McNair Scholar 2023 Olivia Cuoco
Olivia Cuoco is a senior majoring in Family Social Science. Her research interests include family formations, LGBTQ+ and minority experiences, adoption, grief, and addiction. She hopes to attend graduate school for a Master’s in Social Work in order to support families in meaningful ways.
My professional dream is to work with families and communities in contexts of identity, trauma, and addiction. My personal dream is to always stay true to myself, live life to the fullest, and to always spread joy wherever I am.
Research project
Recollections of Sexual Education from Parents Among Sexual Minority Adults
Abstract: Providing adolescents sexual education is essential to helping them grow into sexually healthy adults. However, sexual minority youth (SMY) report receiving less sexual education than their cisgender heterosexual peers. Further, sexual education research is mainly done on school curriculum and is often heteronormative. Research is limited in exploring SMY’s experiences receiving sexual education from their parents. The current study analyzes open-ended responses of 432 SM and childfree adults’ recollections of sexual education from their parents. We hypothesize that sexual education from parents for SMY will be associated with heteronormative themes. Thematic analysis of responses is ongoing but preliminary results suggest sex education often centers around functional education and safety while positive regard to sex seems to be a rare occurrence. Understanding SMY’s experiences with sexual education provides information to parents on how to better educate their children about empowering sexual practices and planned family formation.
Faculty mentor
Kay Simon is a new faculty member in the Family Social Science department as of 2022. The assistant professor attended the University of Kentucky where they received their master’s degree in Psychology, and their PhD in Experimental Psychology. Most of their research specializes in sexual and gender minority youth and families, parenting, and experiences within intersectional and minority identities. Dr. Simon is published in multiple psychology journals and has presented their work at several conferences nationwide.