Dr. Torres research interests focus on issues of mental health disparities or the psychological difficulties experienced by members of underrepresented groups. With an emphasis on community-based approaches, this research seeks to identify the mechanisms that contribute to mental health problems, namely depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One line of research investigates the psychological consequences associated with culturally-specific stressors, such as ethnic discrimination, ethnic microaggression, and acculturative stress, and neighborhood-level factors including exposure to community violence and economic stress. Another avenue of study has been to identify the factors that reduce disparities or protect individuals from negative psychological outcomes. This work focuses on ethnic identity, cultural values, intercultural competence, resilience and thriving, social cohesion as key buffers to mental health outcomes.
