Our Research

LGBTQ+ Health

In comparison to heterosexual and cisgender individuals, the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender non-conforming, and queer/questioning) community experiences elevated risks for a range of adverse mental and behavioral health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidality, substance dependence, HIV/STIs, and suboptimal health service utilization (Sun et al., 2021). Our work aims to address the urgent need for evidence-based queer health interventions. We seek to develop community-centered interventions that promote holistic health and well-being for LGBTQ+ individuals in the face of societal stigma, oppression, discrimination, and violence. Our interventions provide affirming care rooted in empowerment and the recognition of resilience. 

Sun, S., Nardi, W., Murphy, M. J., Scott, T., Saadeh, F., Roy, A., & Brewer, J. (2023). Mindfulness-based mobile health to address unhealthy eating among mid-age sexual minority women with early life adversity: A feasibility trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi: 10.2196/46310

Sun, S., Guy, A. A., Zelaya, D. G., & Operario, D. (2022). Mindfulness for reducing minority stress and promoting health among sexual minority men: Uncovering intervention principles and techniques. Mindfulness. https:// doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01973-w

Sun, S., Pachankis, J. E., Li, X., & Operario, D. (2020). Addressing minority stress and mental health among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China: A systematic review. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 17(1), 35-62. https://doi: 10.1007/s11904-019-00479-w

Sun, S., Budge, S. L., Shen, W., Liu, M., Xu, G., & Feng, S. (2020). Minority stress and health: A qualitative investigation on the experiences of men who have sex with men in China and implications for health research and interventions. Social Science and Medicine, 252, 112917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112917

Global Mental Health

More than 80% of people with mental health disorders live in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and it is estimated that 76-85% of them will receive no mental health treatment at all (Rathod et al., 2017; Arjadi et al., 2015). Our work aims to increase help-seeking and broaden access to mental health services for marginalized communities in LMICs, particularly through mHealth and mindfulness-based programs. We collaborate with partners around the world to develop culturally-competent, evidence-based interventions in response to the unique psychosocial challenges posed by resource scarcity, cultural stigma, harmful legislation, war and displacement, and more.

Sun, S., Lin, D., Goldberg, S., Shen, Z., Chen, P., Qiao, S., Brewer, J., Loucks, E., & Operario, D. (2021). A mindfulness-based mobile health (mHealth) intervention among psychologically distressed university students in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000568

Sun, S., Xu, S., Guy, A., Guigayoma, J., Zhang, Y., Operario, D., Chen, R. (2023). Analysis of psychiatric symptoms and suicide risk among young adults in China by gender identity and sexual orientation. JAMA Network Open, 6(3): e232294. https://doi.org/jamanetworkopen.2023.2294

Yi, M., Li, X., Chiaramonte, D., Sun, S., Pan, S., Eisenstadt, B., Ljótsson, B., Hagaman, A., & Pachankis, J. E. (2024). Guided internet-based LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy: A randomized controlled trial among sexual minority men in China. Behaviour Research and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104605

Cai, C., Qu, D., Liu, D., Liu, B., Zhang, X., Chen, P., Chen, D., Sun, S., Tong, Y., An, J., Chen, R. (2023). Effectiveness of a localized and systematically developed gatekeeper training program in preventing suicide among Chinese adolescents. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103755

Evidence Synthesis

In the past decade, we have seen exponential growth in research on a variety of biopsychosocial health interventions. Within the field of mindfulness alone, the number of publications increased by 23.5% each year between 2010 and 2020 (Baminiwatta and Solangaarachchi, 2021). Amid rapidly growing interest and data availability, our work aims to synthesize and evaluate existing evidence through high-quality, rigorous review methodologies, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We seek to further guide intervention development and implementation, as well as to disseminate updated information about the current landscape of mental, behavioral, and integrative health.