Kristen Gustafson received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Bowling Green State University in 2025, with specializations in Family and Social Psychology. Her research focuses on the influence of gender and sexual identity on emotional support, family formation, and experiences of inequality among sexual and gender minoritized populations. Using dyadic data and nationally representative surveys, she analyzes the relationship between identity composition, social context, and disparities in relationship quality and psychological well-being. Her work has been published in Journal of Marriage and Family, American Journal of Public Health, Social Science Research, Socius, and LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal, and other peer-reviewed journals. Her teaching interests include family, gender and sexuality, mental health, health disparities, and research methods.
