Gu Li

Gu Li is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at NYU Shanghai, a Global Network Assistant Professor at NYU, a faculty affiliate in the NYU-ECNU Institute for Social Development at NYU Shanghai, and a Shanghai Eastern Young Scholar. Prior to joining NYU Shanghai, Gu was a CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychology and in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

Gu’s Diversity Science Lab uses surveys, online and offline behavioral and psychophysiological experiments, psychological interventions, and longitudinal data analysis to study the development and mental health of LGBTQ+ people in diverse sociocultural contexts. He is interested in (1) designing psychological and social interventions to address pressing issues facing LGBTQ+ people, such as coming out and coping with stigma, prejudice, and victimization, especially in societies and cultures that uphold heteronormative values and fixed gender roles; (2) examining how sexual orientation unfolds with puberty, paying particular attention to sexual fluidity; and (3) exploring the relations between romantic love and sexual desire in young people. Gu's work has appeared in leading academic journals such as Journal of Adolescent Health, Developmental Psychology, and Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Prior to receiving his PhD degree, Gu joined the editorial board of the leading academic journal in sex research, Archives of Sexual Behavior. He also reviews manuscripts for more than 15 international and domestic academic journals including Child Development, Developmental Psychology, and Educational Researcher.

Select Publications

Li, G. (in press). Sexuality development in childhood. In D. P. VanderLaan & W. I. Wong (Eds.), Gender and sexuality development: Contemporary theory and research. Springer.

Li, G., & Davis, J. T. M. (2020). Sexual experimentation in heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian/gay, and questioning adolescents from ages 11 to 15. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 30(2), 423–439. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12535

Li, G., Wu, A., Marshall, S. K., Watson, R. J., Adjei J. K., & Saewyc, E. (2019). Investigating site-level longitudinal effects of population health interventions: Gay-straight alliances and school safety. Social Science & Medicine - Population Health, 7, 100350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100350

Li, G.*, & Wong, I. W.* (2018). Single-sex schooling: Sexual orientation, friendships, and dating. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(4), 1025–1039. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1187-6 (*equal contribution)

Russell, S. T., Pollitt, A. M., Li, G., & Grossman, A. H. (2018). Chosen name use is linked to reduced depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior among transgender youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(4), 503–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.02.003

Li, G., Kung, K. T., & Hines, M. (2017). Childhood gender-typed behavior and adolescent sexual orientation: A longitudinal population-based study. Developmental Psychology, 53(4), 764–777. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000281

Li, G., & Hines, M. (2016). In search of emerging same-sex sexuality: Romantic attractions at age 13 years. Archives of sexual behavior, 45(7), 1839–1849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0726-2

Li, G., Pollitt, A. M., & Russell, S. T. (2016). Depression and sexual orientation during young adulthood: Diversity among sexual minority subgroups and the role of gender nonconformity. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(3), 697–711. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0515-3