Suzanna Martinez, PhD, MS

Associate Adjunct Professor
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
[email protected]
+1 415 476-2300

Dr. Suzanna Martinez' research centers on identifying determinants of health among ethnically underserved populations to help inform and contribute to intervention practices. As a Latina investigator, her long-term professional goal is to conduct research that makes an impact on reducing health disparities among vulnerable groups. She has expertise in the area of energy balance, specifically nutrition, physical activity and sleep, with a particular focus of the impact of food insecurity in college students and throughout the life course. Her research is informed by health behavior theory and the social ecological framework, and she has extensive experience in multivariate statistics and qualitative research methods. 

Publications: 

An update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's health behaviors.

Academic pediatrics

Maxwell SL, Fernandez A, Martinez S, Beck AL

A longitudinal study of perceived stress, tangible social support, and gender on Mexican American parental feeding practices.

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

Flores M, Valencia CI, Martinez SM, Tschann J

Characterizing Food Security Status Over the Life Course in the National Longitudinal Youth Survey 1979 Cohort: A Novel Application of Sequence Analysis.

Current Developments in Nutrition

Suzanna M Martinez, Erin Esaryk, Edward A Frongillo, Amina Gaye, M Maria Glymour, Jillian Herbert, Aayush Khadka, Lucia Pacca, Anusha Vable

0818 Room-sharing and Bed-sharing: Reasons, Beliefs, and Sleep in Mothers and Toddlers from Mexican American Families.

Sleep

Lisa Meltzer, Ariel Williamson, Jeanne Tschann, Haley Ringwood, Suzanna Martinez, Ileana Barron, Elena Marraudino, Darcy Thompson

0836 Similarities and Differences in Maternal and Paternal Bed-sharing Beliefs in Mexican American Couples with Toddlers.

Sleep

Anthony Munoz-Gauna, Lisa Meltzer, Melissa Fineman, Maria Flores Gallegos, Suzanna Martinez, Haley Ringwood, Jeanne Tschann, Ariel Williamson, Darcy Thompson

Lessons learned from implementing a diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculum for health research professionals at a large academic research institution.

Journal of clinical and translational science

Hill Weller L, Rubinsky AD, Shade SB, Liu F, Cheng I, Lopez G, Robertson A, Smith J, Dang K, Leiva C, Rubin S, Martinez SM, Bibbins-Domingo K, Morris MD

SNAP Student Rules Are Not So Snappy: Lessons Learned From a Qualitative Study of California County Agency Workers.

Journal of nutrition education and behavior

Martinez SM, Singh S, Esaryk E, Ritchie L

COVID-19-related stressors exacerbate food insecurity and depressive symptoms among graduate students receiving campus basic needs services: Cross-sectional findings from seven California public universities.

Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress

Martinez SM, Esaryk E, Chodur G, Singh S, Kalaydjian S, Bullock HE, Britton TA

Relationships Among Food Choice Motivators, Food Insecurity, and Academic Outcomes.

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition

Brittany M. Loofbourrow, Mary C. Blue, Anna M. Jones, Suzanna M. Martinez, Leslie C. Kemp, Gretchen L. George, Rachel E. Scherr

Food Insecurity, Memory, and Dementia Among US Adults Aged 50 Years and Older.

JAMA network open

Qian H, Khadka A, Martinez SM, Singh S, Brenowitz WD, Zeki Al Hazzouri A, Hill-Jarrett TG, Glymour MM, Vable AM

Campus food pantry use may improve daily frequency of fruit and vegetable intake among California university students experiencing food insecurity.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Chodur G, Singh S, Esaryk EE, Kalaydjian S, Martinez SM

Breastfeeding Duration and Timing of Bottle Supplementation: Associations with Body Mass Index from Childhood to Young-Adulthood.

Nutrients

Blanco E, Martinez SM, East P, Burrows R, Correa-Burrows P, Lozoff B, Gahagan S

The 7-day Beverage Intake Questionnaire for Latino Children: Validation of a Culturally Tailored Tool.

Journal of nutrition education and behavior

Beck AL, Fernandez A, Martinez SM

0754 Sleep Ecology in Low-Income Mexican American Toddlers.

Sleep

Lisa Meltzer, Suzanna Martinez, Jeanne Tschann, Caroline Tietbohl, Andrea Jimenez-Zambrano, Julia Reedy, Estefania Miramontes Valdes, Darcy Thompson

Adolescent sedentary behavior and body composition in early adulthood: results from a cohort study.

Pediatric research

Hyde ET, Gahagan S, Martinez SM, East P, Wing D, Burrows R, Burrows PC, Algarín C, Peirano P, Reyes S, Blanco E

Evaluating Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding CalFresh Participation in University Students.

Nutrients

Loofbourrow BM, Jones AM, Chodur GM, Martinez SM, Kemp LC, Scherr RE

Screen-related discord and dismay in low-income Mexican American families with toddlers: A qualitative study.

Journal of pediatric nursing

Thompson DA, Tschann JM, Jimenez-Zambrano AM, Martinez SM, Reyes GA, Solis GA, Clark L

SNAP Participation Decreases Food Insecurity among California Public University Students: A quasi-experimental Study.

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition

Aydin Nazmi, Kelly Condron, Marilyn Tseng, Ricky Volpe, Lucero Rodriguez, Miranda Louise Lopez, Suzanna M. Martinez, Nicholas Freudenberg, Stephanie Bianco

Campus Food Pantry Use Is Linked to Better Health Among Public University Students.

Journal of nutrition education and behavior

Martinez SM, Chodur GM, Esaryk EE, Kaladijian S, Ritchie LD, Grandner M

0075 Food Insecurity is Associated with Sleep Duration and Sleep Disorders Symptoms in a Community Adult Sample.

Sleep

Chloe Craig, Suzanna Martinez, Lauren Hale, Charles Branas, William Killgore, Chloe Wills, Michael Grandner

Weight Gain during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a High-Risk Cohort of Children in San Francisco, CA.

Childhood obesity (Print)

Beck AL, Huang JC, Lendzion L, Fernandez A, Martinez S

Associations between adverse home environments and appetite hormones, adipokines, and adiposity among Chilean adolescents.

Clinical obesity

Majmudar D, East P, Martinez S, Blanco E, Lozoff B, Burrows R, Gahagan S

Campus Food Pantry Use Addresses a Gap Among California Public University Students.

Journal of nutrition education and behavior

Esaryk EE, Jim?nez Arriaga EE, Kalaydjian S, Martinez SM

Sleep duration, physical activity, and caloric intake are related to weight status in Mexican American children: a longitudinal analysis.

The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity

Martinez SM, Blanco E, Tschann JM, Butte NF, Grandner MA, Pasch LA

Associations Between Adverse Home Environments and Appetite Hormones, Adipokines, and Adiposity in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study of a Chilean Birth Cohort.

Pediatrics

Deshna Majmudar, Sheila Gahagan, Raquel Burrows, Suzanna Martinez, Patricia East, Estela Blanco

Redefining Basic Needs for Higher Education: It's More Than Minimal Food and Housing According to California University Students.

American journal of health promotion : AJHP

Martinez SM, Esaryk EE, Moffat L, Ritchie L

Trends in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among California children - CORRIGENDUM.

Public health nutrition

Beck AL, Martinez S, Patel AI, Fernandez A

Trends in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among California children.

Public health nutrition

Beck AL, Martinez S, Patel AI, Fernandez A

Mechanisms linking childhood weight status to metabolic risk in adolescence.

Pediatric diabetes

Martinez SM, Blanco E, Burrows R, Lozoff B, Gahagan S

A systematic review of food insecurity among US students in higher education.

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition

Aydin Nazmi, Suzanna Martinez, Ajani Byrd, Derrick Robinson, Stephanie Bianco, Jennifer Maguire, Rashida M. Crutchfield, Kelly Condron, Lorrene Ritchie

Pathways from Food Insecurity to Health Outcomes among California University Students.

Nutrients

Martinez SM, Grandner MA, Nazmi A, Canedo ER, Ritchie LD

Temporal associations between circadian sleep and activity patterns in Mexican American children.

Sleep health

Martinez SM, Tschann JM, McCulloch CE, Sites E, Butte NF, Gregorich SE, Penilla C, Flores E, Pasch LA, Greenspan LC, Deardorff J

Sleep duration in Mexican American children: Do mothers' and fathers' parenting and family practices play a role?

Journal of sleep research

Martinez SM, Tschann JM, Butte NF, Gregorich SE, Penilla C, Flores E, Pasch LA, Greenspan LC, Deardorff J

Food insecurity in California’s public university system: What are the risk factors?.

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition

Suzanna M. Martinez, Karen Webb, Edward A. Frongillo, Lorrene D. Ritchie

Food insecurity is high among college students in a public statewide university system: What are the risk factors?

Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition

Martinez, S.M., Frongillo, E.A., Webb, K. Maynard, K., Ritchie, L.

Fathers' feeding practices and children's weight status in Mexican American families.

Appetite

Penilla C, Tschann JM, Deardorff J, Flores E, Pasch LA, Butte NF, Gregorich SE, Greenspan LC, Martinez SM, Ozer E

Short Sleep Duration Is Associated With Eating More Carbohydrates and Less Dietary Fat in Mexican American Children.

Sleep

Martinez SM, Tschann JM, Butte NF, Gregorich SE, Penilla C, Flores E, Greenspan LC, Pasch LA, Deardorff J

Latino mothers' beliefs about child weight and family health.

Public health nutrition

Martinez SM, Rhee KE, Blanco E, Boutelle K

Preferred Child Body Size and Parental Underestimation of Child Weight in Mexican-American Families.

Maternal and child health journal

Pasch LA, Penilla C, Tschann JM, Martinez SM, Deardorff J, de Groat CL, Gregorich SE, Flores E, Butte NF, Greenspan LC

What Factors Increase Risk for Food Insecurity Among College Students?.

Journal of nutrition education and behavior

Suzanna Martinez, E. Brown, L. Ritchie

Socioeconomic Status and Internalizing Symptoms in Chilean Children: Does Reserve Capacity Matter?

Journal of child and adolescent behavior

Martinez SM, Castillo M, Lozoff B, Gahagan S

Parental feeding practices and child weight status in Mexican American families: a longitudinal analysis.

The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity

Tschann JM, Martinez SM, Penilla C, Gregorich SE, Pasch LA, de Groat CL, Flores E, Deardorff J, Greenspan LC, Butte NF

Designing a Culturally Appropriate Visually Enhanced Low-Text Mobile Health App Promoting Physical Activity for Latinos: A Qualitative Study.

Journal of transcultural nursing : official journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society

Bender MS, Martinez S, Kennedy C

Is it time for bed? Short sleep duration increases risk of obesity in Mexican American children.

Sleep medicine

Martinez SM, Tschann JM, Greenspan LC, Deardorff J, Penilla C, Flores E, Pasch LA, Gregorich SE, Butte NF

Longitudinal effects of parental, child and neighborhood factors on moderate-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time in Latino children.

The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity

Butte NF, Gregorich SE, Tschann JM, Penilla C, Pasch LA, De Groat CL, Flores E, Deardorff J, Greenspan LC, Martinez SM

Perception of neighborhood crime and drugs increases cardiometabolic risk in Chilean adolescents.

The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine

Martinez SM, Blanco E, Delva J, Burrows R, Reyes M, Lozoff B, Gahagan S

Mother-reported sleep, accelerometer-estimated sleep and weight status in Mexican American children: sleep duration is associated with increased adiposity and risk for overweight/obese status.

Journal of sleep research

Martinez SM, Greenspan LC, Butte NF, Gregorich SE, De Groat CL, Deardorff J, Penilla C, Pasch LA, Flores E, Tschann JM

Satiety responsiveness and eating behavior among Chilean adolescents and the role of breastfeeding.

International journal of obesity (2005)

Reyes M, Hoyos V, Martinez SM, Lozoff B, Castillo M, Burrows R, Blanco E, Gahagan S

Developmental scores at 1 year with increasing gestational age, 37-41 weeks.

Pediatrics

Rose O, Blanco E, Martinez SM, Sim EK, Castillo M, Lozoff B, Vaucher YE, Gahagan S

The relationship between sedentary behavior and depression among Latinos.

Mental Health and Physical Activity

Elva M. Arredondo, Hector Lemus, John P. Elder, Marisa Molina, Suzanna Martinez, Caryn Sumek, Guadalupe X. Ayala

Postnatal Growth Patterns in a Chilean Cohort: The Role of SES and Family Environment.

International journal of pediatrics

Kang Sim DE, Cappiello M, Castillo M, Lozoff B, Martinez S, Blanco E, Gahagan S

Low bone mineral density in a cohort of normal, overweight and obese Chilean adolescents.

Journal of clinical nursing

Blanco E, Reyes M, Burrows RA, Martinez SM, Gahagan S

Walking for transportation among Latino adults in San Diego County: who meets physical activity guidelines?

Journal of physical activity & health

Martinez SM, Arredondo EM, Roesch S, Patrick K, Ayala GX, Elder JP

A review of physical activity measures used among US Latinos: guidelines for developing culturally appropriate measures.

Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine

Martinez SM, Ainsworth BE, Elder JP

Active transportation and acculturation among Latino children in San Diego County.

Preventive medicine

Martinez SM, Ayala GX, Arredondo EM, Finch B, Elder J

Culturally Appropriate Research and Interventions.

Suzanna M. Martinez, Elva M. Arredondo, Guadalupe X. Ayala, John P. Elder