Research

Social Stress and Well-being

Our most prominent research focus investigates the core processes that influence health and psychological adjustment among socially marginalized individuals. We aim to understand the harmful effects of social stressors—such as prejudice, discrimination, and systemic inequities—on individuals marginalized by race, gender, and sexuality. In more recent work, we have focused on resilience and adaptive coping strategies in response to racial discrimination, including sociopolitical activism and posttraumatic growth.

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Selected Publications

  1. Neider, A., Schachter, J., & Ajayi, A. A. (2025). Minority stress, substance use, and resilience: Examining long-term sobriety in the LGBTQ community. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 43(2), 290–305.
  2. Grier-Reed, T., Maples, A., Houseworth, J., & Ajayi, A. (2023). Posttraumatic growth and flourishing in the face of racial trauma. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. 15(1), 37-44.
  3. Ajayi A. A., Grier-Reed, T., & Houseworth, J. (2022). In this together? Exploring moderating and mediating effects of shared racial fate on the predictive role of racial socialization and discrimination on Black activism. Journal of Black Psychology, 48(3–4), 327–359.
  4. Schachter, J., Ajayi, A. A., & Nguyen, P. L. L. (2022). The moderating and mediating roles of mindfulness and rumination on COVID-19 stress and depression: A longitudinal study of young adults. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 69(5), 732-744.
  5. Ajayi, A. A., & Syed, M. (2016). How stigma gets under the skin: Internalized oppression and dual minority stress among Black sexual minorities. In J. M. Sullivan and W. E. Cross (Eds.), Meaning-making, internalized racism, and African American identity (pp.211-228). State University of New York Press
  6. Ajayi, A. A. & Syed, M. (2014). Links between patterns of ethnic-racial socialization and discrimination experiences and psychological adjustment: A cluster analysis. Journal of Adolescence, 37(7), 1011-1020.

Health Interventions

Another key focus of our work is developing and evaluating interventions to address physical and mental health concerns. We have focused on developing scalable interventions targeting the escalating mental health issues among college students. Our past research in this domain has also focused on physical health programs aimed at improving well-being and reducing health risks in Black men. 

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Selected Publications

  1. Ajayi, A. A., Schachter, J., Goblirsch, N., & Zhou, R. (2024). Trauma-informed acceptance and commitment therapy with peer coaching for college students: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 72(1), 30–44.
  2. Schachter, J., Ajayi, A. A., & Delgado, J. E. (2024). Evaluating the core processes of a hybrid trauma-informed acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for college students. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.
  3. Grier-Reed, T. & Ajayi, A. A. (2019). Incorporating humanistic values and techniques in a culturally responsive therapeutic intervention for African American college students. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 58(1), 17-33.
  4. Busch, A. M., Louie, M. E., Santabarbara, N. J., Ajayi, A. A., Gleason, N., Dunsiger, S, Ciccolo, J. T. (2019). Effects of resistance training on depression and cardiovascular disease risk in Black American men: A randomized controlled trial protocol. Mental Health & Physical Activity, 17, 100299.
  5. Ciccolo, J. T., Louie, M. E., SantaBarbara, N., Ajayi, A. A., Dunsiger, S., Carey, M. P., & Busch, A. M. (2020). Effects of resistance training on depression and cardiovascular disease risk in Black men. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 54, S335

Identity, Intersectionality, and Career Development

We also study how social identities develop and intersect, with a focus on how cultural, societal, and individual factors shape self-concept, vocational interests, and career development. In some projects, we apply an intersectional lens to examine how overlapping systems of social stress—such as racism and heterosexism—affect identity formation and psychosocial functioning.

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Selected Publications

  1. Ajayi, A. A. (2025). Empirically derived racial ideologies among Black Americans: Implications for psychological well-being, racial homophily, and sociopolitical activism. Journal of Black Psychology.
  2. Ajayi A. A., Delgado, J. E., Fechner, R.,  & Hansen, J. C. (2024). Bim-181: Revising the public domain “Basic Interest Markers” using item response theory. Journal of Career Assessment.
  3. Azmitia, M., Garcia Peraza, P. D., Thomas, V., Ajayi A. A., & Syed, M. (2023). The promises and challenges of using an intersectional framework to study identity development during adolescence and early adulthood. In L. Crockett, G. Carlo, & J. Schulenberg (Eds.), APA handbook of adolescent and young adult development. American Psychological Association
  4. Syed, M., & Ajayi, A. A. (2018). Promises and pitfalls in the integration of intersectionality with development science. In C. E. Santos & R. B. Toomey (Eds.), Envisioning the integration of an intersectionality lens in Development Science: New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 161, 109–117. Jossey-Bass.
  5. Mitchell, L. L., Kathawalla, U. K., Ajayi, A. A., Fish, J., Nelson, S. C., Peissig, L. H. M., & Syed, M.  (2018). Racial/ethnic typicality and its relation to ethnic identity and psychological functioning.  Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. 24(3), 400-413.
  6. Haines, B. A., Ajayi, A. A., & Boyd, H. (2014). Making trans parents visible: Challenges in the intersections of trans and parenting identities. Feminism & Psychology, 24(2), 238-247.

Educational Access and Student Success

This line of research investigates the factors that shape students’ experiences and outcomes in higher education. We focus particularly on understanding the academic adjustment of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and examining how institutional structures, targeted interventions, and student-environment interactions influence retention, achievement, and post-college pathways. This work has been supported by the National Science Foundation.

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Selected Publications

  1. Ajayi, A. A., Guler, E., & Dupont, R. (2025). STEM-Related autobiographical memories: Narrative qualities and associations with science identity, impostor phenomenon, and academic achievement. Journal of Constructivist Psychology.
  2. Ajayi, A. A., Soria, K. M., Dupont, R., & Varma, K (2023). Advancing equity and opportunities for low-income STEM students: Evaluating the impact of a collaborative consortium support program on academic outcomes. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice.
  3. Ajayi, A. A., Mitchell, L. L., Nelson, S. C., Fish, J., Peissig, L. H. M ., Causadias, J. M., & Syed, M. (2021). Person-environment fit and retention of racially minoritized college students: Recommendations for faculty, support staff, and administrators. Education Sciences, 11 (271), 1-19.
  4. Grier-Reed, T., Ajayi, A. A., Cotton, D., & Wilson, R. J. (2020). Foundational curriculum for the African American student network: Synthesis of discussion topics and themes. Journal of Adolescent and Family Health,11(1), 4-34.