Baruch College Professor Focuses Research on LGBTQ+ Health Equity

June 9, 2026

As Pride Month in June celebrates LGBTQ+ communities, it also draws attention to ongoing challenges around health and well-being. At Baruch College, Associate Professor and psychologist Christopher Stults is tackling those challenges through his research on improving the lives of sexual and gender minority populations, particularly young LGBTQ+ adults.

Baruch recently interviewed Stults, who received the American Psychological Association’s 2024 John D. Black Award for “excellence and distinguished contributions in the applied practice of counseling psychology.” He teaches psychology at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences and is the founder and principal investigator for the Sexual and Gender Minority Health Lab at Baruch College.

Tell us about your latest research.

After spending much of my career studying intimate partner violence among LGBTQ+ populations, I am excited to launch a new research project this summer focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among sexual minority men. The study will explore how OCD symptoms may be shaped by experiences such as stigma, identity development, and minority stress. By better understanding these experiences, we hope to develop more culturally responsive approaches to assessment and treatment for LGBTQ+ populations.

What are some key findings?

One of our most exciting recent findings comes from a pilot study of a new intimate partner violence prevention program designed for young sexual minority men. We found that the program was both feasible to implement and highly acceptable to participants. Participants also showed increased knowledge about partner violence from before to after the intervention. While the study was small, our preliminary analyses suggest that participants who completed the program may have been less likely to experience partner violence at follow-up, providing early evidence that this approach has the potential to improve relationship health and wellbeing in LGBTQ+ populations.

Was there an experience that inspired your work?

Early in my career, while living in South Florida, I worked with a research participant who had experienced severe violence in a same-sex relationship. I helped him find support services in the community but quickly discovered that there were no resources specifically designed for LGBTQ+ victims of intimate partner violence. In fact, the only option we could identify was a women’s shelter. That experience inspired me to build a research program focused on understanding and preventing partner violence in LGBTQ+ communities.

How does your research apply to the real world? 

My goal is for my research to have a direct impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ people. By better understanding issues such as intimate partner violence, mental health, and barriers to care, we can develop more effective prevention programs, improve mental health services, and inform public policy. I hope this work contributes to better health, stronger relationships, and greater wellbeing for LGBTQ+ communities.

Any advice how society should approach LGBTQ+ mental and physical health concerns? 

LGBTQ+ people experience similar mental and physical health challenges as everyone else. At the same time, LGBTQ+ people may face additional stressors related to stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion that can affect health and wellbeing. I think society benefits when we approach these issues with greater empathy, compassion, and a commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality, affirming healthcare.

How can people help advance LGBTQ+ health equity?

Supporting LGBTQ+ health equity can take many forms. It may mean being an empathetic ally to LGBTQ+ people in your life, supporting community organizations that provide services and resources, or advocating for policies that improve access to healthcare and reduce discrimination. At its core, health equity is about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Working on anything else?

In addition to the OCD study mentioned above, I am working on several manuscripts examining the role of firearms in intimate partner violence among LGBTQ+ people. This research seeks to better understand how firearm access intersects with relationship violence and mental health in LGBTQ+ relationships. I am excited about these projects and the potential they have to inform prevention efforts and improve health outcomes.

Learn more about Professor Stults.

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