Our lab (led by Dr. Rebecca Cipollina) documents key mechanisms through which belonging to a socially derogated (i.e., stigmatized group) worsens feelings of belonging and the mental health outcomes of people with non-visible and visible identities. We document when and why discussions of stigmatized identities are avoided despite being beneficial to stigmatized groups. For example, our research documents the need for explicit identity-affirming cues (and discussions) in academic, organizational, and healthcare settings to combat disparities in these settings.

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The UBSH lab will accept applications for PhD and master's students to start in the lab in the fall of 2025. ​​​​

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