Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT

Nick Fox @nickfoxnz.bsky.social · 4d

Excited for my doctoral research to be published, thanks to the support of @matthewmatix.bsky.social @srhastraea.bsky.social

Do Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Lead to Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories? - Nick D. Fox, Matt N. Williams, Stephen R. Hill, 2025

Previous research has found positive correlations between manifestations of psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, and belief in consp...

doi.org

1 4 11

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · 20d

I’m excited to share that the RESILIENCE Research Group is recruiting a PhD student to join us at UMN starting Fall 2026! 🎓

Learn more about our research, PhD training, and how to apply here 👉 sites.google.com/umn.edu/resr...

4

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Sep 13

I know y’all are obsessed with regency romance BUT I need Shondaland to take a break from love and do a Scandal continuation series. So much material is out in the world right now!

And before you hop in my comments I do believe we can fight the good fight and be entertained at the same time.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Sep 11

The things I wanna say….😳

3

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Sep 5

I don’t think I’ll ever understand some people’s unnatural allegiance to mediocrity.

1

Reposted by Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT

Kellye Burke @kellyetx.bsky.social · Aug 30

In summary, the average child sexual predator’s profile is: married, male, white, heterosexual, religious, surrounded by friends and family, and a parent.

R.L. Stollar @rlstollar.bsky.social · Aug 30

If you care about protecting children from abuse, it is necessary that you understand who the actual child sexual predators are.

Who Is The Average Child Sexual Predator?

Child molesters are as equally married, educated, employed, and religious as any other Americans.

rlstollar.com

10 360 780

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

📢 Help spread this:
#AdolescentHealth #GenderNonconformity #LGBTQYouth #Intersectionality #YouthMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

8/ Implications:

Address bullying in schools as a suicide prevention strategy.

Screen for depression among youth targeted for gender nonconformity.

Use intersectional approaches — a one-size-fits-all model misses key risks.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

7/ These differences matter. They show how intersectional identities shape vulnerability — not every pathway to suicidality looks the same.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

6/ Example findings:

Hispanic straight males: strongest full mediation (bullying + depression explained suicidality risk).

White bisexual males: partial mediation via bullying only.

Some groups (e.g., Black straight females) showed no direct PGNC → suicidality link.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

5/ But — the story isn’t the same for everyone. When we tested across 32 intersectional groups (race × sex × sexual identity), effects varied.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

4/ In other words: PGNC → bullying → depression → suicidality. This cascade significantly explained the elevated suicide risk.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

3/ We found:

*PGNC → more bullying

*Bullying → more depression

*Both bullying & depression → higher suicidality

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

2/ Using data from 70,047 high school youth (2019 YRBS), we tested whether bullying and depression explain the link between PGNC and suicidality.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

1/ Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for U.S. adolescents. One overlooked risk? Being perceived as gender nonconforming (PGNC).

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 26

🧵 New Study: Gender Nonconformity, Bullying & Suicidality

✅ Bottom line: Adolescents perceived as gender nonconforming face heightened suicide risk, largely because of bullying and depression, and this risk is amplified or reduced depending on who they are.

Full article here: shorturl.at/vj6Hr

Bullying and depression serially mediate the association between perceived gender nonconformity and suicidality among US adolescents: a theory driven intersectional analysis - BMC Public Health

Background Adolescent suicidality has become an alarming public health concern. Perceived gender nonconformity has been identified as a risk factor for suicidality. Several factors (e. g. bullying and...

shorturl.at

1 1 3

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

📢 Help spread this:
#Puberty #GirlsHealth #RacialEquity #RacialJustice #MentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #NewResearch #Intersectionality #GirlsOfColor

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

These findings highlight the urgent need for:
• Schools & healthcare providers to screen for race-related stress.
• Culturally responsive interventions that support girls of color navigating puberty.
• Policies that confront structural racism in childhood settings.

1 1 2

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

Why? Signs of maturation in Black & Latinx girls may trigger harmful stereotypes that erase their childhood—leading to adultification, sexualization, and harsher treatment from peers, teachers, and adults.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

For boys, however, puberty did not predict later experiences of discrimination.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

This effect was clear for both Black and Latinx girls—even after accounting for stress, family hardship, body mass index, and neurocognitive development.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

Instead, we found the opposite pattern for girls: earlier or more advanced pubertal development predicted greater racial discrimination one year later.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

We found no evidence that racial discrimination sped up puberty (the “weathering” hypothesis) in this age group.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

Using data from 3,271 youth in the national ABCD Study, we examined bidirectional links between pubertal development and racial discrimination from ages 9–12.

1

Michael Curtis Ph.D., LMFT @theblacacdemic.bsky.social · Aug 20

📢New Publication Alert 📢

✅ Bottom line: Puberty isn’t just biological. For Black & Latinx girls, it can open a window of vulnerability to racism—with consequences for health & well-being.

Read the full article in Journal of Adolescent Health: authors.elsevier.com/a/1le2I,Nz%7...

authors.elsevier.com

1 5 7