Kelly O’Connor, PhD
@drkellyoc.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at VCU ✧ Clinical Psychologist ✧ Firearm injury prevention, trauma, & resilience ✧ Views are my own ✧ she/her
https://kelly-oconnor.com/
https://kelly-oconnor.com/
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
“researchers found that teens who report that Instagram regularly made them feel bad about their bodies saw significantly more “eating disorder adjacent content” than those who did not”
www.reuters.com/business/ins...
www.reuters.com/business/ins...
Exclusive: Instagram shows more ‘eating disorder adjacent’ content to vulnerable teens, internal Meta research shows
Meta researchers found that teens who report that Instagram regularly made them feel bad about their bodies saw significantly more “eating disorder adjacent content” than those who did not, according to an internal document reviewed by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
“researchers found that teens who report that Instagram regularly made them feel bad about their bodies saw significantly more “eating disorder adjacent content” than those who did not”
www.reuters.com/business/ins...
www.reuters.com/business/ins...
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
"Arming teachers is not a viable or effective solution to either preventing school shootings or reducing the lethality of an active shooting... The introduction of loaded firearms into a school setting introduces significant risks to the children, teachers, staff, and families who all comprise..."
Unpacking Arming Teachers Laws
The risks of arming teachers policies, and recommendations to school districts on actions they can take to keep their schools safe from gun violence.
everytownresearch.org
October 20, 2025 at 10:57 AM
"Arming teachers is not a viable or effective solution to either preventing school shootings or reducing the lethality of an active shooting... The introduction of loaded firearms into a school setting introduces significant risks to the children, teachers, staff, and families who all comprise..."
🚨New study alert! We explored how youths’ beliefs about guns relate to offensive & defensive gun behaviors. Key takeaway: beliefs about safety & neighborhood risks drive gun behaviors, while emotional risk beliefs can be protective.
doi.org/10.1177/0011...
doi.org/10.1177/0011...
Youths Beliefs About Guns: Exploring Their Impact on Offensive and Defensive Gun Behaviors - Sophie L. Kjærvik, Kelly E. O’Connor, Nicholas D. Thomson, 2025
This study explored the association between youth gun beliefs, behaviors, and violence. Hierarchical regression examined whether gun beliefs predicted defensive...
doi.org
July 1, 2025 at 11:38 PM
🚨New study alert! We explored how youths’ beliefs about guns relate to offensive & defensive gun behaviors. Key takeaway: beliefs about safety & neighborhood risks drive gun behaviors, while emotional risk beliefs can be protective.
doi.org/10.1177/0011...
doi.org/10.1177/0011...
New study in Youth & Society: We examined whether developmental assets protect against youth gun violence. Findings highlight family & school assets as key promotive factors — informing multi-level prevention strategies. #GunViolencePrevention
doi.org/10.1177/0044...
doi.org/10.1177/0044...
Relations Between Developmental Assets and Youth Gun Violence - Kelly E. O’Connor, Sophie L. Kjærvik, Terri N. Sullivan, Nicholas D. Thomson, 2025
This study investigates the potential promotive effects of developmental assets (e.g., strengths and resources) on youth gun violence. Guided by resilience theo...
doi.org
July 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
New study in Youth & Society: We examined whether developmental assets protect against youth gun violence. Findings highlight family & school assets as key promotive factors — informing multi-level prevention strategies. #GunViolencePrevention
doi.org/10.1177/0044...
doi.org/10.1177/0044...
New study in Journal of Traumatic Stress: We identified barriers & facilitators to mental health service engagement among violently injured patients & their caregivers. Findings underscore the need for integrated, trauma-informed care. doi.org/10.1002/jts....
Barriers and facilitators to engagement in a stepped‐care mental health service among violently injured patients and their caregivers
This qualitative study aimed to identify service needs and barriers and facilitators to treatment among violently injured patients and their caregivers (e.g., parent, partner) to improve access to an....
doi.org
July 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
New study in Journal of Traumatic Stress: We identified barriers & facilitators to mental health service engagement among violently injured patients & their caregivers. Findings underscore the need for integrated, trauma-informed care. doi.org/10.1002/jts....
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Gun deaths are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. While all policy recommendations may not directly address youth, we believe that enacting these policies will address upstream factors to decrease the burden of gun violence on youth. Read: publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-g...
Annual Gun Violence Data | Center for Gun Violence Solutions
publichealth.jhu.edu
April 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Gun deaths are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. While all policy recommendations may not directly address youth, we believe that enacting these policies will address upstream factors to decrease the burden of gun violence on youth. Read: publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-g...
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Associate & an Associate Research Scientist to join the Public Health Data Science and Data Equity research team at YSPH, with a primary home in our Department of Biostatistics.
Postdoctoral Associate ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dt
Associate Research Scientist ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dv
Postdoctoral Associate ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dt
Associate Research Scientist ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dv
March 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Associate & an Associate Research Scientist to join the Public Health Data Science and Data Equity research team at YSPH, with a primary home in our Department of Biostatistics.
Postdoctoral Associate ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dt
Associate Research Scientist ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dv
Postdoctoral Associate ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dt
Associate Research Scientist ➡️ m.yale.edu/c4dv
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our @VCU_IVPP research team, offering a unique opportunity for involvement in CDC- and NIH-funded research on violence prevention and mental health. RTs appreciated!
vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Psychology Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Surgery
Description of the ProjectDr. Thomson, Director of Research at the Injury and Violence
Prevention Program (IVPP) at VCU, is accepting applications fo...
vcu.csod.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our @VCU_IVPP research team, offering a unique opportunity for involvement in CDC- and NIH-funded research on violence prevention and mental health. RTs appreciated!
vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
🚨🚨🚨
Fellow researchers: Download any CDC data you might want to use ASAP.
YRBS is already gone.
🚨🚨🚨
#AcademicSky #academicchatter #research
Fellow researchers: Download any CDC data you might want to use ASAP.
YRBS is already gone.
🚨🚨🚨
#AcademicSky #academicchatter #research
January 31, 2025 at 7:56 PM
🚨🚨🚨
Fellow researchers: Download any CDC data you might want to use ASAP.
YRBS is already gone.
🚨🚨🚨
#AcademicSky #academicchatter #research
Fellow researchers: Download any CDC data you might want to use ASAP.
YRBS is already gone.
🚨🚨🚨
#AcademicSky #academicchatter #research
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
State reliance on federal aid, provided through grants, ranges from 20.7% of the state budget in Hawaii to 46.1% in Montana. 7 of the top 10 recipients are deep-red states.
January 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
State reliance on federal aid, provided through grants, ranges from 20.7% of the state budget in Hawaii to 46.1% in Montana. 7 of the top 10 recipients are deep-red states.
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Dear fellow scientists, Go talk to the press about what is going on. Talk to local news about how it will impact jobs. Be specific, but don't pity yourself. Instead focus on how your own situation affects local jobs, the national economy, beating the growing scientific race with China. Suggestions:
January 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Dear fellow scientists, Go talk to the press about what is going on. Talk to local news about how it will impact jobs. Be specific, but don't pity yourself. Instead focus on how your own situation affects local jobs, the national economy, beating the growing scientific race with China. Suggestions:
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
For "One First," I wrote about Monday's OMB memo purporting to (temporarily) freeze billions of dollars of appropriated federal spending—and why it constitutes both unconstitutional and unlawful "impoundment" that's unlikely to be upheld by even *this* #SCOTUS:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/120-the-im...
www.stevevladeck.com/p/120-the-im...
120. The Impoundment Crisis of 2025
The Trump administration's Monday spending freeze is likely to provoke a crisis over the constitutionality of "impoundment"—one that the justices could well have to resolve *very* soon.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:49 AM
For "One First," I wrote about Monday's OMB memo purporting to (temporarily) freeze billions of dollars of appropriated federal spending—and why it constitutes both unconstitutional and unlawful "impoundment" that's unlikely to be upheld by even *this* #SCOTUS:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/120-the-im...
www.stevevladeck.com/p/120-the-im...
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
If you’re in the US and you’d like to know what projects and vital services federal grants currently fund in your state, you can search here: www.usaspending.gov
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
USAspending.gov
www.usaspending.gov
January 28, 2025 at 4:59 AM
If you’re in the US and you’d like to know what projects and vital services federal grants currently fund in your state, you can search here: www.usaspending.gov
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
And you can find the contact information for your elected representatives here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
They need to hear from you.
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
THIS and for nonprofits too. A pause in grant funding means disruption for the people they serve AND the salaries of the folks they employ. Workers who themselves struggle financially on nonprofit pay, and whose lives will be sent spiraling without a paycheck.
This will cause more poverty.
This will cause more poverty.
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
THIS and for nonprofits too. A pause in grant funding means disruption for the people they serve AND the salaries of the folks they employ. Workers who themselves struggle financially on nonprofit pay, and whose lives will be sent spiraling without a paycheck.
This will cause more poverty.
This will cause more poverty.
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
New paper in @JAMA Network Open (w/ Chandler Hall & Nick Wilson) looks at gun violence trends in US cities during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find variation in both the timing & surge of gun violence between cities. Read it Open Access here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Gun Violence Trends in US Cities During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic
This cross-sectional study evaluates whether there was any variation in gun violence trends in US cities during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
jamanetwork.com
January 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
New paper in @JAMA Network Open (w/ Chandler Hall & Nick Wilson) looks at gun violence trends in US cities during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find variation in both the timing & surge of gun violence between cities. Read it Open Access here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Access to a gun in the home increases the risk of death by suicide by 300%. Store your firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammo, to lower the risk.
January 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Access to a gun in the home increases the risk of death by suicide by 300%. Store your firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammo, to lower the risk.
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Here’s the highlight: Teens exposed to chronic stressors and systemic inequities are at high risk for developing mental health problems. We found that mindfulness training can help to protect teens from the negative impacts of everyday life stressors on momentary mindfulness & emotion regulation
December 24, 2024 at 1:40 AM
Here’s the highlight: Teens exposed to chronic stressors and systemic inequities are at high risk for developing mental health problems. We found that mindfulness training can help to protect teens from the negative impacts of everyday life stressors on momentary mindfulness & emotion regulation
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Outlooked wrapped 2024:
You responded to 2,142 emails and still need to respond to 987
The emails you receive only “find you well” 38% of the time
Teams crashed on you in 52% of meetings
You, an esteemed scientist, were invited to submit to 47 predatory journals
~You should be writing more~
You responded to 2,142 emails and still need to respond to 987
The emails you receive only “find you well” 38% of the time
Teams crashed on you in 52% of meetings
You, an esteemed scientist, were invited to submit to 47 predatory journals
~You should be writing more~
I need an Outlook wrapped… it’d be like
You responded to 8,732 emails & received 3x as many junk emails
October was your busiest month
You spent 347 hours in Zoom meetings & 12% of them were pointless
You had the least amount of time for writing relative to other tasks
😂 What would yours say?
You responded to 8,732 emails & received 3x as many junk emails
October was your busiest month
You spent 347 hours in Zoom meetings & 12% of them were pointless
You had the least amount of time for writing relative to other tasks
😂 What would yours say?
December 20, 2024 at 1:34 AM
Outlooked wrapped 2024:
You responded to 2,142 emails and still need to respond to 987
The emails you receive only “find you well” 38% of the time
Teams crashed on you in 52% of meetings
You, an esteemed scientist, were invited to submit to 47 predatory journals
~You should be writing more~
You responded to 2,142 emails and still need to respond to 987
The emails you receive only “find you well” 38% of the time
Teams crashed on you in 52% of meetings
You, an esteemed scientist, were invited to submit to 47 predatory journals
~You should be writing more~
I need an Outlook wrapped… it’d be like
You responded to 8,732 emails & received 3x as many junk emails
October was your busiest month
You spent 347 hours in Zoom meetings & 12% of them were pointless
You had the least amount of time for writing relative to other tasks
😂 What would yours say?
You responded to 8,732 emails & received 3x as many junk emails
October was your busiest month
You spent 347 hours in Zoom meetings & 12% of them were pointless
You had the least amount of time for writing relative to other tasks
😂 What would yours say?
December 20, 2024 at 1:20 AM
I need an Outlook wrapped… it’d be like
You responded to 8,732 emails & received 3x as many junk emails
October was your busiest month
You spent 347 hours in Zoom meetings & 12% of them were pointless
You had the least amount of time for writing relative to other tasks
😂 What would yours say?
You responded to 8,732 emails & received 3x as many junk emails
October was your busiest month
You spent 347 hours in Zoom meetings & 12% of them were pointless
You had the least amount of time for writing relative to other tasks
😂 What would yours say?
Christmas came early this year… I only had one meeting today and it was canceled 🎅🏻🎁🎄
December 18, 2024 at 3:12 PM
Christmas came early this year… I only had one meeting today and it was canceled 🎅🏻🎁🎄
It was amazing to hear from public officials, law enforcement, & scholars who have overcome barriers to make crime and public health data accessible to their communities
December 17, 2024 at 2:26 PM
It was amazing to hear from public officials, law enforcement, & scholars who have overcome barriers to make crime and public health data accessible to their communities
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
Thoughts and prayers will never keep us safe from gun violence.
They only shield legislators who use their faith as shields of inaction.
We are not helpless and gun violence is actionable. But we will not do this without research and funding.
They only shield legislators who use their faith as shields of inaction.
We are not helpless and gun violence is actionable. But we will not do this without research and funding.
December 16, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Thoughts and prayers will never keep us safe from gun violence.
They only shield legislators who use their faith as shields of inaction.
We are not helpless and gun violence is actionable. But we will not do this without research and funding.
They only shield legislators who use their faith as shields of inaction.
We are not helpless and gun violence is actionable. But we will not do this without research and funding.
If anyone has recommendations for app/software development partners for a digital mental health intervention, please DM me! Currently looking for recommendations since the developer I was working with fell through :/
#academicsky #digitalhealth
#academicsky #digitalhealth
December 13, 2024 at 7:53 PM
If anyone has recommendations for app/software development partners for a digital mental health intervention, please DM me! Currently looking for recommendations since the developer I was working with fell through :/
#academicsky #digitalhealth
#academicsky #digitalhealth
Reposted by Kelly O’Connor, PhD
The work being shared at this year’s #2024FirearmResearchConf reflects the dedication, innovation, and meticulous research needed to address firearm-related harms. It’s an inspiring example of how science and advocacy can drive meaningful change.
We’re proud to have members of Team Brady participating in the #2024FirearmResearchConf. With over 500 presentations and experts from more than two dozen fields, this conference highlights the importance of research in addressing gun violence.
December 10, 2024 at 7:06 PM
The work being shared at this year’s #2024FirearmResearchConf reflects the dedication, innovation, and meticulous research needed to address firearm-related harms. It’s an inspiring example of how science and advocacy can drive meaningful change.