Texas A&M University ,Ph.D. ,2015
Texas A&M University ,MS ,2011

Position/Grant/Award etc.

2021-2023: Principal Investigator, Racial/Ethnic Patterning in Determinants of Vaping Initiation and Trajectory of Use. National Cancer Institute 3R01CA229617-03S1

2020-2022: Principal Investigator, A Pilot to Design a Public Health Promotion Research, Advocacy, and Professional Development Training Program for Public Health Promotion Undergraduate Students, California State University, Stanislaus

2017-2018: Principal Investigator/Mentor, National Study of Nigerian Adolescents' Social and Family Networks: Engaging Young Researchers in Adolescent Substance Use Research, Carnegie Africa Diaspora Research Fellowship, Institute of International Education/ Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Scholarly Interests

• Social and substance use epidemiology
• Youth/Young adult health and risk behaviors
• Biopsychosocial and structural determinants of youth and young adult substance use
• Disparities in polysubstance use and comorbidities (e.g., mental health)

Research Interests

Dr. Jacobs' research broadly aims to understand the cultural, biopsychosocial, environmental, and structural drivers of disparities in substance use and use consequences/health effects among adolescents and young adults. Specifically, her work focuses on examining: 1) substance use (e.g., nicotine/tobacco & cannabis products, non-prescribed drugs) risks and outcomes among vulnerable populations (e.g., adolescents and young adults, persons with mental health disorders, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants); and 2) disparities in polysubstance use, comorbidities, and consequences among youth and young adults.

Jacobs, W., Merianos, A., & Leventhal, A. (2022). Vaping Motivations: Association of Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Systems with Nicotine and Cannabis Vaping among Adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 107436.

Jacobs, W., Orozco, G., Villanueva, G., & Merianos, A. L. (2022). E-cigarette and cannabis use patterns, depression, and suicide behaviors among US youth: analysis of 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. American journal of health promotion, 08901171221112927.

Jacobs, W., Idoko, E., Montgomery, L., Smith, M. L., & Merianos, A. L. (2021). Concurrent E-cigarette and marijuana use and health-risk behaviors among US high school students. Preventive Medicine, 145, 106429.

Amuta-Jimenez, A. O., Jacobs, W., & Smith, G. (2020). Health disparities and the heterogeneity of Blacks/African Americans in the United States: why should we care? Health promotion practice, 21(4), 492-495.

Merianos, A.l., Jacobs, W., Oloruntoba, O., Gittens, O. E., & Smith, M. L. (2020). Perceived Severity of Interrelated Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among U.S. College Students. American Journal of Health Education, 51(4), 234-243.

Jacobs, W. Bartoszek, L. & Unger, J. (2019). Using the Theory of Triadic Influence to Examine Correlates of Positive Drug Expectancies Among Hispanic Adolescents. Health Behavior Research, 2(4), 9. DOI: 10.4148/2572-1836.1053

Jacobs, W., Amuta, A. O., & Jeon, K. C. (2017). Health information seeking in the digital age: An analysis of health information seeking behavior among US adults. Cogent Social Sciences, 3(1), 1302785.

Jacobs, W., Barry, A. E., Xu, L., & Valente, T. W. (2016). Hispanic/Latino adolescents' alcohol use: Influence of family structure, perceived peer norms, and family members' alcohol use. American journal of health education, 47(4), 253-261.

Jacobs, W., Goodson P, Barry AE, & McLeroy KR. (2016). The role of gender in adolescents' social networks and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use: a systematic review. Journal of School Health. 86: 322-333.

Jacobs, W., Jeon, K., Goodson, P., & Valente, T. W. (2015). What's Love Got to Do With It? Adolescent Romantic Attractions and Substance Use. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. 1—9. DOI:10.1080/02673843.2015.1122643.