Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Portland State University
About
In collaboration with other social and health scientists, Kerth O'Brien examines discrimination, particularly discrimination in healthcare, as an example of social stress. Kerth's research is characterized by engagement with communities of collaboration, a factor contributing to her receipt of the Award for Community Engagement in Research (inaugural award recipient) at Portland State University (2006). Her professional service has long supported recruitment and thriving of scholars from underrepresented groups, a factor contributing to her receipt of Portland State University's President's Diversity Award in the category of distinguished faculty (2015). In early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Kerth addressed innovative questions related to social stressors, primary relationship quality, and psychological well-being for gay and bisexual men living with risk for HIV disease. Kerth completed her doctoral study in social psychology at the University of Michigan (1987).
Current Work:
With Adolfo G. Cuevas (Tufts University), Kerth is learning from data provided by African Americans living in the Portland, Oregon metro area concerning experiences of healthcare, discrimination, and subjective well-being, with particular attention to the social context of discrimination appraisal. Kerth has recently completed a collaboration with Somnath Saha (PI; Oregon Health & Science University) addressing perspectives of patients of three ethnic groups on patient-provider relationships.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Health disparities, social psychology, perceived discrimination, social stress
