John Ruiz

Interests

Teaching

The role of psychosocial and sociocultural factors in health and disease.

Research

Dr. Ruiz’s program of research focuses on psychosocial influences on health. His NIH-funded research examines relationships between individual level psychosocial factors, social behaviors, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with an emphasis on biobehavioral mechanisms. In addition, Dr. Ruiz has recognized expertise in sociocultural aspects of racial/ethnic health disparities, particularly the epidemiological phenomenon referred to as the Hispanic Health Paradox.

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Chapters

• Ruiz, J., & Goans, C. C. (2016). Hostility and health.. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. Sage.
• Ruiz, J., Garcia, J. J., & Prather, C. C. (2016). Cardiovascular disease: psychological and behavioral factors. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. Sage.
• Smith, T. W., Williams, P. G., & Ruiz, J. M. (2016). Clinical health psychology.. In APA Handbook of Clinical Psychology, Volume I. Clinical Psychology: Roots and Branches.. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Journals/Publications

• Doyle, C. Y., Ruiz, J. M., Taylor, D. J., Smyth, J. W., Flores, M., Dietch, J. R., Ahn, C., Allison, M., Smith, T. W., & Uchino, B. N. (2021). Associations Between Objective Sleep and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in a Community Sample. Psychosomatic medicine, 81(6), 545-556.
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  Epidemiologic data increasingly support sleep as a determinant of cardiovascular disease risk. Fewer studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying this relationship using objective sleep assessment approaches. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine associations between daily blood pressure (BP) and both objectively assessed sleep duration and efficiency.
• Flores, M., Ruiz, J. M., Butler, E. A., Sbarra, D. A., Garcia, D. O., Kohler, L., Crane, T. E., Corbie-Smith, G., Benavente, V., Kroenke, C. H., Saquib, N., & Thomson, C. A. (2021). Does the Hispanic Mortality Advantage Vary by Marital Status Among Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative?. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
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  Literature assessing the effect of marital status on mortality has underrepresented, or altogether omitted Hispanics and the potential moderating effect of Hispanic ethnicity on these relationships. Given cultural and network dynamics, marital advantages in older Hispanic women may be greater than other groups given their family-focused, collectivist orientation.
• Stickel, A. M., McKinnon, A. C., Matijevic, S., Grilli, M. D., Ruiz, J., & Ryan, L. (2021). Apolipoprotein E ε4 Allele-Based Differences in Brain Volumes Are Largely Uniform Across Late Middle Aged and Older Hispanic/Latino- and Non-Hispanic/Latino Whites Without Dementia. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 13, 627322.
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  Hispanics/Latinos are at an equal or a greater risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet risk factors remain more poorly characterized as compared to non-Hispanic/Latino Whites. Among non-Hispanic/Latino White cohorts, the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is one of the strongest risk factors for AD with subtle declines in episodic memory and brain volumes detectable in the preclinical stages. We examined whether the APOE ε4 status had a differential impact on cognition and brain volumes among cognitively healthy and mild cognitively impaired Hispanics/Latinos ( = 86; ε4 = 23) compared to a well-matched group of non-Hispanic/Latino Whites ( = 92; ε4 = 29). Neither the APOE ε4 status nor the interaction between the ε4 status and ethnicity was associated with cognitive performance. The APOE ε4 status was associated with white matter and not with gray matter volumes. APOE ε4 carriers had a significantly smaller total brain white matter volumes, as well as smaller right middle temporal and left superior temporal volumes. The Hispanics/Latinos had significantly smaller left middle frontal gray matter volumes, yet marginally larger overall white matter volumes, than the non-Hispanic/Latino Whites. Exploratory analysis within the Hispanic/Latino sample found that those people whose primary language was Spanish had larger total brain white matter volumes compared primarily to the English speakers. Importantly, primary language differences only held for Hispanic/Latino ε4 carriers and did not differentiate Hispanic/Latino non-carriers, underscoring the need for further investigation into the impacts of language and acculturation on cognitive aging among the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States.
• Felt, J. M., Russell, M. A., Ruiz, J. M., Johnson, J. A., Uchino, B. N., Allison, M., Smith, T. W., Taylor, D. J., Ahn, C., & Smyth, J. (2020). A multimethod approach examining the relative contributions of optimism and pessimism to cardiovascular disease risk markers. Journal of behavioral medicine, 43(5), 839-849.
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  Although dispositional optimism and pessimism are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), their relative independence and unique contributions to CVD risk are unclear. This study addressed these issues by using multiple indicators of optimism and pessimism and linking them to objective risk factors for CVD. A diverse sample of adults (N = 300) completed baseline assessments (including global reports of optimism and pessimism), a 2-day/1-night EMA protocol with ambulatory blood pressure (BP) at 45-min intervals, and had inflammatory markers and carotid intima media imaging collected. EMA reports of momentary positive and negative expectations were averaged to form intraindividual (person) means of optimism and pessimism, respectively. Optimism and pessimism were only modestly correlated between- and within-assessment methods. Higher pessimism, regardless of assessment method, predicted both lower odds of whether BP dipping occurred and a smaller degree of dipping, but was unrelated to other biomarkers. Optimism was not uniquely predictive of CVD risk factors. Pessimism thus appears to exhibit stronger relative contribution to risk indicators of CVD than optimism.
• Flores, M., Ruiz, J. M., Goans, C., Butler, E. A., Uchino, B. N., Hirai, M., Tinajero, R., & Smith, T. W. (2020). Racial-ethnic differences in social networks and perceived support: Measurement considerations and implications for disparities research. Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 26(2), 189-199.
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  Racial-ethnic differences in physical/mental health are well documented as being associated with disparities; however, emerging conceptual models increasingly suggest that group differences in social functioning and organization contribute to these relationships. There is little work examining whether racial-ethnic groups respond similarly to classic measures of social networks and perceived support and whether there are significant between-groups differences on these measures.
• Ghani, S. B., Delgadillo, M. E., Granados, K., Okuagu, A. C., Alfonso-Miller, P., Buxton, O. M., Patel, S. R., Ruiz, J., Parthasarathy, S., Haynes, P. L., Molina, P., Seixas, A., Williams, N., Jean-Louis, G., & Grandner, M. A. (2020). Acculturation Associated with Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality, and Sleep Disorders at the US-Mexico Border. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(19).
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  Sleep disparities exist among Hispanics/Latinos, although little work has characterized individuals at the United States (US)-Mexico border, particularly as it relates to acculturation. This study examined the association of Anglo and Mexican acculturation to various facets of sleep health among those of Mexican descent at the US-Mexico border. Data were collected from = 100 adults of Mexican descent in the city of Nogales, Arizona (AZ). Surveys were presented in English or Spanish. Acculturation was assessed with the Acculturation Scale for Mexican-Americans (ARSMA-II). Insomnia was assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), sleepiness was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), sleep apnea risk was assessed with the Multivariable Apnea Prediction (MAP) index, weekday and weekend sleep duration and efficiency were assessed with the Sleep Timing Questionnaire, sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and sleep duration and sleep medication use were assessed with PSQI items. No associations were found between Mexican acculturation and any sleep outcomes in adjusted analyses. Anglo acculturation was associated with less weekend sleep duration and efficiency, worse insomnia severity and sleep quality, and more sleep apnea risk and sleep medication use. These results support the idea that sleep disparities may depend on the degree of acculturation, which should be considered in risk screening and interventions.
• Hirai, M., Charak, R., Seligman, L. D., Hovey, J. D., Ruiz, J. M., & Smith, T. W. (2020). An Association Between Perceived Social Support and Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity Among Women With Lifetime Sexual Victimization: The Serial Mediating Role of Resilience and Coping. Violence against women, 26(15-16), 1966-1986.
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  This study examined the association between perceived social support and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms, serially mediated by resilience and coping among women exposed to different patterns of sexual victimization experiences: childhood sexual abuse (CSA) only, adult sexual assault (ASA) only, and sexual revictimization (SR). A total of 255 sexually victimized women recruited from four U.S. universities completed self-report measures online; 112 participants reported provisionally diagnosable levels of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The proposed model was largely supported in the CSA only group and the SR group. Different patterns of mediational effects were found across the three groups. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
• Ruiz, J. M., & Revenson, T. A. (2020). Behavioral Medicine in the COVID-19 Era: Dawn of the Golden Age. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 54(8), 541-543.
• Bourassa, K. J., Ruiz, J. M., & Sbarra, D. A. (2019). Smoking and Physical Activity Explain the Increased Mortality Risk Following Marital Separation and Divorce: Evidence From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 53(3), 255-266.
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  Marital separation and divorce are associated with an increased risk of early mortality, but the specific biobehavioral pathways that explain this association remain largely unknown.
• Bourassa, K. J., Ruiz, J. M., & Sbarra, D. A. (2019). The impact of physical proximity and attachment working models on cardiovascular reactivity: Comparing mental activation and romantic partner presence. Psychophysiology, 56(5), e13324.
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  Close relationships, especially high-quality romantic relationships, are consistently associated with positive physical health outcomes. Attenuated cardiovascular reactivity is one physiological mechanism implicated in explaining these effects. Drawing on attachment and social baseline theories, this experimental study evaluated two potential affiliative cues as mechanisms through which romantic relationships may attenuate cardiovascular reactivity to a laboratory-based stressor. Prior to a cold pressor task, 102 participants were randomly assigned to either have their partner physically present, call upon a mental representation of their partner, or think about their day during the stressor. Consistent with our preregistered hypotheses, participants in both the partner present and mental activation conditions had significantly lower blood pressure (BP) reactivity during the cold pressor task compared to control participants for both systolic (d = -0.54) and diastolic BP (d = -0.53), but no significant differences emerged for heart rate or heart rate variability. Although participants in the partner present and mental activation conditions had similar BP reactivity to the cold pressor task, those in the partner present condition reported significantly less pain as a result of the task. The difference in BP reactivity by condition was moderated-BP reactivity was greater for people with lower self-reported relationship satisfaction. The results suggest that accessing the mental representation of a romantic partner and a partner's presence each buffer against exaggerated acute stress responses to a similar degree.
• Bourassa, K. J., Sbarra, D. A., Ruiz, J. M., Karciroti, N., & Harburg, E. (2019). Mismatch in Spouses' Anger-Coping Response Styles and Risk of Early Mortality: A 32-Year Follow-Up Study. Psychosomatic medicine, 81(1), 26-33.
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  Research in psychosomatic medicine includes a long history of studying how responses to anger-provoking situations are associated with health. In the context of a marriage, spouses may differ in their anger-coping response style. Where one person may express anger in response to unfair, aggressive interpersonal interactions, his/her partner may instead suppress anger. Discordant response styles within couples may lead to increased relational conflict, which, in turn, may undermine long-term health. The current study sought to examine the association between spouses' anger-coping response styles and mortality status 32 years later.
• Knowles, L. M., Ruiz, J. M., & OʼConnor, M. F. (2019). A Systematic Review of the Association Between Bereavement and Biomarkers of Immune Function. Psychosomatic medicine, 81(5), 415-433.
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  Bereavement is associated with increased risk for morbidity and all-cause mortality across epidemiological, meta-analytic, and case-control studies. The body of research examining the association between bereavement and immune function, beginning in 1977, has yet to be reviewed. The current systematic review clarifies these findings, identifies limitations of the diverse literature, and suggests a model and directions for future research.
• Perez, L. G., Ruiz, J. M., & Berrigan, D. (2019). Neighborhood Environment Perceptions among Latinos in the U.S. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(17).
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  In the U.S., immigrants and racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., Latinos) often report unfavorable neighborhood environments, which may hinder physical activity (PA). Among Latinos, PA levels are disproportionately lower in foreign-born, female, older, and low-education individuals. It is unclear whether these subgroups, including those from multiple disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g., low education, foreign-born), perceive worse neighborhood environments for PA. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine differences in neighborhood environment perceptions among Latinos in the 2015 National Health Interview Survey ( = 4643; 59% foreign-born). Logistic regression models examined nativity-and its interactions with age, gender, and education-in relation to the perceived presence of transportation infrastructure (two items) and destinations (four items), controlling for self-reported walking. Models used sample weights and accounted for the complex survey design. Nativity was not significantly associated with neighborhood environment perceptions. However, nativity interactions with age and education showed the greatest inequities (lowest perceptions) of neighborhood infrastructure (e.g., fewer sidewalks) or destinations (e.g., fewer places to relax) among disadvantaged U.S.-born (older or low education) and advantaged foreign-born (higher education) Latinos. Findings suggest neighborhood perceptions are shaped by complex interactions of nativity with structural (education) and contextual (age) factors. Additional research is needed to complement our findings and inform environmental interventions targeting Latinos.
• Ruiz, J. M., & France, C. R. (2019). Introduction to the special series-behavioral medicine at 40: origins, achievements, and future directions. Journal of behavioral medicine, 42(1), 1-4.
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  The Journal of Behavioral Medicine emerged 40 years ago as a part of a concerted effort to promote a greater understanding of health and illness through the integrated lenses of behavioral and biomedical sciences. The aim of this special series is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Journal of Behavioral Medicine through state-of-the-science reviews synthesizing the origins, evolution, current status, and future directions of key aspects of the field. In this introduction, we outline the impetus for this special series and highlight the key themes across the included papers.
• Stickel, A., McKinnon, A., Ruiz, J., Grilli, M. D., Ryan, L., & , A. D. (2019). The impact of cardiovascular risk factors on cognition in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), 26(7), 235-244.
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  Among non-Hispanic whites, cardiovascular risk factors are associated with increased mortality and poorer cognition. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among aging Hispanics is also high and Hispanics generally have poorer access to healthcare, yet they tend to have advantageous cardiovascular disease rates and outcomes and live longer than non-Hispanic whites, an epidemiological phenomenon commonly referred to as the Hispanic or Latino health paradox. Although robust data support these ethnic benefits on physical health and mortality, it is unknown if it extends to include cognition resilience advantages in older adulthood. The present study compared relationships between cardiovascular risk and cognition (executive functions and episodic memory) in late middle age and older Hispanics ( = 87) and non-Hispanic whites ( = 81). Participants were selected from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative databases. Hispanics and non-Hispanic white groups were matched on age (50-94 yr, mean age = 72 yr), education, gender, cognitive status (i.e., cognitively healthy versus mildly cognitively impaired), and apolipoprotein E4 status. History of hypertension and higher body mass index were both associated with poorer executive functions among Hispanics but not non-Hispanic whites. Our findings suggest greater vulnerability to impairments in executive functions among Hispanics with hypertension and obesity, contrary to the notion of a Hispanic health paradox for cognitive aging.
• Valdez, L. A., Garcia, D. O., Ruiz, J., Oren, E., & Carvajal, S. (2019). Understanding Social and Cultural Contexts of Alcohol Misuse in Mexican-Origin Hispanic Men. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 46(4), 648-655.
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  Evidence suggests that Hispanic and non-Hispanic White men (NHW) have comparable prevalence rates of alcohol use. However, Hispanic men consistently have higher prevalence rates of alcohol misuse compared with NHW men. Consequently, Hispanic men experience disproportionate levels of adverse health consequences of alcohol misuse when compared with NHW men. The aim of this study was to explore Hispanic male perspectives and opinions regarding alcohol use patterns that may lead to disparate rates of alcohol misuse in Hispanic males. Demographic data were collected with questionnaires. Twenty semistructured one-on-one interviews were completed in English and Spanish with Mexican-origin Hispanic men (age: 44.6 ± 11.3 years). A thematic analysis was conducted using a hybrid deductive-inductive strategy with an a priori codebook supplemented with iterative analysis of transcripts. Results suggest that alcohol misuse patterns in Hispanic males are influenced by an interaction between alcohol-related social norms and learned expressions of masculinity; a lack of knowledge of the alcohol-related health risks that further perpetuate the normalization of alcohol misuse; and expressions of masculinity and adaptive coping that lead to alcohol misuse as an escape from life stressors. Given the rapid expansion of the Hispanic population in the United States, and the disparate consequences of alcohol misuse in this population, it is imperative to consider the complex and often compounded impact of sociocultural norms and the social context on misuse-related behaviors. Viable prevention and treatment strategies should be addressed thought multicomponent, community-level strategies that more comprehensively address the complexities of alcohol misuse in this population.
• Garcia, D. O., Carvajal, S. C., Oren, E., Ruiz, J., Flores, M. A., & Valdez, L. A. (2017). Gender and Cultural Adaptations for Diversity: A Systematic Review of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Interventions for Latino Males.. Substance Use and Misuse.
• Hernandez, R., González, H. M., Tarraf, W., Moskowitz, J. T., Carnethon, M. R., Gallo, L. C., Penedo, F. J., Isasi, C. R., Ruiz, J. M., Arguelles, W., Buelna, C., Davis, S., Gonzalez, F., McCurley, J. L., Wu, D., & Daviglus, M. L. (2018). Association of dispositional optimism with Life's Simple 7's Cardiovascular Health Index: results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study (SCAS). BMJ open, 8(3), e019434.
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  Mounting evidence links positive psychological functioning to restorative health processes and favourable medical outcomes. However, very little is known about the relationship between optimism, an indicator of psychological functioning and the American Heart Association (AHA)-defined concept of cardiovascular health (CVH), particularly in Hispanics/Latinos of diverse backgrounds. To address limitations of existing literature, this study investigated the association between dispositional optimism and CVH in a heterogeneous sample of Hispanics/Latinos residing in the USA.
• Ruiz, J. M., Sbarra, D., & Steffen, P. R. (2018). Hispanic ethnicity, stress psychophysiology and paradoxical health outcomes: A review with conceptual considerations and a call for research. International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology, 131, 24-29.
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  It is not wise to generalize psychophysiological findings from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) samples to all people and yet this occurs frequently in research. Case-in-point is our understanding of psychophysiological responses to stress which suggest universality despite our knowledge that these pathways are moderated by factors such as ethnicity and culture. Here we discuss the epidemiological phenomenon commonly referred to as the Hispanic health paradox to illustrate the importance of culture in understanding stress. We posit that despite high stress exposure, Hispanics may experience relatively low levels of stress contributing to their paradoxical health advantages. Building on our prior work, we present a new, culturally-tailored stress theory model to illustrate how sociocultural factors may moderate the experience of stress (through appraisals) with downstream effects on psychophysiological mechanisms. We support the model with available data and end this paper with a call for research that more carefully considers cultural and ethnic factors in psychophysiological research.
• Valdez, L. A., Garcia, D. O., Ruiz, J., Oren, E., & Carvajal, S. (2018). Exploring Structural, Sociocultural, and Individual Barriers to Alcohol Abuse Treatment Among Hispanic Men. American journal of men's health, 12(6), 1948-1957.
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  Hispanic men have poor access to alcohol abuse treatment, low treatment engagement, and low treatment completion rates despite the contrasting burden of alcohol-related consequences they face. The purpose of this study was to examine Hispanic male perspectives regarding alcohol abuse treatment-seeking behaviors and the structural, sociocultural, and individual factors that may influence initiation and continued engagement in treatment in this population. Individual interviews were conducted with a sample of 20 Hispanic men (age: 44.6 ± 11.3 years). Thematic analysis was completed using a hybrid deductive-inductive approach centered in an a priori codebook that was further supplemented with iterative exploration of transcripts. Results suggested treatment-seeking behaviors were highly influenced by (a) structural factors related to poor treatment access, as well as lack of linguistic- and cultural-responsiveness of available treatment; (b) sociocultural factors related to difficulties problematizing alcohol abuse due to lack of community awareness, societal normalization of consumption, and stigmatization of alcohol abuse treatment; and (c) individual factors related to lack of individual knowledge. This work highlights the perceived lack of congruency between available treatment and the linguistic, cultural, and gender norms of Hispanic men. There is need for responsive treatment strategies that comprehensively consider the gendered- and sociocultural-factors that govern treatment seeking and engagement behaviors. Findings also suggest a need for targeted alcohol abuse awareness building efforts in the Hispanic community. Specifically, the detrimental effects of alcohol-related problems and potential benefits of treatment should be addressed in order to diminish social stigma of abuse and of treatment.
• Dietch, J. R., Taylor, D. J., Smyth, J. M., Ahn, C., Smith, T. W., Uchino, B. N., Allison, M., & Ruiz, J. M. (2017). Gender and racial/ethnic differences in sleep duration in the North Texas heart study. Sleep health, 3(5), 324-327.
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  Short sleep duration has been linked with a wide array of poor mental and physical health outcomes. Such risks, however, may be moderated by demographic factors such as gender and race/ethnicity. In a diverse community sample, the current study examined the relationship between gender, race/ethnicity and objectively measured sleep duration, controlling for select potential confounds.
• Ruiz, J. M., Taylor, D. J., Uchino, B. N., Smith, T. W., Allison, M., Ahn, C., Johnson, J. J., & Smyth, J. M. (2017). Evaluating the longitudinal risk of social vigilance on atherosclerosis: study protocol for the North Texas Heart Study. BMJ open, 7(8), e017345.
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  Psychosocial factors are increasingly recognised as important determinants of cardiovascular disease risk. The North Texas Heart Study aims to understand the mechanisms responsible for this association with a focus on social vigilance (ie, scanning the environment for social threats). There is also growing interest in supplementing traditional methods (eg, survey assessment of psychosocial risk paired with cross-sectional and longitudinal health outcomes) with daily or repeated momentary assessment of psychosocial factors. However, there are relatively few longitudinal studies directly comparing these approaches with hard endpoints.
• Zawadzki, M. J., Smyth, J. M., Sliwinski, M. J., Ruiz, J. M., & Gerin, W. (2017). Revisiting the lack of association between affect and physiology: Contrasting between-person and within-person analyses. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 36(8), 811-818.
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  Despite experimental manipulations that reliably elicit affective and physiological responses, the relationship between the two frequently appears small or nonexistent. We propose that this is, at least in part, due to a mismatch between the nature of the question being asked and the analytic methods applied. For example, to test if levels of affect reliably covary with physiology over time-a within-person question-one cannot apply analytic approaches that test whether people are similarly reactive across domains-a between-person question. The purpose of this paper is to compare within-person and between-person analyses testing the association between affect and physiology.
• Balfour, P. C., Ruiz, J. M., Talavera, G. A., Allison, M. A., & Rodriguez, C. J. (2016). Cardiovascular Disease in Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Journal of Latina/o psychology, 4(2), 98-113.
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  Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in the United States and Western world for all groups with one exception: CVDs are the number 2 cause of death for Hispanics/Latinos behind cancer with overall cancer rates lower for Latinos relative to non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Despite a significantly worse risk factor profile marked by higher rates of traditional and non-traditional determinants, some CVD prevalence and mortality rates are significantly lower among Latinos relative NHWs. These findings support a need for greater understanding of CVDs specifically among Latinos in order to better document prevalence, appropriately model risk and resilience, and improve targeting of intervention efforts. The current aim is to provide a state-of-the-science review of CVDs amongst Latinos including a review of the epidemiological evidence, risk factor prevalence, and evaluation of the breadth and quality of the data. Questions concerning the generalizability of current risk models, the Hispanic paradox as it relates to CVDs, contributing psychosocial and sociocultural factors, and future directions are discussed.
• Balfour, P. C., Ruiz, J., Talavera, G. A., Allison, M. A., & Rodriguez, C. J. (2016). Cardiovascular disease in Hispanics/Latinos in the United States.. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 4, 98-113.
• Hook, J. N., Boan, D., Davis, D. E., Aten, J. D., Ruiz, J. M., & Maryon, T. (2016). Cultural Humility and Hospital Safety Culture. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings, 23(4), 402-409.
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  Hospital safety culture is an integral part of providing high quality care for patients, as well as promoting a safe and healthy environment for healthcare workers. In this article, we explore the extent to which cultural humility, which involves openness to cultural diverse individuals and groups, is related to hospital safety culture. A sample of 2011 hospital employees from four hospitals completed measures of organizational cultural humility and hospital safety culture. Higher perceptions of organizational cultural humility were associated with higher levels of general perceptions of hospital safety, as well as more positive ratings on non-punitive response to error (i.e., mistakes of staff are not held against them), handoffs and transitions, and organizational learning. The cultural humility of one's organization may be an important factor to help improve hospital safety culture. We conclude by discussing potential directions for future research.
• Ruiz, J. (2016). Special Issue: Latino Physical Health: Disparities, Paradoxes, and Future Directions.. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 4(2).
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  Edited special issue
• Ruiz, J., & Brondolo, E. (2016). Introduction to the Special Issue disparities in cardiovascular disease risk: examining contributions of social and behavioral factors.. Health Psychology, 35(4), 309-312.
• Ruiz, J., & Brondolo, E. (2016). Special Issue: Disparities in Cardiovascular Health. Health Psychology, 35(4).
• Ruiz, J., Campos, B., & Garcia, J. J. (2016). Introduction to the Special Issue Latino physical health: disparities, paradoxes, and future directions.. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 4, 61-66.
• Ruiz, J., Hamann, H., O'Connor, M., & Mehl, M. R. (2016). The Hispanic Health Paradox: From Epidemiological Phenomenon to Contribution Opportunities for Psychological Science.. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 19, 462-476.
• Uchino, B. N., Ruiz, J. M., Smith, T. W., Smyth, J. M., Taylor, D. J., Allison, M., & Ahn, C. (2016). Ethnic/racial differences in the association between social support and levels of C-reactive proteins in the North Texas Heart Study. Psychophysiology, 53(1), 64-70.
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  Perceived social support has been reliably related to lower rates of morbidity and mortality. However, studies modeling C-reactive protein (CRP) as an important biological pathway linking social support to health have produced inconsistent results. Given purported ethnic/racial differences in sensitivity to social resources, the present study tested if ethnicity/race moderated the link between perceived support and CRP in a diverse community sample of 300 participants from the North Texas Heart Study. Consistent with prior research, there was no overall link between social support and CRP levels. However, the association between social support and high sensitivity (hs)-CRP levels was moderated by ethnicity/race as perceived support predicted lower hs-CRP levels primarily in African Americans. These results suggest the importance of considering how ethnicity/race may inform models on the complex biological mechanisms linking social support to health.
• Farrell, J. E., Hook, J. N., Ramos, M., Davis, D. E., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Ruiz, J. M. (2015). Humility and relationship outcomes in couples: the mediating role of commitment.. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 4(1), 14-26. doi:doi:10.1037/cfp0000033
• Heffel, C., Riggs, S., Ruiz, J. M., & Ruggles, M. (2015). The aftermath of a suicide cluster in the age of online social networking: a qualitative analysis of adolescent grief reactions.. Contemporary School Psychology, 19, 286-299.
• Hook, J., Boan, D., Davis, D. E., Aten, J. D., Ruiz, J., & Maryon, T. (2016). Cultural humility and hospital safety culture.. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings.
• Marczyk Organek, K. D., Taylor, D. J., Petrie, T., Martin, S., Greenleaf, C., Dietch, J. R., & Ruiz, J. M. (2015). Adolescent sleep disparities: sex and racial/ethnic differences. Sleep health, 1(1), 36-39.
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  During adolescence, significant changes occur in sleep (eg, decreased sleep duration and increased sleep problems). To date, few studies have examined whether self-reported sleep duration differences exist between races/ethnicities in early adolescence (ages 11-14 years).
• Marczyk, K. D., Taylor, D. J., Petrie, T., Martin, S., Greenleaf, C., Dietch, J. R., & Ruiz, J. M. (2015). Adolescent sleep disparities: gender and racial/ethnic differences.. Sleep Health, 1, 36-39.
• Pruitt, S. L., Lee, S. J., Tiro, J. A., Xuan, L., Ruiz, J. M., & Inrig, S. (2015). Residential racial segregation and mortality among black, white, and Hispanic urban breast cancer patients in Texas, 1995 to 2009. Cancer, 121(11), 1845-55.
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  The authors investigated whether residential segregation (the degree to which racial/ethnic groups live separately from one another in a geographic area) 1) was associated with mortality among urban women with breast cancer, 2) explained racial/ethnic disparities in mortality, and 3) whether its association with mortality varied by race/ethnicity.
• Uchino, B. N., Ruiz, J. M., Smith, T. W., Smyth, J. M., Taylor, D. J., Allison, M., & Ahn, C. (2015). Erratum to: The Strength of Family Ties: Perceptions of Network Relationship Quality and Levels of C-Reactive Proteins in the North Texas Heart Study. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 49(5), 782.
• Uchino, B. N., Ruiz, J. M., Smith, T. W., Smyth, J. M., Taylor, D. J., Allison, M., & Ahn, C. (2015). The Strength of Family Ties: Perceptions of Network Relationship Quality and Levels of C-Reactive Proteins in the North Texas Heart Study. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 49(5), 776-81.
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  Although the quality of one's social relationships has been linked to important physical health outcomes, less work has been conducted examining family and friends that differ in their underlying positivity and negativity.
• Zawadzki, M., Smyth, J., Sliwinski, M., Ruiz, J., & Gerin, W. (2016). Revisiting the Lack of Association between Affect and Physiology: Contrasting Between-Person and Within-Person Analyses.. Health Psychology.
• Ruiz, J., Hamann, H., Mehl, M. R., & O'Connor, M. (2015). The Hispanic Health Paradox: From epidemiological phenomenon to contribution opportunities for psychological science.. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations.

Proceedings Publications

• Ruiz, J., Haynes, P. L., Ruggero, C., Kelly, K., Taylor, D., Messman, B., Dietch, J., Slavish, D., & Jordan, S. (2022). 0670 The role of social vigilance and hindrance-challenge stress in predicting nightmares among nurses. . In Sleep, 45, A294.
• Grandner, M., Ruiz, J., Patel, S., Buxton, O., Ingram, M., Haynes, P. L., & Parthasarathy, S. (2017, June). Acculturation Associated with Sleep Duration, Insomnia, and Sleep Quality at the US-Mexico Border. In Sleep, 40, A310.
  More info

  Submitted version authors: Granados, K., Okuagu, A., Buxton, O., Patel, S., Ruiz, J., Parthasarathy, S., Haynes, P., Alfonso-Miller, P.., Molina, P., Seixas, A., Williams, N., Jean-Louis, G., Gehrels, J., Grandner, M. A.
• Okuagu, A., Granados, K., Alfonso-Miller, P., Buxton, O., Patel, S., Ruiz, J., Parthasarathy, S., Haynes, P. L., Molina, P., Seixas, A., Williams, N., Girardin, J. L., Gehrels, J., & Grandner, M. (2017, June). Born in the USA or Born in Mexico? Implications for Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality, Sleep Disorders Symptoms at the US-Mexico Border. In Sleep, 40, A309.
• Parthasarathy, S., Haynes, P. L., Ingram, M., Buxton, O., Patel, S., Ruiz, J., & Grandner, M. (2017, April). Acculturation Associated with Sleep Duration, Insomnia, and Sleep Quality at the US-Mexico Border. In Sleep, 40, 1.

Presentations

• Vang, T., Hunter Edwards, R., Ruiz, J., & Wilkinson-Lee, A. M. (2021, May). Arizona Psychological Association: Ethics and Culturally Competency. Invited virtual panel presentation for the Arizona Psychological Association. Virtual presentation: Arizona Psychological Association.