Research Studies

Multiple Principal Investigators: Walter Bockting, PhD, and Miriam Ryvicker, PhD

Center Collaborators: Maureen George, PhD, RN, AE-C, FAAN and Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Project Staff: Tyler Gaedecke, MPhil, BSN, RN; Skylar Hawthorne, LMSW; Carolina Lopez, BA

Funded by: National Institute of Nursing Research [R01 NR019315]

This study examines the impact of gender-affirming surgery on the quality of life of trans and gender nonbinary patients served by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York’s Gender Affirmation Program. Participants will be invited to complete a series of quantitative and qualitative interviews over an 18-month period to understand their psychosocial and sexual adjustment after surgery, and their experiences interacting with the health care system. Findings will inform the development of future interventions to optimize support provided after surgery.

Multiple Principal Investigators: Walter Bockting, PhD, and Donald Edmondson, PhD

Center Collaborators: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, and Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Funded by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [R01 HL151559]

This study will be the first to determine the relationship between minority stress, resilience, mental health, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (blood pressure, sleep and physical activity, tobacco use, and BMI) in a diverse sample of the U.S. gender minority population, using both self-report and objectively measured data. Findings will inform the development and testing of future intervention strategies aimed at reducing CVD risk and promoting the health and wellbeing of this and other vulnerable populations.

Principal Investigators: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN

Project Staff: JoJo Castellanos, BA 

Funded by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [R01 HL168489]

The objective of this daily diary study is to examine physiological, behavioral, and affective mechanisms linking intersectional stigma with blood pressure among sexual, racial, and ethnic minority adults.

Principal Investigator: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN

Center Collaborators: Lauren Bochicchio, PhD, MSW

Funded by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [R01 AA013328]

This study will evaluate the impact on SMW’s drinking and health of the 2015 historic Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, and will take advantage of a longitudinal dataset spanning more than 20 years to examine the associations of long-term drinking trajectories and SMW’s health.

Principal Investigator: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN

Center Collaborators: Lauren Bochicchio, PhD, MSW

Project Staff: Lizzie Chadbourne, MPH

Funded by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [R01 AA027252]

This study is recruiting sexual minority women from the longitudinal Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study and their partners to examine the role of alcohol use in intimate partner aggression.

Learn More About the CHLEW Study

Principal Investigator: Jeremy Kidd, MD, MPH

Center Collaborators: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN (Primary mentor); Walter Bockting, PhD; Maureen George, PhD, RN, AE-C, FAAN

Funded by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [K23 AA028296]

This study involves formative quantitative and qualitative research to support the development of a culturally adapted psychotherapy for transgender and nonbinary individuals with alcohol use disorder. This study involves evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention in a single-arm clinical trial with 20 gender minority individuals with AUD.

Principal Investigator: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN (multiple PI with John Pachankis, PhD of Yale University)

Funded by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

This study will assess the efficacy of LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive behavioral psychotherapy to target the common cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to minority stress that lead to mental and behavioral health disparities for sexual minority women. 

Principal Investigator: Walter Bockting, PhD

Funded by: National Institute on Aging [R01 AG069041]

The purpose of this study is to compare cognitive test performance of a community sample of age-matched LGBT and non-LGBT adults and to examine the role of minority stress and related risks and assets in cognitive aging in these two identity groups. 

Principal Investigator: Walter Bockting, PhD

Center Collaborators: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN; Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC; Maureen George, PhD, RN, AE-C, FAAN

Project Staff: Christian Adames, MA; Josh Mosby, BA

Funded by: National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities [R01 MD017085-02]

This study examines the social relations of gender minority people of color (GM POC) living in New York City and New Orleans and identifies targets for future interventions to enhance their social connectedness, health and wellbeing. Guided by the Convoy Model of Social Relations, the study aims to: (1) examine the social relations and connectedness of GM POC age 18-69 through in-depth, qualitative interviews; (2) adapt the established structured Social Convoy Interview protocol to quantitatively assess the contemporary social networks and support of GM POC adults through a series of cognitive interviews; and (3) identify strengths and weaknesses in social connectedness that moderate the association between minority stress and outcomes of mental health and aging among a community sample of GM POC.

Principal Investigator: Tyler Gaedecke, MPhil, BSN, RN

Advisors: Walter Bockting, PhD and Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN

Funded by: National Institute of Nursing Research [F31 NR021239], Sigma Foundation for Nursing Small Grant, and Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Zeta Chapter Research Grant

This study will leverage an existing study of trans and gender-diverse individuals after gender-affirming surgery to characterize their access to care by investigating their “personal healthcare networks” of healthcare professionals. This research will (1) analyze associations between these networks and participants’ physical and mental health and (2) qualitatively explore their experiences of navigating stigma and minority stress in building and accessing these networks.

Principal Investigator: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN

Funded by: Columbia University School of Nursing Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research Pilot Grant

In this study we are using longitudinal data from Waves III-V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine the influence of structural stigma on the cardiovascular health of sexual minority adults. We will also identify potential mediators and moderators of the proposed associations. Findings will inform future structural interventions aimed at reducing the harmful effects of discriminatory policies on the cardiovascular health of sexual minority individuals. 

Principal Investigator: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN

Funded by: Columbia University School of Nursing Intramural Pilot Grant

This pilot study is being conducted to determine the feasibility and acceptability of recruiting sexual minority adults and their heterosexual siblings to complete a 2-week assessment of daily intersectional minority stressors and home blood pressure. We will provide the first evidence of the influence of intersectional minority stressors on blood pressure in sexual minority adults. This information is critical for developing tailored interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in this population.

Pilot Study Investigator: Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Funded by: National Institute of Nursing Research [P30 NR016587]

The PriSSM Center (MPIs, Bakken & Smaldone) focuses on symptom self-management among Latinx populations since this is an underserved and underresearched group. Multiple types of data will be analyzed to examine the effects of stress from discrimination on sleep and fatigue among Latinx transgender people. 

Principal Investigator: Joseph Belloir, PhD, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

Advisor: Walter Bockting, PhD

Funded by: National Center for Advancing Translational Science [TL1 TR001875]

Using cross-sectional data from an established longitudinal, multisite cohort study of transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) adults named Project AFFIRM, the aims of this proposed study are to: (1) identify sleep phenotypes in TGNB adults using actigraphy data and (2) examine the associations of adverse childhood experiences and discrimination with sleep phenotypes in TGNB adults

Principal Investigator: Kodiak Soled, PhD, RN, MSN

Funded by: AWHONN Every Women, Every Baby Award & Hill-Rom Celeste Phillips Family-Centered Maternity Care Award [Small Grant Award]

This study uses three qualitative interviews as well as photovoice methods to understand social support among a diverse cohort of sexual and gender minority gestational parents from the second through fourth trimester of the perinatal period.

Principal Investigator: Kodiak Soled, PhD, RN, MSN

Advisor: Walter Bockting, PhD

Funded by: National Institute of Nursing Research [F31 NR019203]

The goals of this longitudinal, qualitative study are to: (1) describe multidimensional social support among sexual and gender minority gestational parents across the perinatal period and (2) characterize sexual and gender minority gestational parents' perceptions of gaps in and assets of perinatal social support through photos.

Principal Investigator: April Ancheta, PhD, RN, BSN

Advisor: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN

Funded by: National Institute of Nursing Research [F31 NR019432]

This Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship –supported study will test relationships between school violence (interpersonal-level risk) and school climate (community-level risk) on obesity among sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents. Findings will be used to inform the design of targeted, evidence-based interventions to promote positive school climates and prevent or reduce school violence, ultimately lowering risk of obesity among and their heterosexual peers.

Principal Investigator: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN

Funded by: Columbia University Irving Medical Center [Junior Faculty Award]

The purpose of this study is to test the associations of minority stressors with epigenetic changes in the expression of candidate genes associated with hypertension in a sample of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ adults. We will link daily diary assessments of minority stressors and self-monitoring of home blood pressure with saliva samples to examine these associations. Findings from this study will identify biological mechanisms that might drive the cardiovascular health disparities previously documented in Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ adults.

Principal Investigator: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN

Center Collaborator: Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Funded by: Columbia University Data Science Institute [Pilot Award]

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of collecting ecological momentary assessment data on minority stressors and sleep health over 30 days in Black and Latinx SGM adults. We will also test the computational performance of personalized models to predict sleep health outcomes from minority stressors. 

Principal Investigator: Yashika Sharma, PhD, MSN, RN 

Advisor: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN and Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN 

Funded by: American Heart Association [AHA 899585] 

The purpose of this study is to examine the longitudinal associations of family-related factors with self-reported incident hypertension among sexual minority women. Using data from the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study, the proposed study will accomplish the following aims: (1) examine the associations of sexual identity disclosure and family support with self-reported incident hypertension and (2) explore potential moderators (i.e., race/ethnicity, sexual identity) and mediators (i.e., depressive symptoms) of these hypothesized associations.  

Principal Investigator: Sarah Zollweg, PhD, BSN, RN

Advisor: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN

Funded by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [F31 AA029847]

This study will use existing data from the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study to (1) examine the associations of individual-level, interpersonal-level, and structural-level minority stressors, both separately and synergistically, with past-year hazardous drinking among sexual minority women; and (2) explore differences by sexual identity and race/ethnicity.

Principal Investigator: Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN

Primary Mentor: Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN

Funded by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [K01 HL146965]

This study will examine the associations of sexual identity, adverse life experiences, and resilience factors with cardiovascular disease risk in sexual minority women and their biological heterosexual sisters.

Principal Investigator: Sarah Leonard, PhD, MSN, RN

Advisors: Jean-Marie Bruzzese, PhD; Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN; Kasey Jackman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Funded by: National Institute of Nursing Research [F31 NR020733]

Using data from early adolescents ages 10-14 in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, this F31 study aimed to (1) examine the association between weight discrimination and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and (2) determine whether this association differs for sexual and gender minority adolescents compared to their cisgender, heterosexual peers, with an additional exploration of role of sexual identity-based discrimination, racial/ethnic discrimination, and sex assigned at birth.