Adrienne Duke-Marks, Ph.D. profile and information

Innovation

My research centers on understanding and addressing the interplay of risk and protective factors during adolescence to engage in program development. As an applied researcher, my primary goal is to develop and evaluate research-based programs that reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors, which ultimately promotes healthier developmental trajectories for adolescents. By integrating insights from human development and family science, evaluation science, and public health, my work seeks to create research-based and theoretically grounded prevention programs.

My research is organized into three interrelated strands.

The first strand examines risk and protective factors during adolescence and emerging adulthood; with a particular focus on bullying, vaping, and discrimination. These issues are important to study, as they contribute to adverse psychological, social, mental and physical health outcomes for youth and emerging adults. By understanding the mechanisms through which these risks operate, my work informs targeted interventions that foster resilience and well-being.

The second strand of my research focuses on developing and implementing prevention programs designed to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors. My work is grounded in the positive youth development framework (PYD), which emphasizes that adolescent well-being is not merely the absence of risk behaviors but also the presence of strengths that enable youth to reach their full potential. Research has demonstrated that programs that build the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional competence of adolescents are more effective than those solely aimed at correcting problems. My research explores how promoting competence, fostering social-emotional learning, and promoting positive peer relationships can mitigate risks.

The third strand of my research involves evaluating the effectiveness of prevention programs. My evaluation efforts go beyond traditional outcome-focused approaches to include formative and process evaluations that assess implementation and real-world applicability. I employ diverse evaluation methodologies to engage stakeholders and ensure that findings translate into actionable improvements. I have had an evaluation contract with the Alabama Department of Public Health which has created avenues for research in the area of teen pregnancy prevention.