Psychology Program Presents

Developing, Adapting, and Testing Interventions to Support Sexual Health and Well-being Among Marginalized Populations: Insights from Global and Local Contexts

Sexual health is not merely the absence of disease or impairment, but a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing. Sexual and mental health influence each other, especially in marginalized populations, such that social and cultural attitudes may lead to guilt, shame, or stigma around sexual behaviors or identities. In this talk, I will describe two ongoing intervention development projects that sit at the intersection of sexual and mental health: one focused on addressing common underlying factors of depression and posttraumatic stress to support pre-exposure prophylaxis use among pregnant persons at risk for HIV acquisition in South Africa, and one that seeks to improve sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction among transgender women based in the Boston area. Broadly, my research focuses on (1) mitigating psychological barriers to optimal sexual and reproductive health; (2) the intersection of sexual health, mental health, and substance use disparities in marginalized and minoritized populations, both internationally and domestically; and (3) the development and evaluation of psychosocial interventions for populations at risk for poor sexual health. Thus far, most of my work has engaged women, pregnant people, and gender expansive individuals. Through projects that are based in sub-Saharan Africa, I am actively engaged in efforts to democratize and decolonize global mental health.

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For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].

Time: 4:00 pm EDT/GMT-4

Location: Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium

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