The 2025 Society for Social Work Research Conference, which is in Seattle from January 15 to 19, will feature presentations from numerous staff members and students. This year's conference, focused on strengthening social impact through collaborative research, offers an opportunity to highlight a great deal of our important work on these topics.
In addition to the many research presentations, SIG Director Nabila El-Bassel will moderate Saturday's HIV Care and Stigma oral presentation session and Associate Director Dawn Goddard-Eckrich will moderate Sunday's Innovations in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research oral presentation session.
Starred presentations indicate that a SIG faculty member or student is the presenting author.
Thursday, January 16
Timothy Hunt, PhD, Associate Director, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Sholpan Primbetova, MS, MPharm, Deputy Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Dawn Gruss, MA, Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Columbia University, New York, NY
Global health emergencies along with regional conflicts and resulting humanitarian crises have escalated the need for a well-trained social service workforce (SSWF). The extension of social services to all children at the community level is critical to ongoing reforms and priority agendas including humanitarian crises, child poverty, migration, identifying and responding to social exclusion and gender inequities, addressing violence against children and women, promoting a positive and equitable agenda for adolescents, young people, and childhood development. Trained in core competencies in interpersonal communication and community engagement, social workers can serve as a critical ‘bridge’ and providers of services for vulnerable beneficiaries. This initiative seeks to expand access to a comprehensive, sustainable and cross-national approach to capacity building for the SSWF.
Jimin Sung, MA, PhD Student, Columbia University, New York, NY
Zoe Baccam, MPH, Doctoral Student, Arizona State University, AZ
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a rise in anti-Asian bias and discrimination in the United States. There has been a proliferation of studies examining this phenomenon, utilizing diverse methodological approaches. However, given the varied theoretical frameworks, the operationalization and measurement of "anti-Asian bias" have differed across these studies.This paper aims to review the empirical literature in order to: 1) understand how researchers have conceptualized and operationalized the construct of anti-Asian bias in their studies, and 2) examine the different methods and measures used to quantify and assess anti-Asian bias. By synthesizing the existing research, this review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge regarding the conceptualization and measurement of anti-Asian bias in the post-COVID-19 context within the United States.
Elwin Wu, PhD, Professor of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Yong Gun Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Vitaliy Vinogradov, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Gulnara Zhakupova, MSW, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Gaukhar Mergenova, MD, MS, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Alissa Davis, PhD, Associate Professor, Columbia University, New York, NY
Emily Paine, PhD, Assistant Professor, Columbia University, NY
Timothy Hunt, PhD, Associate Director, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Kelsey Reeder, LCSW-R, PhD Candidate, Psychotherapist, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Sholpan Primbetova, MS, MPharm, Deputy Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Assel Terlikbayeva, MD, Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Caitlin Laughney, PhD, MSW, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University, New York, NY
Mingway Chang, PhD, Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University
Baurzhan Baiserkin, Director, Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, Kazakhstan
Asylkhan Abihsev, Deputy Director, Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, Kazakhstan
Marat Tukeyev, Director, Center of AIDS Prevention of Almaty, Kazakhstan
Sabit Abdraimov, Director, Center of AIDS Prevention of Astana, Kazakhstan
Alfiya Denebayeva, Deputy Director, Center of AIDS Prevention of Almaty, Kazakhstan
Sairankul Kasymbekova, Head of the Clinical Monitoring Department, Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, Kazakhstan
Galiya Tazhibayeva, Head of the Clinical-Diagnostic Lab, Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, Kazakhstan
Mashirov Kozhakmet, Deputy Director, Center of AIDS Prevention of Shymkent, Kazakhstan
Despite the general successes in HIV prevention globally, HIV transmission in Kazakhstan has been increasing in the past decade, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans individuals who have sex with men (TSM). National surveillance data indicated that the largest gap from the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets (at the time) in the HIV care continuum for MSM and TSM was with knowing one was living with HIV, i.e., HIV testing. The primary aim of this trial was to determine if the Peer Reach and Influencer-Driven Engagement in the HIV Care Continuum (PRIDE in HIV Care) intervention—a crowdsourcing and peer-actuated network intervention—could exert a community effect of increasing HIV testing among MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan.
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Kelsey Reeder, LCSW-R, PhD Candidate, Psychotherapist, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Yong Gun Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Jimin Sung, MA, PhD Student, Columbia University, New York, NY
Vitaliy Vinogradov, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Gulnara Zhakupova, MSW, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Gaukhar Mergenova, MD, MS, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Alissa Davis, PhD, Associate Professor, Columbia University, New York, NY
Emily Paine, PhD, Assistant Professor, Columbia University, NY
Sholpan Primbetova, MS, MPharm, Deputy Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Assel Terlikbayeva, MD, Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Sultana Káli, Research Assistant & Intervention Specialist, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Kazakhstan
Timothy Hunt, PhD, Associate Director, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Elwin Wu, PhD, Professor of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Trans (used as an umbrella term for those identifying with a gender different from the gender they were assigned at birth, [i.e. transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, etc.]) individuals around the world are at higher risk for contracting HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yet combinations of stigma, accessibility challenges, and a lack of trans-specific, trans-affirming interventions perpetuate rates of infection. Due to the severe paucity of data on trans communities’ experience with HIV in Central Asia, this study describes HIV infections (both known and newly detected) and STIs among trans individuals who have sex with men (TSM) in a multi-city Kazakhstan study.
This research will be part of the Research without Borders: International and Community Collaborative Research for Social Impact Among Sexual and Gender Expansive People in Kazakhstan symposium.
Yong Gun Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Vitaliy Vinogradov, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Gaukhar Mergenova, MD, MS, Project Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Emily Paine, PhD, Assistant Professor, Columbia University, NY
Caitlin Laughney, PhD, MSW, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University, New York, NY
Kelsey Reeder, LCSW-R, PhD Candidate, Psychotherapist, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Jimin Sung, MA, PhD Student, Columbia University, New York, NY
Alissa Davis, PhD, Associate Professor, Columbia University, New York, NY
Sholpan Primbetova, MS, MPharm, Deputy Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Assel Terlikbayeva, MD, Regional Director, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Elwin Wu, PhD, Professor of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
HIV incidence in Kazakhstan increased by 88% between 2010 and 2021. In this context, sexual and gender expansive (SGE) people are disproportionately affected by the rapidly growing epidemic and underserved in HIV prevention and care. Despite these challenges, SGE people in Kazakhstan have been reported to engage, or be willing to engage, in HIV prevention and care. However, these efforts may have been interrupted at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when measures to mitigate its spread, such as shelter-in-place and physical distancing, were introduced. These disruptions may also extend to vital community-level strategies of HIV prevention, such as peer outreach. In this study, we examined the relationship between COVID-19 disruptions in HIV prevention and care, as well as intention to engage in community peer outreach in a sample of SGE people in Kazakhstan.
This research will be part of the Research without Borders: International and Community Collaborative Research for Social Impact Among Sexual and Gender Expansive People in Kazakhstan symposium.
Friday, January 17
Jimin Sung, MA, PhD Student, Columbia University, New York, NY
Ivie Arasomwan, BA, Research Assistant, Columbia University School of Social Work, NY
Zichen Zhao, MA, Data Science Fellow, Columbia University, NY
Charles Lea, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Columbia University
Elwin Wu, PhD, Professor of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
The use of technology in social work practice and research is rapidly growing, particularly the utilization of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. LLMs are being employed in a variety of ways, such as providing evidence-based practice advice and mental health support. For the social work profession to keep pace with these changes, it is necessary to understand the current trends in LLM research across disciplines and the implications for social work research and practice. This scoping review focuses specifically on LLM research related to LGBTQ+ populations, who often face diverse and unique stressors.
This research will be part of the Strengthening Social Impact on LGBTQ+ Health Via Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Collaboration between Social Work and Data Science symposium.
Elwin Wu, PhD, Professor of Social Work, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Jimin Sung, MA, PhD Student, Columbia University, New York, NY
Ivie Arasomwan, BA, Research Assistant, Columbia University School of Social Work, NY
Zichen Zhao, MA, Data Science Fellow, Columbia University, NY
Charles Lea, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Columbia University
With the explosion in the capability, availability, and use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT), a fundamental and pressing question continues to be: How good and/or helpful is this AI chatbot? We aimed to develop a systematic approach to qualitatively and quantitatively answer this question, starting with a focus on LGBTQ+ populations as they are both vulnerable and experience many health and psychosocial inequities.
This research will be part of the Strengthening Social Impact on LGBTQ+ Health Via Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Collaboration between Social Work and Data Science symposium.
Sunday, January 19
Dawn Goddard-Eckrich, EdD, Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University, New York, NY
Angelica Houston, MPH, Project Director, Columbia University, NY
Nabila El-Bassel, PhD, University Professor, Columbia University, New York, NY
Elwin Wu, PhD, Professor / Co-Director, Columbia University, New York, NY
Jaimie Meyer, MD, Professor, Yale University
Timothy Hunt, PhD, Associate Director, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
Milton Wainberg, MD, Professor / Co-Director, Columbia University / New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
Laura Starbird, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania,, United States
Louisa Gilbert, PhD, Professor, Columbia University, New York, NY
Anindita Dasgupta, PhD, Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University, New York, NY
To date, very few interventions to promote methods of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) have focused on cis-gender women, and none have targeted the large population of women in Community Supervision Programs (CSPs), who due to racialized drug laws, are disproportionately Black and Latinx. Advancing an effective PrEP intervention for women in CSPs holds promise for reducing HIV disparities by reaching a large number of minority women who remain at high risk for HIV. PrEP allows women to engage in an effective female-controlled HIV prevention strategy, which is especially important within the context of hazardous drinking and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). To date, however, there are no evidence-based syndemic-focused PrEP interventions for women that address the syndemic issues of hazardous drinking, IPV exposure, and HIV risk.
This research will be part of the Innovations in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research session.