Broadly, my research integrates social-psychological theories with clinical and health perspectives to better understand the lives of people who experience economic marginalization. I am particularly interested in upward social mobility, especially among those who move from poverty into middle- and higher-class statuses.

Rather than viewing upward social mobility as purely beneficial or harmful, my work examines when and why it promotes flourishing versus distress.

Much of my research focuses on the social-psychological implications of navigating unfamiliar class-based norms, attitudes, and identities. I study processes such as status-based identity uncertainty, belonging, and experiences of classism (including downward and internalized forms). I also examine how these experiences shape mental and physical health outcomes — including psychological distress, sleep, and coping—and how subjective perceptions of one’s social position can matter as much as objective socioeconomic change.