Hsiu-Lan Cheng

Dr. Hsiu-Lan Cheng's research examines help-seeking attitudes and mental health concerns (particularly depression, body image concerns, disordered eating) from the intersection of racial and ethnic minority psychology, objectification theory, attachment theory, and positive psychology. She is particularly interested in understanding the contextualization of mental health and psychological wellbeing within the sociocultural milieu of racism, sexism, classism, immigration, and acculturation.  Dr. Cheng’s most recent research projects involve collaboration with San Francisco Chinatown community agencies to highlight the understudied and underserved mental health concerns within the immigrant population.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of San Francisco, Dr. Cheng worked as an assistant professor of counseling psychology at New Mexico State University and a practicing counseling psychologist at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Dr. Cheng's research has been funded by the American Psychological Association. She is a fellow of the Minority Fellowship Program of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Cheng was named amongst the 99 Top Professors in Counseling, Psychology and Therapy list in the Masters in Counseling Information Guide.

• Multiculturalism and mental health
• Objectification theory
• Attachment theory and affect regulation
• Positive psychology

• PhD, Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia

• Assistant Professor, Counseling Psychology program, New Mexico State University
• Counseling Psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• Research Award on Psychotherapy with Women, Division 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women), American Psychological Association (2018)
• Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence, New Mexico Statue University (2015)
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, College of Education, New Mexico State University (2014)
• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Minority Fellowship Program; a program funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2014)
• Named amongst the 99 Top Professors in Counseling, Psychology and Therapy list in the Masters in Counseling Information Guide (2013)

• Cheng, H., Wang, C., McDermott, R. C., Kridel, M. M.,* & Rislin, J.* (2018). Self-stigma, mental health literacy, and attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Journal of Counseling and Development, 96, 64-74. Online First Publication.
• Cheng, H., & Kim, H.* (2018). Racial and sexual objectification of Asian American women: Associations with trauma symptomatology, body image concerns, and disordered eating. Women and Therapy. Online First Publication.
• Zhang, J., Savla, J. S., & Cheng, H. (2017). Cumulative Risk and Immigrant Youth’s Health and Educational Achievement: Mediating Effects of Intra- and Inter- Familial Social Capital. Youth & Society. Online First Publication.
• Cheng, H., Tran, A. T., Miyake, E. R.,* & Kim, H. Y.* (2017). Disordered eating among Asian American college women: A racially-expanded model of objectification theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 64 (2), 179-191.
• McDermott, R. C., Cheng, H., Wong, Y. J., Booth, N.,* Jones, Z.,* & Sevig, T. (2017). Hope for help-seeking: A positive psychology perspective of psychological help-seeking intentions. The Counseling Psychologist, 45 (2), 237-265. 
• Tran, A. T., Cheng, H. , & Netland, J. D., & Miyake, E. R* (2017). Far from fairness: Prejudice, skin color, and psychological functioning in Asian Americans. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 23(3), 407-415. 
• Cheng, H., Hitter, T., Adams, E., & Williams, C.* (2016). Minority stress and depressive symptoms in Mexican American students: The moderator roles of familism, ethnic identity, and gender. The Counseling Psychologist, 44 (6), 841-870.
• Turner, E. A., Cheng, H. , Llamas, J. D., Tran, A. G. T., Hill, K. X., Fretts, J. M*., & Mercado, A. (2016). Disparities in the use of outpatient psychiatric treatment among ethnic minorities: Current status and implications for care. Current Psychiatry Review, 12 (2),199-220.
• McDermott, R. C., Cheng, H., Lopez, F. G., McKelvey, D., & Bateman, L. S. (2016). Dominance orientations and psychological aggression in college student relationships: A test of an attachment theory-guided model. Psychology of Violence. Online First Publication.
• Cheng, H., McDermott, R. C., Wong, Y. J., & La, S.* (2016). Drive for muscularity in Asian American men: Sociocultural and racial/ethnic factors as correlates. Psychology of Men & Masculinity , 17 (3), 215-227. 
• McDermott, R. C., Cheng, H. , Wright, C., Browning, B., Upton, A., & Sevig, T. (2015). Adult attachment dimensions and college student distress: The mediating role of hope. The Counseling Psychologist , 43, 822-852. 
• Cheng, H., McDermott, R. C., & Lopez, F. (2015). Mental health, self-stigma, and help-seeking intentions among emerging adults: An attachment perspective. The Counseling Psychologist, 43, 463-487. 
• Cheng, H., Lin, S., & Cha, C. H.* (2015). Perceived discrimination, intergenerational family conflicts and depressive symptoms in foreign-born and U.S.-born Asian American emerging adults. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 6 (2), 107-116. 
• Cheng, H. , & Mallinckrodt, B. (2015). Racial/ethnic discrimination, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and alcohol problems in a longitudinal study of Hispanic/Latino college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62, 38-49. 
• Cheng, H. (2014). Disordered eating among Asian/Asian American women: Racial and cultural factors as correlates. The Counseling Psychologist, 42, 821-851.
• Cheng, H., Kwan, K. K., & Sevig, T. (2013). Racial and ethnic minority college students’ stigma associated with seeking psychological help: Examining psychocultural correlates. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60 , 98-111.
• Cheng, H. , Mallinckrodt, B., Soet, J., & Sevig, T. (2010). Developing a screening instrument and at-risk profile for non-suicidal self-injurious behavior in college women and men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 57, 128-139.
• Cheng, H. , & Mallinckrodt, B. (2009). Parental bonds, anxious attachment, media internalization, and body image dissatisfaction: Exploring a mediation model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 365-375.
• Cheng, H. , Mallinckrodt, B., & Wu, L. (2005). Anger expression toward parents and depressive symptoms among undergraduates in Taiwan. The Counseling Psychologist , 33 , 72-97.