McNair Scholar 2020 - Emame Thompson-Eja
Emame Thompson-Eja is a senior pursuing a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She is interested in social justice-oriented research that highlights the experiences and mental health outcomes of marginalized populations. Emame plans on getting her Ph.D. in Counseling or Clinical-Community Psychology.
Quote from Emame Thompson-Eja
My dream is to use the power and privilege that comes from higher education to contribute towards the abolition and Black liberation movements, in order to dismantle all oppressive societal systems.
Research project
Correlates of Concealment and Disclosure among People of Color Sexual Minorities: A Literature Review
Abstract: Research on the experiences of sexual minorities has been relatively limited, especially due to the history of homosexuality in the field of psychology. The amount of literature available is even less when people of color (POC) are the target population among sexual minorities. However, it is essential to study the experiences of this group in order to create efficient clinical practices and interventions. The purpose of this review was to examine correlations of concealment and disclosure in the literature due to the fact that they are central characteristics of a sexual minority status. A literature search was conducted using multiple databases and all articles were screened for inclusion in Rayyan QRCI. The main themes found were sexual health, gay community support, religion, and well-being. The relationship between outness and maladaptive coping had the greatest correlation (r = -0.37). More research is necessary on the experiences of POC sexual minorities.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Richard P. Douglass is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He attended the University of Florida where he received his Ph. D. in Counseling Psychology in Spring 2019. His research focuses on understanding how minority stressors are associated with general and vocational well-being outcomes among minority groups. Additionally, he examines factors that help buffer against minority stress. Dr. Douglass is on the editorial board for the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Journal of Vocational Behavior, and The Counseling Psychologist. Dr. Douglass was recognized with a University-wide Graduate Mentorship Award from the University of Florida.