• PhD, Rutgers University

My research seeks to document key mechanisms through which belonging to a socially derogated (i.e., stigmatized) group worsens feelings of belonging and health outcomes of people with non-visible and visible stigmatized identities (e.g., LGBTQ+ identity, physical disability). Some of my research seeks to combat societal stigma that worsens health outcomes for marginalized groups by documenting when and why discussions of stigmatized identities are avoided despite being beneficial to stigmatized groups. For example, my research documents the need for explicit identity-affirming cues (and discussions) in academic, organizational, and healthcare settings to combat stigmatized groups' disparities in felt belonging in these settings.

• Cipollina, R., Pereira-Jorge, I., Wang, K. & Chaney, K. E. (in press). “I can’t stop thinking about it”: Disclosure rumination as a novel pathway linking concealment to sexual minorities’ mental health and coping with substances. Stigma and Health. (IF: 2.60)
• Manning, R. B., III, Cipollina, R., Bogart, K. B., Adler, J. A., Ostrove, J. O., Lowe, S. R., Nario-Redmond, M. A., & Wang, K. (in press). Contending with disability-based minority stressors: Adapting the minority stress model to people with disabilities. Rehabilitation Psychology.
• Cipollina, R., & Nicolas, G. F. (2025). Characterizing LGBTQ Americans’ anticipated stereotypes in healthcare settings and outcomes. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000822
• Cipollina, R., & Sanchez, D. T. (2025). “It’s best not to discuss or “see” sexual orientation”: An examination of sexuality blindfolding. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 28(3), 546-570. https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302241305036
• Cipollina, R., & Wang, K. (2024, advance online). Sexual and gender minority college students’ perceptions of sexuality blindfolding. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000758
• Wang, K., Ostrove, J. M, Manning, R. B., Fodero, S., Ash, S., Whang, J., Bogart, K. R., Cipollina, R., Redmond, M. R., Adler, J. M., & Lowe, S. R. (2024). Ableism in mental healthcare settings: A qualitative study among U.S. adults with disabilities. SSM Qualitative Research in Health, 6(1), 100498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100498
• Cipollina, R., Ruben, M., Fu, C., Maroney, M., Bettergarcia, J., Fogwell, N., Gonzalez Lopez, A., & Levitt, H. (2024). The damaging legacy of damage-centered LGBTQ+ research: Applications in healthcare and implications on LGBTQ+ health. Journal of Social Issues, 80(3), 973-999. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12641
• Chaney, K. E., Wilton, L., Morgenroth, T., Cipollina, R., & Pereira-Jorge, I. (2024). Predictors and implications of parents’ beliefs about the appropriateness of LGBTQ+ topics for children. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 15(7), 863-876. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506241252198
• Cipollina, R., Eddy, Z., & Sanchez, D. T. (2024). Contested sexual identities and bi+ groups’ identity disclosure experiences. Journal of Bisexuality, 24(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2023.2285065