About

Meghan Shanahan, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where she also serves as Vice Chair for Academic Affairs. With more than 10 years of research experience, her work specializes in child health and well-being, focusing on improving the health and developmental trajectories of children. Her research emphasizes understanding adverse events that influence these trajectories, particularly child maltreatment, including its magnitude, etiology, and impact. Dr. Shanahan examines prevention strategies at both the family and policy levels, aiming to translate research findings into tangible products and policies that benefit children and families.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Medicine
• Environmental health
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Computer Security
• Sociology
• Demography
• Gerontology
• Endocrinology
• Economics
• Pedagogy
• Public relations
• Nursing
• Medical education
• Clinical psychology
• Social psychology
• Gender studies
• Pediatrics
• Law
• Internal medicine
• Developmental psychology
• Demographic economics

Selected publications

• Primary and Secondary Prevention of Child Trauma

  Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · 2026-02-04

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Intimate Partner Violence in Mid‐Adulthood in the United States: Patterns by Sexual Orientation and Sex Assigned at Birth

  Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health · 2025-11-06

  article

  INTRODUCTION: Population estimates of the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration are limited for sexual minorities in mid-adulthood. METHODS: We examined IPV prevalence estimates, and associations between sexual orientation and self-reported physical and sexual IPV experiences among 10,812 respondents ages 33-43 years who were in a current relationship and participated in Wave V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a population-based US study. We conducted sex-stratified logistic regressions to model associations between sexual orientation and IPV, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, highest educational attainment, and household income as percent of federal poverty level. RESULTS: Ninety one percent of men and 80% of women self-identified as heterosexual. Prevalence ratios indicated greater victimization and perpetration among male and female sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. In adjusted regression models, sexual minority men had higher odds of physical perpetration (AOR = 1.8) than heterosexuals. Among women, sexual minorities had higher odds of physical and sexual victimization (AORs = 1.8 and 1.8, respectively) than heterosexual females, and higher odds of physical perpetration (AOR = 1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Even into mid-adulthood, sexually minoritized groups have a disproportionate likelihood of experiencing both IPV perpetration and victimization compared to heterosexual peers. More work is needed to understand and address sources of these disparities.

  PublisherDOI

• Association of State Expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility With Rates of Child Protective Services–Investigated Reports

  UNC Libraries · 2025-02-06

  articleOpen access

  Importance: States in the US have the option to eliminate the asset test and/or increase the income limit for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility under a policy called broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE). Given associations of economic hardships, including food insecurity, with child protective services (CPS) involvement, state adoption of these policies may be associated with changes in rates of CPS-investigated reports. Objective: To examine the association of state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit for SNAP eligibility under BBCE with rates of CPS-investigated reports. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional ecologic study used data from 2006 to 2019 obtained from the SNAP Policy Database and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child Files and difference-in-differences analyses. The data were analyzed from March to September 2022. The study used CPS-investigated reports for suspected child abuse and neglect from 37 US states to examine elimination of the asset test, from 36 states to examine increases in the income limit, and from 26 states to examine adoption of both policies. Exposures: State elimination of the asset test, increases in the income limit, and adoption of both policies to expand SNAP eligibility. Main Outcomes and Measures: Number of CPS-investigated reports, overall and specifically for neglect and physical abuse, per 1000 child population. Results: From 2006 to 2019 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, there were a total of 29 213 245 CPS-investigated reports. By race and ethnicity, 19.8% of CPS-investigated reports were among non-Hispanic Black children and 45.7% among non-Hispanic White children (hereafter referred to as Black and White children). On average, there were 8.2 fewer CPS-investigated reports (95% CI, -12.6 to -4.0) per 1000 child population per year in states that eliminated the asset test, 5.0 fewer CPS-investigated reports (95% CI, -10.8 to 0.7) per 1000 child population per year in states that increased the income limit, and 9.3 fewer CPS-investigated reports (95% CI, -15.6 to -3.1) per 1000 child population per year in states that adopted both SNAP policies than there would have been if these states had not adopted these policies. There were decreases in CPS-investigated reports for neglect in states that adopted either or both policies, and small decreases in CPS-investigated reports for physical abuse in states that increased the income limit or adopted both policies. There were decreases in CPS-investigated reports among both Black and White children. For example, there were 6.5 fewer CPS-investigated reports among Black children (95% CI, -14.6 to 1.6) and 8.7 fewer CPS-investigated reports among White children (95% CI, -15.8 to -1.6) in states that adopted both SNAP policies than there would have been if these states had not adopted these policies. Conclusions and Relevance: Results from this cross-sectional study suggest that state expansion of SNAP eligibility through elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit may contribute to decreases in rates of CPS-investigated reports. These results can inform ongoing debates regarding SNAP policy options, specifically BBCE, and prevention efforts for child abuse and neglect.

  PublisherDOI

• Training Public Health Students in Racial Justice and Health Equity

  UNC Libraries · 2025-06-07

  articleOpen access

  In an attempt to move the field of public health from documenting health disparities to acting to rectify them, in 2001, the American Public Health Association (APHA) recognized racism as a fundamental cause of racial health disparities. Both APHA and the Council on Education for Public Health have moved to incorporate new competencies in health equity for public health professionals. As schools and programs of public health work to establish curricular offerings in race and racism, a need exists to identify approaches currently in use that can be replicated, adapted, and scaled. This systematic review sought to identify pedagogical methods and curricula that exist to support the training of US public health students in understanding racism as a structural determinant of health. We found 11 examples from peer-reviewed literature of curricula, lessons, and competencies that have been developed by public health faculty and departments since 2006. The articles discussed a range of approaches to teaching about structural racism in public health, suggesting that little consensus may exist on how to best teach this material. Furthermore, we found little rigorous evaluation of these teaching methods and curricula. The results of this review suggest future research is needed on public health pedagogy on structural racism.

  PublisherDOI

• Characteristics of pediatric injury reports to CPS by healthcare professionals

  Child Abuse & Neglect · 2025-11-24

  article
  PublisherDOI

• State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Policies and Substance Use Rates

  UNC Libraries · 2025-02-06

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Association of State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility Policies With Adult Mental Health and Suicidality

  UNC Libraries · 2025-02-06

  articleOpen access

  Importance: Food insecurity is associated with an increased likelihood of poor mental health and suicidality. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest program addressing food insecurity in the US; under broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), states have the option to expand SNAP eligibility to a greater number of households by eliminating the asset test or increasing the income limit for eligibility. Objectives: To examine the association of state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit for SNAP eligibility with rates of mental health and suicidality outcomes among adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This ecological cross-sectional study used 2014 to 2017 data on US adults from the National Vital Statistics System and 2015 to 2019 data on US adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) State-Level Small Area Estimates. Analyses were conducted between September and November 2022. Exposures: State elimination of the asset test only and state adoption of both SNAP eligibility policies (ie, state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit) for 2014 to 2017 from the SNAP Policy Database. Main Outcomes and Measures: Number of adults with a past-year major depressive disorder, mental illness, serious mental illness, or suicidal ideation and number of adults who died by suicide. Results: Analyses included 407 391 adult NSDUH participants and 173 085 adults who died by suicide. State elimination of the asset test only was associated with decreased rates of past-year major depressive episodes (rate ratio [RR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98) and mental illness (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97) among adults. State adoption of both SNAP eligibility policies (ie, state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit) was associated with decreased rates of past-year major depressive episodes (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99), mental illness (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98), serious mental illness (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.99), and suicidal ideation (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.96). Results suggested a decreased rate of suicide death (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84-1.02) in states with both policies compared with states with neither policy, although this result was not statistically significant. Conclusions and Relevance: State adoption of policies that expand SNAP eligibility may contribute to decreased rates of multiple mental health and suicidality outcomes at the population level.

  PublisherDOI

• Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy in States With and Without Punitive Prenatal Substance Use Policies

  American Journal of Preventive Medicine · 2025-10-15

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• The impact of refundable state earned income tax credits on foster care entry rate trends

  Child Abuse & Neglect · 2024-11-05 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Identifying Facilitators and Barriers to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Visitation in Mothers of Low Socioeconomic Status: A Qualitative Investigation

  UNC Libraries · 2024-12-03

  articleOpen access

  Background/Objectives: The experience of parenting in a highly medicalized, unnatural environment can result in impaired mother–infant bonding, but increased maternal presence at the infant’s bedside has been associated with improved infant and maternal outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators during the NICU Experience in regard to maternal presence in an NICU. Methods: We interviewed 12 mothers (7 Black, 5 white) of low socioeconomic status (SES) whose preterm infants (average birth gestational age of 27 weeks) were currently hospitalized in an NICU. We engaged the NICU Family Advisory Board in all steps of the research process. Results: Barriers and facilitators to maternal presence spanned all levels of the Socioecological Model; however, barriers were mostly at the societal, community, and institutional levels, while facilitators varied based on interpersonal and individual-level factors. Assets that mothers accessed to facilitate visits, such as free housing and shuttle services, were not available to all mothers based on individual circumstances (e.g., caregiving responsibilities). While a few mothers identified negative interactions with health care practitioners, these encounters were not attributed to racism or described as barriers to visitation. Conclusions: Hospitals can support families with infants in an NICU by providing free or inexpensive short-term sibling support, alleviating the burden of parking costs, and communicating early and frequently about available institutional resources during the hospital stay.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Evaluating the Impact of Low-income Housing Tax Credits on child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, and opioid overdose

  NIH · $1.0M · 2019–2022

• Human Development: Interdisciplinary Research Training

  NIH · $9.6M · 1988–2022

Frequent coauthors

• Anna E. Austin

  33 shared

• Kelly Sullivan

  16 shared

• Adam J. Zolotor

  National Association of Social Workers

  15 shared

• Jared W. Parrish

  14 shared

• Carolyn Tucker Halpern

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  13 shared

• Desmond K. Runyan

  University of Colorado Denver

  12 shared

• Sandra L. Martin

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  12 shared

• Rebecca B. Naumann

  10 shared

Awards & honors

• Edward G. McGavran Award for Excellence in Teaching 2021
• Provost Award for Engaged Scholarship 2019
• Teaching Excellence and Innovation Award Gillings School of…
• Delta Omega 2015