Jennifer Abe

Jennifer Abe is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), affiliated with the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. She joined LMU in 1994, served as an associate dean from 2005–2010, and later co-directed LMU’s Casa Argentina study abroad program in Córdoba, Argentina. Additionally, she held the role of Associate Director at the National Research Center on Asian American Mental Health at UCLA, overseeing postdoctoral training initiatives.

Research Interests: Dr. Abe specializes in mental health service access among Asian Americans, emphasizing cultural competence and humility in therapeutic practices. Her work explores intersections of spirituality, identity, and liberation psychologies, addressing systemic barriers in mental healthcare delivery. She has investigated somatic symptoms in Cambodian genocide survivors and the impact of the model minority myth on mental health outcomes.

Publications reveal a focus on Asian American mental health disparities, acculturation dynamics, and trauma responses. Her contributions include frameworks like the Cultural Influences on Mental Health (CIMH) model and analyses of religious influences on help-seeking behaviors.