Efren Velazquez, Ph.D.

Efren Velazquez

Associate Professor of Psychological Science

Phone678-717-2264

Office locationStrickland Academic, 218, Gainesville

Area(s) of Expertise: Health psychology and Cross-cultural psychology

Overview

Dr. Velazquez's primary research interests focus on how cultural values and parental practices are associated with sexual behavior among Latinx adolescents and emerging adults.  He is also interested in examining different factors (i.e., personal immigration status, parental immigration status, college prep, mentorship) that influence Latinx college student success. Dr. Velazquez has won various awards since starting at UNG, including the 2021 Diversity Champion Award, the 2021 Ann Matthews Purdy Outstanding UNG Full-Time Faculty Member of the Year Award, and was a 2023 Georgia FirstGen Under 40 Pioneer Honoree.

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Human Growth & Development
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Social Psychology Lab
  • Cross-cultural Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Studies in Diversity Issues

Education

  • Ph.D., Health Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
  • M.S., General Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014
  • B.A., Psychology, Boise State University 2012

Scholarship

Velazquez, E., Garthe, R., Pope, M., Avila, M., Romo, S., Everhart, R. S., Jones, H. A., & Corona, R. (2021). The relationship between caregiver prompting behaviors, parenting practices, and adolescent tobacco use outcomes in Black families. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30, 2003-2015. doi:10.1007/s10826-021-01995-3.

Espinosa-Hernandez, G., Mejia, A., Velazquez, E., Garcia, D., Lombardi, K., & McCrimmon, J. (2021). Impulsivity in Mexican Adolescent sexuality. Sexuality and Culture, 25, 1321-1333. doi: 10.1007/s12119-021-09827-8

Corona, R., McDonald, S.E., Hitti, S., Avila, M., Trujillo, M.A., Cox, J.R., Velazquez, E., Edgar, K., Hershner, L., Benzel, G.K., Matijczak, A., Gordon, C.A., Ascencio, I., Moreno, O., & Gonzalez, T. (2020). Training Spanish-speaking Latinx adults in Mental Health First Aid: A pilot feasibility trial. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 25.3, Advanced Online Publication. doi:10.24839/2325-7342.JN25.3.212

Espinosa-Hernandez, G., Velazquez, E., McPherson, J. L., Fountain, C., Garcia-Carpenter, R., & Lombardi, K. (2020). The role of Latino masculine values in Mexican adolescent sexuality. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1037/cdp0000328

Corona, R., Pope, M., Shaffer, C.M., Hood, K.B., Velazquez, E., & Barinas, J. (2018). A qualitative examination of the relationship between body image and sexual risk behavior: Perceptions from Latina and African American adolescent girls and their maternal caregivers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 3606-3617. doi:10.1007/s10826-018-1184-3

Radcliff, Z., Al Ghriwati, N., Derlan, C. L., Velazquez, E., Halfond, R., & Corona, R. (2018). The relationship between Latina/o youth’s internal health locus of control, cultural factors, and body mass index. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 6, 190-203. doi:10.1037/lat0000093

Corona, R., Velazquez, E., McDonald, S.E., Avila, M., Neff, M.R., Iglesias, A., & Halfond, R.W. (2017). Ethnic labels, pride, and challenges: A qualitative study of Latinx youth living in a new Latinx destination community. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 4, 1-13.

Corona, R., Rodríguez, V. M., McDonald, S.E., Velazquez, E., Rodríguez, A., & Fuentes, V.E. (2017). Associations between cultural stressors, cultural values, and Latina/o college students’ mental health. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46, 63-77. doi: 10.1007/s10964-016-0600-5

Velazquez, E., Corona, R., Easter, R., Barinas, J., Elshaer, L., & Halfond, R. W. (2017). Cultural values, mother-adolescent discussions about sex, and Latina/o adolescents’ condom use attitudes and intentions. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 213-226. doi:10.1037/lat0000075

Corona, R., Yaros, A., Pope, M., Velazquez, E., & Augustin, D. (2016). A pilot study of what African American maternal caregivers and their adolescent daughters talk about when asked to discuss tobacco together. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 15, 268-286. doi:10.1080/15332640.2015.1028693

Taylor, T. Z., Elison-Bower, P., Werth, E., Bell, E., Carbajal, J., Lamm, K. B., & Velazquez, E. (2013). A police officer’s tactic knowledge inventory (POTKI): Establishing construct validity and exploring applications. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, 14, 478-490.

Efren Valasquez Curriculum Vitae