Dr. Yang Li

Biography

Dr. Li received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan, following her MSN and BSN from Shandong University in China. Before joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, she completed postdoctoral training at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing. Her research primarily focuses on women’s health, with particular emphasis on underserved populations affected by violence and trauma, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV), with a special focus on mental and maternal health. Dr. Li's work examines the bio-psychosocial pathways linking maternal trauma history to psychopathology and perinatal health outcomes. She has conducted research on Chinese immigrant women, investigating the prevalence, risk factors, mental health consequences, and lived experiences of those affected by IPV. Her developed intervention integrates mental health care and safety empowerment to address the psychological and practical aspects of IPV recovery, aiming to tackle inequities in access to mental health support for Chinese immigrant women. Dr. Li's research extends to understanding the mental health disparities within underserved populations, including the impact of racial discrimination on issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidality among Chinese immigrants. Through her expertise and dedication, she aims to shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by women affected by violence and trauma, striving to address mental health disparities in these populations, with significant potential to improve women’s health.

Research Interests