Kinesiology and Health Education

The goal of my research is to decrease problem behaviors and tobacco use in adolescents and young adults, with a particular focus on disparate populations. I have a special interest in examining how factors from multiple ecological levels (e.g., family, school, culture) interact to protect youth from negative health outcomes. I am currently conducting studies examining; 1) the feasibility of a web-based tailored tobacco cessation program for students enrolled in post-secondary vocational programs, and 2) the concurrent use of cigarettes with alternative tobacco products by adolescents and young adults. I also work with the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct a variety of community-based program development and evaluation projects.

1997 Ph.D. Michigan State University - Psychology (Developmental)

Loukas, A., Batanova, M.D., Velazquez, C.E., Lang, W.J., Sneden, G.G., Pasch, K.E., Karn, S.S., & Robertson, T. (2012). Who uses snus? A study of Texas adolescents. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 14, 626-630.

Horton, K.D. & Loukas, A. (2011). Discrimination, religious coping, and tobacco use among white, African American, and Mexican American vocational school students. Journal of Religion and Health.  DOI: 10.1007/s10943-011-9462-z

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., 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.

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.

• Fall 2012 – present                 Fellow in the Teresa Lozano Long Endowed Chair in Kinesiology and Health Education
• Fall 2011 – Summer 2012       Fellow in the Cissy McDaniel Parker Fellow Fund in Education
• Fall 2010 – Summer 2011       Fellow in the Oscar and Anne Mauzy Regents Professorship for Educational Research and Development
• Fall 2008 – Summer 2010       Fellow in the Lee Hage Jamail Regents Chair in Education
•                                             

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). Tobacco Use Prevention and Control. Texas Department of State Health Services. September 1, 2008 -- August 31, 2013. Total award: $750,000.

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). Development and Evaluation of a Tobacco Cessation Healthcare Systems Change Model. Texas Department of State Health Services. October 1, 2012-September 29, 2013. Total award: $150,000.

Adolescent problem behavior development

Interaction of risk and protective factors, with a particular focus on the protective factor of school connectedness

Tobacco use and cessation in disparate populations

Concurrent use of cigarettes with other tobacco products

• American Association for Health Education
• Society for Research in Child Development
• Society for Research on Adolescence