Dennis R. Trinidad, Ph.D., MPH
Associate Professor
Associate Dean for Administration
School of Community & Global Health
Claremont Graduate University- Dr. Trinidad's research examines the social, environmental, and individual factors relevant to racial/ethnic disparities in health and health behaviors. His main research project, funded by the American Cancer Society, involves the design and implementation of a culturally-tailored parenting intervention to prevent problem behaviors, including smoking, among Filipino adolescents in Southern California.
A second area of research focus for Dr. Trinidad is on racial/ethnic disparities in smoking. Dr. Trinidad’s research has identified racial/ethnic disparities in the effect of the California Tobacco Control Program on adult smoking prevalence. His research has also revealed important racial/ethnic disparities in the age of smoking initiation and successful smoking cessation. His more recent work has suggested that models of smoking cessation may need to be adapted for light and intermittent smokers, many of whom are racial/ethnic minorities.
A third area of Dr. Trinidad’s research focus is on the role of emotional intelligence (EI) on adolescent health behaviors. EI is defined as the identification, understanding and management of emotions in oneself and in others. His research has revealed a link between EI and adolescent alcohol and tobacco use, independent of demographic and cultural factors. This body of research may eventually augment existing smoking prevention programs for adolescents.
Dr. Trinidad received both his Ph.D. and MPH from the University of Southern California. He completed his post-doctoral training in Cancer Prevention and Control at the University of California at San Diego. He is a member of the national Tobacco Research Network on Disparities (TReND) and is a past Co-Chair of the Tobacco Related Health Disparities Committee of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT).
Education- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, BS in Psychology, 1991-1995
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, MPH with emphasis in Biometry/Epidemiology, 1999-2001
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, PhD in Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research), 1997-2002
- University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Prevention and Control, 2002-2003
National Committees
Member, Tobacco Research Network on Disparities
National Cancer Institute and American Legacy Foundation, 2004-present
Co-Chair, Tobacco Related Health Disparities Committee
Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2006-2009Selected Publications
Trinidad DR, Johnson CA. The association between emotional intelligence and early adolescent tobacco and alcohol use. Personality and Individual Differences. 2002;32(1):95-105.
Shakib S, Moutappa M, Johnson CA, Ritt-Olson A, Trinidad DR, Gallaher P, Unger JB. Ethnic variation in parenting characteristics and adolescent smoking. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2003;33(2):88-97.
Trinidad DR, Chou CP, Unger JB, Johnson CA, Yan L. Family Harmony as a protective factor against adolescent tobacco and alcohol use in Wuhan, China. Substance Use and Misuse. 2003;38(8):1157-69.
Trinidad DR, Unger JB, Chou CP, Azen SP, Johnson CA. Emotional intelligence and smoking risk factors in adolescents: Interactions on smoking intentions. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004;34(1):46-55.
Trinidad DR, Gilpin EA, Lee L, Pierce JP. Do the majority of U.S. Asian and African American smokers start as adults? American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2004;26(2):156-58.
Unger JB, Trinidad DR, Wu-Weiss J, Myers D, Rohrbach LA. Acculturation as a risk factor for Asian American adolescent smoking: Is the association confounded by nationality? Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. 2004;3(1):65-79.
Trinidad DR, Gilpin EA, Lee L, Pierce JP. Has there been a delay in the age of regular smoking onset among African Americans? Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2004;28(3):152-57.
Trinidad DR, Gilpin EA, Pierce JP. Smoke-free school policies, compliance and support: California 1993-2002. Health Education Research. 2005;20(4): 466-75.
Trinidad DR, Gilpin EA, White MM, Pierce JP. Why does African American smoking prevalence in California remain higher than for Non-Hispanic Whites? Ethnicity and Disease. 2005;15(3):505-11.
Trinidad DR, Gilpin EA, Messer K, Pierce JP. Trends in smoking among Hispanic women in California: Relationship to English language use. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2006;31(3):257-60.
Messer K, Pierce JP, Zhu SH, Hartman A, Trinidad DR, Al-Delaimy WK, Gilpin EA. The California Tobacco Control Program’s effect on adult smokers: (1) Smoking cessation. Tobacco Control. 2007;16:85-90.
Al-Delaimy WK, Pierce JP, Messer K, White MM, Trinidad DR, Gilpin EA. The California Tobacco Control Program’s effect on adult smokers: (2) Daily cigarette consumption levels. Tobacco Control. 2007;16:91-95.
Trinidad DR, Messer K, Gilpin EA, Al-Delaimy, White MM, Pierce JP. The California Tobacco Control Program’s effect on adult smokers: (3) Similar effects for African Americans across states. Tobacco Control. 2007;16:96-100.
West JH, Romero RA, Trinidad DR. Adolescent receptivity to tobacco marketing across race/ethnic groups in California. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2007;33(2):121-23.
Messer K, Trinidad DR, Al-Delaimy WK, Pierce JP. Smoking cessation rates in the United States: a comparison of young adult and older smokers. American Journal of Public Health. 2008;98(2):317-22.
Romero RA, Messer K, West JH, White MM, Trinidad DR. Smoking trends among Filipino adults in California, 1990-2005. Preventive Medicine. 2008;46(4):336-39.
Pierce JP, James LE, Messer K, Myers MG, Williams RE, Trinidad DR. Telephone counseling to implement best parenting practices to prevent adolescent problem behaviors. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2008;29:324-34.
2011 Claremont Graduate University 
School of Community & Global Health 