Rojas, Patria
- Associate Professor, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention , Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work

Overview
overview
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Dr. Patria Rojas is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work and a research associate professor at the Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA) at Florida International University.
For more than two decades, Dr. Rojas has focused on prevention efforts to address HIV/AIDS and substance abuse health disparities affecting Latino populations. Prior to completing her doctoral work in social welfare at Florida International University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Merrimack College, and earned graduate degrees in social work and public health from Boston University.
Her research focuses on Latino health behaviors and health disparities among Latinos –particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and mental health. Dr. Rojas has published papers in the field of minority health promotion and disease prevention, which have helped spearhead interventions for alcohol and substance abuse and HIV prevention among Latino immigrant women in South Florida.
Her current research includes pregnancy prevention and HIV prevention for male and female Latino adolescents and HIV and domestic abuse prevention targeting recent immigrant adult Latina farmworkers in South Florida. In addition to her focus on community-based and community-based participatory research, Dr. Rojas provides methodological and technical support to other research projects at CRUSADA.
research interests
- Latino Health Behaviors and Health Disparities and HIV/AIDS
Scholarly & Creative Works
selected publications
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Article
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2021Prescription Drug and Cannabis Use among Recent Latinx Immigrants Pre- and Post-Immigration to the USFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1990342 Web of Science: 000729696300001
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2021Baseline brain function in the preadolescents of the ABCD StudyFull Text via DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00867-9 Web of Science: 000658708100001
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2021Associations of Objective and Perceived Neighborhood Ethnic Density on Hazardous Alcohol Use among Latinx Emerging Adults. SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE. 56:339-344.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1840588 Web of Science: 000608339000001
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2020The Association Between Social Support and Psychological Distress in Latina Mothers Living in Miami-Dade County, Florida. CUREUS. 12.Full Text via DOI: 10.7759/cureus.10848 Web of Science: 000576073600005
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2020Alcohol use severity among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the roles of bicultural self-efficacy and acculturation. ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. 108.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106442 Web of Science: 000539099500002
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2020Testing the Efficacy of an HIV Prevention Intervention Among Latina Immigrants Living in Farmworker Communities in South Florida. JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH. 22:661-667.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00923-4 Web of Science: 000541342500003
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2020Associations Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power Among Latina Immigrant Farmworkers: The Moderating Role of Gender Norms. JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS. 33:1093-1101.Full Text via DOI: 10.1002/jts.22561 Web of Science: 000548301900001
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2020Alcohol use trajectories of adult Latinx immigrants during their first decade in the United States. ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. 106.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106352 Web of Science: 000527834400003
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2020Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Adherence to Pap Smear Screening Test Among Female University Students in a Multiethnic Institution, USA. JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 112:300-307.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2020.03.007 Web of Science: 000552125300014
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2020Depression and Gender Roles among Hispanic Immigrant Women: Examining Associations of Gender Egalitarianism, Marianismo, and Self-Silencing. JOURNAL OF HEALTH CARE FOR THE POOR AND UNDERSERVED. 31:713-723.Full Text via DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2020.0056 Web of Science: 000539399800021
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2020Depressive Symptoms and Resilience among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Moderating Effects of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Family Cohesion, and Social Support. BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/08964289.2020.1712646 Web of Science: 000507151100001
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2019Associations between gender norms and HIV self-efficacy among Latina immigrants in a farmworker community. ETHNICITY & HEALTH.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2019.1659234 Web of Science: 000483754600001
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2019Analyzing the Association Between Depression and High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Adult Latina Immigrant Farm Workers in Miami-Dade County. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 16.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16071120 Web of Science: 000465595800033
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2019Association between Knowledge of Zika Transmission and Preventative Measures among Latinas of Childbearing Age in Farm-Working Communities in South Florida. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 16.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16071257 Web of Science: 000465595800170
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2019Associations of Self-Silencing and Egalitarian Attitudes with HIV Prevention Behaviors Among Latina Immigrant Farmworkers. JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH. 21:430-433.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0773-y Web of Science: 000465413100025
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2019Immigration Stress among Recent Latino Immigrants: The Protective Role of Social Support and Religious Social Capital. SOCIAL WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH. 34:279-292.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2019.1606749 Web of Science: 000471793900001
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2018Gender-Role Attitudes Among Immigrant Latinas: Empowering WomenFull Text via DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.288 Web of Science: 000452795800006
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2018Alcohol Use Severity Among Adult Hispanic Immigrants: Examining the Roles of Family Cohesion, Social Support, and Gender. SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE. 53:668-676.
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2018Sociocultural determinants of substance misuse among adult Latinas of Caribbean and South and Central American descent: A longitudinal study of a community-based sample. JOURNAL OF ETHNICITY IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 17:303-323.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2016.1201716 Web of Science: 000452179700006
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2018Women's perception of adolescent marijuana use in a hispanic seasonal farm worker community: A qualitative study. JOURNAL OF ETHNICITY IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 17:345-355.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2016.1230727 Web of Science: 000452179700009
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2017Correlates of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Adult Latino Women: A 5-Year Follow-UpFull Text via DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.230 Web of Science: 000403364800006
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2017A Brief Report: Lessons Learned and Preliminary Findings of Progreso en Salud, an HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for Latina Seasonal Farmworkers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 14.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14010032 Web of Science: 000392578200032
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2017Cultural Correlates of DUI Risk Perceptions Among Documented and Undocumented Recent Latino Immigrants in South Florida. HISPANIC JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. 39:211-237.Full Text via DOI: 10.1177/0739986317698777 Web of Science: 000400084800006
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2017Immigration Stress and Alcohol Use Severity Among Recently Immigrated Hispanic Adults: Examining Moderating Effects of Gender, Immigration Status, and Social Support. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 73:294-307.
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2016Evaluating a Culturally Tailored HIV Risk Reduction Intervention Among Latina Immigrants in the Farmworker CommunityFull Text via DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.193 Web of Science: 000384644500003
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2016Differences in Acculturation and Trajectories of Anxiety and Alcohol Consumption Among Latina Mothers and Daughters in South Florida. JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH. 18:886-895.
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2016Drinking and Driving among Recent Latino Immigrants: The Impact of Neighborhoods and Social Support. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 13.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111055 Web of Science: 000389571300014
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2016HIV testing practices among Latina women at risk of getting infected: a five-year follow-up of a community sample in South Florida. AIDS CARE-PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-MEDICAL ASPECTS OF AIDS/HIV. 28:137-146.
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2016Latino Mother/Daughter Dyadic Attachment as a Mediator for Substance Use Disorder and Emotional Abuse. JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH. 18:896-903.
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2016Sociocultural Determinants of Risky Sexual Behaviors among Adult Latinas: A Longitudinal Study of a Community-Based Sample. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 13.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111164 Web of Science: 000389571300123
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2015Influence of Mother-Daughter Attachment on Substance Use: A Longitudinal Study of a Latina Community-Based Sample. JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. 76:307-316.
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2014Alcohol Use as a Determinant of HIV Risk Behaviors Among Recent Latino Immigrants in South Florida. JANAC-JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN AIDS CARE. 25:135-144.
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2014Improving the health status of Caribbean people: recommendations from the Triangulating on Health Equity summit. GLOBAL HEALTH PROMOTION. 21:19-28.
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2014Pre- to Postimmigration Alcohol Use Trajectories Among Recent Latino Immigrants. PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. 28:990-999.
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2013Non-Medical Prescription Sedative Use Among Adult Latina Mothers and Daughters. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS. 45:329-339.
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2012Family Closeness and Domestic Abuse Among Caribbean and South American Women in South Florida. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. 27:547-559.
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2012Social Support, Attachment, and Chronic Stress as Correlates of Latina Mother and Daughter Drug Use Behaviors. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS. 21:157-167.
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2011Attributions About Addiction Among Latina WomenFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2011.595662 Web of Science: 000212307100001
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2010Correlates of Heavy Drinking Behaviors of Latino Mothers and their Adult Daughters. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS. 42:457-466.PMID: 21305910 Web of Science: 000286705600005
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2010Latina Mother-Daughter Dyads: Relations Between Attachment and Sexual Behavior Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. 39:1305-1319.
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2010MOTHER-DAUGHTER ATTACHMENT AND DRUG ABUSE AMONG LATINAS IN THE UNITED STATES. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES. 40:379-404.Full Text via DOI: 10.1177/002204261004000206 Web of Science: 000280929300006
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2010Spatial Disparity of HIV/AIDS Service Providers: The Case of Miami- Dade CountyFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/15381501003795543 Web of Science: 000212891000005
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2010US Latina age of sexual debut: long-term associations and implications for HIV and drug abuse prevention. AIDS CARE-PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-MEDICAL ASPECTS OF AIDS/HIV. 22:431-440.
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2009Validating the Multidimensional Measure of Cultural Identity Scales for Latinos Among Latina Mothers and Daughters. CULTURAL DIVERSITY & ETHNIC MINORITY PSYCHOLOGY. 15:191-201.
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2007Cultural adaptations in data collection: Field experiencesFull Text via DOI: 10.1300/J233v06n02_10
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2005A Comparison of African American and Cuban American Adolescent Juvenile Offenders: Risky Sexual and Drug Use BehaviorsFull Text via DOI: 10.1300/J160v5n01_04 Web of Science: 000212283800005
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2005Substance Abuse Among Puerto Rican and Dominican Gang Members in a Small City SettingFull Text via DOI: 10.1300/J160v5n01_02 Web of Science: 000212283800003
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Book Chapter
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2012Substance Abuse Among Puerto Rican and Dominican Gang Members in a Small City Setting. 21-44.Full Text via DOI: 10.4324/9780203051351-2
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2012Substance abuse among Puerto Rican and Dominican gang members in a small city setting. 21-43.Full Text via DOI: 10.1300/J160v05n01_02
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Meeting Abstract
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2019EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION ASSOCIATIONS WITH ANXIETY AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH. 171A-171A.Web of Science: 000468963102278
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2018FINDINGS FROM A CULTURALLY-TAILORED SOCIO-CENTRIC NETWORK INTERVENTION FOR INCREASING HIV PREVENTIVE BEHAVIORAL ADHERENCE. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE.Web of Science: 000446532700600
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2017PROGRESO EN SALUD, AN HIV RISK REDUCTION INTERVENTION FOR LATINA SEASONAL FARMWORKERS: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS. ANNALS OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE. S2604-S2605.Web of Science: 000398947203324
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2010Cultural Adaptations in the Collection and Entry of Dietary Intake Data: Field Experiences with Latino Women. FASEB JOURNAL.Web of Science: 000208675503374
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Review
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2011The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Dominican Republic: Key contributing factors. 306-315.Full Text via DOI: 10.1177/1545109710397770
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Research
co-principal investigator on
subproject principal investigator on
- Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities - CLaRO awarded by National Institutes of Health 2021 - 2022
- Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities - CLaRO awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2022
- Yr 3-Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities - CLaRO awarded by Minority Health and Health Disparities 2019 - 2022
- Yr2 - Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities - CLaRO awarded by Minority Health and Health Disparities 2018 - 2022
- Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities - CLaRO awarded by Minority Health and Health Disparities 2017 - 2018
investigator on
- Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD): FIU awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2020 - 2027
- FIU Center for Reducing Health Disparities in Substance Abuse & HIV in South Florida awarded by Minority Health and Health Disparities 2018 - 2022
- FIU Center for Reducing Health Disparities in Substance Abuse & HIV in South Florida awarded by Minority Health and Health Disparities 2017 - 2022
- Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD): FIU awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse 2015 - 2020
Contact
full name
- Patria Rojas
Identifiers
ORCID iD
- https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6160-4383 (confirmed)
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4799-9910 (confirmed)
visualizations
Recent publications and grants in Scholars@FIU
publication subject areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Biomedical Social Sciences
- Cell Biology
- Environmental Sciences & Ecology
- Ethnic Studies
- Family Studies
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
- Nursing
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Social Sciences - Other Topics
- Social Work
- Substance Abuse