La Esperanza investigates culture, community engagement, mental health and healthcare inequalities/disparities.
We examine contextual and cultural factors that influence minority mental health and addictive behaviors.
We explore the healthcare and health inequalities/disparities in the U.S. with basic and applied science.
We seek to improve the lives and communities of ethnic minority individuals, especially those of the Latine and immigrant communities.
La Esperanza research program at Virginia Commonwealth University, directed by Oswaldo Moreno, Ph.D., aims to include doctoral students, undergraduate students, and research support staff devoted to psycho-social-cultural approaches to understanding physical and mental health, healthcare behaviors, as well as healthcare and mental health disparities. La Esperanza taps into clinical health psychology and clinical science using social determinants of health and ecological frameworks. We use qualitative and quantitative methodologies that include community engagement and school-based research. In practice, La Esperanza's research involves basic and applied science, aiming to improve the lives and communities of minoritized individuals, especially those of the Latine and immigrant communities.
If you have comments or questions or are interested in collaborating with La Esperanza, we would love to hear from you. Please email Dr. Moreno at oamoreno@vcu.edu.