Melissa M. Ertl

she/her

[email protected]

Psychology

N218 Elliott Hall

75 East River Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Collegiate Affiliation

Assistant Professor,

Psychology

Links

Google Scholar Profile

STRIPE Lab Website

Driven to Discover feature of my work

A podcast interview of my collaborative international research on mental health

My Minnesota Public Radio feature on mental health in established adulthood

Dr. Ertl's work focuses on preventing health risk behaviors, promoting health equity, and addressing health disparities in marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved populations. Grounded in an intersectional, social justice lens, she prioritizes research using community-based methods, with an emphasis on promoting health and well-being among women, immigrants, young adults, LGBTQ+ populations, and people with substance use disorders. Her most recent projects focus on understanding the nuanced influences of gender and health to delineate gendered risk and protective factors for mental health, substance use, and sexual health in diverse communities of U.S. women. Her latest study is a mixed methods intervention development grant focused on addressing sexual well-being in women taking antidepressants, who disproportionately experience problems with desire and orgasm.

Educational Background & Specialties

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Educational Background

Postdoctoral Fellowship: HIV and Sexuality Social Science Research, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, 2023
PhD: Counseling Psychology, Certificate in Health Disparities in Public Health, University at Albany-State University of New York, 2021
BA: Spanish, Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015

Specialties

counseling psychology
health disparities
prevention and health promotion
substance misuse
sexual health

Publications

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Publications

Ertl, M. M., Carrera, S., Rea-Sandin, G., Valle, S., & Marcoulides, K. M. (In press). Measurement variance in gender role beliefs across sexual orientation in Latina women. The Counseling Psychologist.
Ertl, M. M., & Ahn, L. H. (2026). Development and initial validation of the measure of internalized misogyny with cisgender US women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 73(3), 384-397. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000829
Ertl, M. M., Woodhouse, C., Meche, D., Forrest, D. W., Fegley, J. P., Paschen-Wolff, M., Laschober, T. C., Hatch, M., Nelson, C. M., Wright, L., & Tross, S. (2025). Using structural equation modeling to examine barriers and facilitators of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) willingness and length of use in MSM who use substances in eight Southern U.S. cities. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 39(6), 245-256. https://doi.org/10.1089/apc.2025.0036
Ertl, M. M., & Fresquez, C. L. (2024). Do traditional gender role beliefs promote abstinence and sexual health behaviors among Latina college students? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53(3), 1141-1151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02760-x
Tross, S., Spector, A. Y., Ertl, M. M., Berg, H., Turrigiano, E., & Hoffman, S. (2023). A qualitative study of barriers and facilitators of PrEP uptake among women in substance use treatment and syringe service programs. AIDS and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03853-9
Ertl, M. M., Sawyer, J. S., & Martin, J. L., & Brenner, R. E. (2022). The role of objectification in college women’s substance misuse and sexual risk. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 3(1), 68-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770211054359
Ertl, M. M., Martin, J. L., Dillon, F. R., & Sheu, H.-B. (2022). Associations between ethnic identity commitment, discrimination, and sexism with sexual risk among Latina college students. Journal of Latinx Psychology,10(3), 207-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000206
Longoni Di Giusto, M., Ertl, M. M., Ramos-Usuga, D., Carballea, D., Degano, M., Perrin, P. B., & Arango-Lasprilla, J. C. (2023). Sexual health and sexual quality of life among individuals with spinal cord injury in Latin America. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, 29(1): 54-69. https://doi.org/10.46292/sci21-00080
Ertl, M. M., Trapp, S. K., Alzueta, E., Baker, F., Perrin, P., Caffarra, S., Yuksel, D., Ramos, D., & Arango-Lasprilla, J. C. (2022). Trauma-related distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in 59 countries. The Counseling Psychologist, 50(3), 306-334. https://doi.org/10.1177/00110000211068112
Kimber, J. M., Ertl, M. M., Egli, M. R., & Brenner, R. E. (2022). Psychotherapies for clients with physical health conditions: A scoping review of demographic reporting. Psychotherapy, 59(2), 209-222. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000397
Ertl, M. M., Pazienza, R., Cannon, M., Cabrera Tineo, Y. A., Fresquez, C. L., McDonough, A. K., Bozek, D. M., Ozmat, E. E., Ladouceur, G. M., Planz, E. K., & Martin, J. L. (2022). Associations between impulsivity and exercise addiction, disordered eating, and alcohol use behaviors: A latent profile analysis. Substance Use & Misuse, 57(6), 886-896. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2022.2052095
Ertl, M. M., Agiliga, A. U., Martin, C. M., Taylor, E. J., Kirkinis, K., Friedlander, M. L., Kimber, J. M., McNamara, M. L., Pazienza, R. L., Cabrera Tineo, Y. A., & Eklund, A. (2020). “Hands-on” learning in a health service psychology doctoral program through social justice consultation. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 15(3), 230-241. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000311
Martin, J. L., Cimini, M. D., Longo, L. M., Sawyer, J. S., & Ertl, M. M. (2020). Equipping mental health professionals to meet the needs of substance-using clients: Evaluation of an SBIRT training program. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 14(1), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000258
Ertl, M. M., Rentería, R., Dillon, F. R., Babino, R., De La Rosa, M., & Brenner, R. E. (2020). Longitudinal associations between marianismo beliefs and acculturative stress among Latina immigrants during initial years in the United States. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(6), 665-677. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000361
Ertl, M. M., Mann-Saumier, M., Martin, R. A., Graves, D. F., & Altarriba, J. (2019). The impossibility of client-therapist “match”: Implications and future directions for multicultural competency. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 41(4), 312-326. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.41.4.03
Ertl, M. M., Dillon, F. R., Martin, J. L., & De La Rosa, M. (2018). Alcohol use exacerbates acculturative stress among recently immigrated, young adult Latinas. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 20(3), 594-602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0586-4
Ertl, M. M., Dillon, F. R., Cabrera Tineo, Y. A., Verile, M., Jurkowski, J. M., & De La Rosa, M. (2018). Sexual risk during initial months in US among Latina young adults. AIDS Care – Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, 30(3), 353-360. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2017.1368442
Ertl, M. M., Longo, L. M., Groth, G., Berghuis, K. J., Prout, J., Hetz, M., & Martin, J. L. (2018). Running on empty: High self-esteem as a risk factor for exercise addiction. Addiction Research & Theory, 26(3), 205-211. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2017.1347257

Activities

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Activities

Professional

Editorial Board Member, The Counseling Psychologist, 2024
Scientific Program Co-Chair, National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, 2023
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2023
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 2023

Awards

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Awards

K12 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Award, 2026
Fritz & Linn Kuder Early Career Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Counseling Psychology, American Psychological Association Division 17, 2025
Dorothy Booz Black Award for Outstanding Contributions in Counseling Health Psychology, American Psychological Association Division 17, 2024
Early Career Award for Excellence in Counseling Health Psychology Research, American Psychological Association Division 17 Health Psychology Section, 2023
Pace University LGBTQA+ Employee Advocate of the Year, 2021
Stephen C. Rose Award for Research on Latinx Youth, The Steve Fund and the National Latinx Psychological Association, 2020
Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year, 2020
Barbara A. Kirk Award for Outstanding Grad Student Research, American Psychological Association Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology, 2020
State University of New York System Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, 2019
Prevention Section Research Award, American Psychological Association Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology, 2019
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism R13 Early Stage Investigator Award, 2019

Courses

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