Sarah Whitton, Ph.D.
Director
Director
Dr. Whitton received her Ph.D. in 2004 from the University of Denver, where she studied links between couple relationships and depression, and the effects of PREP, an evidence based relationship education program. She then completed a 3 year NIMH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Judge Baker Children’s Center, studying family influences on offspring’s mental health and intimate relationships. From 2007-2009, Dr. Whitton was research faculty at Boston University. She joined the Psychology department at the University of Cincinnati in 2010.
Dr. Whitton’s current research interests are largely focused on the intimate relationships and mental health of sexual and gender minority (LGBT) individuals. Since 2016, she has led an NIH-funded longitudinal cohort study of LGBT adolescents and young adults (FAB400), focused on better understanding their mental health and close relationships. She is also a co-investigator on two studies at Northwestern University evaluating 2GETHER, a couples-based intervention to reduce HIV risk among young MSM. Dr. Whitton continues to work on refining, testing, and broadening the reach of the Strengthening Same Sex Relationship Programs, relationship education programs she developed to be culturally sensitive for use with same-sex couples. In 2024, with colleagues in UC's College of Medicine, she launched the HIGHER Academy, an interdisciplinary training program in transgender health research.
Contact Information:
Sarah W. Whitton
Professor
Psychology Department, University of Cincinnati
4150M Edwards, Cincinnati Ohio 45221-0376
Phone: (513) 556-9116
Representative Publications
1. Dyar, C. Newcomb, M.E., Mustanski, B., & Whitton, S.W. (2020). A structural equation model of sexual satisfaction and relationship functioning among sexual and gender minority individuals female assigned at birth in diverse relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior.
3. Feinstein, B. A., Dyar, C., Li, D. H., Whitton, S. W., Newcomb, M. E., & Mustanski, B. (2018). The longitudinal associations between outness and health outcomes among gay/lesbian versus bisexual emerging adults. Archives of Sexual Behavior. doi: 10.1007/s10508-018-1221-8.
4. *Godfrey, L. & Whitton, S.W. (2018). The effects of parental divorce on individuals’ commitment to same-sex relationships. Marriage and Family Review, 54, 806-818. DOI: 10.1080/01494929.2018.1503988
5. Whitton, S.W., Dyar, C.E., Newcomb, M. E., & Mustanksi, B. (2018b). Effects of relationship involvement on substance use in young sexual minorities. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 191, 215-222. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.06.037
7. Scott, S. B., Buzzella, B. A., & Whitton, S.W. (2018). Providing relationship interventions to same-sex couples: Clinical considerations, program adaptations, and continuing education. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2018.03.004
8. Feinstein, B. A., Bettin, E., Swann, G., Macapagal, K. R., Whitton, S. W., & Newcomb, M. E. (2018). The influence of internalized stigma on the efficacy of an HIV prevention and relationship education program for young male couples. AIDS and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2093-6
Press coverage by: The Washington Post, Reddit, gaystarnews.com, bustle.com
10. Whitton, S.W., Scott, S. B., Dyar, C.E., Weitbrecht, E. M., Hutsell, D., & Kuryluk, A. D. (2017). Piloting relationship education for female same-sex couples: Results of a small randomized waitlist-control trial. Journal of Family Psychology, 31, 878-888.
12. *Weitbrecht, E.M., & Whitton, S.W. (2017). Expected, Ideal, and Actual Relational Outcomes of Emerging Adults’ Hook Ups. Personal Relationships, 24, 902-916.
13. Newcomb, M. E., Macapagal, K. R., Feinstein, B. A., Bettin, E., Swann, G., & Whitton, S. W. (2017). Integrating HIV prevention and relationship education for young same-sex male couples: A pilot trial of the 2GETHER intervention. AIDS and Behavior, 21,2464-2478. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-1674-0.
14. Reuter, T. R., Newcomb, M. E., Whitton, S. W., & Mustanski, B. (2017). Intimate partner violence in LGBT youth: demographic differences and associations with health behaviors. Psychology of Violence, 7, 101-109.
15. Whitton, S. W., Newcomb, M. E., Messinger, A., Byck, G., & Mustanski, B. (2016). A longitudinal study of intimate partner violence victimization among sexual minority youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
19. Haas, S. M., & Whitton, S.W. (2015). The significance of living together and importance of marriage in same-sex couples. Journal of Homosexuality, 62.1241-1263. DOI:10.1080/00918369.2015.1037137
22. Mustanski, B., Greene, G. J., Ryan, D. T., & Whitton, S. W. (2015). Feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of an online sexual health promotion program for LGBT youth: The Queer Sex Ed intervention. Journal of Sex Research, 52, 220-230. DOI:10.1080/00224499.2013.867924
23. Whitton, S. W., & Kuryluk, A.D. (2014). Associations between relationship quality and depressive symptoms in same-sex couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 28, 571-576. doi: 10.1037/fam0000011
24. Whitton, S. W., Rhoades, G.K., & Whisman, M. A. (2014). Fluctuations in Relationship Adjustment Over Time and Individual Functioning: Main, Mediated, and Moderated Effects. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40, 858-871. doi: 10.1177/0146167214528988
25. Whitton, S. W., Stanley, S. M., Markman, H. J. & Johnson, C. (2013). Attitudes toward divorce, commitment, and divorce proneness in first marriages and remarriages. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75, .
28. McHugh, R.K., Whitton, S.W., Peckham, A.D., Welge, J.A., & Otto, M.W. (2013). Patient preference for psychological vs. pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
29. Whitton, S.W. & Buzzella, B. A. (2012). Using relationship education programs with same-sex couples: A preliminary evaluation of program utility and needed modifications. Marriage and Family Review, 48, 667-688.
31. Whitton, S.W. & Buzzella, B. A. (2011). Relationship education programs with same-sex couples. National Council on Family Relations Report, 56, 13-15.
32. Whitton, S. W. & Whisman, M. (2010). Relationship satisfaction instability and depression. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 791-794.
33. Stanley, S. M., Rhoades, G. K., & Whitton, S. W. (2010). Commitment and the Securing of Romantic Attachment. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 2, 243-257.
34. Whitton, S. W. (2010). Depression in the Family. The Encyclopedia of Family Health (Eds. M. Craft-Rosenberg & S. Pehler). Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA., 304-305.
35. Markman, H. J., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., Regan, E., & Whitton, S. W. (2010). The premarital communication roots of marital distress and divorce: The first five years of marriage. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 289-298.
38. Nicholson, J. M., Sanders, M. R., Halford, W. K., Phillips, M., & Whitton, S. W. (2008). The prevention and treatment of children’s adjustment problems in stepfamilies. In Pryor, J. (Ed.) The International Handbook of Stepfamilies (pp.485-521). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, Inc.
42. Nicholson, J. M., Phillips, M., Whitton, S. W., Halford, W. K., & Sanders, M. R. (2007). Promoting healthy stepfamilies: Reasons for seeking help and perceived benefits from intervention. Family Matters, 77.
44. Whitton, S.W., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2007). If I help my partner, will it hurt me? Perceptions of sacrifice in romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 64-92.