About

Dr. Shalonda E. Horton began teaching at the School of Nursing in 2006. She received her PhD in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin in 2015. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor and serves as the Division Chair of the Family, Public Health & Nursing Leadership Division. Her teaching includes courses for undergraduate, RN-BSN, and AE-MSN graduate students in public health nursing, global health, and J1 skills lab. Her diverse nursing experience covers public health, oncology, medical/surgical, outpatient surgery, post anesthesia care unit, and inpatient psychology. Dr. Horton was active duty in the United States Army Nurse Corps for over 4 years and retired in January 2021 from the United States Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. She has over 20 years of military nursing experience in positions ranging from a Nurse Manager to a School Director for training courses such as the Combat Lifesaver Course. Her research interests focus on factors that influence dietary fat intake among young adults, personal health responsibility, health promotion, religious commitment among adolescents and young adults, and case management among faith-based organizations.

Research topics

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Social psychology
• Medicine
• Gerontology

Selected publications

• Lessons Learned from AMEN: African American Faith-Based Mental Health and Wellness Program

  Progress in community health partnerships · 2024-12-01 · 1 citations

  article

  BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored existing health disparities and inequities faced by African Americans (AAs). OBJECTIVES: This paper highlights the process of establishing collaborative relationships between community and academic partners to enhance mental health through a holistic wellness program implemented with AA churches. METHODS: African American MENtal Health and Wellness Program (AMEN), an ongoing health equity program, uses a mixed-methods approach for process evaluation. The program engages a community-based participatory research team comprising academics, local AA pastors, lay health workers, and community organizations. RESULTS: The use of a multilevel community-based participa-tory research approach effectively engaged community members in wellness activities and empowered faith leaders to address mental health within diverse church activities. CONCLUSIONS: Nurturing collaborative partnerships between faith leaders, academics, and community organizations is vital for building capacity and ensuring the sustainability of mental health promotion and wellness initiatives within AA communities.

  PublisherDOI

• Experiences of African American Women with Multiple Sclerosis

  International Journal of MS Care · 2020 · 18 citations

  • Medicine
  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatry

  BACKGROUND: Despite growing understanding that African American patients may have a more aggressive course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and experience disparities in diagnosis and treatment, fewer studies have examined how African Americans experience MS and its effect on their lives. This study explored the experiences of African American women with MS to inform future research and practice. METHODS: Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted with 19 African American women. Inductive content analysis was used to identify major categories and subcategories. RESULTS: The analyses yielded three major categories: no one could believe I had MS, it is tough living with MS, and you have to keep going. Many women reported that the MS diagnosis was a surprise to them and their doctors because of the common belief that MS is a "Caucasian disease." For this reason, many women felt their diagnosis had been delayed while their physicians initially focused on other diseases considered more typical in African American individuals. Living with losses related to social and family activities, independence, and employment was especially challenging for them. Faith in God, coming to grips with the diagnosis, and health promotion behaviors were key strategies for dealing with their MS. Women also spoke of pushing forward, working through MS challenges, and taking care of themselves, thus preserving their identity as strong Black women, a culturally important construct in the African American community. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should explore the interactions of culture with coping strategies and the development of useful and valued resources and supports for African American people with MS.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Platforms for Delivering Adolescent Health Actions -- Child and Adolescent Health and Development

  2017-01-01

  article
  Publisher

• Health and Disease in Adolescence -- Child and Adolescent Health and Development

  2017-01-01 · 3 citations

  article
  Publisher

• Identifying an Essential Package for Adolescent Health: Economic Analysis -- Child and Adolescent Health and Development

  2017-01-01

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  Publisher

• Factors influencing dietary fat intake among black emerging adults

  Journal of American College Health · 2017-10-12 · 15 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: To determine what factors influenced dietary fat intake (DFI) among black emerging adults. PARTICIPANTS: Sample included 251 black emerging adults, ages 18-25 years, living in the US. METHODS: This was a nonexperimental cross-sectional study based on self-report data. RESULTS: = -.22, p < .001), perceived barriers for healthy eating (r = .32, p < .001), and perceived self-efficacy (r = -.33, p < .001). These variables were also significant predictors for DFI. Gender was significantly related to DFI (b = -5.894, p = .000). Religious commitment moderated the effect of stress on DFI. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, perceived barriers for healthy eating, and perceived self-efficacy were significant predictors for DFI. Religious commitment influenced the relationship of perceived stress and DFI. These findings may lead to interventions designed to reduce DFI and cardiovascular risks among black emerging adults.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• “If Only We Could Have Them Walk a Mile in Their Shoes”: A Community-Based Poverty Simulation Exercise for Baccalaureate Nursing Students

  Journal of Nursing Education · 2015-09-01 · 20 citations

  article

  BACKGROUND: Poverty is linked to poorer health outcomes across the life span. Nurses must understand how poverty impacts health and the ability to achieve social mobility. This article describes a poverty simulation exercise, In Their Shoes. METHOD: Scenarios of clients in need of community resources were developed. Using public transportation, students travelled to agencies to collect information about accessing resources. Students were introduced to content about poverty, income inequality, social mobility, and critical social theory prior to the simulation exercise. After the simulation, students returned to the classroom and reflected on the experience. RESULTS: In Their Shoes received positive feedback. Students expressed surprise at the number of community resources, frustration by the challenges encountered, and dedication to being aware and compassionate advocates for underserved clients. CONCLUSION: Nursing programs should develop and evaluate similar activities to expose students to the challenges of living in poverty, and how this affects health and nursing practice.

  PublisherDOI

• What is personal health responsibility?

  PubMed · 2014-01-01 · 5 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  PURPOSE: This case study examined the meaning of personal health responsibility from the perspective of the individual. METHOD: A single Black female, 20 years of age, was interviewed for the study. Content analysis was used for data evaluation. FINDINGS: The meaning of personal health responsibility grouped into four categories: listing of tasks, obligating to tasks, following through with tasks, and maintaining resources. Tasks are behaviors performed to care for oneself. Obligating to tasks is the attitude towards carrying out behaviors. Following through is the actual completion of a task. Maintaining resources is the support needed to care for oneself. IMPLICATIONS: The individual's definition of personal health responsibility should be considered when making healthcare decisions and designing treatment plans. Future research should examine the meaning of personal health responsibility among diverse populations and explore factors that serve as facilitators and barriers to personal health responsibility.

  Publisher

• Religion and Health-Promoting Behaviors Among Emerging Adults

  Journal of Religion and Health · 2013-09-12 · 33 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Health Ministry Partnerships

  Journal of Christian Nursing · 2013-12-09 · 4 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  In Brief More than one third of the U.S. population is obese whereas 17% of youth ages 2 to 19 are obese. This paper describes the partnership between a predominantly African American church in central Texas with a state university nursing school to reduce obesity through a health-promotion program. Based upon the success of the partnership and impact of the program, this partnership could serve as an exemplar for other churches and universities in developing health programs. Learn about a partnership between a church and a state university that grew out of a desire to reduce obesity in the congregation and a nurse educator looking for clinical experience for students. The results are exciting!The CE test for this article is available only online at NursingCenter.com/CE/CNJ

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Silva Nd

  3 shared

• Patton Gc

  3 shared

• Jamison Dt

  3 shared

• Bundy Dap

  3 shared

• Gayle M. Timmerman

  American Academy of Nursing

  1 shared

• Nancy Guillet

  The University of Texas at Austin

  1 shared

• Daryl L. Horton

  1 shared

• Carolyn Phillips

  The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

  1 shared