Ph.D., Combined Clinical/Counseling Psychology, Utah State University (2023)
Graduate Certificate in Advanced Research Methods and Analysis – Quantitative, Utah State University (2022)

Research Interests

I am the co-director of the Targeting Health disparities through Research, InnoVation, and Equity (THRIVE) Lab, which focuses on (a) improving access to mental health services, (b) identifying youth at-risk for developing mental health problems following exposure to adversity, (c) understanding mechanism of resilience after trauma exposures, and (d) leveraging community strengths to promote the wellbeing of marginalized youths and families.

Research Statement

I use cutting-edge statistical methods to improve our understanding of factors contributing to inequitable access to youth mental health services (MHS) among marginalized communities. I am particularly interested in improving access to youth prevention programs and MHS among Latinx youths and families. My research program seeks to reduce health disparities by (a) leveraging advanced statistical approaches (e.g., machine learning, network models) to improve scientists’ ability to identify youths at-risk for developing emotional and/or behavioral problems (i.e., internalizing and/or externalizing problems, substance use), (b) understanding mechanisms underpinning caregiver help-seeking behaviors in response to youth mental health problems, (c) pinpointing opportunities to integrate evidence-based interventions into youth support service formats that caregivers may find less stigmatizing, and more accessible (e.g., telepsychology, primary care, schools), and (d) developing measures to support research and clinical practice with underserved populations.

I work with original and extant data collected at the local, national, and international levels. I have expertise in extracting insights from big data using machine learning techniques supported by high-performance computing. In addition to my ongoing work, I will be establishing a community-based participatory research program to form partnerships with local leaders/organizations to develop knowledge and interventions that address challenges experienced by marginalized communities within Knox County. I will also continue to engage with collaborators within the U.S. and abroad to pursue research seeking to end mental health disparities among Latinxs through improved access to prevention and intervention programs.

Legacy of Utah State University, College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University (2022)
Doctoral Researcher of the Year, Department of Psychology, Utah State University (2022)
Anthony LaPray Scholarship, Department of Psychology, Utah State University (2021)
Michael Bertoch Scholarship, Department of Psychology, Utah State University (2020)
Walter Borg Research Productivity Award and Scholarship, Department of Psychology, Utah State University (2019)

American Psychological Foundation – Visionary Fund Grant; $4,305 (2019)

Vázquez, A. L., Chou, T., Helseth, S., Gudiño, O. G., & Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. (2023). Juntos hacemos la diferencia [together we make the difference]: A network analysis of Latinx caregivers’ use of youth support services. Family Process. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12901

Vázquez, A. L., Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Navarro Flores, C. M., Abreu, R. L., & Barrett, T. S. (2023). La vergüenza [the shame]: Meassuring affiliate stigma associated with youth mental health problems among Latinx caregivers. Journal of Latinx Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000235

Garcini, L. M., Vázquez, A. L., Abraham, C., Abraham, C., Sarabu, V., & Cruz, P. L. (2023). Implications of undocumented status for Latinx families during the COVID-19 pandemic: A call to action. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2022.2158837

Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. Reveles, A. K., Litson, K., Patterson, C. A., & Vázquez, A.V. (2022). Development of the awareness, skills, knowledge: General (ASK-G) scale for measuring cultural competence in the general population. PLoS ONE, 17(9), e0274505. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274505

Lui, J. H. L., Brookman-Frazee, L., Vázquez, A. L., Cox, J. R., Innes-Gomberg, D., Taguchi, K., Pesanti, K., & Lau, A. S. (2022). Patterns of child mental health service utilization within a multiple EBP system of care. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 49, 506-520. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-021-01179-7

Vázquez, A. L., Culianos, D., Navarro Flores, C. M., Alvarez, M. C., Barrett, T. S., & Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. (2022). Psychometric evaluation of a barriers to treatment questionnaire for Latina/o/x caregivers of children and adolescents. Child & Youth Care Forum, 51, 847-864. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-021-09656-8

Vázquez, A. L., Chou, T., Navarro Flores, C. M., Barrett, T. S., Villodas, M. T., & Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. (2021). High value correlates of caregiver reported counseling service need and utilization for adolescents at-risk for childhood maltreatment and neglect. PLoS ONE, 16(10), e0258082. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258082

Vázquez, A. L., Alvarez, M. C., Navarro Flores, C. M., González Vera, J. M., Barrett, T. S., & Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. (2021). Youth mental health service preferences and utilization patterns among Latinx caregivers. Children and Youth Services Review, 131, 106258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106258

Vázquez, A. L., Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Barrett, T. S., Amador Buenabad, N. G., Gutiérrez López, M. de L., Bustos Gamiño, M. N., & Villatoro Velázquez, J. A. (2021). Parent characteristics and practices classify lifetime substance use among Mexican children. International Journal of Mental Health and Addictions. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00634-8

Vázquez, A. L., Navarro Flores, C. M., Alvarez, M. C., & Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. (2021). Latinx caregivers’ perceived need for and utilization of youth telepsychology services during the Coronavirus pandemic. Journal of Latinx Psychology, 9(4), 284-298. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000192

García, B. H., Vázquez, A. L., Moses, J. O., Cromer, K. D., Morrow, A. S., & Villodas, M. T. (2021). Risk for substance use among adolescents at-risk for childhood victimization: The moderating role of ADHD. Child Abuse and Neglect, 11, 104977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.104977

Vázquez, A. L., Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Barrett, T. S., Schwartz, S. E., Amador Buenabad, N. G., Bustos Gamiño, M. N., Gutierrez López, M. L., & Villatoro Velazquez J. A. (2020). Innovative identification of substance use predictors: Machine learning in a national sample of Mexican children. Prevention Science, 21, 171-181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-020-01089-4

Vázquez, A. L., Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Amador Buenabad, N. G., Bustos Gamiño, M. N., Gutierrez López, M. L., & Villatoro Velazquez J. A. (2019). The influence of perceived parenting on substance initiation among Mexican children. Addictive Behaviors, 97, 97-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.05.026

Vázquez, A. L., Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Schwartz, S. E., Amador Buenabad, N. G., Bustos Gamiño, M. N., Gutierrez López, M. L., & Villatoro Velazquez, J. A. (2019). Early adolescent substance use in a national sample of Mexican youths: Demographic characteristics that predict use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Journal of Latinx Psychology, 7(4), 273–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000128

Vázquez, A. L., & Villodas, M. T. (2019). Racial/ethnic differences in caregivers’ perceptions of adolescent and family support services need and utilization. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 25(3), 323-330. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000255

Domenech Rodríguez, M. M., Baumann, A. A., Vázquez, A. L., Amador Buenabad, N. G., Franceschi Rivera, N., Ortiz-Pons, N., & Parra-Cardona, J. R. (2018). Scaling out evidence-based interventions outside the US mainland: Social justice or Trojan horse? Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 6(4), 329-344. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000121