Nada Goodrum, Ph.D., MA

Research Interests:
According to Finkelhor and associates, trauma exposure remains a major public health concern among adolescents, with 50-70% of adolescents estimated to have experienced some form of victimization in their lifetime. Dr. Goodrum’s research investigates family- and community-level factors that influence youth adjustment among families experiencing unique stressors. Her work currently centers on the intersection of parenting, traumatic stress, HIV risk, and adolescent substance use. She is interested in parents’ role in promoting adolescent health and preventing the intergenerational transmission of risk. The goal of her research is to eliminate health disparities by using knowledge about risk and protective factors to guide the development of family-based, trauma-informed prevention and intervention efforts. This work will have a public health impact in multiple areas by bolstering family relationships, preventing incidence of HIV and substance abuse among trauma-affected youth, and reducing the mental health burden of trauma exposure.