Dr. Taggart's current projects examine the ways in which sociocontextual factors and cultural identity factors influence health behaviors among racial/ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents and emerging adults. Drawing on ecological systems theory, she explores these factors by:

1) Conducting socioepidemiologic studies to examine the social-structural and cultural determinants of sexual health and substance use. For example, her work examines the mechanisms by which neighborhood factors, social networks, and cultural identities potentiate HIV-related behaviors among racial/ethnic minority adolescents and emerging adults. Specifically, Dr. Taggart uses the activity space approach to understand the link between racially discriminatory neighborhood contexts and HIV-related behaviors. The activity space approach has individuals map the places they travel to, social network members they socialize with at the location, and the behaviors they engage in at those locations.

2) Using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to develop and evaluate interventions to reduce HIV risk behaviors and substance use. For example, she is conducting a mixed-methods study to improve the acceptability and delivery of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to Black and Hispanic/Latino adolescents. Using focus groups with adolescents, parents, and providers and surveys with Black and Hispanic/Latino adolescents, this research examines the individual-, interpersonal-, and community-level factors influencing PrEP implementation and delivery to adolescents; and the medical provider- and organizational-level factors influencing PrEP provisions to adolescents.

Integrating techniques, theories, and concepts from epidemiology, psychology, and sociology, the ultimate goal of Dr. Taggart's program of research is to reduce health disparities and improve the health of adolescents and emerging adults.