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psychology
A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
monitor on
15
Emerging
Trends
for 2021
What’s ahead
for psychologists
and the field
Psychologists’
research can
help us bridge
the gap in our
divided nation.
Page 3
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
ANNUAL GUIDE
TRENDS REPORT 2021
This year’s report on the emerging trends in psychology looks at how COVID-19 continues to change
the way psychologists do research, deliver services, and train students and how psychologists’ expertise is
needed now more than ever. Psychologists are helping to improve lives everywhere by leveraging social
media and apps, reaching out to underserved communities, leading efforts to end systemic racism and
police brutality, and working to heal our fractured nation.
3 Healing the Political Divide 22 There’s a New Push to Reach Underserved Communities
7 Social Media Is Increasing Impact 25 Psychology’s Involvement in Policing
8 The Fight Against Racism Must Continue 26 Psychologists Are Moving Up in Academia
30 COVID-19 Has Reshaped APA’s Advocacy
12 Psychology Research Is Front and Center
32 Online Therapy Is Here to Stay
14 Mental Health Apps Are Gaining Traction
36 Advocacy Will Help Secure Expanded Telehealth Coverage
15 Psychologists’ Skills Are in Great Demand
37 Employers Are Increasing Support for Mental Health
17 The National Mental Health Crisis
19 The Great Distance Learning Experiment Continues
C O V E R : I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J I N G J I N G T S O N G / T H E I S P O T
1 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 I
n dozens of interviews, the Monitor asked psychologists
Trends
across the spectrum of specialties what they saw as the
emerging trends of 2021.
There is wide agreement that psychology holds the answers
to many difficult issues we will face, including how to sup-
port employees struggling with burnout and work-life balance,
Report
garner acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines, and educate
students in a variety of formats.
Not all of the trends we found are a celebration of success. The
psychology of racism and how to end it struggles to find a place
in the national conversation. The push to reach underserved
communities is missing a unified call to action. Physical dis-
Psychologists offered solutions tancing is stymieing progress for many psychological scientists.
for many of the problems of 2020. One major question remains: Is psychology doing enough
What will this year hold? to share its knowledge with the world? Share your thoughts on
what’s ahead via email at tspiner@apa.org.
— Trent Spiner, Editor in Chief
MICHAEL AUSTIN/THE ISPOT
2 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
1
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
Healing W
ith votes now tallied and, in some cases, electoral outcomes
having been determined by extremely narrow margins and
marked by legal challenges, there is no doubt that the
the Political
political divide in the United States is a central trait of the country. And
as this divide seems likely to continue to grow, for many of us it feels
uncrossable. Yet psychological science suggests that it is both possible
Divide and imperative for members of our society to find common ground.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON?
How did we become such a To decrease the political divide, we must understand the various factors
divided nation, and how can that work to separate us. One thing we can do now as individuals is pause
and consider our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and identify the psy-
psychologists help us find
chological factors at play. The ability to place our own behaviors and the
common ground?
behaviors of others into a psychological framework can allow us to reflect
BY KI R K WA L D R O FF on what we are experiencing and help us understand and shape our actions.
3 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
“Existential fear appears to be director of the Interdisciplinary where we are. But there is a lot
FURTHER
at the heart of what drives polar- Program in Cognitive Science of work to be done to bring peo-
ization,” says Kirk Schneider, READING at Georgetown University and ple together. Behavioral research
PhD, an adjunct faculty mem- Beyond your author of the book Mutual can provide insights into how to
ber at Saybrook University in bubble: How to Radicalization (APA, 2018), bridge the political divide.
California and Teachers College, connect across says that it’s important to also
Columbia University, in New York. the political divide recognize that certain forms of APPROACHING THE DIVIDE
Israel, T. APA Books,
“One reason we tend to leadership foment and thrive on “Research indicates that the
2020
become fixated and polarized is extreme polarization. divisiveness will continue to
because of individual and collec- The perception gap “If that kind of leadership grow if fear of the other and the
tive trauma that associates with More in Common, wins out,” says Moghaddam, wounds fueling that fear are not
a profound sense of insignifi- 2019 “then you’re going to have fur- addressed,” says Schneider.
cance,” says Schneider. In this ther mutual radicalization and One way to mitigate the
Mutual
state, people may feel that they radicalization: How further polarization and fur- divisiveness is to physically bring
don’t matter and fear “ultimately groups and nations ther irrationality in society,” a people together in safe, highly
being wiped away or extin- drive each other to point demonstrated in his book structured dialogue groups, as
guished,” he adds. extremes through case studies of extrem- Schneider elaborates in his most
Moghaddam, F. APA
And if existential fear is ists on the political left and right, recent book, The Depolarizing of
Books, 2018
indeed a root of polarization, our including radical White nation- America: A Guidebook for Social
sometimes warped view of the Intellectual humility alists and Islamic jihadis. Healing (University Professors
other side can perpetuate it. in public discourse Knowing that the political Press, 2020). Over the past 15
“Some of this divide is a Lynch, M. P., et divide we are experiencing may years, he has developed and par-
al. University
matter of perception,” says be due, in part, to our own feel- ticipated in dialogue groups, and
of Connecticut
Tania Israel, PhD, a professor Humanities Institute, ings of fear and misperceptions the outcomes are promising. He
of counseling psychology at the 2016 about others and seeing that notes that post-workshop sur-
University of California, Santa those thoughts and feelings can veys among 1,800 participants in
Barbara, and author of Beyond be inflamed by political lead- a dialogue organized by Braver
Your Bubble (APA, 2020), a book ers gives us the ability to better Angels found that about 79%
about connecting across the understand how we’ve gotten to of the participants felt that they
political divide. “Most people
are not on the extremes of any
of these issues, but most of what
we hear is from people who are
more on the extremes.”
In other words, people have a
natural tendency to conceptual-
ize everyone on the other side of
the political spectrum as if they
were the same as the leaders and
spokespeople on that side.
“[Leaders] can be very
effective at creating and
strengthening ‘mutual radicaliza-
tion,’” says Fathali Moghaddam,
STEFAN BONESS/VISUM/REDUX
PhD, using a term he coined
to describe the growth of two
opposing sides toward more
and more extreme stances.
Moghaddam, a professor and
4 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
better understood “the experi- the same name, reminds us that the political divide. “People are
ences, feelings, and beliefs of things aren’t as black-and-white married to the notion that they
those on the other side,” and that as they may sometimes seem. can change minds—this almost
they, in turn, felt better under- “No matter a person’s politics, always isn’t true,” says Safer.
stood. About 75% of participants there are gray areas in all sides of Furthermore, she reminds
felt less angry and less estranged the spectrum,” says Safer. us that we don’t always have
toward those on the other side Protesters rallying And she should understand to be drawn into an argument.
following the workshops, and against the travel this as well as anybody—she “Sometimes it’s perfectly fine to
ban from majority-
about 80% felt that they were Muslim countries describes herself as a “die-hard just walk away,” says Safer.
“more able to start constructive (previous page) liberal happily married to a In our personal relation-
conversations” with them (Braver and a passionate stalwart conservative” for 40 ships, Israel stresses to keep in
Trump supporter
Angels, 2018). from Florida years. While writing her book, mind our own sometimes faulty
There are also opportunities (above) embody Safer interviewed 50 politically perceptions of the other side.
the growing divide
RICHARD JOPSON/CAMERA PRESS/REDUX
to reach out to the other side in mixed couples and discovered “Don’t make assumptions about
in our nation.
our existing relationships. several helpful insights. Chiefly, someone based on their vote.
Jeanne Safer, PhD, a psy- she says, we must focus on our Instead, I encourage people to
chotherapist for over 45 years, shared core values. be curious about what their vote
author of I Love You, but I Hate We must also let go of our meant to them. That’s an oppor-
Your Politics (All Points Books, tendencies to want to bring tunity to open up a conversation
2019), and host of a podcast by someone to our own side of to learn more about people that
5 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
are important to us.” conducting mutually respectful conver- But not every American will be
Israel urges that “curiosity and respect sations across the divide becomes much willing to participate in a dialogue
for someone else’s views are the founda- easier under leadership that “identifies group, especially those on the fringes of
tion” for bridging the political divide. superordinate goals in a cooperative way.” the political spectrum. To achieve even
She also cautions that social media greater public impact, psychologists must
limits our ability to have effective con- HOW CAN PSYCHOLOGISTS HELP? look to systemic changes.
versations. On social media, says Israel, Psychologists, whether scientists, cli- Public education, for example, is a
“people feel like they’re having conversa- nicians, educators, or otherwise, have way psychologists may contribute, says
tions with people, but they’re not really a particular expertise they can apply to Moghaddam. “Because mutual radicaliza-
interacting as full human beings.” She bridging the political divide. tion is mostly an irrational and emotional
recommends that we should be hav- One way psychologists can reach collective process, individuals are not
ing political conversations “face-to-face people directly is by working with orga- necessarily aware of what is pushing them
rather than Facebook-to-Facebook.” nizations that facilitate research and to more and more extreme positions,” he
Concentrating on face-to-face, dialogue, such as Braver Angels and the says, and being cognizant of the under-
mutually respectful, and curious con- pinnings of emotions and behavior can go
versations can work even in seemingly a long way toward effecting change on an
hopeless situations. Qasim Rashid, JD, a individual level.
Democratic candidate for the U.S. House Scientists must strive to share their
of Representatives in Virginia, experi- research as broadly as possible. And they
enced this firsthand during his campaign. don’t have to do it alone. Organizations
While hosting a rally in late October like More in Common work to conduct
2020, protesters arrived to disrupt the research and communicate findings to
event. Rather than ignoring them or audiences where they can have the great-
asking them to leave, he invited the other est impact.
side into conversation. Advocacy is essential as well. Other
“Everyone I talked to had different countries that have made strides in
reasons they were supporting my oppo- addressing the political divide relied
sition, but we were able to have honest, heavily on government-led reconciliation
open conversations,” says Rashid. “That’s efforts. The Truth and Reconciliation
given me a lot of hope that people on Commission in South Africa, for exam-
both sides are willing to listen, even in ple, has been fundamental in addressing
this time of extreme polarization.” National Institute for Civil Discourse. disparities and conflict around apartheid.
Moghaddam’s work on the psy- Many of these groups offer support- Were the United States to consider
chological foundations of democracy ive, highly structured programming similar, government-backed efforts, psy-
and dictatorship emphasizes the aimed at helping people learn about and chologists must be part of the call to do
need for conversations like the one at understand one another as opposed to so. And the behavioral expertise of the
Rashid’s rally. He urges going “beyond persuading or imposing one’s views on field would be central to success.
name-calling and trying to understand the other side. “The collective mental health of the
the other side without being disdainful This step alone is psychosocially valu- nation is at risk,” says Moghaddam. “Just
and oppressive against the other side.” able because it promotes discovery and as we should rely on epidemiological
“And this goes for both sides,” he an enlarged capacity for human civility. science to tell us when there is a vaccine
stresses. “It’s a matter of Democrats But it also tends to be a cornerstone for ready for mass use, we have to rely on
and Republicans really looking at one enhancing the likelihood of conflicting psychological science to guide us through
another and recognizing that we have parties to find common ground, says these mental health issues.”
GAYATRI-MALHOTRA/UNSPLASH
superordinate goals that need to be Schneider. “This is because it creates And following an election that, for
achieved—goals that both sides desire conditions for empathy and resonance many, felt like the most polarized of a
but neither side can achieve without the between the parties that likely would not lifetime, this piece seems critical. “This
active cooperation of the other side.” even be given a chance in the absence of is what our profession is all about,” says
Moghaddam also reminds us that such supportive and structured formats.” Moghaddam. n
6 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
2
Social Media Is Increasing Impact
3 ways psychologists are broadening their reach via social platforms
BY Z AR A AB R AMS
1
Psychologists are increasingly sharing work that’s still in progress, especially on Twitter, says
RESEARCHERS Jay Van Bavel, PhD, an associate professor of psychology and neural sciences at New York
ARE RELEASING University. ¶ “That comes with a risk, because many of these studies haven’t been vetted by peer
review,” he says. “On the other hand, there’s a greater urgency to share actionable information, espe-
RESULTS EARLIER
cially during a global pandemic.” ¶ Building on the field’s leadership in the open science movement,
psychologists are now leveraging social media to share data sets and preliminary findings with other
scientists, policymakers, and the general public. Early insights during the pandemic have helped promote
mask-wearing, combat what Van Bavel calls “the avalanche of false information” about the coronavirus,
and address the mental health challenges associated with social isolation.
For advice
on promoting
research on
Twitter, see the
October 2020
Monitor.
PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE REACHING
A DIVERSE AUDIENCE
3
Alfiee Breland-Noble, PhD, founder
and board president of the nonprofit
AAKOMA Project, uses Instagram
CLINICIANS ARE SHARING MORE MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE
2
Live, Facebook Live, and Twitter chats
“When states started to issue lockdown orders, we saw a surge in people to share wellness strategies and spark
seeking mental health resources on social media,” says Sam Chlebowski, conversations about mental health with
vice president of sales and marketing at Brighter Vision, a marketing firm marginalized groups, including LGBTQ
for therapists. ¶ Clinical psychologists, including Janine Kreft, PsyD, of the U.S. youth and families of color. ¶ “For the com-
Department of Veterans Affairs, launched Instagram and TikTok accounts munities that I serve, I find I can spread the
focused on psychoeducation, and those already on social media started posting word faster and further when I use social
advice for navigating quarantine. Kreft says videos are “digestible, fun, and media,” she says. ¶ Breland-Noble also
accessible to so many more people” than long blocks of text. Much of her content hosts scientists, activists, and other experts
involves communication role-play as well as tips for coping with anxiety. ¶ As on her channels, which also include pod-
the pandemic unfolds, clinicians have also been sharing relevant research and casts and YouTube. She features diverse
practical tips for juggling remote work and childcare and helping patients use voices—such as meditation and yoga
telehealth, Chlebowski says. ¶ Through these public interactions, “psychologists teachers of color during a weekly series on
are being more vulnerable and human,” says Kevin Nadal, PhD, a professor of mindfulness. ¶ “We can use social media
MATHISWORKS/GETTY IMAGES
psychology at the City University of New York who has written about both his as a way of ‘giving psychology away’ so
personal experiences and his academic research on racism and homophobia that it isn’t something that only an elite
via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. That has had a humanizing effect that educated group gets, but something that
has helped normalize seeking therapy, he adds. everyone has access to,” says Nadal.
7 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
3
The Fight
Against
Racism Must
Continue
Psychologists are looking
inward to dismantle racism
within the field
BY Z A R A A BR A M S
I
n the midst of America’s racial reckoning, psy- to review psychology, but not for the sake of tearing
chologists are playing a key role in rethinking it down—for the sake of making it more equitable
bias, policing, and other issues. But psychol- and inclusive.”
ogists say the field itself has its own systemic Racial- and ethnic-minority psychologists say
injustices to dismantle. these efforts are promising but that there’s a long
Steven O. Roberts, PhD, an assistant professor of way to go—and the discipline will need to face its
psychology at Stanford University, and colleagues, for shortcomings head-on, including governance and
instance, reviewed nearly five decades of psycholog- policies of organizations such as APA.
ical research and found substantial racial inequality “Psychologists are human beings. We have
in publishing, research he hopes gains more traction implicit biases that operate outside of our aware-
as the field takes a closer look. Others in the field ness,” says Art Blume, PhD, a professor of
are shedding light on unfair practices in the hiring, psychology at Washington State University
training, and retention of faculty and practitioners of and president of APA’s Div. 45 (Society for the
color. In some cases, racial inequities are even being Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and
addressed more broadly at the systemic level. Race). “An honest approach to anti-racism involves
“Many disciplines are looking inward right now, embracing the limits of our objectivity—in our
JAMES STEINBERG/THE ISPOT
and we are no exception,” says Roberts. “The idea is science, practice, and pedagogy.”
8 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021
2021 Trends Report
INCREASING DIVERSITY Research in Child Development among participants,” he says.
IN RESEARCH is revamping its peer-review pro-
Racial disparities in psycho- cess to consider racial diversity ANTI-RACISM AND
logical research, including among participants as a review HEALING FOR ACADEMICS
who receives funding from the criterion. Roberts hopes other While some psychologists are
National Institutes of Health associations and journals will working to reform research and
and others, are starting to make follow suit. publishing, others are applying
headlines. But those findings Even the titles of psycholog- their research and skills toward
aren’t new. In 1983, James Jones, ical research studies show bias education and healing.
PhD, now a professor emeri- that favors White American “The movement for Black
tus of psychological and brain samples. In a study of more than lives became so intense this year
sciences and Africana studies at 5,000 articles, Bobby Cheon, that we couldn’t escape from
the University of Delaware, was FURTHER PhD, an assistant professor it,” says Della Mosley, PhD, an
already documenting psychol- READING in the Division of Psychology assistant professor of counseling
ogy’s lack of focus on people of at Nanyang Technological psychology at the University of
color ( Jones, J. M., “The concept The fallacy of a University in Singapore, and Florida (UF). “We asked our-
raceless Latinidad:
of race in the history of social Action guidelines for
colleagues found that article selves: Is doing research really
psychology,” 1983). centering Blackness titles were much more likely the best use of our abilities as
“Scholars of color have been in Latinx psychology to mention race, ethnicity, and psychologists right now? Is
talking about this for decades, Adames, H. Y., et al. nationality when study samples moving through academia like
but people were not listening,” Journal of Latinx were not White American (Social it’s business as usual even ethical
Psychology,
Roberts says. 2020
Psychological and Personality while this war on Black bodies
Now, Roberts and his team Science, Vol. 11, No. 7, 2020). and spirits is taking place?”
have used a new approach—one Eliminating race- The implication is that studies Together with a doctoral
that explores how the iden- based mental health of White Americans are often student, Pearis Bellamy, Mosley
tities of editors, authors, and disparities: Promoting seen as representing normative launched Academics for Black
equity and culturally
participants are all systemati- responsive care
or standard human behavior, Survival and Wellness, an
cally connected. Across social, across settings while research on other groups anti-racism and racial-healing
developmental, and cognitive Williams, M. T., et al. produces findings that may be movement grounded in Black
psychology, they found that most (Eds.) perceived as less generalizable or feminist principles and Mosley’s
editors and authors are White, Context Press, culturally constrained. theory, Critical Consciousness
2019
and that these editors published Cheon says journals should of Anti-Black Racism (Journal
fewer publications on race and Decolonizing mandate that authors specify of Counseling Psychology, 2020).
racism, as well as publications psychological limitations to generalizing their More than 15,000 academics,
with fewer participants of color science: Introduction findings in the body of a paper, hailing from psychology, med-
(Perspectives on Psychological to the special whether they’re studying White icine, the fine arts, and other
thematic section
Science, 2020). Adams, G., et al.
American college students or disciplines, attended the group’s
“In psychology, almost Journal of Social and people from Singapore. Journals workshops last summer.
everything we know is about Political Psychology, should also highlight or incen- The initiative offers heal-
White people, but Whites don’t 2015 tivize studies that include racially ing for Black academics and
represent the entirety of human and ethnically diverse samples to education for their non-Black
capacity,” says Jones. help encourage psychologists to colleagues. Mosley and her team
Roberts and his colleagues recruit such populations. host a series of wellness activities
recommend that journals “Our current incentive struc- for Black students and faculty,
employ racially diverse editors ture prioritizes research that including self-care, financial
and reviewers and establish task people perceive to have a wider planning, and mentorship. They
forces to regularly review diver- impact or be more generalizable, also deliver extensive anti-racism
sity among authors and samples. which may undermine efforts training to non-Black academics,
In response, the Society for to increase equity and diversity starting with an introduction to
9 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
anti-Black racism, power ana- recruitment and admissions— Monnica Williams, PhD, ABPP,
lytics, and racial trauma. Other and slowly, the makeup of a clinical psychologist and
lessons cover the history of psychology programs is chang- the Canada research chair for
racism in the United States and ing. In 2019, 38% of psychology In 2019, 38% mental health disparities at the
the activist ally role that non- graduate students identified as of psychology University of Ottawa. Though
graduate students
Black academics can play. About people of color, up from 29% in identified as 31% of psychology doctoral
2,000 participants have joined 2009—and the share of tenured people of color, degrees are awarded to racial
“accountability groups,” typically faculty and academic leaders of up from 29% and ethnic minorities, only 18%
in 2009.
10 members or fewer, to extend color is increasing (“The state of of associate professors and 12%
their anti-racism work after the psychology training pipeline of full professors in psychology
formal training ends, Bellamy and workforce,” APA, 2018; departments identify as people of
says. For example, a non-Black “Racial/ethnic minority repre- color (“Psychology faculty sala-
accountability group at UF is sentation among the academic ries,” APA Center for Workforce
helping amplify messages from psychology workforce continues Studies, 2018–2019).
the school’s Black Affairs pro- to increase,” APA, 2020). Departments should create a
VLADIMIR VLADIMIROV/GETTY IMAGES
gram across the student body. But more work is needed formal retention plan and assign
to address the troubling leaky mentors to meet regularly with
CHANGE FROM pipeline that results in dwin- academics of color to discuss
THE TOP DOWN dling numbers of psychologists and address race-related issues,
Universities are also increasingly of color retained at the doctoral Williams says. Having more
prioritizing racial diversity in and tenure-track levels, says than one person of color among
1 0 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
the faculty in a department is should strategically include,
also key for creating a culture of consult, or defer to the science
support and diversity. and scholarship of the respective
She also points to a need to ethnic psychological association.
better prepare clinicians of color Meanwhile, some insti-
for race-related challenges they tutional reforms gained
may face—such as an encounter momentum in 2020. Blume
with a patient who holds racist launched Div. 45’s Warrior’s
views—which has been tougher Path Task Force, charged with
to address because clinical prac- identifying barriers in APA’s
tice tends to be more diffuse and Isiaah Crawford, governance, bylaws, and associ-
individualized than academia. PhD, president of ation rules that favor the status
the University of
“There’s very little specific Puget Sound quo and harm psychologists of
training, literature, or even color.
thought on how to prepare ther- Other institutions in the
apists of color in all professional psychology field are facing
aspects,” Williams says. their own racial reckoning. The
Clinicians of color should National Latinx Psychological
have access to mentors from Association (NLPA) is work-
their own racial or ethnic group, ing to hire a consultant on the
she says, which can aid in navi- Afro-Latinx experience who
gating professional hurdles. “In psychology, almost everything we can help the organization center
At the systemic level, change know is about White people, but Blackness in its work. Changes
remains a challenge—and many will involve improving represen-
say change within APA needs to Whites don’t represent the entirety tation on the NLPA’s leadership
move faster. Williams calls for of human capacity.” council, updating the organi-
stricter accreditation rules that JAMES JONES, PHD, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF zation’s mission statement, and
require psychology programs PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES AND AFRICANA producing a special issue of
to employ tenure-track faculty STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE the Journal of Latinx Psychology
of color and recruit and retain that will feature Afro-Latinx
racial- and ethnic-minority Council of Representatives—a research.
students. Currently, APA- change that would mean bylaws “Social justice is so key to
accredited programs must show need to be amended. That NLPA’s mission that we have
systematic efforts to attract requires a two-thirds consenting to change the way our systems
and retain students and fac- vote of membership, but mem- Protestors across work,” says Andrea Romero,
ulty of color, but programs are bers have rejected the measure in the country PhD, president of NLPA and
marched the
not penalized for falling short three separate votes in the past. streets in support vice provost for faculty affairs at
because of factors that may not It was voted on a fourth time of the Black Lives the University of Arizona. “And
be under their control. in December 2020 with strong Matter movement. we have to set it up in a way that
Other proposed solutions support from APA governance; will sustain anti-racist work in
involve elevating the role of the vote was not decided before the future.”
ethnic-minority psychological Monitor press time. “Issues of systemic racism
associations (EMPAs) within “APA should leverage its have become more salient than
APA. Theopia Jackson, PhD, power and influence to privilege ever before,” says Jones. “I believe
president of the Association of the voices of [EMPAs] that are that because those messages have
JULIAN WAN/UNSPLASH
Black Psychologists (ABPsi), dedicated to promoting cultural become so potent in our minds
says each EMPA should have a ways of being,” Jackson says. For and our society, psychologists
decision-making role at APA, for example, when addressing the will continue pressing to find
instance by adding seats to the needs of any ethnic group, APA ways to address it.” n
1 1 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
4
Psychology Research Is Front and Center
Though the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted research,
it has also highlighted the importance of psychology
BY ST E PH A N I E PA PPAS
P
hysical distancing requirements around the COVID-19 pandemic grants through NIH to focus on
have created undeniable difficulties for many psychology research pandemic-related outcomes. It’s a strat-
egy that can both benefit lab employees
projects that relied on in-person interactions, forcing academics and inform public health.
to be flexible and creative. ¶ In response, many researchers are moving as Post-lockdown, some researchers
much work as possible online. Meanwhile, funding agencies are supporting have been able to resume in-person
activities with precautions and protec-
accommodations on existing grants where possible and will likely be turn- tive equipment. Others remain in limbo.
ing an eye toward research that could help prepare for the next pandemic. Many scientists who work with rodents
had to euthanize animals during lock-
“The pandemic has illustrated the downs because animal care technicians
importance of social and behavioral
research, especially since our mitigation $ could not work. Some of these scientists,
leery of future shutdowns, have delayed
strategies and their impacts are predom- expanding their colonies again. Socially
inately social and behavioral in nature,” distanced in-person research also moves
says William Riley, PhD, the director slowly, says BJ Casey, PhD, a psycholo-
of the Office of Behavioral and Social gist and collaborator on the Adolescent
Sciences Research at the National Brain Cognitive Development™ study
Institutes of Health (NIH). at Yale University. Many fami-
“I believe it also increases the lies are reluctant to come in for
burden on social and behavioral brain imaging during a pandemic,
scientists applying for grant Casey says. “All of us were far too
funding to make a strong case for optimistic that once we began to scan
the public health impact of their
research moving forward.”
$ children again, we would be able to
catch up fairly rapidly,” she says.
The impacts of the pandemic on The sudden shift to virtual activities
research have varied widely, even within has occasionally been positive. At Penn
labs. At the Rice University psychoneu- State University, psychologist Daryl
roimmunology lab of Chris Fagundes, Cameron, PhD, was forced to move
PhD, some graduate students were his “Expanding Empathy” symposia
able to pivot immediately to analyz- online, but he was pleasantly surprised
ing existing data from home. Others avoiding laying off lab staff whose sala- that the change allowed panelists to
LEIGH WELLS/IKON IMAGES
who were in the process of conducting ries are paid by stalled grants, Fagundes participate in a conversation about
in-person experiments will see their says. Fortunately, his lab’s emphasis on empathy and COVID-19. “Getting
degrees delayed by at least six months stress and the immune system made everyone together like that for the panel
to a year. The biggest challenge has been it possible to apply for supplemental webinar wouldn’t have happened in the
1 2 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
offered COVID-19 opportuni-
ties: Its Directorate for Social,
Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences (SBE) had funded
240 RAPID Awards for a total
of $32.4 million as of October
2020. That same month,
NIH announced the Rapid
Acceleration of Diagnostics
Underserved Populations
(RADx-UP) initiative, a $500
million program aimed at
improving COVID-19 test-
ing in vulnerable populations.
Awardees include psychologists
such as Leslie Leve, PhD, of the
University of Oregon, whose
project will implement an out-
reach and testing program for
Oregon’s Latinx community, and
Mary Cwik, PhD, a clinical psy-
chologist at the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public
Health, whose project will test
interventions to expand test-
ing access to American Indian
communities.
While future federal funding
While future federal funding depends on the decisions depends on the decisions of a new
Congress, NSF and NIH officials
of a new Congress, NSF and NIH officials do say do say that the pandemic has
that the pandemic has brought the importance of brought the importance of psy-
psychology research to the forefront. chology research to the forefront.
“If you are doing psychology
research and you have the ability
in-person iteration of events,” fields, however, suggests a gender to tie your research agenda to
Cameron says. gap in submissions, with women the amazing public impact you
Families in Casey’s study Some submitting fewer papers for could have at a moment like this,
have appreciated doing psy- researchers publication (Kibbe, M. R., JAMA this agency would be receptive
have been
chological assessments online able to resume Surgery, Vol. 155, No. 9, 2020). to those proposals,” says Arthur
rather than having to travel to in-person APA is working to analyze data Lupia, PhD, the head of SBE.
her lab. Other researchers report activities with on submissions by gender to its “We’re living in a society that
precautions
more time to prepare papers for and protocols journals, but the data were not desperately needs that kind of
publication, a freedom reflected in place. available at press time. insight.” n
in the 25% increase in submis- Funding agencies have made
sions to APA journals between efforts to support researchers
UCHAR/GETTY IMAGES
● Funding resources For information
January and September 2020 during the pandemic upheaval. on federal funding opportunities and
conducting research during COVID-19,
compared with January to Like NIH, the National Science visit APA’s website at www.apa.org/
September 2019. Data in some Foundation (NSF) has also topics/covid-19/science-research.
1 3 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
5
Mental Health Apps Are Gaining Traction
Self-help apps are leading more people to therapy
rather than replacing it, psychologists say
BY R E B E C CA A . C LAY
T
he COVID-19 pandemic could accelerate the development of men- says David C. Mohr, PhD, who directs
tal health apps. That’s good news for psychology because these types the Center for Behavioral Intervention
Technologies at the Feinberg School
of apps can lead users to therapy and enhance treatment, say psy- of Medicine at Northwestern
chologists. ¶ Mental health–related self-help apps now number somewhere University. (While the Food and Drug
between 10,000 and 20,000, estimates Stephen Schueller, PhD, execu- Administration regulates the small num-
ber of so-called “digital therapeutics”
tive director of One Mind PsyberGuide, a nonprofit organization offering that aim to provide actual treatment,
accurate, unbiased information about such apps. The number can be hard it doesn’t regulate self-help apps in the
wellness space.) Ineffective apps could
to track as new apps are constantly being turn people off the idea of seeking
developed and older ones are taken off therapy or disrupt a treatment plan a
the market, says Schueller. “A lot of the psychologist has already laid out, says
growth is in products that are developed Mohr. “And a few apps can be just plain
by individuals or small teams without dangerous,” adds Mohr, citing a study
any real intention or plan for long-term that found the content of some apps for
support,” he says. The number of apps bipolar disorder inconsistent with estab-
with robust business plans and teams to lished treatment practice (Nicholas, J., et
back them—like Calm and Happify, or al., Journal of Medical Internet Research,
what Schueller calls “upper-tier prod- 2015).
ucts”—is increasing more slowly. To ensure that self-help apps are
Apps could spur people’s interest a boon to psychologists and their
in working with a psychologist, says people are turning to mindfulness apps patients going forward, clinicians need
Schueller. “Apps might be a gateway to as a replacement for therapy,” says to get more involved, says Wright. “It’s
subsequent care,” he says. “Someone might Wright. Once people are in therapy, apps important that psychologists serve as
download a CBT app, realize it’s helpful, can help psychologists enhance patients’ subject matter experts and consultants
and then find a therapist to help more.” progress. “A lot of work that happens to companies developing apps,” she says.
And while some psychologists may in therapy actually happens outside the “Psychologists also need to be leaders in
worry that apps could replace ther- therapy office,” says Wright. “Apps can the regulatory field as well, since it’s a
apy, that’s not happening, says C. facilitate that work.” Apps can also help murky space right now.”
Vaile Wright, PhD, senior director for patients address co-occurring problems Marlene M. Maheu, PhD, executive
health care innovation at APA, cit- like insomnia or serve as booster sessions director of the Telebehavioral Health
CALVIN DEXTER/GETTY IMAGES
ing a study that found that just two once therapy has ended. Institute, agrees. “We’re either going to
apps—Headspace and Calm—account There are some potential downsides, be part of the technological revolution—
for 90% of active users (Wasil, A. R., however. “Anyone can put an app up and help create it and direct it with
et al., Journal of Consulting and Clinical on the various app stores, so a lot of proper values—or we’re going to be left
Psychology, 2020). “I really don’t think these are probably not that helpful,” behind,” she says. n
1 4 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
6
Psychologists’ Skills
Are in Great Demand
The flexibility a psychology education provides is
critical in these times of uncertainty
BY ST E P H A N I E PAP PAS AN D K AR EN STAM M , P hD
T
he coronavirus pandemic has destabilized the economy and injected uncertainty into educa-
tional and career plans for many people. But the data suggest that the versatility and human
skills bestowed by a psychology education are a boon in the face of instability: Psychology doc-
torate holders work in 61 different occupational categories. A PhD doctorate in psychology also teaches
communication, management, and leadership, the top skills appearing in job ads between March and July
2020. Alongside problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking, these “resilient skills” appeared in 84%
of employment ads in the early phases of the pandemic, according to a recent report from the labor analytics
firm Emsi. The versality is also geographical, with data indicating a great need for psychologists across the
United States, especially in the Mountain West and Midwest. n
Human Skills Are a Boon for Job Seekers
Despite the economic losses created by COVID-19, certain skills have remained in high
demand. These skills, dubbed “resilient” by Emsi, are predominately human skills that are 84%
part and parcel of psychology education. Emsi analyzed requests for these skills in new job
postings during the pandemic.1
Job postings with at
SKILL NUMBER OF APPEARANCES IN POSTINGS, MARCH 2020–JULY 2020 least one of these
six human skills
Communication 35%
Management 19%
Leadership 13% 30%
Problem-solving 11%
INFOGRAPHICS: MARY BETH RAMSEY
Teamwork 4% Postings with two
or more of these six
Critical thinking 2% human skills
SOURCES: 1 EMSI, RESILIENT SKILLS REPORT, 2020. 22018 NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE ANALYSIS OF HEALTHCARE DATA ENHANCED STATE LICENSURE DATA. 3SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, 2016–18 NATIONAL SURVEY OF DRUG USE AND HEALTH. 4NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 2017 NATIONAL SURVEY OF COLLEGE GRADUATES, AS REPORTED BY APA AT
WWW.APA.ORG/WORKFORCE/DATA-TOOLS/CAREERS-PSYCHOLOGY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE THE APA CENTER FOR WORKFORCE STUDIES DATA TOOLS AT WWW.APA.ORG/WORKFORCE/DATA-TOOLS/INDEX.
56 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● JA N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y1 5
2 0 2M
1 O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021MAP PI N G THE U.S.
Where Psychologists Are Needed Most Top 10 Occupational
Categories for
Psychology Doctorates
Half of psychology doctorate
holders work in the top two occu-
pational categories: psychologist
or psychology professor.
The other half work in 59 other
occupational categories.4
1. PSYCHOLOGISTS
2. PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSORS
3. COUNSELORS
Statistically 4. TOP-LEVEL MANAGERS &
Lower, p2021 Trends Report
PAUL MERKI/UNSPLASH
7
The National Mental Health Crisis
Psychologists must act now to help people who need it and
prevent a much more widespread crisis
A
PA’s 2020 Stress in America survey released in October revealed that Americans have been profoundly
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to cope with the disruptions on top of other
factors creating stress, including political conflict, the impact of racism, and an economic downturn.
The combination of these compounding stressors and the persistent drumbeat of an ongoing public health
emergency has prompted APA to sound the alarm on a growing mental health crisis that could yield serious
health and social consequences for years to come. • READ THE FULL REPORT AND LEARN WAYS TO HELP AT WWW.STRESSINAMERICA.ORG.
1 7 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
Behind this devastating loss “
of life is immense stress and
trauma for friends and families
of those who died; for those
infected; for those who face
long recoveries; and for all
Americans whose lives have
been thrown into chaos in
countless ways, including
job loss, financial distress,
and uncertain futures for
themselves and their nation.
”
STRESS IN AMERICA 2020
DRAGANA991/GETTY IMAGES
HOW ARE
AMERICANS
FEELING?
Nearly 78% of adults say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their life. 63% of adults say the economy is
a significant source of stress, which is nearing levels reported during the 2008 recession (69%). 59% of adults, regardless of race,
report that police violence toward minorities is a significant source of stress in their lives. 33% cite discrimination as a significant
source of stress in their lives. Gen Z adults ages 18–23 are the most likely age group to report experiencing common symptoms
of depression, with 75% noting that in the prior 2 weeks they felt so tired that they sat around and did nothing. 51% of Gen Z
teens ages 13–17 say the pandemic has made planning for their future feel impossible. Despite these numerous stressors, 71% of
Americans say they feel hopeful about their future. n.
1 8 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
8
A student works
outside the
closed library on
the University of
North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
campus on Aug.
18, 2020.
S
The Great ome of the changes in education forced
Distance
by the COVID-19 pandemic may lead
to lasting improvements, according to
Learning
educational psychologists and experts
in the psychology training community. ¶ In K–12
education, many teachers are necessarily encouraging
Experiment more self-management and independence in young
learners—efforts that will serve them well after
Continues in-person school resumes. And 2020 has brought an
increasing awareness of the importance of social and
emotional learning (SEL)—a realization that propo-
Educators at all levels are
nents say is overdue, as school-based SEL programs
grappling with what the changes
improve social and emotional skills, attitudes, behav-
mean now, and for the future
ior, and academic performance.
BY K I R ST E N W E I R
1 9 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
While schools moved online learning, plenty of hurdles that work online—something
last spring with hastily planned remain. Many of the same few educators were trained to
lessons, many districts spent the challenges that existed in the do. “There’s a lot of energy being
summer working on innovating spring haven’t been resolved. put into online learning, but it’s
more comprehensive distance From left, “Access to internet and tech- still incredibly hard,” Rimm-
learning programs. Yessenia Tinno, nology is still a big barrier,” she Kaufman says.
15, Jenikka Foster,
“There’s been a lot of energy 16, and Alexia says. “And even with technol-
put into thinking about kids’ Tinno, 17, do ogy in place, many students just SIMULATING THE
social and emotional needs and their schoolwork don’t show up.” COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
at home. They
ways to create a sense of com- chose remote Distance learning laid bare Though undergraduate and grad-
munity—to keep them engaged learning instead the economic and educational uate students may be more adept
and support them through the of attending disparities between students, and at engaging with online learning
classes in person
stress and anxiety of this time,” at Pocatello High many still lack the technology tools, college students face many
says Sara Rimm-Kaufman, PhD, School near their to connect to online learning of the same challenges as K–12
an educational psychologist at home on the Fort despite efforts by many school students, says Viji Sathy, PhD,
Hall Reservation
the Center for Advanced Study in Idaho. districts to provide all students a professor of psychology at the
of Teaching and Learning at the with laptops and Wi-Fi. University of North Carolina
University of Virginia. Meanwhile, teachers are often at Chapel Hill. They also face
But while some things overwhelmed by learning new disparities in access to technol-
are working well in distance technologies and creating lessons ogy and struggle to find social
2 0 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
Virtual education can often be just as effective
as in-person learning, thanks to new digital learning platforms,
increasing student ease with technology,
and a large and growing research literature
around online learning.
connection amid restrictions on This experience may also have technology, and a large and
many campuses or in remote raised the profile of online learn- growing research literature
learning environments. “It’s a lot ing, says Francine Conway, PhD, around online learning. Yet there
harder to create community in College and dean of the Graduate School are challenges, especially in the
this format, when people feel so graduate students of Applied and Professional area of hands-on research and
attending classes
isolated,” Sathy says. from home have Psychology at Rutgers University disruptions to internships and
Yet there have been silver missed out on and past president of the practicum training. And some
linings in the move to online social connections National Council of Schools face-to-face interaction is neces-
and one-on-one
learning, says Sathy. More interactions with and Programs of Professional sary to achieve the competencies
professors are now engaging in faculty. Psychology. “There’s a stigma required to be a psychologist.
pedagogical discussions instead regarding online learning, espe- Nevertheless, this year of online
of assuming they can simply cially in doctoral training. It’s learning has underscored that
translate in-person lessons to often perceived as lower quality, there are benefits to going
an online platform, she says. and there’s the perception that remote, at least in part.
“There’s a new willingness advisers can’t adequately train “While there is a need to
to admit they need guidance and supervise students using further support faculty around
and more efforts to access the online platforms,” Conway says. delivering online content, there
resources that can help them.” “That perception hasn’t kept are best practices out there. It
Many of the efforts to opti- pace with the reality.” does a disservice to faculty to
mize instruction will outlast the Virtual education can often assume they won’t adapt to this
SANTIAGA/GETTY IMAGES
pandemic, Sathy adds. “Once be just as effective as in-person new environment,” Conway says.
they develop those resources, learning, she says, thanks to “Online learning is here whether
they can take them back to the new digital learning platforms, we like it or not, and it’s time our
face-to-face environment.” increasing student ease with profession embraces it.” n
2 1 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
9
Antonio Wiggins cuts the hair of James Bennett inside his barbershop in Jackson, Mississippi, on Sept. 26, 2020. Wiggins often begins
by talking about sports, but the conversations tend to turn quickly to his clients’ well-being and other weighty subjects.
T
he twin pandemics of COVID-19 and con-
There’s a New tinued racial injustice have shone a spotlight
on health disparities and underscored the
Push to Reach
need for more research and outreach to better
support diverse and underserved communities. ¶ To be
sure, many psychologists have been doing this work for
Underserved years. But more psychologists are coming to understand
how issues of diversity and health disparities are rele-
Communities vant to their work, and more journals are implementing
procedures to make sure research addresses socioeco-
nomic factors, says Cindy Juntunen, PhD, chair of APA’s
Psychology must harness the growing Task Force on Developing Guidelines for Psychological
awareness of barriers to care and Practice With Low-Income and Economically
advance real change
CHANDAN KHANNA/GETTY IMAGES
Marginalized Clients. A growing public dialogue about
racial justice—and the recognition that COVID-19 dis-
BY K I R ST E N W E I R
proportionately impacts underserved communities—is
2 2 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
forcing psychologists to rethink
how they reach out and interact “Even if we have a clinic on every corner, people
with clients.
“For anyone who cares about Telehealth is
won’t come if they don’t have stable housing
these issues, progress has often expanding access or food security. If we really want to improve
to mental health
felt like an uphill battle. But I see care for people in mental health, we have to change the systems.”
people beginning to look at these rural areas, who SHERRY MOLOCK, PhD, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
issues in new ways,” Juntunen may live hundreds
of miles from the
says. “COVID-19 has in some nearest provider.
ways increased the likelihood of away. Increasingly, providers are all the challenges facing
reaching underserved commu- reaching these clients through underserved communities.
nities because practitioners are telehealth—an option that Marginalized communities often
realizing they need different ways accelerated suddenly in the wake face hardships such as poverty
to reach their clients.” of the COVID-19 pandemic. and a history of racial trauma,
Some rural communities are In one recent example, two which can increase the risk of
already beginning to benefit managed-care organizations in mental health problems and sub-
from that realization. Rural areas rural North Carolina partnered stance use. Seeking therapy often
RYAN MCGINNIS/ALAMY
have higher-than-average rates to donate smartphones to 1,000 means traveling outside one’s
of poverty and substance use, yet low-income patients to access own community and accepting
the nearest mental health profes- mental health services. services from providers—usually
sional may be hundreds of miles Yet telehealth can’t solve White—who don’t tend to share
2 3 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 20212021 Trends Report
one’s lived experiences. Those
providers may not understand
the nuances of what people in
underserved communities need
and how best to provide that
care, says clinical psychologist
Howard Stevenson, PhD, an
expert on racial trauma at the
University of Pennsylvania.
“Psychology training doesn’t
necessarily prepare people to be
clued in to these cultural sensi-
tivities,” he says.
Despite such challenges, a
variety of psychology-based
efforts are aiming to break
down the barriers. The Loveland Efforts to reach
Therapy Fund, for instance, was communities of
color have seen
launched in 2018 with enthusi- ebbs and flows in
astic crowdfunding support and both interest and
provides financial assistance to funding over the
years.
Black women and girls seek-
ing therapy nationwide. While
individual treatment is valuable,
reaching underserved communi-
ties often means rethinking the
traditional model of one-on-one
treatment, says Stevenson, who
has created community-based
interventions. With colleagues a psychologist at The George and conducting more research
Loretta Jemmott, PhD, and Washington University who to adapt therapeutic models to
John Jemmott, PhD, he created studies mental health and suicide be culturally relevant.
a program to train Black barbers prevention in Black youth and While the events of 2020
in high-risk neighborhoods in young adults. Molock argues have focused attention on these
violence reduction and HIV-risk that to advance real change, disparities in need and access
reduction. The barbers educate mental health professionals need to mental health care, people
clients organically when they bigger-picture thinking. “Even if in underserved groups have
come in for haircuts. Many other we have a clinic on every corner, been painfully aware of these
successful initiatives also focus on people won’t come if they don’t gaps their entire lives. Efforts
reaching people where they are. have stable housing or food to reach those groups, espe-
The Sources of Strength youth security,” she says. “If we really cially communities of color,
suicide prevention program, for want to improve mental health, have often seen ebbs and flows
example, teaches high school we have to change the systems.” in both interest and funding.
students to be peer leaders in In addition to social and eco- In that sense, Molock says, she
changing the norms around seek- nomic investments, that includes hopes this most recent public
RICH LEGG/GETTY IMAGES
ing help for mental health. putting forth a stronger effort to awakening is more than just a
But funding for such commu- train a more diverse psychology trend. “This isn’t a fad,” she says.
nity efforts is often hard to come workforce, spending more time “This has to be something we’re
by, says Sherry Molock, PhD, on these topics in the classroom, committed to doing.” n
2 4 M O N I TO R O N P S YC H O LO G Y ● 2021You can also read
