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Social Justice and Health Equity Psychology Lab

Areas of Research

The Social Justice and Health Equity Psychology Lab’s research examines prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping, including the social, academic, and health consequences of being a member of a stigmatized group.

The lab’s work seeks to understand how experiences with discrimination, marginalization, and inequality contribute to gender, racial/ethnic, and other academic and mental and physical health disparities. The lab's work also explores factors that contribute to positive intergroup relations among diverse populations both within the U.S. and around the world.

Intersectionality, Stereotypes, Discrimination, and Women's Sexual & Reproductive Health

We use intersectionality as a radical social justice framework to understand societal stereotypes of groups based on categories such as gender, race, age, and parenting status; as well as to understand the impact of stereotypes and discrimination on women's sexual and reproductive health outcomes in the U.S.

    • ​Rosenthal, L., & Lobel, M. (in press). Gendered racism and the sexual and reproductive health of Black and Latina women. Ethnicity and Health.
    • Rosenthal, L., Earnshaw, V. A., Moore, J. M., Ferguson, D. N., Lewis, T. T., Reid, A. E., Lewis, J. B., Stasko, E. C., Tobin, J. N., & Ickovics, J. R. (2018). Intergenerational consequences: Women’s experiences of discrimination in pregnancy predict infant social emotional development at 6 months and 1 year. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 39, 228-237.
    • Earnshaw, V. A., Rosenthal, L., Gilstad-Hayden, K., Carroll-Scott, A., Kershaw, T. S., Santilli, A., & Ickovics, J. R. (2018). Intersectional experiences of discrimination in a low-resource urban community: An exploratory latent class analysis. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 28, 80-93.
    • Rosenthal, L. (2016). Incorporating intersectionality into psychology: An opportunity to promote social justice and equity. American Psychologist, 71, 474-485.
    • Rosenthal, L., & Lobel, M. (2016). Stereotypes of Black American women related to sexuality and motherhood. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40, 414-427.
    • Reid, A. E., Rosenthal, L., Earnshaw, V. A., Lewis, T. T., Lewis, J. B., Stasko, E. C., Tobin, J. N., & Ickovics, J. R. (2016). Discrimination and excessive weight gain during pregnancy among Black and Latina young women. Social Science and Medicine, 156, 134-141.
    • Rosenthal, L., Earnshaw, V. A., Lewis, T. T., Reid, A. E., Lewis, J. B., Stasko, E. C., Tobin, J. N., & Ickovics, J. R. (2015). Changes in experiences with discrimination across pregnancy and postpartum: Age differences and consequences for mental health. American Journal of Public Health, 105, 686-693.
    • Rosenthal, L., Earnshaw, V. A., Lewis, J. B., Lewis, T. T., Reid, A. E., Stasko, E. C., Tobin, J. N., & Ickovics, J. R. (2014). Discrimination and sexual risk among young urban pregnant women of color. Health Psychology, 33, 3-10.
    • Earnshaw, V. A., Rosenthal, L., Lewis, J. B., Stasko, E. C., Tobin, J. N., Lewis, T. T., Reid, A. E., & Ickovics, J. R. (2013). Maternal experiences with everyday discrimination and infant birthweight: A test of mediators and moderators among young, urban women of color. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 45, 13-23.

Polyculturalism and Intergroup Relations

We explore the role of polyculturalism -- believing that different racial and ethnic groups have throughout history interacted, exchanged ideas, and influenced each other's cultures over time, and continue to do so today -- in intergroup relations among diverse individuals both in the U.S. and internationally.

    • Rosenthal, L., Ramírez, L., Levy, S. R., & Bernardo, A. B. I. (2019). Polyculturalism:
      Viewing cultures as dynamically connected and its implications for intercultural attitudes
      in Colombia. Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana, 37, 133-151.
    • Rosenthal, L., & Levy, S. R. (2016). Polyculturalism predicts increased positive intergroup contact and friendship across the beginning of college. Journal of Social Issues, 72, 472-488.
    • Rosenthal, L., Levy, S. R., London, B., & Lewis, M. A. (2016). Polyculturalism among undergraduates at diverse universities: Associations through intergroup anxiety with academic and alcohol outcomes. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 16, 193-226.
    • Rosenthal, L., Levy, S. R., Katser, M., & Bazile, C. (2015). Polyculturalism and attitudes toward Muslim Americans. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 21, 535-545.
    • Rosenthal, L., Levy, S. R., & Militano, M. (2014). Polyculturalism and sexist attitudes: Believing cultures are dynamic relates to lower sexism. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 38, 519-534.
    • Rosenthal, L., & Levy, S. R. (2013). Thinking about mutual influences and connections across cultures relates to more positive intergroup attitudes: An examination of polyculturalism. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7, 547-558.
    • Bernardo, A. B. I., Rosenthal, L., & Levy, S. R. (2013). Polyculturalism and attitudes toward people from other countries. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 37, 335-344.
    • Rosenthal, L., & Levy, S. R. (2012). The relation between polyculturalism and intergroup attitudes among racially and ethnically diverse adults. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18, 1-16.
    • Rosenthal, L., Levy, S. R., & Moss, I. (2012). Polyculturalism and openness about criticizing one’s culture: Implications for sexual prejudice. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 15, 149-166.
    • Rosenthal, L., & Levy, S. R. (2010). The colorblind, multicultural, and polycultural ideological approaches to improving intergroup attitudes and relations. Social Issues and Policy Review, 4, 215-246.

Relationship Stigma Among Same-Sex and Interracial Couples

We examine the consequences of relationship stigma–stigma targeting a couple because of the nature of the relationship–in addition to individually experienced stigma for relationship functioning and well-being among U.S. adults in same-sex and/or interracial relationships.

    • Rosenthal, L., Deosaran, A., Young, D., & Starks, T. J. (in press). Relationship stigma and
      well-being among adults in interracial and same-sex relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
    • Castro, M. A., Rosenthal, L., & Starks, T. J. (2019). Enacted individual-level stigma, anticipated relationship stigma, and negative affect among unpartnered sexual minority individuals. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, 23, 63-82.
    • Trub, L., Quinlan, E., Starks, T. J., & Rosenthal, L. (2017). Discrimination, internalized homonegativity, and attitudes toward children of same-sex parents: Can secure attachment buffer against stigma internalization? Family Process, 56, 701-715.
    • Thies, K. E., Starks, T. J., Denmark, F. L., & Rosenthal, L. (2016). Internalized homonegativity and relationship quality in same-sex romantic couples: A test of mental health mechanisms and gender as a moderator. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 3, 325-335.
    • Rosenthal, L., & Starks. T. J. (2015). Relationship stigma and relationship outcomes in interracial and same-sex relationships: Examination of sources and buffers. Journal of Family Psychology, 29, 818-830.