David Pletta

Training: BS Cognitive Science & BA Psychology, UC Santa Cruz; MPH Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Boston University; PhD Population Health Sciences (Field: Social & Behavioral Sciences), Harvard University

Research Focus: My research focuses on the sexual and mental health of sexual and gender minority populations. More specifically, I am interested in how social contexts and interpersonal relationships - including perceived stigma, social support, and community connectedness - influence risk for mood disorders, suicide, and STIs/HIV. Examples of my prior work include studying the impact of the 2016 presidential election on transgender adolescents and their families living in New England, the influence of perceived social support on prospective suicide risk among transgender adults, and the application of sociohistorical cohorts to understand men who have sex with men’s preferences for HIV prevention.

Tags: Disparities, Mental Health