Robin J. Mermelstein, PhD
Professor of Psychology
Dr. Mermelstein's research interests fall broadly in the area of tobacco use, with studies ranging from longitudinal examinations of the etiology of youth smoking to cessation interventions for adult smokers. She has been the principal investigator on several grants from the National Cancer Institute investigating trajectories of adolescent smoking, with a focus on social and emotional contextual factors. In addition, she has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine factors related to youth smoking, and by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Cancer Institute for studies of adult smoking cessation.
Dr. Mermelstein has also directed the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Program Office, Partners with Tobacco Use Research Centers: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Advancing Science and Policy Studies. As part of this program, RWJF has collaborated with both NCI and NIDA in funding the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers.
Research Interests
Etiology and progression of health-promoting and health compromising behaviors among adolescents and adults; tobacco use (very broadly), with studies ranging from longitudinal examinations of the etiology of youth smoking to cessation interventions for adolescent and adult smokers; obesity prevention
Recent and Noteworthy Publications
Curry SJ, Emery S, Sporer AK, Mermelstein R, Flay BR, Berbaum M, Warnecke RB, Johnson T, Mowery P, Parsons J, Harmon L, Hund L, Wells H. A national survey of tobacco cessation programs for youths. Am J Public Health. 2007 Jan;97(1):171-7.
Curry SJ, Mermelstein RJ, Sporer AK. Therapy for specific problems: youth tobacco cessation. Annu Rev Psychol. 2009;60:229-55. [See abstract.]
Fiore M, Jaén CR, Baker TB, Bailey WC, Bennett G, Benowitz NL, et al.. A clinical practice guideline for treating tobacco use and dependence: 2008 update. A U.S. Public Health Service report. Am J Prev Med. 2008 Aug;35(2):158-76.
Hankin BL, Mermelstein R, Roesch L. Sex differences in adolescent depression: stress exposure and reactivity models. Child Dev. 2007 Jan-Feb;78(1):279-95.
Hedeker D, Mermelstein RJ, Berbaum ML, Campbell RT. Modeling mood variation associated with smoking: an application of a heterogeneous mixed-effects model for analysis of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data. Addiction. 2009 Feb;104(2):297-307. [See abstract.]
Hedeker D, Mermelstein RJ, Demirtas H. An application of a mixed-effects location scale model for analysis of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data. Biometrics. 2008 Jun;64(2):627-34.
Hedeker D, Mermelstein RJ, Demirtas H. Analysis of binary outcomes with missing data: missing = smoking, last observation carried forward, and a little multiple imputation. Addiction. 2007 Oct;102(10):1564-73.
Kobus K, Mermelstein R. Bridging basic and clinical science with policy studies: The Partners with Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers experience. Nicotine Tob Res. 2009 May;11(5):467-74. [See abstract.]
Kobus K, Mermelstein R, Ponkshe P. Communications strategies to broaden the reach of tobacco use research: examples from the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers. Nicotine Tob Res. 2007 Nov;9 Suppl 4:S571-82.
Mermelstein R. Moving tobacco prevention outside the classroom. Lancet. 2008 May 10;371(9624):1556-7.
Mermelstein RJ, Colvin PJ, Klingemann SD. Dating and changes in adolescent cigarette smoking: Does partner smoking behavior matter? Nicotine Tob Res. 2009 Oct;11(10):1226-30. Epub 2009 Jul 31. [See abstract.]
Mermelstein R, Hedeker D, Flay B, Shiffman S. Real-time data capture and adolescent cigarette smoking: moods and smoking. In: Stone A, Shiffman S, Atienza A, Nebeling L, eds. The Science of Real-Time Data Capture: Self-Reports in Health Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2007:117-135.
Mermelstein R, Kobus K, Clayton R. Transdisciplinary tobacco use research: A decade of progress. Nicotine Tob Res. Nicotine Tob Res. 2007 Nov;9 Suppl 4:S519-22.
Mermelstein R, Turner L. Web-based support as an adjunct to group-based smoking cessation for adolescents. Nicotine Tob Res. 2006;8 (suppl 1): S69-S76.
Scott WD, Beevers CG, Mermelstein RJ. Depression vulnerable and nonvulnerable smokers after a failure experience: examining cognitive self-regulation and motivation. Behav Modif. 2008 Jul;32(4):519-39.
Sterling KL, Mermelstein R, Turner L, Diviak K, Flay B, Shiffman S. Examining the psychometric properties and predictive validity of a youth-specific version of the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) among teens with varying levels of smoking. Addict Behav. 2009 Jun-Jul;34(6-7):616-9. [See abstract.]
Turner L, Mermelstein R, Hintsman B, Warnecke R. Social support as a moderator of the relationship between recent history of depression and smoking cessation among lower educated women. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008;10:201-212.
Weaver K, Campbell R, Mermelstein R, Wakschlag L. Pregnancy smoking in context: The influence of multiple levels of stress. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008 Jun;10(6):1065-73.
Weinstein S, Mermelstein R, Shiffman S, Flay B. Mood variability and cigarette smoking escalation among adolescents. Psychol Addict Behav. 2008;22:504-13. [See abstract.]
Weinstein SM, Mermelstein R. Relations between daily activities and adolescent mood: the role of autonomy. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2007 Jun;36(2):182-94.
Weinstein SM, Mermelstein RJ, Hankin BL, Hedeker D, Flay BR. Longitudinal patterns of daily affect and global mood during adolescence. J Res Adolesc. 2007 Sep;17(3):587-600.
Honors and Awards
Distinguished Clinical Mentor Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine
Fellow, Society of Behavioral Medicine
University Scholar, UIC
Contact Info
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 275)
544 Westside Research Office Bldg.
1747 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Other Title(s)
Clinical Professor of Community Health Sciences
Director, Institute for Health Research and Policy
Director, Center for Health Behavior Research
IHRP Affiliation(s)
Current IHRP Research Studies (PI)
Current IHRP Research Studies (Co-I)
Other Research (Non-IHRP)
Prenatal Smoking and Patterns of Youth Problem Behavior