Jacqueline Cohen

I am a Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology, working under the supervision of Dr. Sandra Byers. In general, my research interests relate to the mental health and relationships of women and minority group members. Yet it is the intimate relationships and sexual well-being of lesbian and bisexual women that is my primary research interest. Few researchers have examined sexuality in women’s same-sex relationships, and the studies that have been conducted have focused on limited aspects of sexuality and have not considered the context of social oppression in which sexual-minority women live. The results of a recent interview study that I conducted highlight the importance of the sociocultural context in which sexual-minority group members live to their sexual well-being. Extending this research, my dissertation consists of an online study examining the effects of minority stressors and resilience processes on the sexual well-being of lesbian and bisexual women. To learn more about this study, please go to www.unbstudy.com.

I have also been involved in a research team that conducted a series of large-scale studies investigating New Brunswick teachers’, parents’, and students’ attitudes toward sexual health education. Our findings were used to inform revisions to the sexual health curriculum in New Brunswick and make the case for teachers to receive in-service training directed at increasing both their knowledge about and comfort teaching sexual health topics.

 My main teaching interests include the Psychology of Women, Human Sexuality, and the Psychology of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences. Clinically, I am especially interested in anxiety and mood disorders, couple therapy, sex therapy, sexual victimization, and minority group issues. I have completed practica at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, the Child, Youth, and Family Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, and the Anxiety Disorders Clinic in Vancouver. I have also worked in Dr. Byers’ private practice, conducting assessments of couples with sexual problems. In September 2006 I will be starting my internship at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton.

Refereed Publications

Cohen, J. N., Byers, E. S., Sears, H. A., & Weaver, A. D. (2004). Sexual health education: Attitudes, knowledge, and comfort of teachers in New Brunswick schools. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 13, 1-15.

Byers, E. S., Sears, H.A., Voyer, S. D., Thurlow, J. L., Cohen, J. N., & Weaver, A. D. (2003). An adolescent perspective on sexual health education at school and at home: I. High school students. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 12, 1-18.

Byers, E. S., Sears, H.A., Voyer, S. D., Thurlow, J. L., Cohen, J. N., & Weaver, A. D. (2003). An adolescent perspective on sexual health education at school and at home: II. Middle school students. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 12, 19-34.

Weaver, A. D., Byers, E. S., Sears, H. A., & Cohen, J. N., & Randall, H. E. S. (2002). Sexual health education at school and at home: Attitudes and experiences of New Brunswick parents. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 11, 19-31.

Conference Presentations

Cohen, J. N., Byers, E. S., & Walsh, L. (2005, July). Factors influencing the sexual relationships of lesbian women. Paper presented at the World Association of Sexology, Montreal.

Byers, E. S., Weaver, A. D., Cohen, J. N., Thurlow, J., Voyer, S., & Sears, H. A. (2004, June). A middle school perspective on sexual health education at school and at home. Paper presented at the Canadian Psychological Association, St. John’s.

 Cohen, J. N., & Byers, E. S. (2004, June). Lesbians’ and gay men’s sexual rewards and costs. Paper presented at the Canadian Psychological Association, St. John’s.

Sears, H. A., Byers, E. S., Voyer, S. D., Thurlow, J. L., Cohen, J. N., & Weaver, A. D. (2004, June). A high school student perspective on sexual health education at school and at home. Paper presented at the Canadian Psychological Association, St. John’s.

Cohen, J. N., & Byers, E. S. (2002, September). Sexual rewards and costs experienced by lesbians and gay men. Paper presented at the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Toronto.

Cohen, J. N., & Byers, E. S. (2001, October). The effect of internalized homophobia on lesbian relationship and sexual satisfaction. Paper presented at the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Halifax.

Weaver, A. D., Byers, E. S., Sears, H. A., Cohen, J. N., & Randall, H. E. S. (2001, October). Parents’ attitudes towards sexual health education. Paper presented at the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Halifax.

Cohen, J. N., & Byers, E. S. (2001, September). Internalized homophobia and lesbian sexuality. Paper presented at the Emerging Issues in Psychology First Annual Conference, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton.

Cohen, J. N., Byers, E. S., & Sears, H. A. (2000, September). Teachers’ comfort and willingness to teach sexuality education. Paper presented at the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Ottawa.

Cohen, J. N., & Whiffen, V. E. (1999, April). Self-silencing and female depression: The mediating effect of intimacy. Paper presented at the Ontario Annual Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference, Toronto.