Projects

Representative Publications:

For an updated list, please see Dr. McConnell's Google Scholar page

The Queer Nonmonogamies (QNM) Project

This study examines experiences of interpersonal strain, support, coping, minority stress, community connection, and mental health outcomes among QNM individuals, with particular attention to differences between those who do and do not identify as having disabilities. Drawing on intersectionality and minority stress frameworks, the project investigates how relational structures, experiences, and support needs shape QNM people’s mental health and wellness. By centering disabled QNM voices and focusing on intersectionality under-represented groups, this study aims to address critical gaps in scholarship and inform disability-affirming and relationship-inclusive clinical practice. This study also aims to build a participant pool for a future mixed-methods study of QNM people's social networks.

Students assisting in this project can obtain experience with: participant recruitment, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, mixed-methods study design, preparing findings for presentation and publication

Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC) Clinical & Training Enhancement Team

Given our interest in translational research and clinical practice with sexual and gender minority populations, lab members may be involved in projects designed to enhance both training and clinical service delivery in the Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (a speciality clinic within The Gronowski Center).

Students assisting in this project can obtain experience with: literature reviews on clinically-relevant topics (including best practices), development and revision of curriculum and training materials, development of clinical and case management resources, and evaluating and improving the SGIC's training and clinical systems. Involvement provides an opportunity for students interested in training, supervision, and/or clinic administration to develop relevant knowledge and skills

SILOS Study

(Structural Inequities across Layers Of Social Context; PI: Dr. Michelle Birkett; Role: Co-Investigator)

This R01 grant-funded project provides a comprehensive study of the many social and structural factors leading to racial/ethnic differences in HIV transmission and substance use among young men who have sex with men and transgender women (YMSM-TW). Using complex social network modeling and in-depth network surveys of 2700 racially diverse YMSM-TW across five US cities, it will offer a thorough account of how structural forces shape opportunity and risk through population-level differences in connections to people and places. Dr. McConnell co-leads the Community Core for this project, which focuses on building Community Advisory Boards of Black and Latine YMSM-TW across the five cities covered in the project. Strengthened by a robust plan for community engagement, this work will help produce tangible targets for public health interventions and transform understanding on drivers of disparities.

Students interested in assisting in this project should discuss their interest with Dr. McConnell, given that this is a collaborative project with other faculty.

Project VOICE (Visualizing Our Identities, Connections, & Environments)

This mixed-methods project was Dr. McConnell's dissertation and the primary research project for their F-31 fellowship (funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse), which they completed at Northwestern University's Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing.

The project seeks to advance understandings of racial disparities in HIV among young men who have sex with men by examining (1) how networks, venues, and neighborhoods function as risk environments for YMSM of different racial groups, and (2) how structural mechanisms shape racial differences in risk environments. The project incorporates the voices and lived experiences of YMSM to deepen understanding of social contextual factors associated with HIV and drug use.

Students interested in this project may be able to assist with publications, as multiple manuscripts are in preparation based on study findings. Additionally, Dr. McConnell has ongoing collaborations with faculty at ISGMH on related NIH-funded research projects; interested students may be able to contribute to these collaborations.

Santa Clara County LGBTQ+ Clinical Academy

(Co-PI: Dr. Kimberly Balsam; Investigators: Dr. Em Matsuno, Dr. Jayme Peta, & Dr. Predair Robinson)

This project involves the development, implementation, and evaluation of a 40-hour continuing education training on providing affirmative therapy to LGBTQ+ populations for behavioral health providers in Santa Clara County. It is funded through Mental Health Services Act funding through the county's Office of Behavioral Health and Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs. The inaugural Academy was implemented in the Fall of 2020 and evaluation of the first two Academy cohorts is ongoing.

Students interested in assisting in this project should discuss their interest with Dr. McConnell, given that this is a collaborative project with other faculty.

Previous projects have focused on the following areas:

Family support and mental health among LGBTQ+ youth
Relational and community aspects of minority stress and resilience
Intersectional diversity among LGBTQ+ populations & intersectionality as a setting-level characteristic
Facebook experiences of LGBTQ+ youth
White privilege awareness and racial justice engagement among college students
Mixed-methods program evaluation of Outward Bound FINS, a wilderness program for at-risk youth

Student Dissertations:

Numerous students in the REAL Lives Lab are collecting original data for their dissertations and are open to collaborating with incoming students.

Current topics include:

- - A mixed-methods examination of experiences of racial trauma among transracial adoptees (Holly Fitch)
  - A narrative examination of the mental health help-seeking processes of Black womxn to inform outreach programs (Chika Ofodu)
  - A qualitative examination of the physical and mental healthcare experiences of transgender Filipinx people (Mariel Alano)
  - A quantitative examination of the relationship between sibling support and mental health for LGBTQ+ adolescents (Emily Wojcik)
  - .... and more!

Future research directions include:

Interpersonal influences on mental health for LGBTQ+ people of different races/ethnicities
Collaborative social network visualization as a tool for therapeutic assessment & intervention
Family of origin and chosen family relationships across the lifespan
Trauma-informed approaches for clinical intervention with LGBTQ+ people
Training clinicians in LGBTQ+ affirmative mental and behavioral healthcare

Page updated

Report abuse