Elizabeth Straley, doctoral candidate in sociology, has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to study the relationship between experiencing discrimination and mental and physical health of non-heterosexual students.
The connection between health, stigma, and brain processing has not been examined, so this research could help scientists understand how the brain regulates health in conjunction with social experiences.
Straley asks participants about social networks, social support, and life on campus. She also uses games and measures brain waves to see how individuals process social experiences and how these experiences are linked to health.
She will use the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior (CB3) to measure brain activity.
“Research in diverse populations suggests that discrimination creates cumulative health effects over time,” Straley wrote in the abstract. Some people, especially 18-24 year olds, are at high risk for developing mental disorders, suicidality, self-harm, and substance dependence. The project should shed light on how discriminatory social interactions impact mental and physical health at a critical time in a person’s life.
The Sociology Program Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant supports doctoral dissertation projects that offer “strong potential for enhancing more general scientific knowledge.”
Straley’s research focuses on social inequalities, including those related to sexuality. She has taught several sociology courses and is currently working with Dr. Jacob Cheadle, associate professor of sociology, in his neurosociology lab.
