Faculty in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences are focused on health disparities and behaviors, including psychological stress experienced by different populations, chronic disease health disparities in minorities, socio-structural determinants of health behaviors, chronic disease prevention in underserved populations, homelessness, and the conditions which contribute to health and illness.

Associate Professor

Dr. Bigatti’s current research portfolio centers on health disparities. She examines the distinct psychological stress experienced by different populations and its negative physical and mental health outcomes.

The Complex Relationship Between Pain Intensity and Physical Function in Fibromyalgia: The Mediating Role of Depression

Spirituality, Emotional Distress, and Post-traumatic Growth in Breast Cancer Survivors and their Partners: An Actor-partner Interdependence Modeling Approach

Acceptability and Feasibility of a Meaning-based Intervention for Advanced Cancer Patients and their Spouses: A Pilot Study

A Comparison of Quality of Life Measures in Husbands of Women with Breast Cancer

Assistant Professor

Dr. Hood’s research has a strong emphasis on addressing chronic disease health disparities in ethnic minority and underserved populations. In particular, her research seeks to identify mechanisms and develop culturally appropriate approaches to increase social support and health communication as critical strategies for promoting chronic disease prevention, coping, and self-management.

Organizational-level Recruitment of Barbershops as Intervention Study Sites: Health Promotion among Black Men

Using the PRECEDE Planning Approach to Develop a Physical Activity Intervention for African American Men Who Visit Barbershops: Results from the FITShop Study

Discussing Cancer: Communication with African Americans

Associate Professor

Dr. Leeche's research focuses on the socio-structural determinants of health behaviors among black adolescents. More specifically, she is interested in examining the race, gender, and neighborhood context of violence and risky sexual behaviors. Much of her research focuses on integrating Community Based Participatory Research methods into quantitative analyses of health disparities.

"Because I Don’t Know": Uncertainty and Ambiguity in Closed-ended Reports of Perceived Discrimination in US Health Care

Inequitable Chronic Lead Exposure: A Dual Legacy of Social and Environmental Injustice

Beyond Collective Supervision: Informal Social Control, Prosocial Investment, and Juvenile Offending in Urban Neighborhoods

Associate Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences Department Chair

Dr. Staten’s research focuses on chronic disease prevention in underserved populations using community-based participatory research methods.

An Examination of the Promotion and Tenure Support for Community Engaged Research at Three Universities Collaborating through a Clinical and Translational Science Award

Evidence for Long-term Impact of Pasos Adelante: Using a Community-wide Survey to Evaluate Chronic Disease Risk Modification in Prior Program Participants

Inequitable Chronic Lead Exposure: A Dual Legacy of Social and Environmental Injustice

The Role of Online Social Support in Supporting and Educating Parents of Young Children with Special Health Care Needs: A Scoping Review

Associate Professor

Dr. Watson is interested in behavioral health, health disparities, homelessness, dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices, qualitative and mixed methods.

Examining Fatal Overdose in Marion County, Indiana

The Meaning of Recovery from Co-occurring Disorder: Views from Consumers and Staff Members Living and Working in Housing First Programming

Development and Testing of an Implementation Strategy for a Complex Housing Intervention: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

The Housing First Model (HFM) Fidelity Index: Designing and Testing a Tool for Measuring Integrity of Housing Programs that Serve Active Substance Users

Understanding the Critical Elements for Facilitating Consumer Change in Housing First Programming: A Case Study Approach

The Evolving Understanding of Recovery: What the Sociology of Mental Health has to Offer