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Sexuality and Health

Sexual risk behavior can lead to a host of negative public health outcomes including HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unintended pregnancies, and sexual violence. The Social and Behavioral Sciences faculty focuses on understanding health disparities in HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancies for vulnerable populations including adolescents (Kershaw, Ickovics), men who have sex with men (Pachankis, Kershaw), racial minorities (Ickovics, Kershaw, Lowe, Pachankis, Ransome), pregnant women (Kershaw, Ickovics), and women and children from developing countries (Miller). We explore interpersonal (Kershaw, Lowe), community (Lowe, Pachankis, Ransome), organizational (Ickovics), and structural/policy (Miller) influences on sexuality and health. We have developed innovative and effective sexual health interventions in health care settings (Ickovics, Kershaw) using bio-behavioral approaches and social technologies (Pachankis, Kershaw). The Social and Behavioral Sciences faculty partners with organizations such as the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS to conduct research that significantly improves the health and well-being of our communities locally and globally.

Faculty of Interest

  • Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health; Dean of Faculty, Yale-NUS College; Director, Program on Climate Change and Urban Health; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    Research Interests
    • Chronic Disease
    • Community Health Services
    • Epidemiology
    • Obesity
    • Pregnancy
    • Prenatal Care
    • Urban Health
  • Department Chair and Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences); Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    Research Interests
    • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
    • Epidemiology
    • HIV
    • India
    • Public Health
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
    • Global Health
    • Maternal-Fetal Relations
    • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Clinical Professor of Nursing; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    Research Interests
    • Anxiety Disorders
    • Mental Disorders
    • Disasters
    • Genetics, Behavioral
    • Mental Health Services
    • Psychological Phenomena
    • Psychology, Clinical
    • Rwanda
    • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
    • Mood Disorders
    • Substance-Related Disorders
    • Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute
    • Resilience, Psychological
    • Disaster Victims
    • Psychiatry and Psychology
    • Psychological Trauma
    • Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
    • Exposure to Violence
    • Gender-Based Violence
  • Professor in the Practice (Social and Behavioral Sciences); Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    Research Interests
    • HIV
    • Human Rights
  • Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences); Director, The SASH Lab, Yale School of Public Health; Co-Director of Yale AIDS Prevention Training Program (T32), Yale School of Public Health; Associate Director, Justice, Community Capacity, Equity (JuCCE) Core, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University

  • David R. Kessler, M.D. '55 Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Professor of Psychology and Professor of Psychiatry; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    Research Interests
    • Anxiety
    • Behavioral Sciences
    • Depression
    • Mental Health
    • Social Behavior
    • Social Change
    • Social Conditions
    • Social Sciences
    • Behavioral Research
    • Social Stigma
    • Sexual and Gender Minorities