Projects

Representative Publications:

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

REAL Lives During COVID-19

This mixed-methods project is part of Dr. McConnell's recent Loan Repayment Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It aims to contribute to understanding of key network processes related to substance use and HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining (1) how COVID-19 has impacted the social, sexual, and substance use networks of Black, White, and Latino MSM, (2) what network processes are associated with HIV risk behaviors and substance use among MSM during COVID-19, and (3) the utility of collaborative network visualization in prevention intervention with this population. Beyond these aims, the project also explores relational experiences of identity negotiation and outness, interpersonal stress, support, and boundary negotiation, and relationships with both family of origin and chosen family. Interviews are conducted using Network Canvas, an interactive social network collection software suite Dr. McConnell was part of the development team for during their research fellowship at Northwestern University's Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing.

Students assisting in this project can obtain experience with: participant recruitment, conducting interviews, multiple research methods (including social network analysis and qualitative data analysis), and preparing findings for presentation and publication. Involvement provides an opportunity to discuss and explore relational influences on physical and mental health for minoritized populations, which may inform clinical practice.

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

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

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

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