About Me

I am a researcher with a passion for exploring the complex dynamics of gender-based violence. Drawing concepts from intersectional feminism and social justice, my work centers around examining the interplay of individual and contextual factors that contribute to the experience and outcomes of sexual violence and intimate partner violence, particularly in underrepresented populations. I employ a diverse range of research methods, including data science, quantitative and qualitative psychology, and statistics. Through my work, I hope to contribute to a greater understanding of the nuanced and multifaceted factors that perpetuate gender-based violence. Ultimately, my goal is to create personalized, innovative solutions for victim-survivors of gender-based violence.

Currently, I am a clinical psychology PhD student at the University of Washington, advised by Dr. William H. George and Dr. Mary Larimer. I am also mentored by Dr. Jessica Blayney and Dr. Anna Jaffe. In my spare time, I like to travel, hike, ice skate, knit, and annoy my cat.

Contact

Email: sharonwang.ssw@gmail.com

Twitter: @_wangsharon

Research

Current Projects

• Meaning-making of sexual victimization labeling, self-blame, and substance use (MOSS) *coming soon*
• Resilience as a Moderator (ResMod): (1) Examine the association between number of sexual violence victimization experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms; (2) Explore whether resilience factors (e.g., emotion regulation, mindfulness, coping strategies) moderate this association
  • Collaborators: Jessica Blayney, Cynthia Stappenbeck, Anna Jaffe, & Kelly Cue Davis

Past Projects

• Maltreatment & Depression (MaltDep): (1) Compared latent growth trajectories of depression in individuals with and without maltreatment histories; (2) Examined how individuals with maltreatment histories fare relative to their counterparts without maltreatment histories on adult-measured outcomes
  • Collaborators: James Li & Kate Walsh (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Collaborators

• Dan Ports & Daniel Berger (Microsoft Research) & Giulia Lausi (“Sapienza” Università di Roma)
• Elissa Redmiles (Max Planck Institute for Software Systems) & European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance
• Neil Gleason (University of Washington)
• Lauren Smith (University of Washington)

Publications

• Qin, L., Hamilton, V., Wang, S., Aydinalp, Y., Scarlett, M., Redmiles, E. M. (under review). “Did they consent to that?” Safer digital intimacy via proactive protection against image-based sexual abuse. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.04659
• Wang, S. S., Walsh, K., Li, J. J. (2023). A prospective longitudinal study of multidomain resilience among youths with and without maltreatment histories. Development and Psychopathology, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000032

Presentations

• Wang, S. S., Blayney, J. A., Stappenbeck, C. A., Jaffe, A. E., George, W. H., & Davis, K. C. (2023, November). The role of resilience in sexual assault revictimization [Oral presentation]. The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, United States.
• Smith, L., Gleason, N., Wang, S., Vittone, A., George, W. H., Neilson, E. C. (2023, June). Alcohol’s effects on sexual perception following non-consent cues [Poster]. Research Society on Alcohol Annual Scientific Meeting, Bellevue, WA, United States.
• Gleason, N., Wang, S. S., Smith, L., Gulati, N. K., Gasser, M. L., Rham-Knigge, R. L., Miner, M. H., Coleman, E., George, W. H. (2022, July). All gas no brakes? The relationship between compulsive sexual behavior and HIV sexual risk behavior: A review of the literature and framework for future research [Poster]. International Academy of Sex Research Annual Meeting, Reykjavík, Iceland.
• Smith, L., Gleason, N., Gulati, N. K., Gasser, M. L., Wang, S. S., George, W. H. (2022, July). Understanding sexual aggression perpetration in LGB communities: A literature review & call to action [Poster]. International Academy of Sex Research Annual Meeting, Reykjavík, Iceland.
• Wang, S. S. & Li, J. J. (2020, August). Trajectories of risk and resilience among maltreated youth: Prospective associations with adult social outcomes [Poster]. American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.

Curriculum Vitae