Profile for Jason Sumontha

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FirstGeneration badge,
FriendlyFace badge, I identify as a queer cis-man
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Specialty area(s)

Developmental and Community Psychology; sexual orientation and gender diversity; parenting; socialization; child development; LGBTQ+ families; family processes; resilience

Brief biography

Jason Sumontha, Ph.D., earned his doctoral degree from the University of Virginia where he studied the qualities that promote family health, with a focus on child development and parenting among LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) parents and their children. 

Dr. Sumontha's primary research focuses on promoting the positive development and health of LGBTQ+ families, considering social context and intersections of identity. This includes:

  1. Resilience and protective factors among parents and their children
  2. The intersections between sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and socioeconomic status.
  3. The application of research on queer families to policy, practice, and law

If interested in Dr. Sumontha's research or teaching, you are encouraged to reach out to him via email or by visiting his office in person. 

Dr. Sumontha is currently recruiting research assistants for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021. 

Current courses at UWL

PSY 282: Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSY 491: LGBTQ+ Youth Psychology

CYC 301: Overview of Child and Youth Care

Education

Ph.D., University of Virginia (Developmental & Community Psychology)

M.A., University of Virginia (Developmental & Community Psychology)

B.A., University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Major: Psychology)

Teaching history

University of Virginia:
PSYC 4559 Modern Families: Parenting and Child Development in Diverse Family Systems
PSYC 3460 Psychological Study of Children, Families, and the Law

 

Research and publishing

  1. Patterson, C. J., Tate, D. P., Sumontha, J., & Xu, R. (2018). Sleep difficulties among sexual minority adults: Associations with family relationship problems. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 5(1), 109-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000264
  1. Sumontha, J., Farr, R. H., & Patterson, C. J. (2017). Children’s gender development: Associations with parental sexual orientation, division of labor, and gender ideology. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4(4), 438-450. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000242

  2. Sumontha, J., Farr, R. H., & Patterson, C. J. (2016). Coparenting and social support among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual adoptive couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(8), 987-996. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0000253
  1. Tornello, S. L., Blanchfield, B. V., & Sumontha, J. (2015). LGBTQ romantic relationships. Oxford Bibliographies Online: Psychology.
  1. Patterson, C. J., & Sumontha, J. (2015). Children with LGBQ parents, gender development and identity. SAGE encyclopedia for LGBTQ Studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483371283.n76

In Preparation: 

  1. Sumontha, J., Tornello, S. L., & Patterson, C. J. (In preparation). Stigmatization and parenting stress among gay fathers: An examination of the mediational role of relationship quality

  2. Simon, K. A., Sumontha, J., Lee, S., Kim, A., Farr, R. H., & Lee, R. M. (In preparation). The Effects of Colorblindness and Parent-Child Relationship Quality on Parent’s Perceived Discrimination among adolescent Korean Adoptees. 

Kudos

awarded

Ashley Edwards and Jessica Peterson, both Communication Studies; Daniel Hyson and Jason Sumontha, both Psychology; and Moira Ozias, Student Affairs Administration; received a CASSH Small Grant. The grant, "Racial Justice and Equity at UWL: Investing in Our Community," allows them to bring Rowen Thomas to campus to hold a customized workshop with CASSH faculty and staff. It will allow them to work on best practices to close equity gaps with underrepresented communities. Their workshop will ground individuals in their identities, and have CASSH faculty and staff walk away with action plans to integrate what they learn over the two hour workshop.

Submitted on: Mar. 4

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