Dr. Brooke Wells is a Research Scientist at CHEST, collaborating with other senior scientists to develop and conduct research surrounding sexual risk behaviors, substance use, the combination of substances and sexual behavior, and HIV prevention and intervention.

Dr. Wells’ research interests broadly focus on substance use and sexual risk behavior. Dr. Wells utilizes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods and analyses to understand the associations between substance use and sexual risk behavior and the various personality, contextual, and psychosocial factors that influence these associations. Brooke has presented her work at several conferences, including the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Dr. Wells received her Ph.D. in Social & Personality Psychology from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York in 2008. Dr. Wells secured NIAAA funding to complete her dissertation and receive a wealth of training in sexuality research, methodology, and statistical analyses. For her dissertation, Brooke conducted a mixed-method study entitled, “A Feminist Analysis of Young Women’s Experiences of Alcohol and Sexuality” that examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and sexuality and the individual and contextual factors influencing this relationship among young urban women.

Outside of CHEST, Dr. Wells is also a postdoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Science Training in Drug Abuse Research Program at the National Development and Research Institutes (Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse). Dr. Wells is also collaborating with Dr. Brian Kelly of Purdue University to assist with recruitment and data collection for a study of salvia using young adults and with Dr. Janna Kim of California State-Fullerton to conduct a multi-method study of the portrayal of alcohol’s sexual effects in reality television and the role of such television consumption in the alcohol and sexual behaviors and beliefs of adolescents.

Selected Publications:
Parsons, J.T. & Wells, B. E. (in press). Sexual Health and Behavior. In Health Psychology, 2nd Ed., edited by David P. French, Ad A. Kapstein, Kavita Vedhara, & John Weinman. John Wiley & Sons: London.

Gentile, B., Grabe, S., Dolan-Pascoe, B., Twenge, J.M., Wells, B.E., & Maittino, A. (2009). Gender differences in domain-specific self-esteem: A meta-analysis. Review of General Psychology, 13 (1), 34-45.

Parsons, J.T., Kelly, B.C., & Wells, B.E. (2006). Differences in Club Drug Use between Heterosexual and Bisexual/Lesbian Females.  Addictive Behaviors, 31, 2344-2349.

Kelly, B.C., Parsons, J.T., & Wells, B.E. (2006).  Prevalence and Predictors of Club Drug Use among Club-Going Young Adults in New York City.  Journal of Urban Health, 83, 884-895.

Bonet, L., Wells, B.E., & Parsons, J.T. (2006).  A Positive Look at a Difficult Time: A Strength Based Examination of Coming Out for Lesbian and Bisexual Women.  Journal of LGBT Health Research, 3, 3-10. 

Wells, B.E., Bimbi, D.S., Tider, D., Van Ora, J., & Parsons, J.T. (2006). Preventive Health Behaviors among Lesbian and Bisexually Identified Women.  Women & Health, 44, 1-13.

Wells, B.E. & Twenge, J.M. (2005). Changes in Sexual Behavior and Attitudes, 1943-1999: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis . Review of General Psychology, 9 , 249-261.