Sabrina Islam is a postdoctoral fellow in the Prevention Science Research Training Program at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley. She received her PhD in public health from the College of Public Health and Health Professions and a Graduate Certificate from the Center for Gender, Sexualities, and Women’s Studies in 2019 from the University of Florida.
Dr. Islam’s research is informed by her advocacy work with survivors of domestic violence and particularly, how structural factors contribute to extensive physical, psychological, and economic burdens they encounter. Her doctoral research explored how sexual minority stigma shapes the level of tolerance women may have for psychological abuse within same-gender relationships. The findings of this research highlight the significance of the broader context that maintains social inequalities to understanding intimate partner violence by challenging traditional and heterosexist conceptualizations.
In her current role, Dr. Islam’s research activities include applying a social-ecological perspective in a mixed-methods study that examines the beliefs and behaviors of California adolescents regarding alcohol and drug use. She is also investigating the impact of violence on drinking and smoking outcomes among sexual minority adults.
Selected Projects
Social Mechanisms of Early Alcohol and Substance Use Initiation and Progression to Problems
