Dena Abbott
Biographic Data
| ID | 4897404 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Dena Abbott |
| GIVEN NAMES | Dena |
| FAMILY NAME | Abbott |
| SIGNATURE | ABBOTT D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0295-1796 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 40 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Nonbelief in transgender and gender diverse people: A critical queer-grounded theory study.
Unpacking the Varieties of Nonbelief within US-Based Marginalized Populations
The present study sheds light on the unique experiences of demographically diverse nonbelievers who do not fit the “stereotypical” privileged-atheist schema on which most nonbelief research has centered (Zuckerman 2009). Using data from 888 nonbelieving participants with marginalized identities (either people of color and/or LGBTQ+ identities), we conducted latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify subgroupings of our secular sample. Profiles wer…
Is it the Doubt: Exploring Differences in Belief, Minority Stress, and Mental Health Amongst Demographically Diverse Agnostics and Atheists
Psychological Distress and Behavioral Vigilance in Response to Minority Stress and Threat among Members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Stigmatization, hostility, and violence towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to conduct research to promote understanding of the effects of such stigmatization on the AAPI community. Accordingly, the present study used a combined minority stress and integrated threat framework to examine whether factors related to AAPI identity would moderate the rela…
The US in Uterus: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Psychologists Advocating for Reproductive Justice
In light of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, millions of people with uteruses have been forced to navigate precarious access to reproductive care. Although health service psychologists have an ethical responsibility to engage in reproductive justice advocacy, training programs often do not adequately address sexual and reproductive health. Therefore, we sought to better understand how health service psychologists’ person…
Development and Evaluation of the Atheist Identity Concealment Scale (Aics)
Breaking Free”: A Grounded Theory Study of Atheist Women in the United States
Using a critical, grounded theory approach, we interviewed 31 atheist-identified women to ascertain the ways in which women develop and navigate an atheist identity and how their experience is influenced by patriarchal, hegemonic Christianity in the United States using a concealable stigmatized identity framework. Qualitative analysis resulted in six core categories: (1) Embracing Atheism as Liberation, (2) Escaping Christian Patriarchy, Challeng…
Coping Matters: An Examination of Coping Among Black Americans During Covid-19
Using a critical race theory framework and a convergent mixed-method design, this study examined the relationship between coping with stress and psychological distress among Black U.S. Americans ( N = 155) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of race-based stressors (e.g., anti-Black racism). Path analysis revealed mixed support for hypotheses; avoidant coping was positively related to all measured facets of psychological distress, whereas…
Coping with Covid-19: An Examination of the Role of (Non)Religiousness/(Non)Spirituality
(Non)Religious Coping with a Natural Disaster in a Rural U.S. Community
Religious/spiritual (R/S) coping following natural disasters is associated with positive outcomes, leading to perceptions that the absence of R/S coping leads to negative outcomes among nonreligious individuals. However, little research explicitly explores the coping strategies of nonreligious individuals in response to natural disasters and traumatic events. The present study collected data from a sample of survivors of a natural disaster event …
Anti-atheist discrimination, outness, and psychological distress among atheists of colour
Using a Concealable Stigmatized Identity (CSI) framework, the present study explored disclosure and concealment of atheist identity, anti-atheist discrimination, and psychological distress among participants (N = 87) identified as both atheists and people of colour residing in the United States (U.S.). Path analysis was utilised to examine the relationships among variables. Consistent with past CSI and outness research, the final model suggested …
The role of moral reasoning and attitudes regarding bisexuality in the development of bisexual counseling competence
Research on counselor competence regarding bisexuality is scarce, despite the greater prevalence of negative attitudes about bisexuality as compared to other sexual minorities (Flanders & Hatfield, 2014) both within the general public and the LGBTQ+ community (Matsick & Rubin, 2018). Therapist attitudes and moral development are 2 constructs known to affect multicultural counseling competence; however, although some research has examined competen…
Atheism as a Concealable Stigmatized Identity: Outness, Anticipated Stigma, and Well-Being
In a preliminary exploration of atheists using a concealable stigmatized identity framework, we investigated outness, identity magnitude, anticipated stigma, and psychological and physical well-being. Atheists ( N = 1,024) in the United States, completed measures of outness, atheist identity magnitude, anticipated stigma, and psychological and physical well-being online. Consistent with predictions, we found small but significant associations bet…
The Impact of Religious Commitment on Women’s Sexual Self-Esteem
Religious commitment is associated with decreased sexual activity, poor sexual satisfaction, and sexual guilt, particularly among women. The purpose of this paper was to investigate how religious commitment is related to sexual self-esteem among women. Participants included 196 female undergraduate students, 87 % of whom identified as Christian. Participants completed the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women (SSEI-W), Religious Commitment Inven…
Atheism as a Concealable Stigmatized Identity: Outness, Anticipated Stigma, and Well-Being
In a preliminary exploration of atheists using a concealable stigmatized identity framework, we investigated outness, identity magnitude, anticipated stigma, and psychological and physical well-being. Atheists ( N = 1,024) in the United States, completed measures of outness, atheist identity magnitude, anticipated stigma, and psychological and physical well-being online. Consistent with predictions, we found small but significant associations bet…
Coping Matters: An Examination of Coping Among Black Americans During Covid-19
Using a critical race theory framework and a convergent mixed-method design, this study examined the relationship between coping with stress and psychological distress among Black U.S. Americans ( N = 155) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of race-based stressors (e.g., anti-Black racism). Path analysis revealed mixed support for hypotheses; avoidant coping was positively related to all measured facets of psychological distress, whereas…
The Impact of Religious Commitment on Women’s Sexual Self-Esteem
Religious commitment is associated with decreased sexual activity, poor sexual satisfaction, and sexual guilt, particularly among women. The purpose of this paper was to investigate how religious commitment is related to sexual self-esteem among women. Participants included 196 female undergraduate students, 87 % of whom identified as Christian. Participants completed the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women (SSEI-W), Religious Commitment Inven…
The US in Uterus: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Psychologists Advocating for Reproductive Justice
In light of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, millions of people with uteruses have been forced to navigate precarious access to reproductive care. Although health service psychologists have an ethical responsibility to engage in reproductive justice advocacy, training programs often do not adequately address sexual and reproductive health. Therefore, we sought to better understand how health service psychologists’ person…
The role of moral reasoning and attitudes regarding bisexuality in the development of bisexual counseling competence
Research on counselor competence regarding bisexuality is scarce, despite the greater prevalence of negative attitudes about bisexuality as compared to other sexual minorities (Flanders & Hatfield, 2014) both within the general public and the LGBTQ+ community (Matsick & Rubin, 2018). Therapist attitudes and moral development are 2 constructs known to affect multicultural counseling competence; however, although some research has examined competen…
Breaking Free”: A Grounded Theory Study of Atheist Women in the United States
Using a critical, grounded theory approach, we interviewed 31 atheist-identified women to ascertain the ways in which women develop and navigate an atheist identity and how their experience is influenced by patriarchal, hegemonic Christianity in the United States using a concealable stigmatized identity framework. Qualitative analysis resulted in six core categories: (1) Embracing Atheism as Liberation, (2) Escaping Christian Patriarchy, Challeng…
The Impact of Religious Commitment on Women’s Sexual Self-Esteem
Religious commitment is associated with decreased sexual activity, poor sexual satisfaction, and sexual guilt, particularly among women. The purpose of this paper was to investigate how religious commitment is related to sexual self-esteem among women. Participants included 196 female undergraduate students, 87 % of whom identified as Christian. Participants completed the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women (SSEI-W), Religious Commitment Inven…
Atheism as a Concealable Stigmatized Identity: Outness, Anticipated Stigma, and Well-Being
In a preliminary exploration of atheists using a concealable stigmatized identity framework, we investigated outness, identity magnitude, anticipated stigma, and psychological and physical well-being. Atheists ( N = 1,024) in the United States, completed measures of outness, atheist identity magnitude, anticipated stigma, and psychological and physical well-being online. Consistent with predictions, we found small but significant associations bet…
Anti-atheist discrimination, outness, and psychological distress among atheists of colour
Using a Concealable Stigmatized Identity (CSI) framework, the present study explored disclosure and concealment of atheist identity, anti-atheist discrimination, and psychological distress among participants (N = 87) identified as both atheists and people of colour residing in the United States (U.S.). Path analysis was utilised to examine the relationships among variables. Consistent with past CSI and outness research, the final model suggested …
The role of moral reasoning and attitudes regarding bisexuality in the development of bisexual counseling competence
Research on counselor competence regarding bisexuality is scarce, despite the greater prevalence of negative attitudes about bisexuality as compared to other sexual minorities (Flanders & Hatfield, 2014) both within the general public and the LGBTQ+ community (Matsick & Rubin, 2018). Therapist attitudes and moral development are 2 constructs known to affect multicultural counseling competence; however, although some research has examined competen…
Coping with Covid-19: An Examination of the Role of (Non)Religiousness/(Non)Spirituality
(Non)Religious Coping with a Natural Disaster in a Rural U.S. Community
Religious/spiritual (R/S) coping following natural disasters is associated with positive outcomes, leading to perceptions that the absence of R/S coping leads to negative outcomes among nonreligious individuals. However, little research explicitly explores the coping strategies of nonreligious individuals in response to natural disasters and traumatic events. The present study collected data from a sample of survivors of a natural disaster event …
Development and Evaluation of the Atheist Identity Concealment Scale (Aics)
Breaking Free”: A Grounded Theory Study of Atheist Women in the United States
Using a critical, grounded theory approach, we interviewed 31 atheist-identified women to ascertain the ways in which women develop and navigate an atheist identity and how their experience is influenced by patriarchal, hegemonic Christianity in the United States using a concealable stigmatized identity framework. Qualitative analysis resulted in six core categories: (1) Embracing Atheism as Liberation, (2) Escaping Christian Patriarchy, Challeng…
Coping Matters: An Examination of Coping Among Black Americans During Covid-19
Using a critical race theory framework and a convergent mixed-method design, this study examined the relationship between coping with stress and psychological distress among Black U.S. Americans ( N = 155) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of race-based stressors (e.g., anti-Black racism). Path analysis revealed mixed support for hypotheses; avoidant coping was positively related to all measured facets of psychological distress, whereas…
The US in Uterus: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Psychologists Advocating for Reproductive Justice
In light of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, millions of people with uteruses have been forced to navigate precarious access to reproductive care. Although health service psychologists have an ethical responsibility to engage in reproductive justice advocacy, training programs often do not adequately address sexual and reproductive health. Therefore, we sought to better understand how health service psychologists’ person…
Psychological Distress and Behavioral Vigilance in Response to Minority Stress and Threat among Members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Stigmatization, hostility, and violence towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to conduct research to promote understanding of the effects of such stigmatization on the AAPI community. Accordingly, the present study used a combined minority stress and integrated threat framework to examine whether factors related to AAPI identity would moderate the rela…
Nonbelief in transgender and gender diverse people: A critical queer-grounded theory study.
Unpacking the Varieties of Nonbelief within US-Based Marginalized Populations
The present study sheds light on the unique experiences of demographically diverse nonbelievers who do not fit the “stereotypical” privileged-atheist schema on which most nonbelief research has centered (Zuckerman 2009). Using data from 888 nonbelieving participants with marginalized identities (either people of color and/or LGBTQ+ identities), we conducted latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify subgroupings of our secular sample. Profiles wer…
Is it the Doubt: Exploring Differences in Belief, Minority Stress, and Mental Health Amongst Demographically Diverse Agnostics and Atheists
Psychology (11 works) · Social Psychology (8 works) · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy (6 works) · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology (6 works) · Distress (5 works) · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Clinical Psychology (4 works) · Social and Intergroup Psychology (4 works) · Developmental psychology (3 works)