Dr. Chang’s research seeks to promote racial equity and collective flourishing by understanding how culture and context shape psychological health, identifying strategies for improving intergroup dynamics, and developing culturally-grounded interventions that integrate mindfulness and other contemplative traditions. Learn more about her active projects and the work of the Culture and Mental Health lab at NYU.
Culture, context, and collective flourishing
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This NIMH-funded pilot project, in partnership with Unmute, is evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a modular approach to improving therapists’ skills in strengthening the therapeutic alliance, a change mechanism strongly associated with treatment outcome, but harder to cultivate across racial-cultural differences. Recruitment is currently closed, but data are still being collected. here
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Description text gThis program of research examines how mindfulness can support institutional gatekeepers (mental health clinicians, teachers, activists) enact their social justice commitments despite systemic, interpersonal, and psychological stressors and challenges. Recent studies have examined how mindfulness mitigates intergroup and internalized bias, enhances critical consciousness training in teachers, and supports Black community activists engaged in racial justice work. Ongoing.oes here
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The CARA (Covid-19, Asian Americans, Resiliency, and Allyship) and ABRA (Asian and Black Americans, Racism, and Allyship) survey studies examine how racialized experiences shape psychological well-being, intergroup relations, and collective responses to racism in the United States. CARA focuses on Asian Americans’ experiences of discrimination, coping, identity, and civic engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 racial justice movement, while ABRA examines how structural and regional racial contexts influence racism, allyship, and health outcomes among Asian and Black Americans. Recruitment is currently closed, but data are still being analyzed.
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When facing stressors and forces that feel beyond our control, how can we keep reaching towards our goals? This research program explores the psychological benefits of a Taoist mindset, characterized by the ability to flexibly adapt and respond to changing circumstances with clarity, patience, and purpose.Recent and ongoing studies focus on the development and adaptation of Taoist Cognitive Therapy, as well how a Taoist orientation can buffer the psychological impact and improve coping with acculturative and academic stressors. Ongoing.ion text