Jing Zhang

Dr. Jing Zhang is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Kent State University. She has developed a research agenda contributing to the understanding of critical sociocultural factors underlying the health and behavioral outcomes (e.g., substance use, psychological well-being, employment, education) of marginalized children and families. Her research also focuses on testing efficacy and investigating mechanisms of change of family interventions that mitigate the negative influence of contextual risk and foster positive family relationships and resilience.

Expertise:

• Health and behavioral outcomes of marginalized youth and families
• Contextual risk factors
• Family processes, parenting, parent-child relationships
• Preventions/interventions
• Advanced research methods (e.g., latent growth modeling, multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, and group-based modeling for longitudinal clinical randomized trials)

Selected publications:

Yilmazer, T., Zhang, J., Chavez, L. J., Famelia, R., Feng, X., Ford, J., Kelleher, K., & Slesnick, N. (in press). Housing and supportive services for young mothers experiencing substance use disorder and homelessness: Cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomized trial. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.

Zhang, J., Wu, Q., Feng, X., Ford, J., Famelia, R., & Slesnick, N. (2023). Co‐occurring trajectory of housing stability and parenting stress with child behavior problems: A randomized trial of a housing intervention for young mothers experiencing homelessness. Family Process. 00, 1–20. 

Slesnick, N., Zhang, J., Feng, X., Mallory, A., Martin, J., Famelia, R., ... & Kelleher, K. (2023). Housing and supportive services for substance use and self-efficacy among young mothers experiencing homelessness: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 144, 108917.

Zhang, J., & Gonzales-Backen, M. A. (2023). The association between acculturative stress and rule-breaking behaviors among Latinx adolescents in rural areas: A moderated mediation analysis. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advance online publication. 

Zhang, J., Cheng, H. L., & Barrella, K. (2022). Longitudinal pathways to educational attainment and health of immigrant youth in young adulthood: A comparative analysis. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31, 197-201.

Zhang, J., Wu, Q., & Slesnick, N. (2021). Social problem solving and suicidal ideation among homeless youth receiving a cognitive therapy intervention: A moderated mediation analysis. Behavior Therapy, 52, 552-563.

Zhang, J., & Slesnick, N. (2020). Academic performance and delinquent and aggressive behaviors among children with substance using mothers. Children and Youth Services Review. Advance online publication.