Education
Ph.D., Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Stout
B.S., Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park
Pooja Brar, Ph.D., CFLE-P
Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise
Parent-Child Communication
Relationship Education
Sexual and Mental Health of Youth
Biography
Dr. Brar joined the Department of Family Science at Towson University in Fall 2020.
Prior to that, she was a postdoctoral fellow, Interdisciplinary Research Training
Program in Child and Adolescent Primary Care (IRTCAPC), with the Division of General
Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Minnesota.
There she also completed the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) predoctoral
fellowship. Dr. Brar has a research interest in youth health and wellbeing in the
context of their family, peers, and culture both nationally and internationally.
Selected Publications
Brar, P., Sieving, R.E., Steiner, R.J., O'Brien, J.R.G., Moore, M.M., Mehus, C.J., Ross, C.,
Klein, J.D., & Santelli, J. (2023). Provider Facilitation of Parent-Adolescent Health
Communication: Findings From a National Survey. Journal of Pediatric HealthCare.
Brar, P., Shramko, M., Taylor, S., Eisenberg, M. (2022). The Moderating Influence of School Adult Connectedness on Adolescent Dating Violence and Mental Health. Journal of School Health. DOI: 10.1111/josh.13268.
O'Brien, J.R.G., Brar, P., Worley, J., Woodlee, C.H., Kelly, E.D., So, M., McRee, A-L, & Mehus, C.J. (2022). Development of a Shelter-based Health Empowerment Program for Pregnant and Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 16(4), 473-489.
Brar, P., Boat, A.A., Brady, S.S. (2022). But he love's me: Teens' comments about healthy and unhealthy romantic relationships. Journal of Adolescent Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584221079726.
Taylor, S., Xia, Y., & Brar, P. (2021). Parental Awareness of Rural Adolescents' Dating Behaviors: Implications for Parent Education. The Journal of Extension, 59 (3), 10.
Brar, P., Dworkin, J., & Brady, S. S. (2020). Adolescent Women’s Sexual Self-Efficacy: Associations with Personal and Perceived Partner Beliefs That Condoms Interfere with Pleasure. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 1-21.
Brown, C. R., Shramko, M., Garcia-Huidobro, D., Miller, K. K., Brar, P., Ogugua, F., & Svetaz, M. V. (2020). Increased rates of parental separation and anxiety among Latinx youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 105225.
Sieving, R., Mehus, C., Catallozzi, M., Grilo, S., Steiner, R.J., Brar, P., Kelly, E.D., Gewritz O’Brien, J.R., Gorzkowski, J., Kaseeska, K., Klein, J.D., McRee, AL., Randazzo, L., & Santelli, J. (2020). Understanding primary care providers’ perceptions and practices in implementing confidential adolescent sexual and reproductive health services. Journal of Adolescent Health.
Brar, P., Dworkin, J., & Jang, J. (2018). Association of parenting with sexual attitudes and behaviors of college students in India. Sexuality and Culture. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-018-9511-9.
Memberships/Affiliations
National Council of Family Relations
Family Science Association
Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood
Courses Taught
- FMST 201 - Families in Global Perspective
- FMST 302 – Family Theories
- FMST 310 - Parent/Child Relationships Across the Lifespa
- FMST 387 – Community Services for Families
- FMST 415 – Services to Children and Youth