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

  • Nicotine Pouch and E-Cigarette Use and Co-Use Among US Youths in 2023 and 2024. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 04 01; 8(4):e256739.. View in PubMed
  • Nicotine Concentration of E-Cigarettes Used by Youths. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Mar 03; 8(3):e252215.. View in PubMed
  • Prospective Associations of Exposure to Discrimination and Alcohol Use: A National Longitudinal Study. Am J Prev Med. 2025 04; 68(4):665-673.. View in PubMed
  • Social health, activity behaviors, and quality of life among young adult cancer survivors: Protocol for a prospective observational study. PLoS One. 2024; 19(11):e0309924.. View in PubMed
  • Association of Perceived Neighborhood Disorder with Substance Use Behaviors and Retail Access Among Southern California Adolescents. Subst Use Misuse. 2025; 60(2):228-235.. View in PubMed
  • Social and clinical drivers of stress responses in African American breast cancer survivors. Sci Rep. 2024 08 26; 14(1):19729.. View in PubMed
  • Association between cannabis use and nicotine use persistence among adolescents. Addict Behav. 2024 11; 158:108106.. View in PubMed
  • Longitudinal Transitions Between Use of Combustible, Noncombustible, and Multiple Cannabis Products From Adolescence to Young Adulthood and Intersections With Nicotine Use. Am J Epidemiol. 2024 04 08; 193(4):617-625.. View in PubMed
  • Characterizing Opioid Withdrawal Experiences and Consequences Among a Community Sample of People Who Use Opioids. Subst Use Misuse. 2024; 59(6):886-894.. View in PubMed
  • Effects of mint, menthol, and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes on tobacco withdrawal symptoms in adults who smoke menthol cigarettes: A laboratory pilot study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2024 03 01; 256:111110.. View in PubMed