and strengths-based perspective to identify individual-, family-, neighborhood-, and cultural-level protective factors that can buffer youth from negative outcomes. My work focuses on Latino/a/x youth and their parents both in the U.S. and in Mexico, and increasingly, in the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. To study adolescent development, I use diverse methodological approaches, including cross-sectional and longitudinal statistical analyses, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches.
Publications
*Indicates student mentee
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Kia-Keating, M., Santacrose, D., Adams, J., Harms, M., Taghavi, I., Liu, S., & Mora, A. (2024). Equitable prevention science and participatory co-design of the HEROES strength-based programs. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770241246672
Mora, A. S., Gutiérrez, L. M., & Ceballo, R. (2024). The role of parent-adolescent communication among youth exposed to neighborhood violence in rural Mexico. Families in Society, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231222942
Krings, A., Mora, A. S., *Bechara, S., Sánchez, C., Gutiérrez, L. M., Hawkins, J., & Austic, E. (in press). How early social work faculty experienced support in their doctoral programs. Journal of Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2023.2279789
Mora, A. S., *LoDuca, K. M., & Ceballo, R. (2023). Adolescents in the community: Extracurricular activities and sexual harassment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52, 1788–1798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01812-8
Mora, A. S., Muñoz-Velázquez, J., Alers-Rojas, F., Ceballo, R., & Cranford, J. (2023). Understanding Latino adolescents’ experiences with discrimination: An intersectional approach. Journal of Latinx Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000234
Mora, A. S., *Greer, C. D., *Hunter, J., & Gutierrez, L. (2022). Social work faculty attitudes towards diversity and oppression content in the MSW curricula. Social Work Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2022.2130233
Ceballo, R., Alers-Rojas, F., Mora, A. S., & Cranford, J. A. (2022). Exposure to community violence: Toward a more expansive definition and approach to research. Child Development Perspectives, 16(2), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12448
Mora, A. S., Ceballo, R., & Cranford, J. (2022). Latino/a adolescents facing neighborhood dangers: An examination of community violence and gender-based harassment. American Journal of Community Psychology, 69(1–2), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12556
Ortega, R. M., Olawale, R. G., Mora, A. S., (2022). Charles D. Garvin: Social justice and social group work. Social Work with Groups, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2022.2113247
Gutierrez, L., Rodriguez-Newhall, A., Mora, A. S., Areguin, M. A., & Salazar, M. (2019). “Too many to count”: Experiences of microaggressions for Latinx students at a predominantly white institution in the age of Trump. Currents, 1(1), 50–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/currents.17387731.0001.105
Book Chapters & Other Publications
Ceballo, R., Alers-Rojas, F., Montoro, J. P., & Mora, A. S. (2020). Contextual stressors and the role of religion and spirituality in the mental health of Latino/a immigrant parents and youth. In G. C. Nagayama Hall & E. R. Huang (Eds.), Mental and behavioral health of immigrants in the United States. Academic Press, Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816117-3.00007-5
Starks, B. & Mora, A. S. (2021). In the margins of academe: Balancing intersecting positionalities as mothers of color in graduate school. Women, Gender, and Families of Color. https://womengenderandfamilies.ku.edu/uncategorized/crosstalk/in-the-margins-of-academe-balancing-intersecting-positionalities-as-mothers-of-color-in-graduate-school
Mora, A., Kia-Keating, M., Liu, S., & Capous, D. (2017). Utilization of campus resources among Latino/a students: A mixed-methods approach. UCSB McNair Scholars Research Journal, 7, 1–25. https://mcnair.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/sitefiles/journals/2017%20Volume7McNairScholarsResearchJournal.pdf
Selected Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations
*Undergraduate, **Post-Bacc, or +Graduate Student Mentee
+Medina, C. M., *Hudson, J. A., *Geoffroy, G., Harvey, A., & Medrano, A. (2024). “Las mujeres sufren acoso...los hombres no”: Adolescent Perceptions and Discussions of Gender-Based Violence in Rural Mexico. Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD): Toward an Anti-Racist Developmental Science Summit, Panama City, Panama. (Poster).
*Davila, S. A., *Dupree, F., *Vazquez, Y., & Medrano, A. (2024). Aprendizajes: Conducting Ethically Responsible Research with Children and Adolescents in Rural Mexico. Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD): Toward an Anti-Racist Developmental Science Summit, Panama City, Panama. (Poster).
+Labrousse, D., +Medina, C. M., & Medrano, A. (2024). Centering Mexican Strength: An Overview of Proyecto VENCER. Latinx Connect, University of Pittsburgh. (Lightning Talk)
Gutierrez, L., Mora, A. (Discussant), Ortega, D., & Ortiz, L. (2023). Uncovering and Recovering Latinx Perspectives on Social Work History—A Latcrit (Latino Critical Race Theory) Approach. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 28th Annual Conference, Washington, DC. (Roundtable)
Mora, A. (chair), Gutierrez, L., *Garcia, Y., +Bechara, S., *Harvey, A., *Zou, Y., *Fajardo, M., *Garcia-Leco, S., & *Valdivias, S. (2023). Fortaleza Mexicana: Identifying Strengths & Protective Factors in Families in Rural Mexico. International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Brussels, Belgium. (Symposium)
*Garcia-Leco, S., Mora, A., *Harvey, A., & Gutierrez, L. (2023). “Que le eché ganas”: Parental Academic Expectations in Rural Mexico. Latin American Studies Association (LASA) 2023 Congress, Vancouver, Canada. (Paper)
Mora, A., +Pérez, J., +Garcia, Y., *Ibrahim, A., +Bechera, S., Gutierrez, L., & *Hunter, J. (2023). Social Work Faculty Perceptions of Theories: A National Survey. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 27th Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ. (Poster)
Gutierrez, L., Mora, A., +Bechera, S., Hawkins, J., Krings, A., Meier Austic, E., & Sanchez, C. (2022). Early Career Scholars’ Perceptions of Support During Social Work Doctoral Education. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 68th Annual Program Meeting, Anaheim, California. (Paper)
Mora, A., *Harvey, A., +Bechera, S., *Narvaez, M., & Gutierrez, L. (2022). The Role of Parent-Adolescent Communication among Violence-Exposed Mexican Youth. The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2022 Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Symposium)
Mora, A., +Pérez, J., *Ibrahim, A., *Hunter, J., *Wasi, H., & Gutierrez, L. (2021). MSW Faculty Views Towards Racial and Social Justice. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 67th Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, Florida. (Panel)
*Harvey, A., *Valdivias, O., Mora, A., +Garcia, Y., & Gutierrez, L. (2021). Rape Myths and Machismo: Rural Mexican Parents’ Conceptualizations of Sexual Harassment and Rape. National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA) Biennial Virtual Conference. (Poster)
Gutierrez, L., Mora, A., Meier-Austic, E., +Greer, C., & +Inahuazo, S. (2021). Social Work Faculty Attitudes Toward Diversity and Social Justice. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Virtual Conference. (ePoster)
Mora, A., Starks, B. & Starks, A. (2020). Post-migration Stressors: Violence, Poverty, and Culturally Relevant Interventions for Recent Immigrants. Joint World Conference on Social Work Education and Social Development, Rimini, Italy. (Poster; Cancelled for COVID)
Muñoz-Velazquez, J., Alers-Rojas, F., Mora, A., Cranford, J., & Ceballo, R. (2020). Intersectional Everyday Experiences of Discrimination: An Exploratory Latent Class Analysis with Urban Latinx Adolescents. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Special Topics Conference, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Paper presentation; Cancelled for COVID)
+Cross, K., Mora, A., Sypher, I., Esqueda, A. P., Troncoso, S. (2020). Adolescents in the community: Extracurricular activities and gender-based harassment. American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, Washington, DC. (Poster)
Glover-Reed, B., Mora, A., Giza, K. A. & Baughman, M. (2019). Using Critical and Intersectionality Frames to Illuminate New Possibilities: We’re Part-way There!. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 65th Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO. (Panel)
Montoro, J. & Mora, A. (2019) Familismo as a Protective Factor from Stressors Faced by Latinx Adolescents. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD. (Poster)
Mora, A., Areguin, M. A. & Rodriguez-Newhall, A. (2019). Utilizing Action Research to Promote Student-Oriented Policy. The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2019 Conference, San Diego, CA. (Symposium)
Gutierrez, L., Areguin, M. A., Mora, A., Rodriguez-Newhall, A. & Salazar, M. (2019). Actions Speak Louder Than Words: How Mixed-Methods Action Research Promotes Student-Oriented Policy. International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Paris, France. (Symposium)
Mora, A., Fike, K., & Montoro, J. (2018). Community Violence Exposure and Sexual Harassment Effects on Latino/a Adolescents. The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2018 Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. (Symposium)
Woods, V., Phommasa, M., Mora, A., & Garcia M. G. (2017). Development and Assessment of a Transfer Student Mentorship Program. National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA. (Panel)
Mora, A., Kia-Keating, M., Capous, D., Adams, J., Davila, L., Garcia, Y. (2016). Latino/a Parental Barriers to Help-Seeking. National Latina/o Psychological Association (NLPA) Biennial Conference, Orlando, FL. (Poster)