Benjamin F. Shepherd, Ph.D.

If you’d like a copy of the article, please let me know! A big thank you to our team and participants! 5/5

Takeaway: Social conditions matter more than dating app use frequency for Black and Latinx gay and bisexual men’s mental health. Dating apps may increase the likelihood of exposure to sexual racism, which is more likely to cause harm in the absence of supportive connections. 4/5

3️⃣ Racial/ethnic community connection, in particular, weakened the link between sexual racism and psychological distress over time. 3/5

1️⃣ Exposure to sexual racism drove the effect of dating app use on psychological distress.

2️⃣ Greater access to supportive connections (i.e, friends, family, gay and racial/ethnic communities) buffered against the indirect effect of app use on distress via sexual racism. 2/5

Is dating app use harming the mental health of Black and Latinx gay and bisexual men? Our research suggests that may be the case, but only under specific conditions.

psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/... published by @apajournals.bsky.social @apadivision45.bsky.social 1/5

New @intjeatdisord.bsky.social publication!

-Previous research shows LGBTQ+ community involvement is linked with elevated disordered eating in sexual minoritized men (SMM)

-Intraminority, or within-community stress clarifies this link

(1)

Intraminority Body Stigma and Body Dissatisfaction Clarify the Prospective Link Between LGBTQ+ Community Involvement and Thinness‐Oriented Disordered Eating in Sexual Minoritized Men Objectives LGBTQ+ community involvement is typically considered protective for sexual minoritized men (SMM). However, LGBTQ+ community involvement may expose SMM to body-image specific pressures (i......

Eating disorder researchers and clinicians working with gay/bi+ men should consider addressing the psychosocial impact of intraminority body stigma.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

If you’d like a copy of the article, let me know! 4/4

Fun fact: This is the first pub to examine the intraminority body stigma subscale I developed as a predictor of health outcomes. More to come!

Bottom line: Be mindful of what you say to others (and yourself) to maximize the health benefits of community involvement. 3/4v

…that exposure to body-related judgments and criticisms perpetuated specifically within the LGBTQ+ community (i.e., intraminority body stigma) may help explain links between community involvement, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating among gay and bi+ men. 2/4

🚨New pub alert!🚨
Research on the health benefits of LGBTQ+ community involvement is nuanced. Led by Dr. @barnhartwr.bsky.social, our longitudinal study found… 1/4

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

This fall, we are recruiting parents of LGBTQ people for a paid study assessing programs designed for parents of LGBTQ people 🍁! See if you qualify for our research study by completing our eligibility screener at the link in bio 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Happy to share that next week I start my postdoc fellowship @yalesph.bsky.social @yalelgbtqmhi.bsky.social, where I will be working to bridge the gap between clinical psychology and public health to promote mental and sexual health equity within LGBTQ+ communities. The work must continue! 🌈 #YAPT

Tyvm Dr Kinkel-Ram! 😁

Elated (and very relieved) to have finally completed my 2,070-hour doctoral internship in health service psychology at #CMTP @bumedicine.bsky.social! #wedidit 🥳

By August 31, my degree will be conferred and I’ll officially be Dr. Shepherd. #PhDone (I’ve been waiting 6 years to use this hashtag!)

Excited to present my research on belonging, minority stress, and burnout among psychology trainees with concealable stigmatized identities (with a focus on LGBTQ+ identities) tomorrow at #APA2025! 🌈 @apadivision44.bsky.social

Sharing a study of Hispanic SGM mental health! I'd take it but I'm too old 😂 -Lorenzo

Thrilled and grateful to be surrounded by loved ones at my graduation! Now equipped with a fancy new doctorate in Clinical Psychology, I’m excited to continue learning and growing from and through relationships, both personal and professional.
-Benjamin F. Shepherd, PhD
#finally

Dissertation successfully defended! 🥳
Graduation imminent! 🎓
Dr. Shepherd incoming! 🧠 🔍
See Acknowledgments section. ❤️
#finally

🚨 New #Publication in Health Psych 🚨

Led by Shayna Skakoon-Sparling and Susan Chow, our lab coordinator:

"Social-support buffers the effect of internalized homonegativity on intrusive sexual thoughts/behaviors"

🔓Postprint (accepted version): osf.io/preprints/ps...
🔗 DOI: doi.org/10.1037/hea0...

Are dating apps affecting your body image? Here’s what the research says Dating apps boast millions of users and billions in revenue. But a new study reveals a darker side: they may be linked to poorer body image and mental health.

Dating apps boast millions of users and billions in revenue. But a new study reveals a darker side: they may be linked to poorer body image and mental health. #DatingApps #BodyImage #MentalHealth #SelfEsteem #HealthyRelationships

For Valentine’s Day, facts about marriage and dating in the U.S. Overall, 69% of Americans say they are married (51%), living with a partner (11%), or otherwise in a committed romantic relationship (8%).

#ValentinesFacts #lovedata #datalove
#demography

Dismayed at attacks on LGBTQ people atm and very glad I get to at least work to get more affirmative care out in the world. Giving a workshop on LGBTQ-affirmative CBT in a couple of weeks! Come if you want to learn more about how to support queer people through all of *waves hands* this

We are recruiting LGBQ+ Veterans in the Boston area for a study testing a brief intervention for anxiety and depression. Please spread the word! 🌈
#LGBTQhealth #LGBTQResearch #VeteransHealth

Connect with folks through this LGBTQ Youth & Families Research starter pack. Happy to add others who are here! go.bsky.app/M2dCSHy

Alcohol is not good for us. 5 tips to stay safe(r) if you drink | CNN Alcohol is used as a social lubricant, maybe more so as holiday festivities approach. But drinking carries health and other risks. Here are five tips to make it safer.

Thanks to #CSHRB's Dr. Jason Kimer for helping us all stay alert and safe this holiday season. Excellent interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta featured on CNN www.cnn.com/2024/12/16/h...

I’m so excited to see it! 😬

How do LGBTQIA+ youth learn what it means to be LGBTQIA+? Who are the key players in this process?

Chosen family play a BIG role, and origin family contribute but much less. LGBTQIA+ socialization may be another way we can support youth.

Here's a preview from presentation at @ncfr.bsky.social

Haha np and thank you! :)

-new here- How does one join a starter pack? I’m clicking, but nothing is happening lol. Definitely want to join this one!