Biography
Dr. Lara-Cinisomo's research focuses on addressing mental health disparities in women and mothers, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, and military populations. Her research approach builds on a framework focused on psychosocial, cultural, structural and physiological factors. Specifically, she examines how contextual factors (e.g., culture, biology) are associated with poor mental health in her populations of interest. As such, she takes an integrated approach to understand mental health disparities in mothers and women. Recently, she completed several studies that examine associations between hormone function (i.e., cortisol and oxytocin) and perinatal depression in Latinas. Dr. Lara-Cinisomo also completed a novel study on the effects of mindfulness on the mental health of caregivers of veterans. Currently, she is conducting a multisite study on prenatal depression, diabetes, and disease management. Dr. Lara-Cinisomo is also exploring brain activation in the context of pain in postpartum women with and without depression.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Affiliate, Center for Social and Behavioral Science
Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Community Health
Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences
Associate Professor, Women & Gender in Global Perspectives
Recent Publications
Lara-Cinisomo, S., Melesse, B., & Mendy, M. E. (Accepted/In press). Demographic and COVID-19-Related Factors Associated with Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among African American and Latina Women in a Midwestern State. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01495-0
Daugherty, J. C., Bueso-Izquierdo, N., Lara-Cinisomo, S., Lozano-Ruiz, A., & Caparros-Gonzalez, R. A. (2022). Partner relationship quality, social support and maternal stress during pregnancy and the first COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 43(4), 563-573. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2022.2101446
Juarez Padilla, J., Singleton, C. R., Pedersen, C. A., & Lara-Cinisomo, S. (2022). Associations between Self-Rated Health and Perinatal Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Latina Women. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(19), [11978]. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911978
Lara-Cinisomo, S., Loret de Mola, J. R., Flores-Carter, K., Tabb, K. M., & Roloff, K. (2022). Prenatal Depressive Symptoms, Self-Rated Health, and Diabetes Self-Efficacy: A Moderated Mediation Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(20), [13603]. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013603
Singleton, C. R., Fabusoro, O., Teran-Garcia, M., & Lara-Cinisomo, S. (2022). Change in Employment Status Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, SNAP Participation, and Household Food Insecurity among Black and Latino Adults in Illinois. Nutrients, 14(8), [1581]. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081581