Tamara Nelson

Tamara Nelson is a psychologist whose research explores how cultural and contextual factors impact mental health and help-seeking among racial and ethnic minoritized groups in general and Black/African American women specifically, using quantitative and qualitative methods. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Clark University.

Publications:

• Nelson, T., Tomi, C. L.*, Gebretensay, S. B.* (2023). (Re)framing strength: How superwoman schema may impact perinatal anxiety and depression among African American women. Women’s Health Issues. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2023.05.003

• Nelson, T., & Ernst, S. C., & Watson-Singleton, N. N. (2023). Perinatal complications, poor hospital treatment, and positive screen for postpartum depressive symptoms among Black women. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities,10(3), 1371-1378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01322-6

• Nelson, T., Brown, M. J., Garcia-Rodriguez, I.*, & Moreno, O. (2023). Gendered racism, anxiety, and depression: The mediating roles of gendered racialized stress and social isolation. Ethnicity & Health, 28(1). 12-28. https://doi.10.1080/13557858.2021.2002826

Media Appearances/Speaking Engagements:

• Nelson, T., (2023, July). Sister outsider: Superwoman schema, emotion regulation, and psychological distress. Paper presented at the 7th Biennial American Psychological Association Division 45 Research Conference. San Diego, CA.

• Nelson, T., Gebretensay, S. B*., Sellers, A. M*., Mbathane, N*., & Keith, M*. (2023, June). Community-Based doula support and perinatal mental health among African American women. Paper presented at the 19th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community Research and Action. Atlanta, GA.

• Nelson, T. (2023, January). Black Women and Superwoman Schema: Implications for Mental Health and Treatment Seeking. Cooper University Hospital Psychiatry Grounds, Rowan Medical School, Camden, NJ.

Previous Organizations: 

• Bentley University Department of Natural and Applied Sciences

• Brown Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Accomplishments:

• Center for Health Equity Research Institute (CHER) Fellow

Upcoming Projects:

• A Longitudinal Investigation of Perinatal Mental Health

• Navigating Challenging Birthing Spaces in Community-Based Doula Praxis

• Black Men, Vulnerability, and Help-Seeking

My work focuses entirely on advancing mental health equity (i.e., the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their highest level of mental health and emotional well-being) for African American/Black people.