Amy Hequembourg, PhD

• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Alcohol Etiology and Treatment, Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo
• PhD, Sociology, State University of New York at Buffalo
• MA, Sociology, State University of New York at Buffalo
• BS, Health Service Administration, State University of New York at Fredonia

• Health disparities among sexual and gender minoritized populations
• Lifetime sexual victimization among sexual minorities
• Same-sex intimate partner violence
• Bisexual women's health
• Microaggressions based on sexual orientation and gender identity
• Alcohol problems among vulnerable populations
• LGBTQ+ adolescent health and related risk and protective factors
• LGBT cultural competency among health care providers

Hequembourg, A. Blayney, J., Jaffe, A., & Wang, W. (2025). Daily alcohol and cannabis use among sexual minoritized and heterosexual women. Psychology of Addictive Behavior. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0001062

Parrott, D. J., Shepard, C., Grom, J. L., Bonnesen, K., Jaffe, A. E., Blayney, J. A., Moino, K., & Hequembourg, A. (2024). Interactive effects of intersectional minority stress and adaptive coping on intimate partner violence perpetration in cisgender sexual and gender minoritized adults: An I3 model analysis. Psychology of Violence. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000582   

Parrott, D., Leone, R. M., Hequembourg, A., Shorey, R. C., Eckhardt, C., & Stuart, G. L. (2024). An integrative model of alcohol-facilitated intimate partner aggression perpetration in sexual and gender diverse couples. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.24-00008

Kwon, M., Livingston, J. A., Wang, W., & Hequembourg, A. L. (2024). Longitudinal association between adolescent sexual identity and sleep quality: The mediating roles of peer victimization and perceived social support. Sleep Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2024.09.012.

Nye, C., Livingston, J., Foltz-Ramos, K., & Hequembourg, A. (2024). Undergraduate faculty knowledge, beliefs, and experiences with teaching LGBTQ+ content: A scoping review. Nurse Education Today, 54, 205-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.07.010

Doerzbacher, M., Sperlich, M., Hequembourg, A., & Chang, Y. (2024). Longitudinal qualitative study of barriers and facilitators of breastfeeding in women on opioid maintenance therapy. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 51(1), 29-40. https://doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2021.09.004  

Bleasdale, J., McCole, M., Cole, K., Hequembourg, A., Morse, G. D., & Przybyla, S. M. (2024). Perspectives on injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: A qualitative study of healthcare providers in the United States. AIDS Patient Care & STDs, 38(4). https://doi.org/10.1089/apc.2024.0001

Auerbach, S., Agbemenu, K., Lorenz, R., Hequembourg, A., & Ely, G. (2023). Contraceptive behavior in Appalachia: Exploring use, nonuse, and contraceptive attitudes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 6862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196862

Blayney, J. A., Jaffe, A. E., Hequembourg, A. L., & Parrott, D. J. (2023). Sexual victimization among sexual and gender minoritized groups: Recent research and future directions. Current Psychiatry Reports, 25(5), 183-191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-023-01420-0.

Parrott, D. J., Bresin, K., Hequembourg, A., Velia, B., Swartout, K., Stappenbeck, C., Masyn, K., & Grom, J. (2023). Dyadic effects of minority stress and problematic alcohol use on sexual intimate partner violence in same sex couples. Aggressive Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22072

Nye, C. M., Livingston, J. A., & Hequembourg, A. (2023). Key considerations for conducting qualitative research with LGBTQ + youth. International Journal of LGBT Youth Studies, 22(1), 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2023.2253444.  

Smith, A. U., Bostwick, W. B., Burke, L., Hequembourg, A. L., Santuzzi, A., & Hughes, T. L. (2023). How deep is the cut? The influence of daily microaggressions on bisexual women’s health. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 10(4), 535–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000556

Doerzbacher, M., Sperlich, M., Hequembourg, A., & Chang, Y. (2022). A scoping review of barriers and facilitators of breastfeeding in women on opioid maintenance therapy. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 51(1), 29-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2021.09.004

Smith, A., Bostwick, W., Hequembourg, A., Santuzzi, A., & Hughes, T. (2021). Microaggressions and health disparities among racially and ethnically diverse bisexual women. Journal of Bisexuality, 285-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2021.1991545

Davis, J., Hequembourg, A., & Paplham, P. (2021). School-based nurse practitioners’ perceptions of the health care needs of transgender and gender nonconforming adolescents. Journal of School Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405211017125

Hequembourg, A., Livingston, J., & Wang, W. (2020). Prospective associations among relationship abuse, sexual harassment and bullying in a community sample of sexual minority and exclusively heterosexual youth. Journal of Adolescence, 83, 52-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.06.010

Hequembourg, A., Blayney, J., Bostwick, W., & Van Ryzin, M. (2020). Concurrent daily alcohol and tobacco use among sexual minority and heterosexual women. Substance Use & Abuse, 55(1), 66-78. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2019.1656252

Hequembourg, A., Blayney, J., Livingston, J. A., Bostwick, W., & Auerbach, S. (2019). A mixed methods investigation of victimization and coping among sexual minority compared to heterosexual women. Psychology & Sexuality, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2019.1678193  

Bostwick, W., Berger, B., & Hequembourg, A. (2019). A mixed-method inquiry of bisexual identity centrality among racially and ethnically diverse women. Journal of Bisexuality, 19(2), 229-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2019.1617545

Hequembourg, A., & Panagakis, C. (2019). Maximizing respondent-driven sampling field procedures in the recruitment of sexual minorities for health research. Open Medicine, 7, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312119829983

Blayney, J., Hequembourg, A., & Livingston, J. (2018). Rape acknowledgement and sexual minority women’s mental health and drinking behaviors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(7-8). https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518781800

• Jean Kimber Brown Research Award, University at Buffalo School of Nursing, 2021
• Summer Fellowship, International LGBT University of Michigan Psychology Summer Institute, 2010
• Awardee, University at Buffalo School of Nursing annual Research Day Faculty Poster Sessions:
  • 2019: Ellen Volpe Memorial Award (Coping with sexual assault: The unheard voices of sexual minority women) with J. Livingston, W. Bostwick, J. Blayney, & S. Auerbach
  • 2020: First Place (Substance use among sexual minority students: Higher risks for bisexual youth?) with Y. Sik Seo & Y. Chang
  • 2024: Second Place (Ferreting out fraudsters and shady characters in online nursing research: An illustration) with K. O’Hern, K. Heigl, and J. Livingston
• Dissertation Fellowship, University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, 2002
• First Place, Society for the Study of Social Problems Family Division Graduate Student Paper Competition, 2001
• Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award, University at Buffalo, 1999
• Graduate Student Teaching Award, University at Buffalo, Department of Sociology, 1998 

• January 2025–present: Associate/Academic Editor, PLOS ONE
• January 2025–present: Consulting Editor, Journal of Research on Adolescence
• November 2024: Invited Meeting Speaker (with Jennifer Livingston), NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) and Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO) virtual meeting for dissemination of research funded through the Notice of Special Interest: Research on Gender Measurement (Admin Supp NOT-OD-23-046, Co-PIs: Hequembourg, A. and Livingston, J. L.)
• September 2024–present: University at Buffalo, School of Nursing, PhD Program Committee Member
• January 2024: Invited Working Group Participant, Bisexual Health Research Networking Event (University of Arizona LGBTQ+ Institute). Tucson, AZ
• September 2023–present: University at Buffalo, School of Nursing, Appointment, Promotions, and Tenure (APT) Committee Member
• June 2023: Invited Presenter, 4^th Occasional Meeting of the NIAAA Working Group on Intervention Development for Alcohol-Related Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence (RSA Satellite Meeting)
• May-August 2021: Invited Workshop Participant, Scientific Workshop on Violence and Related Health Outcomes in Sexual & Gender Minority (SGM) Communities. National Institutes of Health, Sexual & Gender Minorities Research Office
• June 2020–May 2023: Committee Chair, University at Buffalo School of Nursing Committee on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Unit Diversity Officer; Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
• September 2019–2021: Budget Officer, Nursing Summit, Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality) 
• Ad Hoc Grant Reviewer: National Institutes of Health
  • June 2024 Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group 2024/10 ZMD1 DRI(O1)1
  • October 2022: Social Psychology, Personality, and Interpersonal Processes (SPIP) study section 
  • February 2022: Special Emphasis Panel, NIMHD ZMD1 DRI (M1) K Review Panel
  • June 2020: Special Emphasis Panel: Methods and Measurement in Research with Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Population, Meeting ZMD1 MLS(A1)R
  • March 2019: Special Emphasis Panel: Healthcare Delivery and Methodologies, Meeting ZRG1 HDM W (03) Minority Health and Health Disparities, Meeting ZMD1 DRI(01)
  • June 2018: Special Emphasis Panel: Minority Health and Health Disparities, Meeting ZMD1 DRI(01)
  • June 2016: PAR Panel: Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities
• September 2019: Invited Panel Participant, Bisexual Health Workshop, National Institutes of Health, Sexual & Gender Minorities Research Office 
• September 2019–May 2021: University at Buffalo, School of Nursing, PhD Program Committee Member
• August 2019–present: Consulting Editor, Journal of Sex Research

Term: 2021-2026

Role: Principle Investigator (with PI Jennifer Livingston; Co-I Craig Colder)

Funding Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Award Amount: $2,442,509

Abstract: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning, and those youth with other sexual minority identities (LGBQ+) report riskier alcohol use patterns than their heterosexual peers. This raises concerns that — like patterns found in the general population — early, risky alcohol use may strongly predict later alcohol problems and related deleterious health consequences (e.g., other substance abuse, victimization, poor physical and mental health) that contribute to health disparities among sexual minority adults. The harmful effects of peer victimization (PV; i.e. bullying and sexual harassment) on adolescent psychosocial functioning may be one pathway through which LGBQ+ youth become involved in high-risk alcohol use. In adolescence, heterosexist social norms are strongly enforced through bullying and homophobic sexual harassment. Alarmingly high numbers of LGBQ+ youth experience homophobic peer aggression. Such experiences can lead to internalized heterosexism and sexual minority stress. Sexual minority stress has been strongly associated with increased alcohol use across the lifespan in sexual minority populations. Cross-sectional studies have shown that PV is positively associated with alcohol and other substance use among LGBQ+ adolescents. However, the mechanisms through which PV contributes to negative outcomes and the protective factors that ameliorate those outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth are not well understood. Advances in understanding the effects of PV on LGBQ+ adolescents have been hampered by a dearth of longitudinal and mixed methods studies that include these youth in their samples. Using a mixed methods design, the proposed study will investigate the acute daily and longitudinal effects of PV on LGBQ+ adolescent risky alcohol use, as well as identify potential buffers and risk factors for these outcomes. Data from 500 adolescents (ages 15-17 years, 50% female gender identity, diverse racial composition) will be collected using four longitudinal surveys (baseline, 6-, 12, and 18-month follow-ups), two bursts of daily reports (4-weeks each), and qualitative interviews. Informed by sexual minority stress and psychological mediation theories, the proposed study aims to: (1) identify the psychosocial mechanisms linking PV with alcohol and other substance use among LGBQ+ youth; (2) understand the daily associations between PV and alcohol and substance use; and (3) examine the contexts in which LGBQ+ youth experience PV and gain insight into the psychosocial factors related to PV and substance use. The proposed study utilizes a novel integrative conceptual model that incorporates extant knowledge from research on PV and substance use conducted with heterosexual youth along with factors identified in the LGBQ+ literature, including sexual minority stress and the psychological mediation framework, to clarify the processes implicated in substance use by LGBQ+ youth. Results from this study are critically needed to understand the pathways, processes and contexts through which LGBQ+ adolescents become involved in high-risk alcohol use to inform the development of primary prevention programs that improve and preserve the health of LGBQ+ youth. 

Term: 2023-2024

Role: Principle Investigator (with PI Jennifer Livingston; Co-I Craig Colder)

Funding Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Award Amount: $160,500

Abstract: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth report significant health disparities compared to cisgender youth, including gender-based victimization, greater mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, internalized stigma, suicide), and disproportionately higher rates of health risk taking behaviors (e.g., hazardous alcohol use, cigarette use, illicit drug use). Use of accurate and relevant terminology that distinguishes among individuals with diverse sexual and gender identities is critical to identifying TGD youth who are at heightened risk for such health disparities. In response to NOT-OD-23-046, the proposed administrative supplemental study seeks to: (a) test terminology for measuring current gender identity as part of the two-step process and suggest timely and relevant modifications, and (b) explore changes in TGD and cisgender youths’ interpretations of gender terminology and gender identification over time. The supplemental study will build on Co-PIs Hequembourg’s and Livingston’s ongoing R01 (AA028810-01A) study of the acute daily and longitudinal effects of peer victimization (PV) on sexual minoritized adolescents’ (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, + or LGBQ+) risky alcohol use and identification of protective factors. The proposed supplement will bolster and expedite the inclusion of sexual minoritized TGD youth (n = 75) for comparison with sexual minoritized cisgender youth (n=75) in the parent study. Gender identity will be assessed using the two-step process in surveys administered in two timepoints (baseline and 6-months) with these participants (N = 150). Additionally, two qualitative cognitive interviews (baseline, 6-months) will be conducted with a subsample of cisgender youth (n = 25) and TGD youth (n = 25) randomly selected from the survey participants to achieve the following aims: Aim 1 is to examine TGD and cisgender youths’ (n = 50, 25 each group) perceptions of the 2-step answer options and suggest modifications using a cognitive interviewing approach. Sources of confusion or ambiguity in the two- step answer options and suggestions for relevant modifications (i.e., “intersex,” “non-binary”) will be explored. The centrality of youths’ gender identity in their self-concept and its role in their perceptions of the two-step gender assessment options also will be examined. Aim 2 is to describe the implications of the two- step process in research with TGD sexual minoritized adolescents who are at a transitional developmental period featuring fluid gender (and sexual) identities. Descriptive patterns of gender identification measured over two time points using the two-step method will be captured via longitudinal surveys (baseline, 6- months) of TGD and cisgender youth (n = 75 each group). Cognitive interview (at 6-months) will explore youths’ perceptions (n = 25 each cis and TGD) of the effectiveness of two-step questions for capturing changes over time as well as patterns of gender identification among TGD and cisgender youth. A revised version of the two-step gender identity assessment will be developed based on participant feedback in the first interview; modifications will be explored for appropriateness with TGD LGBQ+ youth in interview 2.

Term: 2018-2023

Role: Co-Investigator (PI Dominic Parrott, Co-Is Masyn, Swartout)

Funding Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Award Amount: $2,507,736

Term: 2020-2022

Role: Co-Investigator (PI Dominic Parrott, Co-Is Masyn, Swartout, Stappenbeck)

Funding Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Award Amount: $303,806

Term: 2018-2020

Role: Multi-Principal Investigator (with PIs Rychtarik and McGillicudy)

Funding Source: Howard T. Blane Director’s Award for the Development of Research in Addictions

Award Amount: $24,715

Term: 2018–2019

Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Beedle [Leonard])

Funding Source: Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (Prime: SAMHSA)

Award Amount: $274,999

Term: 2015-2019

Role: Principal Investigator (Co-Investigators: Livingston and Collins)

Funding Source: National Institute of Justice

Award Amount: $581,916

Term: 2015-2018

Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Bostwick)

Funding Source: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Award Amount: $371, 583

Term: 2006-2011

Role: Principal Investigator (Mentors: R. Lorraine Collins, Kathleen Parks, Michael Frone)

Funding Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Award Amount: $522,280