Research Expertise
Shakeara’s research interests integrate behavioral health, trauma, help-seeking, neurodiversity, culture, community systems, neuroscience, and evidence-informed practice. Her scholarship is designed to advance professional knowledge while supporting meaningful, ethical, and culturally responsive change.
Areas of Inquiry
Areas of interest connect clinical knowledge, community experience, culture, neuroscience, and evidence-informed practice.
Behavioral Health
Mental health, trauma, resilience, community behavioral health, service access, and evidence-informed treatment.
Help-Seeking & Engagement
Help-seeking attitudes, access to care, treatment engagement, emotional wellness, and recovery.
Population-Specific Research
Research responsive to the strengths, concerns, needs, resources, and lived experiences of specific populations.
Neurodiversity
Autism, neurodivergence, behavioral support, accessibility, co-occurring needs, and person-centered systems of care.
Culture & Community
Culture, identity, systemic barriers, community resilience, culturally responsive care, and behavioral-health equity.
Neuroscience
Neurobiology, neurochemistry, memory, behavioral genetics, nervous-system functioning, and brain-behavior relationships.
Research Philosophy
Research benefits from four foundational pillars that support field advancement, professional competence, ethical treatment, and an enduring commitment to the individuals and communities being studied.
Interdisciplinary Research for Meaningful Change
Shakeara conducts and designs research in support of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary initiatives for individuals, communities, and organizations. Her work includes data analysis, interpretation, and the translation of findings into evidence-informed recommendations.
Findings are illustrated through reports and educational materials that support research and treatment efficiency, program evaluation, ethical decision-making, continuous quality improvement, and organizational development.
Shakeara explores mental and behavioral health across multiple levels of analysis, connecting neuroscience, individual experience, community conditions, culture, and systems of care.
Her research experience includes quantitative and qualitative methods, statistical analysis, survey-data interpretation, thematic coding, stakeholder reporting, and the development of recommendations supporting organizational decision-making.
Research Pillars
Strengths
Recognizing individual, cultural, community, and organizational assets that support resilience, development, and sustainable growth.
Concerns
Identifying barriers, disparities, risks, and emerging challenges that require careful study and responsive action.
Needs
Examining lived experiences and unmet needs to guide ethical, culturally responsive, and person-centered recommendations.
Resources
Connecting evidence, knowledge, services, and community resources to promote accessibility, effectiveness, and meaningful change.
These pillars are supported by evidence-based theory, valid argument, sound purpose, ethical inquiry, and an enduring commitment to research integrity.
Active Research
Participant recruitment and data collection are currently in progress.
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 2025–Present
Attitudes Toward Help-Seeking Among Black Men
This quantitative study examines Black men’s attitudes toward seeking professional counseling and the demographic, social, cultural, and personal factors that may influence help-seeking behaviors.
Black men who are 18 years of age or older are invited to review the informed-consent information and participate. Participation is voluntary, responses are anonymous, and the survey takes approximately 5–10 minutes to complete.
Help Share the Participant Recruitment Flyer
This study is seeking Black men age 18 and older to complete an anonymous survey about attitudes toward seeking mental-health support. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes or less.
View the flyer on the right, download the paper survey, or share the QR code so eligible participants can access the online survey directly.
Your Voice Can Help Shape the Future of Mental Health Support.
Complete the survey online, download the printable paper survey, view or download the recruitment flyer, or contact the research team with questions.
Complete the Online Survey
Use the secure SurveyMonkey link or scan the QR code with your phone camera to begin the anonymous survey.
Complete the Online SurveyDownload the Paper Survey
Download and print the paper-and-pencil version of the survey. Review the informed-consent information before completing it.
Download the Paper Survey (PDF)View or Download the Flyer
Open the participant recruitment flyer to view, download, print, or share the research opportunity with eligible participants.
View or Download the FlyerHave Research Questions?
Contact the research team for questions about eligibility, informed consent, participation, or the approved study procedures.
Have Research Questions? Click HerePast Research Participation
Previous research support and data-analysis experience contributing to behavioral-health research initiatives.
Data Analyst and Management Assistant
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Performed statistical analyses to identify trends and correlations within quantitative data.
- Interpreted raw survey data and reviewed datasets for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
- Translated quantitative and qualitative findings into actionable insights supporting ongoing behavioral-health research initiatives.
- Conducted thematic coding to identify meaningful patterns within open-ended responses.
- Applied quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
- Summarized key findings in accessible reports for stakeholders.
- Provided evidence-based recommendations to guide ongoing research directions.
Interested in Research Collaboration?
Meaningful research begins with thoughtful questions, shared knowledge, and a commitment to creating measurable impact.
Shakeara R. Abney welcomes opportunities to connect with researchers, scholars, students, educators, clinicians, community leaders, and organizations interested in developing research ideas or collaborating on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary initiatives.
Research Development
Explore research questions, study concepts, theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and opportunities for future investigation.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Connect behavioral health, psychology, education, leadership, business, community systems, and related areas of practice.
Community Partnerships
Develop research that centers community concerns, strengths, needs, resources, lived experiences, and meaningful outcomes.
Scholarship & Dissemination
Collaborate on presentations, conference proposals, publications, educational materials, reports, and research translation.
Let’s explore what we can develop together.
Share your research interest, proposed topic, population of interest, organizational need, or potential partnership opportunity. Initial inquiries are welcome even when an idea is still in the early stages.
All proposed collaborations are considered according to professional scope, ethical requirements, institutional approval, participant protections, availability, and alignment with the purpose of the project.