Junhan Cho, PhD

Associate Professor of Research Population and Public Health Sciences

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Overview

Dr. Junhan Cho is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He is the Director of Methodology and Statistics for the USC-Health, Emotion, & Addiction Laboratory (USC-HEAL), which conducts interdisciplinary research on mental health problems and health-related behaviors. With a strong interest to develop advanced research methodologies, Dr. Cho’s research aims to address how diverse social contexts and psychological vulnerabilities intersect to increase risk of addictive behaviors. Based on his research background on Human Development and Family Science throughout master and doctoral programs, his studies incorporate both theoretical and methodological frameworks necessary to conducting longitudinal and prevention studies on youth health risk behaviors with a focus on the psychosocial processes influenced by family and community contexts. His current studies include: 1) developmental patterns of conjoint multiple health risk behaviors; 2) longitudinal risk and protective pathways linking early contextual stressors to mental health problems in adolescence; and 3) interaction of social contexts and biological factors influencing psychological vulnerability to addictive behaviors including substance use across adolescence and young adulthood.

Publications

  • Flavour and brand of nicotine pouches used most often among US adolescents, 2025. Tob Control. 2026 Jul 01.. View in PubMed
  • Marijuana and Delta-8-THC Use Among U.S. Adolescents Between 2023 and 2024. Am J Prev Med. 2026 Sep; 71(3):108410.. View in PubMed
  • Employment insecurity and binge drinking in the United States: Implications of unemployment insurance. Prev Med. 2026 09; 210:108623.. View in PubMed
  • Impact of Instagram and TikTok influencer marketing on perceptions of e-cigarettes and perceptions of influencers in young adults: a randomised survey-based experiment. Tob Control. 2026 05 07; 35(3):358-365.. View in PubMed
  • Association of naturalistic e-cigarette use and smoking cessation in US adults. Am J Epidemiol. 2026 05 07; 195(5):1300-1309.. View in PubMed
  • Nicotine Pouch Use Among U.S. Adults in 2023 and 2024. Am J Prev Med. 2026 Apr 22; 71(4):108393.. View in PubMed
  • Trends in Weight Status and E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Youth From 2017 to 2023. Am J Prev Med. 2026 Mar 20; 71(5):108335.. View in PubMed
  • Examining the Intersection between Drivers of Disparities: Social Determinants and Stress Reactivity in African American Breast Cancer Survivors. Cancer Res Commun. 2026 03 01; 6(3):698-705.. View in PubMed
  • Cannabis dispensary exposure and smoked, vaped and edible cannabis use among young adults: Comparison of web-scraped and government-maintained registries. Addiction. 2026 Jul; 121(7):1770-1780.. View in PubMed
  • Association of tobacco and other substance use with nicotine pouch awareness and use in US adolescents. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2026 02 01; 279:113016.. View in PubMed