The University of Texas is proud to announce that Yang Li, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing, has been awarded an R01 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
Dr. Li will use this award to evaluate her mobile intervention, Self-Compassion, Health, and Empowerment (SHE), aimed at reducing intimate partner violence and addressing mental health needs among Chinese immigrant women.
This project reflects Dr. Li’s innovative approach to supporting an historically overlooked and underserved population that faces significant barriers to accessing mental health services.
"I feel incredibly grateful and excited to receive this support from NINR," Li said. "This funding will allow us to test a mobile health intervention designed to increase access to mental health and IPV support for underserved women survivors of IPV who often face substantial barriers to seeking help. I’m excited about the opportunity to continue this work and improve support for women affected by violence and trauma."
Dr. Li received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan and her MSN and BSN from Shandong University in China. Before joining the faculty at UT Austin, she completed postdoctoral training at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing.
Her work examines the bio-psychosocial pathways linking maternal trauma history and psychopathology to perinatal health outcomes. She has also conducted research with Chinese immigrant women, examining the prevalence, risk factors, mental health consequences, and lived experiences of IPV in this population. Building on this work, she has developed the first culturally tailored intervention that integrates mental health care with safety and empowerment to address both psychological and practical aspects of IPV recovery. This intervention aims to address inequities in access to IPV and mental health support for Chinese immigrant women.
Dr. Li's research extends beyond trauma to encompass mental health disparities in underserved populations. She has investigated the impact of racial discrimination on mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidality among Chinese immigrants. Through her expertise and dedication, Dr. Li strives to shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by women affected by violence and trauma and to address mental health disparities among underserved populations. Her work has the potential to significantly impact efforts to address violence-related health disparities and improve women’s health.