Kalina M. L. Fahey
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About Kalina
Dr. Fahey's research focuses broadly understanding the role of stress and identity in contributing to substance use behaviors. More specifically, this includes examining the role of stress in LGBTQ+ substance use disparities and the complex relationship between LGBTQ+ identity and religion, specifically the effect religion can have on mental and physical health among LGBTQ+ populations. Overarching themes in Dr. Fahey's non-peer reviewed publications include social justice, health equity, and the experiences of academics. Dr. Fahey serves as the Social Media Editor for the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse and is an organizing member of the New Mexico Stand up for Science Chapter.
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Compares religious development from early adolescence to middle adulthood between sexual orientations. Finds that different components of religion like prayer and church attendance change over development and vary by sexual orientation, particularly between those who are heterosexual and who have sexual orientations that are nonmonosexual.
Studies the impact of minoritized stress on substance use outcomes and addresses the role of community-engaged research (CEnR) to improve experimental stress and substance use research for sexual and gender minority groups.
Details the results of a pilot study conducted to determine how minority stress (stress experienced due to marginalization in society) is related to stress response of alcohol use (craving, demand, risky decision making) among sexual minority women.
Examines the role of sexual orientation as a moderator of the relations between religiosity, religious affiliation, and the occurrence of three sexual behaviors in the past 6 months: birth control use during sex, sexual activity under the influence of substances, and testing positive for an STI. Makes recommendations based on research, to increase and tailor sexual health education to religiously identified college students.
Assesses the elevated risk of transgender and gender diverse adults to engage in problematic substance use. In particular, this research examines the frequency and patterns of substance use in transgender and gender diverse youth, identifies potential correlates of substance use, and reports the strengths and limitations of current literature, in recommending solutions.
Compares patterns of mental health symptoms/substance use as well as access (and barriers) to corresponding resources, among sexual and gender minority students and non sexual and gender minority students.
Examines alcohol use and harm among cisgender and transgender college students, and finds that patterns of alcohol use and its consequences differ for cisgender men, transgender women and men, and nonbinary individuals relative to cisgender women.
Observes developmental patterns of religiosity and spirituality in sexual minority youth, by examining the initial level and change over time in religiosity and spirituality as well as comparing the growth processes between heterosexual and sexual minority individuals.
Assesses the associations between organizational religious activity, intrinsic religiosity, and hypertension in a US nationally representative sample. Of three sexual orientation categories examined (heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, and sexual minority), finds that organizational religious activity is associated with increased blood pressure/hypertension for the sexual minority group
Explores the association of three subcomponents of religiosity–organizational religious activity, non-organizational religious activity, and intrinsic religiosity–in predicting illicit substance use among Latino sexual minority men.