Soyoung Kwon

Ph.D. - Sociology
Purdue University - 2012

MA - Sociology
Peking University - 2006

Comparing the Influences of Spouses  or Partners with Other Family Members in the Ability of Young Asian Americans to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle  2024 - publications

The Dilemma of  Mask-Wearing: Association Between Mask-Wearing Adherence, Discrimination, and Anxiety in Asian Americans during the Early Stages of Covid-19  2023 - publications

Millennial Attitudes toward Disability in Three Social Contexts  2022 - publications

 Navigating COVID-19 Impacts on Southeast Asian Immigrants: Chinese Texans’ Perspectives  2022 - publications

Mask Wearing and Perceived Discrimination Associated with COVID-19 in the U.S. from March 2020-May 2021: Three-Level Longitudinal Analyses  2022 - publications

The Interplay between Partisanship, Risk Perception, and Mental Distress during the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States  2022 - publications

Impact of 9/11-Induced Adverse  Experiences on the Mental Health of Latino Americans and the Role of Religious Service Attendance  2021 - publications

Attitudes of Hispanic Young Adults toward Disability  2020 - publications

Associate Professor of Sociology
University of Texas at Dallas [2024–Present]

Associate Professor of Sociology
Texas A&M University-Kingsville [2019–2024]

Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University-Kingsville [2014–2019]

Racial/Ethnic Health and Health Behavior

My research has centered on the mental health and health behaviors of racial and ethnic groups, particularly Asian Americans and Hispanic communities. I explore the risk and protective factors that influence their health outcomes, aiming to better understand how these factors shape their overall well-being

Mental Health and Public Health Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic

My most recent research delves into the social and mental health impacts of public health behaviors that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work examines how adherence to or deviations from public health guidelines, such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccination, have influenced individuals' psychological well-being and social dynamics. By investigating these behaviors, I aim to understand the broader implications of pandemic-related public health measures on mental health outcomes and social relationships.

Health and Health Behavior in Higher Education

The interdisciplinary project involves collaborative efforts across multiple campuses. It focuses on examining the intricate interplay between social and biological processes in shaping the academic success of minority students in higher education. This research is funded by the Meadows Foundation and has successfully collected and processed data over three waves of study.

•  “Double Threats of COVID-19 Exposure: Anxiety among Asian Americans during the COVID-19” Liang, Y. W. (Melissa), & Kwon, S. (March, 2023) International Conference on Social Science, Humanities and  Interdisciplinary Studies, Woodlands, TX 
•  “Chinese Americans’ lived experience during the COVID pandemic: The voice from South Texas “
  Liang, Y. W. (Melissa), & Kwon, S., Hsu, S. C. (Candace), Garcia, C., Fedynich, L. (April, 2021)  International Conference on Education and Social Development, Houston, TX 
•  “Perceived discrimination and mental health in Asian Americans during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Does
  mask-wearing matter? Kwon, S & Liang, Y. W. (Melissa), (April, 2021)  International Conference on Education and Social Development, Houston. TX 
•  “Let’s Hear It: Chinese Americans’ Avoidance and Dilemmas During the COVID Pandemic” Liang, Y. W. (Melissa)., Kwon, S., Garcia, C., & Castellanos R. (November, 2021). 65th Annual Texas Counseling 
  Association Conference 
•  “The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks-Induced Experiences and Mental Health among Latino Americans: Does  Religious Service Attendance help?” Kwon, S., Kim, Y., Moon, J. (August, 2021). 116th 2021 American  Sociological Association Virtual Annual Meeting 
•  “Safe but Anxious: Mask-Wearing, COVID-19 Associated Discrimination, and Mental Distress amid 
  COVID-19 Pandemic among Asian Americans” Kwon, S., Liang, Y. W. (Melissa)., Hsu, S. C. 
  (Candace), (April, 2021). 100th 2021 South Western Social Science Association Annual Meeting 

Professional activities

Editorial board member, Society and Mental Health 
Editorial board member: Frontier in Psychiatry 
Manuscript Reviewer for refereed journals including  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Social Psychology Quarterly; Review of religious research; American Sociological Review; Public Health in Practice; Public Health; Journal of Social Behavior and Health; Sociological Inquiry; Plos One Social Science Research; International Sociology; Obesity; Journal of Aging and Health Stigma and Health International Review of Administrative Sciences; Health: an Interdisciplinary Journal of the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine; Society and Mental Health 

Professional Membership

American Sociological Association (2008-present) Southwestern Social Science Association (2017-present) Population of America Association (2014-present) Korea-America Scientists and Engineers Association (2015-present) Association for Asian Studies (2009-2010) 

The Student Health and Success Initiative (SHASHI) Project

229,450 - The Meadow Foundation [2024/08]