College of Arts & Sciences

John Peterson

 My research program focuses on basic and applied research in the Laboratory of Health Promotion Research and Intervention. Specifically, my research program focuses on studies that examine the sociocultural and psychological factors associated with high-risk sexual behavior, the effects of behavioral interventions to reduce risk behavior, and the social determinants and cultural factors of racial disparity in HIV infection.

Also, my research program includes studies on the interactive effects of sexual prejudice, masculine ideology and violence toward gay men. These studies will examine how socio-cultural and psychosocial factors, especially sexual prejudice and masculine ideology, affect the perpetration of antigay violence.

Representative Publications

Millett, G. A., Peterson, J.L., Flores, S. A. et al. (2012). Comparisons of disparities and risks of HIV infection in black and other men who have se with men in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S: A meta-analysis. Lancet, 380, 341-348.

Millett, G. A., Jeffries, W., Peterson, J. et al. (2012). Common roots: A contextual review of HIV epidemics among black men who have sex with men across the African diaspora. Lancet, 380, 411-423

Peterson, J. L., Miner, M. H., Brennan, D. J. & Rosser, B. R. S. (2012). HIV treatment optimism and sexual risk behaviors among HIV positive African American men who have sex with men. AIDS Education and Prevention. 24, 91-101.

Vincent, W., Parrott, D. J. & Peterson, J. L. (2011). Effects of traditional gender role norms and religious fundamentalism on self-identified heterosexual men’s attitudes, anger and aggression toward gay men and lesbians. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 12, 383-400. 

Parrott, D. J., Peterson, J. L. & Bakeman, R. (2011). Determinants of aggression toward sexual minorities in a community sample. Psychology of Violence, 1, 41-52.

Vincent, W., Parrott, D. J. & Peterson, J. L. (2011). Combined effects of masculine gender role stress and sexual prejudice on anger and aggression toward gay men. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41, 1237-1257.

Vincent, W., Peterson, J. L. & Parrott, D. J. (2009). Differences in African American and white women's attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Sex Roles, 61, 599-606.

Miner, M. H., Peterson, J. L., Welles, S. L., Jacoby, S. M. & Rosser, B. R. S. (2009). How do social norms impact HIV sexual risk behavior in HIV-positive men who have sex with men. Journal of Health Psychology, 14, 761-770.

Flores, S. A., Bakeman, R., Millett, G. A., & Peterson, J. L. (2009). HIV risk among bisexually and homosexually active racially diverse young men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 36, 325-329.

Peterson, J. L. & Jones, K. T. (2009). HIV prevention with Black men who have sex with men in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. 99, 976-980.

Peterson, J. L., Rothenberg, R., Kraft, J. M., Beeker, C., & Trotter, R. (2009). Perceived condom norms and HIV risks among social and sexual networks of young African American men who have sex with men. Health Education Research. 24, 119-127.

Rosser, B. R. S., Horvath, K. J., Hatfield, L.A., Peterson, J. L., Jacoby, S. M., Stately, A., & the Positive Connections Team. (2008). Predictors of HIV disclosure to secondary partners and sexual risk behavior among a high-risk sample of HIV- positive MSM: Results from six epicenters in the U. S. AIDS Care. 20, 925-930.

Parrott, D., Peterson, J. L., Vincent, W. & Bakeman, R. (2008). Correlates of anger in response to gay men: Effects of male gender role beliefs, sexual prejudice and masculine gender role stress. Psychology of Men and Masculinity. 9, 167-178.

Parrott, D. J. & Peterson, J. L. (2008). What motivates hate crimes based on sexual orientation?: Mediating effects of anger on antigay aggression. Aggressive Behavior. 34, 306-318.

Crosby, R., Holtgrave, D. R., Stall, R., Peterson, J. L. & Shouse, L. (2007). Differences in HIV risk behaviors and the impact of HIV serostatus among black and white men who have sex with men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 34, 744-748.

Millett, G. A. , Flores, S. A. , Peterson, J. L. & Bakeman, R. (2007). Black-white disparities in HIV infection among men who have sex with men: A meta-analytic examination of HIV risk behaviors. AIDS. 21, 2083-2091.

Bakeman, R., Peterson, J. L. & The Community Intervention Trial for Youth Study Team (2007). Do beliefs about HIV treatments affect peer norms and risky sexual behavior among African American men who have sex with men? International Journal of STDs & AIDS. 18, 105-108.