Dr. DeFreitas’ overarching research interests lie in understanding issues of ethnicity and social justice focusing primarily on academic achievement and mental health, particularly for urban African Americans and Latinx Americans. She also studies mental health stigma (negative beliefs about psychological disorders and/or treatment), because it is a significant and modifiable barrier to mental health treatment for people of color in particular. She is particularly interested in developing intervention programs to support the development of youth of color.

Academic Achievement of Ethnic Minority Students

Dr. DeFreitas’ primary area of research has been concerning the academic achievement of students of color. This is a line or research that she began with her doctoral dissertation and continues to be of significant interest today.  Research consistently finds an achievement gap between students of color, particularly African American, and European American students.  Much of her study has focused on examining reasons for these differences with the ultimate goal of creating intervention programs designed to decrease this gap by uncovering systematic and individual factors that influence the academic performance of students of color. 

Mental Health/Mental Health Stigma

As a clinical psychologist, Dr. DeFreitas believes that it is essential that she maintain a line of research that is within the clinical field despite her primary interest in education. Therefore, she conducts research that examines mental health, particularly in terms of its relationship to racism and mental health stigma.

For more information, check out Dr. DeFreitas on ResearchGate and Google Scholar.