Research
Lauren’s research broadly focuses on reducing mental health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community. Her current research aims to identify mechanisms underpinning the relationship between trauma and hazardous drinking among sexual minority women. Her longer term goal is to identify ways to adapt existing evidence based interventions for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous drinking to better meet the needs of sexual minority people. Lauren’s research is funded through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
In addition to her work with the LGBTQ+ community, Lauren has extensive experience working in the field of implementation science. Her dissertation project, “‘Home Away from Home’: Affirmative Care Practices Among Leading LGBTQ+ Organizations Serving Youth”, identified recommendations for LGBTQ+ youth affirmative care. Lauren has also served as a research assistant on a NIMH-funded study examining the implementation and effectiveness of a peer-led healthy lifestyle program for individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
Selected Publications
Bochicchio, L., Xu, M., Veldhuis, C.B.V., McTavish, C., & Hughes, T.L.H. (2023). Mental Health and Substance Use among Sexual Minority Women Who Report Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Literature Review. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Bochicchio, L, Porsch, L., Zollweg, S., Matthews, A.K., & Hughes, T.L. (2023). Health Outcomes of Sexual Minority Women Who Have Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Scoping Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Bochicchio, L., Carmichael, A. J., Veldhuis, C., & Stefancic, A. (2023). What We Lose When We “Don’t Say Gay”: Generational Shifts in Sexual Identity and Gender. Social Work.
Bochicchio, L., Tuda, D., Stefancic, A., Collins-Andersen, A., & Cabassa, L. (2022). “Getting the Staff to Understand It:” Leadership Perspectives on Peer Specialists Before and After the Implementation of a Peer-Delivered Healthy Lifestyle Intervention. Community mental health journal, 1-10.
Bochicchio, L., Reeder, A., Aronson, L., McTavish, C., & Stefancic, A. (2021). Understanding Factors Associated with Suicidality Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Identified Youth. LGBT Health
Bochicchio, L., McTavish, C., & Stefancic. A. (2021). From the Ivory Tower to the Treatment Trenches: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice. Social Work, swab003.
Bochicchio, L. A.,Drabble, L. A., Riggle, E. D., Munroe, C., Wootton, A. R., & Hughes, T. L. (2021). Understanding alcohol and marijuana use among sexual minority women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive phenomenological study. Journal of Homosexuality, 1-16.