Posted on October 5, 2021 by Amanda Cerreto
Psychology doctoral candidate Quyen Do has been featured in the newsletter for Association for the Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Every year, ABCT’s Research Facilitation committee awards a Graduate Student Research Grant to provide financial support for a student whose research shows great innovation, creativity, and broader significance. Our 2021 Winner is Quyen A. Do, M.Ed., a doctoral student at the University of Texas at San Antonio and a member of Dr. Shelby Scott’s Promoting Resilience in DiversE (PRlDE) Family Studies Lab .
2021 Student Research Grant Winner: Quyen A. Do, M.Ed.
Tell us about the project the SRG is funding.
The project is a dissertation project investigating intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority individuals in consensual nonmonogamous relationships. IPV is a serious public health issue that is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the indirect effects of COVID-19. Research has established that IPV is a complex issue with negative effects on the health of individuals, families, and society. Unfortunately, IPV is often overlooked in marginalized populations such as individuals who practice consensual nonmonogamy (CNM), a practice in which all partners consent to having romantic and/or sexual relations with other people outside of their dyads. Despite the increasingly common practice of CNM among sexual minorities, there remains a dearth of research on the CNM population and how IPV manifests in these relationships. Thus, the current project seeks to investigate the manifestation of intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority individuals in non-monogamous (CNM) relationships. Study aims will focus on (1) understanding the prevalence and frequency of IPV among sexual minorities in CNM relationships, (2) examining anticipated risk factors such as sexual minority stress and jealousy for IPV in said population, (3) examining the moderating effects of communication and social support on the relationships between proposed risk factors and IPV, and (4) evaluating mental health implications of IPV in CMN partners, including associations with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Findings from the project will provide insight into the manifestation of IPV among sexual minority individuals in CNM relationships, which will in turn provide clinical guidelines for the development of effective IPV assessments and interventions for this underrepresented population.
What does receiving this award mean to you?
I am extremely honored to be the recipient of the 2021 ABCT Graduate Student Research award. The award provides the necessary funding for my dissertation project which examines intimate partner violence among sexual minority individuals who practice consensual nonmonogamy, which in turn may inform the development of clinical interventions for this underserved community.
How has ABCT contributed to your development as a researcher and clinician?
I first learned about the association in 2020 through my faculty advisor, Dr. Shelby Scott, who is a long-term member of ABCT. Since then, I have had the opportunity to present my research at the 2020 ABCT convention which helped me gain valuable skills and experiences. I have also had the opportunity to meet and learn from other ABCT researchers/clinicians. This year, I will be presenting a poster and moderating a clinical roundtable at the 2021 ABCT convention.
— Amanda Cerreto
