Erika Westling, Ph.D., Research Scientist
Contact
Education & Training
B.A., 1996
Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Anthropology
M.A., 2002
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Social Psychology
Ph.D., 2007
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Social Psychology
Dr. Westling is an an early career scientist with experience working on several RO1 and R21 grant projects, as a Project Coordinator, Research Associate, and recently as an Associate Scientist and Co-Investigator (1 R01 DA031724; P.I.: M. J. Mason). Dr. Westling began working at ORI in 1996 as a research assistant in the areas of personality and health. She left in 2001 to pursue her Ph.D. in Social and Health Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and returned to ORI as a project coordinator while also finishing her dissertation (supported by a SAMHSA dissertation grant).
Current Projects
PROJECT PERIOD01/01/23 - 11/30/27 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) CURRENT STATUSActive and Not Recruiting TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
PROJECT PERIOD04/15/22 - 02/28/26 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSActive and Not Recruiting TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
PROJECT PERIOD09/30/19 - 08/31/24 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSActive and Not Recruiting TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
PROJECT PERIOD09/01/20 - 08/31/22 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSActive and Not Recruiting TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
Early Family Prevention of Adolescent Alcohol Drug Use and Psychopathology
PROJECT PERIOD05/01/15 - 04/30/20 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
PROJECT PERIOD09/20/16 - 08/31/19 FUNDING AGENCYNational Cancer Institute (NCI) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Long-Term Effects of the Family Check-Up on Depression and Suicide Across Trials and Development
PROJECT PERIOD12/02/19 - 10/31/23 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) CURRENT STATUSActive and Not Recruiting TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
Peer Influence and Selection Mechanisms Underlying Adolescent Problem Behaviors
PROJECT PERIOD09/30/13 - 06/30/19 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Social-Spatial Risk and Protective Mechanisms in Urban Adolescent Substance Use
PROJECT PERIOD04/01/12 - 03/31/17 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Publications
Westling, E., Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M., (2022). A longitudinal study of e-cigarette, cigarette, and marijuana use sequence in youth. Tobacco Insights, 15, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1179173X221101813
Connell, A. M., Seidman, S., Ha, T., Stormshak, E., Westling, E., Wilson, M., & Shaw, D. (2022). Long-term effects of the family check-up on suicidality in childhood and adolescence: Integrative data analysis of three randomized trials. Prevention Science.
Johnson-Shelton, D., Ricci, J., Westling, E., Peterson, M., & Rusby. J. C. (2022). Program evaluation of Healthy Moves™: A community-based Trainer in Residence professional development program to support generalist teachers with physical education instruction. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 19, 125-131. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2021-0505
Biglan, A., Van Ryzin, M., & Westling E. (2019). A public health framework for the regulation of marketing. Journal of Public Health Policy. 2019 Mar;40(1):66-75.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., Mills, K. L., & Light, J. M. (2019). Associations between marijuana use and anxious mood lability during adolescence. Addictive Behaviors, 92, 89-94.
Light, J. M., Mills, K. L., Rusby, J. C., & Westling, E. (2019). Friend selection and influence effects for first heavy drinking episode in adolescence. Journal of Study on Alcohol and Drugs, 80(3), 349–357.
Rusby, J. C., Mason, M., Gau, J. F., Westling, E., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., Zaharakis, N. M., & Flay, B. R. (2019). Relational victimization and peer affiliate prosocial behaviors in African American adolescents: Moderating effects of gender and antisocial behavior. Journal of Adolescence, 71, 91-98.
Rusby, J. C., Light, J. M., Crowley, R., & Westling, E. (2018). Influence of parent-youth relationship, parental monitoring, and parent substance use on adolescent substance use onset. Journal of Family Psychology, 32, 310-320.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2018). Legalization of recreational marijuana and community sales policy in Oregon: Impact on adolescent willingness and intent to use, parent use, and adolescent use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32, 84-92. doi:10.1037/adb0000327
Zaharakis, N., Mason, M. J., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J. C.,Westling, E., . . . Way, T. (2018). School, friends, and substance use: Gender differences on the influence of attitudes toward school and close friend networks on cannabis involvement. Prevention Science, 19, 138-146. doi:10.1007/s11121-017-0816-y
Mason, M. J., Zaharakis, N. M., Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., & Flay, B. R. (2017). A longitudinal study predicting adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use by behavioral characteristics of close friends. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/adb0000299
Westling, E., Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2017). Electronic cigarette use by youth: Prevalence, correlates, and use trajectories from middle school to high school. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60, 660–666.
Mason, M. J., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crewe, S., . . . Flay, B. R. (2017). Neighborhood disorder, peer network health, and substance use among young urban adolescents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 178, 208-214. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.005
Mennis, J., Mason, M., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Way, T., . . . Flay, B. (2016). Short communication: Does substance use moderate the association of neighborhood disadvantage with perceived stress and safety in the activity spaces of urban youth? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 165, 288-292.
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crewe, S., . . . Zaharakis, N. (2016). 'Parents, peers, and places: Young urban adolescents’ microsystems and substance use involvement': Erratum. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1712-1712. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0392-y
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crewe, S., Way, T., Flay, B., & Zaharakis, N. (2016) Parents, peers and places: Young urban adolescents’ microsystems and substance use involvement. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1441–1450.
Andrews, J. A., Hampson, S. E., Severson, H. H., Westling, E., & Peterson, M. (2016). Perceptions and Use of E-cigarettes across Time among Emerging Adults. Tobacco Regulatory Science, 2, 70-81. doi: 10.18001/TRS.2.1.8
Andrews, J. A., & Westling, E. (2016). Substance use in emerging adulthood. In J. J. Arnett, J. J. Arnett (Eds.) , The Oxford handbook of emerging adulthood (pp. 521-542). New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press.
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Way, T., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., & ... McHenry, C. (2015). Young adolescents' perceived activity space risk, peer networks, and substance use. Health & Place, 34, 143-149. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.04.005
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2013). Psychosocial correlates of physical and sedentary activities of early adolescent youth. Health Education & Behavior, 41(1), 42-51. doi:10.1177/1090198113485753
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2013). Concurrent and predictive associations between early adolescent perceptions of peer affiliates and mood states collected in real time via ecological momentary assessment methodology. Psychological Assessment, 25(1), 47–60. doi:10.1037/a0030393
Westling, E., Andrews, J. A., & Peterson, M. (2012). Gender differences in pubertal timing, social competence, and cigarette use: A test of the early maturation hypothesis. Journal Of Adolescent Health, 51, 150-155.
Stapleton, L., Schetter, C., Westling, E., Rini, C., Glynn, L. M., Hobel, C. J., & Sandman, C. A. (2012). Perceived partner support in pregnancy predicts lower maternal and infant distress. Journal Of Family Psychology, 26(3), 453-463. doi:10.1037/a0028332.
Toobert, D. J., Strycker, L. A., Hampson, S. E., Westling, E., Christiansen, S. M., Hurley, T. G., & Hebert, J. R. (2011). Computerized portion-size estimation compared to multiple 24-hour dietary recalls for measurement of fat, fruit, and vegetable intake in overweight adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111, 1578-1583.
Westling, E. H. Hampson, S. E., Strycker, L.A., & Toobert, D. J. (2011). Use of Voter Registration Records to Recruit a Representative Sample, Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34, (5), 321-329.
Westling, E., Andrews, J. A., Hampson, S. E., & Peterson, M.A. (2008). Pubertal timing and substance use: The effects of gender, parental monitoring and deviant peers. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 555-563. PMCID: PMC2435092 Abstract
Westling, E., Garcia, K., & Mann, T. (2007). Discovery of meaning and adherence to medications in HIV-infected women. Journal of Health Psychology, 12(4), 627-635.
Mann, T., Tomiyama, J., Westling, E., Lew, A., Samuels, B., & Chatman, J. (2007). Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. American Psychologist, 62(3), 220-233.
Experience
2012-Present
Associate Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR
2009-2012
Research Associate
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR
2005-2009
Research Assistant III/Project Coordinator
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR
2005-2006
Graduate Research Assistant III
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
2002-2003
Graduate Research Assistant II
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
2002-2004
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
2001-2004
Assistant Editor
Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Electronic Newsletter
1996-2001
Research Assistant II
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR