Alexandra Loukas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Health Education
Kinesiology & Health Education

Office:
512 Bellmont Hall
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712
Lab: Bellmont Hall #847
Mail Code: D3700

Phone: 512-232-9388; Fax: 512-471-3845
E-mail: alexandra.loukas@mail.utexas.edu

Dr. Loukas’ research focuses on adolescent and young adult health, particularly adolescent aggression and tobacco use and cessation in disparate populations. She has a special interest in examining how factors from multiple ecological levels (e.g., family, school, culture) interact to protect adolescents and young adults from negative health outcomes.

Educational Background

• 1997 - 99 NIMH Post-doctoral fellow. Arizona State University, Program for Prevention Research.
• 1997 Ph.D. Michigan State University - Psychology (Developmental)
• 1995 M.A. Michigan State University - Psychology (Developmental)
• 1992 B.A. University of Windsor - Psychology

Recent Publications

• Loukas, A., Batanova, M.D., Velazquez, C.E., Lang, W.J., Sneden, G.G., Karn, S.S., & Robertson, T. (in press). Who uses snus? A study of Texas adolescents. Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
  
• Batanova, M.D., & Loukas, A. (in press). Social Anxiety and Aggression in Early Adolescents: Examining the Moderating Roles of Empathic Concern and Perspective Taking. Journal of Youth & Adolescence. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-011-9634-x
• Horton, K.D. & Loukas, A. (in press). Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Religious Coping, and Current Tobacco Use Among Vocational School Students. Journal of Religion & Health.
• Horton, K.D., Ellison, C.G., Loukas, A., Downey, D.L., & Barrett, J.B. (2011). Examining attachment to God, perceived social support, and health risk-taking behaviors in college students. Journal of Religion & Health. DOI: 10.1007/s10943-010-9380-5.
• Araujo, V.A., Loukas, A., & Gottlieb, N.H. (2010). Vocational student tobacco use: Examining differences between light and heavy smokers. Health Education Journal.
• Loukas, A., Roalson, L.A., & Herrera, D.A. (2010). School connectedness buffers the effects of negative family relations and poor effortful control on early adolescent conduct problems. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20, 13-22.
• Loukas, A. (2009). Examining temporal associations between perceived maternal psychological control and early adolescent internalizing problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37, 1113-1122.
• Loukas, A., Ripperger-Suhler, K.G., & Horton, K.D. (2009). Examining bidirectional relations between school connectedness and early adolescent adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 804-812.
• Loukas, A., Prelow, H.M., Suizzo, M.A., & Allua, S. (2008). Mothering and peer associations mediate cumulative risk effects for Latino youth. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 76-85.
• Loukas, A., Murphy, J.L., & Gottlieb, N.H. (2008). Cigarette smoking and cessation among trade/technical school students in Texas. Journal of American College Health, 56, 401-407.
• Loukas, A., Suizzo, M.A., & Prelow, H.M. (2007). Examining resource and protective factors in the adjustment problems of Latino youth in low income families: What role does maternal acculturation play? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 489-501.
• Prelow, H.M., Loukas, A., & Jordan-Green, L. (2007). Socioenvironmental risk and adjustment in Latino youth: The mediating effects of family processes and social competence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 465-476.
• Loukas, A., & Murphy, J.L. (2007). Middle school students perceptions of school climate: Examining protective functions on subsequent adjustment problems. Journal of School Psychology, 45, 293-309.
• Loukas, A., & Roalson, L.A. (2006). Family environment, effortful control and adjustment among European American and Latino early adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 26, 432-455.
• Loukas, A., Garcia, M. & Gottlieb, N. (2006). Texas college students' opinions of no-smoking policies, secondhand smoke and friend smoking. Journal of American College Health, 55, 27-32.
• Loukas, A., Suzuki, R., & Horton, K.D. (2006) Examining school connectedness as a mediator of school climate effects. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 16, 491-502.
• Loukas, A., Spaulding, C., & Gottlieb, N.H. (2006). Examining the perspectives of Texas minors cited for possession of tobacco. Health Promotion Practice, 7, 197-205.
• Bartholomew, J.B., Loukas, A., Jowers, E., & Allua, S. (2006). Validation of the physical activity self-efficacy scale: Testing measurement invariance between Hispanic and Caucasian children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 3, 70-78.
• Loukas, A., Paulos, S., & Robinson, S. (2005). Early adolescent social and overt aggression: Examining the roles of social anxiety and maternal psychological control. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34, 335-345.
• Loukas, A., & Robinson, S. (2004). Examining the moderating role of perceived school climate in early adolescent adjustment. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14, 209-233.
• Loukas, A., & Prelow, H.M. (2004). Externalizing and internalizing problems in low-income Latino Adolescents: Examining risk, resource, and protective factors. Journal of Early Adolescence, 24, 250-273.
• Gottlieb, N.H., Loukas, A., Corrao, M., McAlister, A., Snell, C., & Huang, P.P. (2004). Minors' tobacco possession law violations and tolerance for deviance: Implications for tobacco control. Tobacco Control, 13, 237-243.

Grants

• Loukas, A. (PI). Feasibility of Web-Based Smoking Cessation Program for Vocational Students. National Cancer Institute (1R21CA149817-01A1). April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012. Total award: $368, 563. 
• Loukas, A. (PI).  Healthcare Systems Change for Tobacco Cessation. Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2013. Total award: $266,920.
• Loukas, A. (PI). Policy Change in Six Tobacco Coalitions. Texas Department of State Health Services. June 15, 2010 - December 31, 2011. Total award: $100,000.
• Loukas, A. (PI). Development and Evaluation of a Tobacco Cessation Healthcare Systems Change Model. Texas Department of State Health Services. June 15, 2010 – August 31, 2012. Total award: $400,000.
• Loukas, A. (PI). Tobacco Use Prevention and Control. Texas Department of State Health Services. September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2012. Total award: $600,000.
• Loukas, A. (PI). Vocational Student Tobacco Use. National Cancer Institute (1R03CA130589), June 1, 2007 – May 31, 2009. Total award: $142,536.
• Gottlieb, N.H. (PI) & Loukas, A. (co-PI). Tobacco Use Prevention and Control. Texas Department of State Health Services. September 1, 2005 – August 31, 2008. Total award: $740,000.