/Left Hemisphere/: My Science and Scholarship
I study how structural inequities, trauma, and chronic stress become biologically embedded—and how to interrupt those pathways. I design youth‑centered interventions using implementation science, community‑engaged methods, and multi‑omics approaches to create solutions that work in real communities.
Op-EDs by Dr. E
Critical Need for Male Role Models
The number of households with an actively present father figure is in decline, but the impact on a child's life is immense for their understanding and adoption of prosocial behaviors and values.
Jun 16, 2023
Illustration by Juliana Lagerstedt
Zen, Mindfulness, and Therapies for Men Who Abuse Intimate Partners
Mindfulness for abusers may seem like an unviable rehabilitative option to the sensibilities of the lay observer, but trauma-informed mindfulness interventions show early promise.
Photo: Alexandre Chambon/Unsplash
The Danger of Incels—and How We Shift the Thinking of Men Attracted to These Groups
The sources of misogyny and violence against women are complex, and it is critical to examine them—not just during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but always.
April 9, 2023
Cuento Therapy, Storytelling and Men Who Abuse Women
Cuento Therapy as a hopeful form of narrative therapy is one culturally-sensitive answer to health disparities faced by ethnic minorities who were systematically underserved by traditional psychotherapeutic services.
Photo: Tim Mossholder/Unsplash
Gun Violence Prevention Services Can’t Reach Everyone. Telehealth Could Help
Researchers have found that remote care can successfully treat a bevy of health issues. A new study shows the model's potential for gun violence prevention, too.
July 23, 2024
Article by Fairriona Magee
From Rising Temperatures to Rising Threats: Confronting Climate-Induced Violence Against Women and Girls.
As nations face flooding, extreme weather, and disease outbreaks, a critical yet overlooked crisis emerges—the rise of violence against women and girls in climate-impacted settings.
October, 2024
RESEARCH by Dr. E
BOOKS by Dr. E
Research in Color
This research investigates how different forms of aggression and mental health factors influence the way high-risk youth view firearm violence. The study distinguishes between proactive aggression, which is calculated and goal-oriented, and reactive aggression, which stems from emotional frustration. Findings reveal that proactive aggression is the most consistent predictor of supportive attitudes toward guns, remaining influential regardless of a person's level of psychological distress. While emotional suffering and depressive symptoms correlate with pro-gun beliefs, they do not seem to change the fundamental relationship between aggressive traits and firearm perspectives. The authors suggest that violence prevention should move beyond general mental health support to specifically address the cognitive beliefs regarding power and retaliation that fuel instrumental aggression. This evidence supports a trauma-informed approach that treats these behaviors as modifiable responses to chronic environmental stress rather than fixed personality traits.
This research investigates the sociodemographic and environmental drivers of weapon-carrying behaviors among young Black males in urban settings. The study highlights that direct exposure to violence, such as being threatened or injured, serves as the most powerful predictor for carrying weapons, frequently overshadowing factors like substance use or employment status. By applying an ecological framework, the authors argue that weapon possession often functions as a functional coping mechanism for youth navigating chronic community danger and structural disinvestment. The findings suggest that national estimates may underrepresent the frequency of these behaviors in high-risk populations, where nearly one-fifth of participants reported threatening others with weapons. Ultimately, the study advocates for trauma-informed prevention strategies and community-based interventions that prioritize healing and safety over punitive measures. This comprehensive analysis underscores the necessity of addressing cumulative trauma to effectively reduce firearm-related injuries and homicides.
ARTICLES by Dr. E
*Denotes data-based publications. #Award-winning. †Indicates student/trainee co-author.
2025
*Emezue, C., Bishop-Royse, J., Froilan, A., Wilkes, T., Karnik, N. S., & Julion, W. A. (2025). Evaluating a digital intervention to reduce aggression and pro–firearm–violence attitudes among young Black males: A pretest–posttest feasibility study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting. 8(1), e70048. https://doi.org/10.2196/70048
†Kokenge, M.C., Ruppar, T.M., Julion, W., Emezue, C.N., Lynch, E., Ellis, R.B. (2025), Understanding System-Level Experiences Impacting Black Americans’ Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02508-4
Udmuangpia, T., Glass, N., Thaewpia, S., Thitiyanviroj, B., Emezue, C., Li, Y., & Bloom, T. (2025). Help-Seeking Among Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Thailand: A Qualitative Research Study. Journal of interpersonal violence, 8862605251338794. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251338794
†Boles, K. K., Young, L., Emezue, C., Lee, K., Popejoy, L., & Reeder, B. (2025, May). Discovery of User Requirements to Support Remote Health Coaching and Care Coordination in a CMS Demonstration Project. In AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings (Vol. 2024, p. 182).
Emezue, C., Froilan, A. P., Dunlap, A., Shipman, A., Feliciano, D., Ortega-Chavez, S., Jr., & Dan-Irabor, D. (2025). Contemporary Coping Patterns Among Violence-Impacted Adolescent Black Males: An Interpretive Descriptive Study. Youth, 5(2), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5020044
Burton, S. D., Paun, O., Ruppar, T., Mohr, L., Emezue, C. N., & Szanton, S. L. (2025). Resilience in Black/African American Partner Caregivers of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 18(1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.3928/19404921-20241211-04
2024
Sabri, B., Young, N., Cardenas, I., Emezue, C. N., & Patch, M. (2024). Integrating Implementation Science in Interpersonal Violence Research and Practice: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators of Implementation. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15248380241305567. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241305567
Burton, S., Paun, O., Ruppar, T., Emezue, C., & Szanton, S. (2024). Cultural and Positive Adaptive Factors Influencing Diverse Partner Caregivers Through a Resilience Framework. Innovation in Aging, 8(Suppl 1), 497. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae098.1626
Glass, N., Bloom, T., Alexander, K. A., Emezue, C., Olawole, W., Clough, A., Turner, R., & Perrin, N. (2024). Effectiveness of the myPlan Teen App, a Digital Healthy Relationship and Safety Planning Intervention With Adolescent Aged 15–17 Years. Journal of Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.06.014
Emezue C, Dan-Irabor D, Froilan A, Dunlap A, Zamora P, Negron S, Simmons J, Watkins J, Julion WA, Karnik NS, Evaluation of Digital Health Intervention for Preventing Youth Violence and Substance Use in Young Black Boys and Men: Usability Testing and Heuristic Analysis. JMIR Preprints. 10/06/2024:60918. DOI: 10.2196/preprints.60918. https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/60918
Emezue, C., Karnik, N. S., Sabri, B; Anakwe, A; Bishop-Royse, J; Dan-Irabor, D; Froilan, A; Dunlap, A; Li, Q; & Julion, W. (2024). Mental Telehealth Utilization Patterns Among High School Students from Racial and Ethnic Minority Backgrounds Affected by Violence and Substance Use. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 1-15; https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-01936-y
2023
Emezue, C., Karnik, N. S., Reeder, B., Schoeny, M., Layfield, R., Zarling, A., & Julion, W. (2023). A Technology-Enhanced Intervention for Violence and Substance Use Prevention Among Young Black Men: Protocol for Adaptation and Pilot Testing. JMIR research protocols, 12, e43842. https://doi.org/10.2196/43842 PMID: 37126388.
Emezue, Chuka; Pozneanscaia, Cristina; Sheaf, Greg; Groppo, Valeria; Bakrania, Shivit; Kaplan, Josiah (2023). Child Work and Child Labour: The Impact of Educational Policies and Programmes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Innocenti Research Report, UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1821-child-work-and-child-labour-the-impact-of-educational-policies-and-programmes-in-low-and-middle-income-countries.html
2022
Emezue, C. N., Dougherty, D. S., Enriquez, M., Bullock, L., & Bloom, T. L. (2022). Perceptions of Risk for Dating Violence Among Rural Adolescent Males: An Interpretive Analysis. American Journal of Men’s Health. 16(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221126884
Emezue, C., Chase, J. D., Udmuangpia, T., & Bloom, T. L. (2022). Technology-based and digital interventions for intimate partner violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18, e1271. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1271
Emezue, C.N., Bishop-Royse, J., Udmuangpia, T., Dan-Irabor, D., Anakwe, A., Julion, Karnik, N.S., Risky Weapon Carrying Behaviors, Youth Violence, and Substance Use Among Young Black Males in Chicago: A Cross-sectional Analysis. Injury Epidemiology (In Press).
Emezue, C., Dan-Irabor, D., Anakwe, A., Froilan, A., Dunlap, A., Karnik, N., Julion, W.J. (2024). “I Have More Friends That Died Than Fingers and Toes:” Service Utilization Needs and Preferences for Violence and Substance Use Prevention Among Young Black Boys and Men. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. (In Press)
Emezue, C. N., & Traylor, D. O. N. (2024). Navigating Challenges and Opportunities for Multidisciplinary Faculty in Nursing Academia. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 46(5), 331-332. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459241245041
Gallimore, M. R., Howland, C., Chase, J. D., Grimsley, A., Emezue, C., Boles, K., Anbari, A. B., Sherwin, L. B., Vogelsmeier, A., Popejoy, L., Rantz, M. J., & Reeder, B. (2022). Digital Methodology for Mobile Clinical Decision Support Development in Long-Term Care. Studies in health technology and informatics, 290, 479–483. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI220122
2019-2021
Emezue, C., Enriquez, M., Dougherty, D. S., Bullock, L. F., & Bloom, T. L. (2021). Rural young males’ acceptance & receptiveness to technology-based interventions for dating violence prevention: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Adolescence, 92, 137-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.08.012
Emezue, C., Pozneanscaia, C., Sheaf, G., Groppo, V., Bakrania, S., Kaplan, J., The Impact of Educational Policies and Programmes on Child Work and Child Labour in Low- and-Middle-Income Countries: A rapid evidence assessment (Protocol), UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti, Florence, 2021. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Impact-of-Educational-Policies-and-Programmes-on-Child-Work-and-Child-Labour-in-LMICs-study-protocol.pdf
Emezue C., Bloom TL. (2020). Protocol: Technology-based and digital interventions for intimate partner violence: A meta‐analysis and systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2020;e1132. doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1132 [Most cited in issue between 1 January 2021 – 15 December 2022].
Emezue, C., & Udmuangpia, T. (2020). Authentic Empathy and the Role of Victim Service Providers in (De)stigmatizing Male Sexual Victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. doi.org/10.1177/0886260520948150
Emezue C., (2020). Digital or Digitally Delivered Responses to Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence During COVID-19, JMIR Public Health Surveill 2020;6(3): e19831 URL: http://publichealth.jmir.org/2020/3/e19831/ [Highly cited, > 120 citations since publication].
Emezue C., Williams, O. J., & Bloom, T.L. (2019), Culturally Differentiated Batterer Intervention Programs for Immigrant Male Batterers: An Integrative Review. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. doi:10.1080/10926771.2019.1685042
Emezue, C., Froilan, A., Dunlap, A., Bishop-Royse, J., Julion, W.A., Karnik, N., A Pilot Study Evaluating a Digital Intervention’s Impact on Gun Violence Attitudes, Aggression, and Mental Health in Young Black Males. SBM 2025, San Francisco, March 2025. [Poster]
Emezue C., Risky Firearm Behaviors and Correlations with Youth Violence Among Young Black Boys in a High-Violence Context, [Poster]. American Public Health Association (APHA) Session: Firearm Violence Poster Session. October 28, 2024
Emezue C., BrotherlyACT: A Novel Culturally-Tailored Digital Tool for Youth and Firearm Violence Prevention Among Young Black Males, [Poster]. Chicago Chronic Conditions Health Equity Network (C3EN) Annual Meeting. Winner: Community Choice Awards (voted on by the Community Stakeholder Advisory Committee)
Emezue C., Mental telehealth help-seeking among racial and ethnic minority highschoolers impacted by co-occurring violence and substance use: A cross-sectional analysis, [Oral]. American Public Health Association (APHA) Session: Violence Prevention and Control Oral Session. October 28, 2024
Emezue, C., Karnik, N.S., Sabri, B., Anakwe, A., Froilan, A., Bishop-Royse, J., Dan-Irabor, D., Li, Q., Julion, W., Demand and Supply of Telemedicine Services for Racial and Ethnic Minority High Schoolers Affected By Violence and Substance Use during the Pandemic, [Oral presentation]. November 16, 2024, Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction (AMERSA), Chicago, IL.
Emezue, C., Karnik, N., Sabri, B., Anakwe, A., Bishop-Royse, J.C., Dan-Irabor, D., Froilan, A.P., Dunlap, A., Li, Q., Julion, W., Double Jeopardy: Online Help-Seeking by Racial and Ethnic Minority High Schoolers Impacted by Violence and Substance Use During the Pandemic, MNRS Annual Research Conference, March 2024 in Minneapolis, MN. [Poster Discussion]
Emezue, C., Karnik, N., Sabri, B., Anakwe, A., Bishop-Royse, J.C., Dan-Irabor, D., Froilan, A.P., Dunlap, A., Li, Q., Julion, W., Online Help-Seeking by Racial and Ethnic Minority Adolescents Impacted by Violence and Substance Use During the Pandemic. 45th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), Philadelphia, PA, March 2024. [Paper Presentation]
Emezue, C., D., Froilan, A.P., Dunlap, A., Li, Q., Julion, W., Risky Firearm Behaviors (RFBs) and Other Forms of Youth Violence Among Young Black Males in Chicago: A Cross-Sectional Study. SBM 2024, Philadelphia, PA, March 2024. [Poster]
Emezue, C.N., Froilan, A., Dunlap, A., Risky Firearm Behaviors and Correlations with Multi-Form Violence Among Young Black Men in a High-Violence Context. 25th NNVAWI Conference [Symposium], Phuket, Thailand.
Glass, N., Bloom, T., Alexander, K. A., Emezue, C., Olawole, W., Clough, A., Turner, R., & Perrin, N. (2024). The effectiveness of myPlan Teen, a digital healthy relationship intervention to improve health and prevent dating violence with adolescents age 15-17 years. 25th NNVAWI Conference [Symposium], Phuket, Thailand.
*Boles, K., Gallimore, M., Howland, C., Emezue, C., Reeder, B., Technical Function Evaluation of Two Smart Wearables and Data Analysis Methods for Step Counts; Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) International; July 23-28, 2023, Denmark [Online]
Emezue, C., Karnik, N., Sabri, B., Anakwe, A., Bishop-Royse, J.C., Dan-Irabor, D., Froilan, A.P., Dunlap, A., Li, Q., Julion, W., Double Jeopardy: Online Help-Seeking by Racial and Ethnic Minority High Schoolers Impacted by Violence and Substance Use During the Pandemic, MNRS Annual Research Conference, March 2024 in Minneapolis, MN. [Poster Discussion]
Emezue, C., Karnik, N., Sabri, B., Anakwe, A., Bishop-Royse, J.C., Dan-Irabor, D., Froilan, A.P., Dunlap, A., Li, Q., Julion, W., Online Help-Seeking by Racial and Ethnic Minority Adolescents Impacted by Violence and Substance Use During the Pandemic. 45th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), Philadelphia, PA, March 2024. [Paper Presentation]
Emezue, C., D., Froilan, A.P., Dunlap, A., Li, Q., Julion, W., Risky Firearm Behaviors (RFBs) and Other Forms of Youth Violence Among Young Black Males in Chicago: A Cross-Sectional Study. SBM 2024, Philadelphia, PA, March 2024. [Poster]
Boles, K., Gallimore, M., Howland, C., Emezue, C., Reeder, B., (2023), Technical Function Evaluation of Two Smart Wearables and Data Analysis Methods for Step Counts. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4240429
Herbert, D., Gallimore, M.R, Johnson, A., Narasri, P., Boles, K., Emezue, C., Reeder, B., (2022). Usability Inspection of the Maisie Mobile CDS App. Published conference proceedings, the poster was also presented at American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) 2022.
Emezue, C., Chase, J., Udmuangpia, T., & Bloom, T. (2022). How effective are technology-based interventions in reducing adverse mental health and victimization outcomes among partner violence survivors? Findings from a meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing Special Issue: Conference Proceedings for the 24th NNVAWI Conference. DOI: 10.1111/jan.15313
Emezue, C., Dougherty, D., Enriquez, M., Bullock, L., Bloom, T. (2022). What is risk to you? How rural young males perceive risk and protective factors of dating violence: A qualitative interpretive study. Journal of Advanced Nursing Special Issue: Conference Proceedings for the 24th NNVAWI Conference. DOI: 10.1111/jan.15313
Emezue, C. N., Enriquez, M., Dougherty, D., Bullock, L., & Bloom, T. (2022, April). What Do Rural Young Males Want in An App-Based Intervention for Dating Violence Prevention? In Annals of Behavioral Medicine (Vol. 56, No. Supp 1, pp. S679-S679). Journals Dept, 2001 Evans Rd, Cary, NC 27513 USA: Oxford Univ Press Inc.
*Emezue, CN., Howland, C., Gallimore, M.R., Boles, K., Grimsley, A., Sherwin, L.B., Anbari, A., Reeder, B., Chase, J.D., (2021). Usability and Accuracy Evaluation of the Fitbit Versa 3 Smart Watch Compared to Research-Grade Devices. Poster Abstract presented at American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Annual Symposium 2021, San Diego, CA. November 2021.
Grimsley, A., Boles, K., Howland, C., Emezue, C., Gallimore, M., Sherwin, L.B., Chase, J., Reeder, B., Anbari, A. (2021). Digital Methodology for Mobile Clinical Decision Support Development. Poster Abstract at American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Annual Symposium 2021, San Diego, CA. November 2021.
Boles, K. Gallimore, M., Emezue, C., Howland, C., Grimsley, A., Chase, J.D., Anbari, A., Sherwin, L, Reeder, B. (2021) Comparing Performance of Hip-worn and Wrist-worn Research-Grade Activity Monitors for Daily Activities. Poster Abstract presented at American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Annual Symposium 2021, San Diego, CA. November 2021.
Gallimore, M., Howland, C, Chase, J.D., Grimsley, A., Emezue, C., Boles, K., Anbari, A.B., Sherwin, L.B., Vogelsmeier, A., Popejoy, L., Rantz, M.J., Reeder, B., Digital Methodology for Mobile Clinical Decision Support Development in Long-Term Care. International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) - MedInfo 2021 Conference [Paper]
Reeder, B., Gallimore, M., Howland, C., Emezue, C., Boles, K., Anbari, A., & Chase, J. A. D. (2021) Stepwise Evaluation Methodology for SmartWatch Sensor Function and Usability. In: Schmorrow D.D., Fidopiastis C.M. (eds) Augmented Cognition. HCII 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 12776. Springer, Cham. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78114-9_16
Emezue, C., Bloom T., (April 2021), Digital Interventions Responsive to Mental Health Outcomes of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): A Meta-Analysis [Citation and Meritorious Award Winner]. 2021 SBM Annual Meeting Abstracts Supplement Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Volume 55, Issue Supplement 1, Pages S1–S618, https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaab020
Emezue, C., (May 2020). Supporting Male Victims of Sexual Assault: The Role of Authentic Empathy (AE.) and Stigma Management in the Narratives of Victim Service Providers. 2020 Midwest Nursing Research Society, MNRS. [Award-Winning Abstract] published in Western Journal of Nursing Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920935549
Emezue, C., (July 2020). Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) Abstracts, Title: Immigrant Male Batterers: A Systematic Review of Treatment Gaps, Therapeutic Disparities, & Theoretical Misfiring in Intervention Programs. NNVAWI Abstract. 10.1177/2333393620932494
Emezue, C., (July 2020). Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) Abstracts Title: Exploring Authentic Empathy & Male Victim Stigma Management in the Practice Narratives of Victim Service Providers. NNVAWI Abstract. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393620932494
Emezue, CN., Socio-Legal Responses to Immigrant and Refugee Male Batterers in the EU and MENA Regions. Peterson, D.S, Schroeder, J.A, & Zhang, D. (Eds.). International Responses to Interpersonal Violence: Gender-Specific and Socio-Cultural Approaches. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003264040-29
Boles, K. K., Gallimore, M. R., Howland, C., Emezue, C., & Reeder, B. Technical Function Evaluation of Two Smart Wearables and Data Analysis Methods for Step Counts. Available at SSRN 4240429.
Hatcher A., and Emezue, CN., (2023) Foreword for Young People, Violence and Strategic Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Naidoo, K., Adeagbo, O., Xiaoming Li, X., (Eds.) Clinical Sociology: Research and Practice (CSRP) (First Edition). Springer.
