Lu Dong, PhD
Emory University (2015)
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Contact:
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Dr. Dong will be reviewing graduate student applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Research Interests:
Transdiagnostic interventions; Sleep health; Youth and adults; Community-engaged research;
Health disparities; Behavioral change; Intervention development
Current Research:
My lab’s research adopts a transdiagnostic approach that positions sleep as both a modifiable intervention target and a mediating pathway influencing mental health outcomes. We examine how individual and contextual factors—such as stigma, discrimination, and neighborhood environments—contribute to health disparities by impacting sleep and mental health among underserved populations. We are also engaged in the adaptation and implementation of behavioral and psychological interventions for diverse communities. In a separate line of work, we examine mental health challenges and service access among Asian American populations, with attention to the diversity within this group and the role of cultural and structural barriers. Across all projects, we partner with community-based organizations and prioritize community-engaged methods to ensure our research is relevant, inclusive, and action-oriented.
CURRENT FUNDING
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) R01MD019278: Mechanisms and Consequences of Sleep Health Inequities Affecting Black Sexual Minority Men
PUBLICATIONS:
Sleep health disparities
Dong, L., Bogart, L. M., Klein, D. J., Phaladze, N., et al. (2025). Internalized HIV Stigma, Sleep Problems, and Depressive Symptoms in People with HIV in Botswana. Behavioral Medicine.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2024.2447357
Dong, L., Bogart, L. M., Mutchler, M. G., Klein, D. J., et al. (2024). Sleep disturbance mediates the associations between HIV stigma and mental and physical health among Black adults with HIV. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-02083-0
Troxel, W. M., Klein, D. J., Dong, L., Mousavi, Z., Dickerson, D. L., Johnson, C. L., Palimaru, A. I., Brown, R. A., Rodriguez, A., Parker, J., Schweigman, K., and D'Amico, E. J. (2024). Sleep problems and health outcomes among urban American Indian/ Alaska Native adolescents. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2414735. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.14735
Dong, L., Brown, R. A., Palimaru, A. I., D'Amico, E. J., et al. (2024). Enhancing sleep health in urban American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents: Implications for culturally tailored interventions. Journal of Adolescence, 96(6), 1316-1327. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12350
Dong, L., D'Amico, E. J., Dickerson, D. L., Brown, R. A., et al. (2024). Bidirectional associations between daily sleep and wake behaviors in urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(2), 350-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.08.048
Palimaru, A. I., Dong, L., Brown, R. A., D'Amico, E. J., Dickerson, D. L., Johnson, C. L., & Troxel, W. M. (2022). Mental health, family functioning, and sleep in cultural context among American Indian/Alaska Native urban youth: A mixed methods analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114582
Dong, L., Dubowitz, T., Haas, A., Ghosh-Dastidar, M., et al. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of obstructive sleep apnea in urban dwelling, low-income, predominantly African American women. Sleep Medicine, 73(9), 187-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.06.022
Transdiagnostic interventions targeting sleep
Dong, L., Gumport, N. B., Fine, E. R., Michie, S., Zhou, Q., Mullin, A. C., Alvarado-Martinez, C. G., Hilmoe, H. E., Tran, M., Portnova, V., & Harvey, A. G. (2024) Open trial of the Parent Behavior Change Intervention (PBC-I) to improve adolescent sleep health. Behavior Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2024.10.004
Harvey, A. G., Dong, L., Hein, K., Yu, S. H., Martinez, A. J., Gumport, N. B., Smith, F. L., Chapman, A., Lisman, M., Mirzadegan, I. A., Mullin, A. C., Fine, E., Dolsen, M. R., Gasperetti, C. E., Bukosky, J., Alvarado-Martinez, C. G., Kilbourne, A. M., Rabe-Hesketh, S., & Buysse, D. J. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) to improve serious mental illness outcomes in a community setting. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(6), 537–550. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000650
Dong, L., Dolsen, M. R., Martinez, A. J., Notsu, H., & Harvey, A. G. (2020). A Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention for adolescents: 6-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(6), 653-661.https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13154
Dong, L., Gumport, N. B., Martinez, A. J., & Harvey, A. G. (2019). Is improving sleep and circadian problems in adolescence a pathway to improved health? A mediation analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(9), 757-771. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000423
Transdiagnostic intervention targeting patient memory
Dong, L., Zieve, G., Gumport, N. B., Armstrong, C. C., et al. (2022). Can integrating the Memory Support Intervention into cognitive therapy improve depression outcome? A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 157, 104167.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2022.104167
Dong, L., Zhao, X., Ong, S. L., & Harvey, A. G. (2017). Patient recall of specific cognitive therapy contents predicts adherence and outcome in adults with major depressive disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 97, 189–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.08.006
Dong, L., Lee, J. Y., & Harvey, A. G. (2017). Memory support strategies and bundles: A pathway to improving cognitive therapy for depression? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(3), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000167
Other topics related to health equity (e.g., Asian American mental health, medical mistrust and vaccine hesitancy)
Dong, L., Bouey, J., Yi, S., & Wong, E. (2024). “Society needs to know how we feel”: Understanding anti-Asian hate experiences and service barriers among older Chinese/Chinese American adults in Los Angeles County, California. RAND Corporation. https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA3422-1
Dong, L., Bouey, J., Tang, G., Yi, S., Yeung, D., Dossani, R., Lim, J., Li, Y., & Zhang, S. (2024) Enhancing support for Asian American communities facing hate incidents: Community survey results from Los Angeles and New York City. RAND Corporation. https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA3347-1
Dong, L., Bouey, J., Yeung, D., Chen, P. G., & Gandhi, P. (2021). Addressing anti-Asian racism in the era of COVID-19: Next steps for a research agenda. RAND Corporation. https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA1594-1
Adekunle, T. E., Bogart, L. M., Vincent, T., Gilbert, M., González, I., Ojikutu, B. O., & Dong, L. (2024) A qualitative study of Black and Latine HIV Care consumers’ perceptions of providers’ behaviors, medical mistrust, and experiences of discrimination. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(4), 1206-1228. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2024.a943986
Dong, L., Bogart, L. M., Gandhi, P., Aboagye, J. B., et al. (2022). A qualitative study of COVID-19 vaccine intentions and mistrust in Black Americans: Recommendations for vaccine dissemination and uptake. PLoS One, 17(5), e0268020.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268020
Dong, L., Bogart, L. M., Mutchler, M. G., Lawrence, S. J., et al. (2022). Perceived discrimination, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and care engagement among HIV-positive black adults: the mediating role of medical mistrust. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 45(2), 285-296.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-021-00277-z