by Betsy Serrano, TSS Group Member Note: Throughout this post, the terms “migrant”, “immigrant”, and “undocumented” are used. They are not universal labels, as each term represents a different experience. They are used intentionally to specific contexts and cited research. During Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), it’s important to examine the intersection of migration andContinue reading “Surviving Across Borders: Immigration and Sexual Violence”
Category Archives: Research
Sexual Violence in the Lives of Black Women: #SAAM2026
by Courtney McCrimmon, TSS Group Member During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it’s important to recognize the impact of sexual violence in Black women’s lives. Consider that: After intimate violence, barriers to disclosing can disproportionately impact Black women, hindering access to support. These barriers are often shaped by intersecting factors. For instance: For Black women who have been sex trafficked, challenges accessing services continue long after the sexual violence. Unfortunately,Continue reading “Sexual Violence in the Lives of Black Women: #SAAM2026”
Economic Costs of Sexual Violence: #SAAM2026
by Amber Fredrick, TSS Group Member Among the many burdens of sexual assault are the economic costs. For example: The economic impacts of sexual violence are shaped by intersectionality. For instance: Discrimination or fear of stigma can delay essential care, which means: Sexual assault also costs communities. Consider, for example: The economic impact of sexualContinue reading “Economic Costs of Sexual Violence: #SAAM2026”
Voices That Matter: A New Study for Black Women Survivors of Sex Trafficking
by Courtney McCrimmon (5th Year Graduate Student) January’s National Human Trafficking Prevention Month reminded us of survivors’ resilience and the preventative efforts made to raise awareness and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation. To continue the fight against human trafficking, we must take collective action to stay well-informed, raise awareness, strengthen protective factors, and take more initiative to support survivorsContinue reading “Voices That Matter: A New Study for Black Women Survivors of Sex Trafficking”
Two Languages, One Trauma: Exploring an Untapped Research Space
by Leah Waltrip (3rd Year Graduate Student) Code-switching, or switching between two languages, is a common pattern of communication among bilingual and multilingual individuals. For a long time, researchers viewed code-switching as a sign of language challenges. However, recent research has shown that code-switching indicates stronger mastery of grammatical and vocabulary knowledge in multiple languages.Continue reading “Two Languages, One Trauma: Exploring an Untapped Research Space”
Survivor-Center Care Matters: New Preliminary Findings
by Amber Fredrick New research from our Traumatic Stress Studies Group aimed to answer questions about the real-world impact of survivor-centered care, championed by victim-service providers. For instance, is survivor-centered care was linked to important survivor outcomes – from empowerment and PTSD symptoms to people’s intention to seek help in the future? To answer suchContinue reading “Survivor-Center Care Matters: New Preliminary Findings”
Asthma and Intimate Partner Abuse: Getting the Word out about New Research Findings
When I talk with people about our shared interests in ending violence against women, I often point to healthcare. After all, lots of people are passionate about healthcare — from costs to access and lots in between. Those same people may not think of violence against women as their issue. Yet, one way to addressContinue reading “Asthma and Intimate Partner Abuse: Getting the Word out about New Research Findings”
From Downtown Denver to You: Returning Our Research to the Community
The first week of August brought thousands of psychologists to downtown Denver for the American Psychology Association (APA) annual convention. Across poster sessions, three current TSS Group Team Members Amber Fredrick, Courtney McCrimmon, and Leah Waltrip shared some of our work with colleagues. And now we’re excited to share those posters and that work withContinue reading “From Downtown Denver to You: Returning Our Research to the Community”
Your Brain on Relationships: The Story Behind A New Study
by Rebecca Suzuki, TSS Group Team Member In one interview after another, women shared stories of injuries to their heads and necks during intimate partner violence (IPV) – injuries that likely disrupted the normal function of the brain. Across interviews, a pattern emerged: survivors often described multiple lifetime injuries that met screening criteria for aContinue reading “Your Brain on Relationships: The Story Behind A New Study”
Survivor-Centered Care: New Research on the Horizon
by Amber Fredrick, TSS Group Member, 2nd Year Graduate Student In my time as an advocate, I have spent many long nights in emergency rooms and early mornings in court rooms working with survivors to get the care they need. In navigating these complicated systems that often leave survivors feeling confused, overwhelmed, and frustrated, IContinue reading “Survivor-Centered Care: New Research on the Horizon”
Trauma Research Notes 