People

DrPH, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University
MPH, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University
BA, Psychology and Women's Studies, University of Michigan

Adult attachment, minority stress, emerging adulthood, sexual and gender minorities, HIV, substance use

Stephanie Cook aims to understand the pathways and mechanisms linking attachment, minority stress and health in vulnerable populations. She examines how the inter- and intra-personal features of close relationships influence the health of racial/ethnic and sexual minorities.

Through her development of an integrated theory of adult attachment (i.e., the development, or lack, of strong socio-emotional bonds) and minority stress (i.e., social stress experienced by individuals in minority social groups), she seeks to better understand the poor health and HIV prevention needs of disadvantaged youth transitioning into adulthood. She then utilizes this theoretical framework of attachment and minority stress to inform effective prevention programs for racial/ethnic and sexual minority youth.

Currently, Dr. Cook is exploring how adult attachment orientation is associated with HIV risk in a community sample of Black gay and bisexual men transitioning into adulthood. Second, she is exploring how transitions in attachment during adolescence are associated with trajectories of depression among a community based cohort sample of African-American youth. Third, she seeks to understand how adult attachment, in the context of minority stress, is associated with biomarkers of physical health among young sexual minority men.

Dr. Cook is Principal Investigator/MPI of three NIH-funded grants on sexual and gender minority health.  See descriptions of her grants on NIH RePORTER.

Recent

Notable

Boone MR, Cook SH, Wilson PA (2016).
Sexual identity and HIV status influence the relationship between internalized stigma and psychological distress in black gay and bisexual men
AIDS Care, 28 (6), 764-770. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2016.1164801. PMCID: PMC5043061.

Cook SH, Watkins DC, Calebs B, Wilson PA (2016).
Attachment orientation and sexual risk behaviour among young Black gay and bisexual men
Psychology and Sexuality, 7 (3), 177-196. doi: 10.1080/19419899.2016.1168312. PMCID: PMC4997232.

Dr. Cook's Google Scholar Profile

Support from Fathers Can Mitigate Heart Disease Risks in LGBT Youth: Study

ABC News

Media coverage of Stephanie Cook's study that showed that fathers who support their LGBT children can mitigate the negative effects of discrimination on low to moderate levels of inflammation.

Fathers May Protect Their LGB Kids from Health Effects of Discrimination

Take to Heart: Why Minorities are More Offended and How It Harms Their Health

Globes

Stephanie Cook discussed microaggression towards minorities and its cumulative stress on health. (Article written in Hebrew, use Google Chrome for an English translation.)