Expertise
Adolescent Health, LGBTQ+ Health, Scale Development
Research Interests
- Adolescent sources of sexual health information
- Adolescent sexual and reproductive health
- Adolescent mental health
- LGBTQ+ health
Education
- PhD, Boston College 2022
- MEd, Lesley University 2001
- BSN, University of Massachusetts Boston 2015
- BA, Wesleyan University 1995
Biosketch
Elizabeth Anne McKay is an assistant professor at the Solomont School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has a background in both education and nursing and received her PhD in Nursing Science from Boston College. Her program of research examines the sources of sexual health information of sexual and gender minority adolescents with a focus on parent-child communication about sex and school-based sex education. Her recent work involves the rigorous measurement and evaluation of sexual minority-inclusivity in sex education.
Selected Awards and Honors
- University Fellowship, Connell School of Nursing, Boston College
- Academic Excellence Award, Undergraduate Nursing Program, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Selected Publications
- McKay, E. A., Placencio-Castro, M., Harris, A., Kelly-Weeder, S., & Fontenot, H. B. (2023). Development and Psychometric Testing of a Scale to Measure Sexual Minority-Inclusivity in Sex Education. Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
- McKay, E. A., Placencio-Castro, M., Fu, M. R., & Fontenot, H. (2021). Associations between sex education types and sexual behaviors among female adolescents: A secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth 2011–2019. Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
- McKay E. A. & Fontenot, H. (2020). Parent-Adolescent Sex Communication with Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: An Integrated Review. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 34, e37-e48.
Selected Presentations
- Development and Psychometric Testing of a Scale to Measure Sexual Minority-Inclusivity in Sex Education”. Paper Presentation. March 2023, Eastern Nursing Research Society 35th Annual Scientific Sessions, Philadelphia, PA
Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research
- Doug Kirby Adolescent Sexual Health Research Grant, Indiana University School of Public Health
- Research Fellow, University of Hawaii at Manoa