Emily F Rothman, ScD
Professor
Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
Occupational Therapy

ScD, Harvard School of Public Health
MS, Harvard School of Public Health
BA, Wesleyan University



Dr. Emily F. Rothman is professor and chair of the Occupational Therapy Department, with a secondary appointment at the BU School of Public Health where she has been a faculty member since 2004. Dr. Rothman is a social epidemiologist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Wesleyan University and her doctorate in science from Harvard School of Public Health (’04). She began her professional career working in a domestic violence shelter, at a counseling program for men who perpetrated domestic violence, and volunteering for a sexual assault hotline in Vermont. Her public health research has focused on understanding the etiology of, and preventing, intimate partner and sexual violence, and has also involved research on firearm violence, human trafficking, and pornography. A through-line on these projects has been a focus on promoting health equity for marginalized populations, and in particular sexual and gender minority people, and Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC). In 2016, Dr. Rothman began a new line of research on autism, which takes a neurodiversity perspective and is conducted in partnership with autistic people. She has brought her scholarly interests together by developing interventions to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence for neurodiverse people. She has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers (as of May 2023). Her research has been published in journals including New England Journal of Medicine, Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, JAMA Pediatrics, Journal of Adolescent Health, Prevention Science, Autism, OTJR, and AJOT.

Dr. Rothman has been a federally-funded principal investigator (PI) since 2009. She has been awarded more than $8M in external research funds, with grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Justice (NIJ), US Department of Defense (DoD), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Patient Centered Outcomes Institute (PCORI), Organization for Autism Research (OAR), and others. Her TED talk “How porn changes the way teens think about sex” has garnered more than 3.2 million views, and her research on pornography was a focus of a 2018 article in The New York Times Magazine. She is an appointed member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council on Sexual and Domestic Violence, and served on the Massachusetts Task Force on Sexual Assault Climate Surveys. She is the author of the book “Pornography and Public Health” (Oxford University Press, 2021). She is frequently consulted by media. She has appeared on the “Today” show on NBC, and her research has been featured on NPR and by The New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Teen Vogue, and other media outlets.

Affiliation: BU CRC Faculty/Staff

Chair
Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
Occupational Therapy


Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Emergency Medicine


Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Pediatrics
General Pediatrics

Professor
Boston University School of Public Health
Community Health Sciences




Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum: Feasibility and Target Engagement
02/01/2023 - 01/31/2026 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health
5R34MH131919-02

Online education for high school students to reduce HIV and related sexual behavior risk
05/17/2021 - 04/30/2025 (Co-Investigator)
PI: Kimberly M. Nelson, PhD, MPH
NIH/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
5R21HD105482-02

Understanding the Physical and Psychological Health and Wellness Needs of Minor Sex Trafficking Victims
01/01/2022 - 12/31/2024 (Subcontract PI)
Northeastern University Dept of Justice NIJ


Underage alcohol use in youth with autism spectrum disorder
05/15/2020 - 04/30/2024 (PI)
NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
5R21AA027844-02

An e-learning training for college sexual assault response service providers to meet the needs of autistic students
02/01/2022 - 12/31/2023 (PI)
Organization for Autism Research, Inc.


Strength at Home Couples Program: Examining Sexual Aggression
09/15/2020 - 09/14/2023 (Multi-PI)
PI: Emily F Rothman, ScD
Department of Defense/Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity


Building Capacity for CER/PCOR Participation among BIPOC Adults on the Autism Spectrum
09/01/2021 - 08/31/2023 (Subcontract PI)
Boston Medical Center Corporation Patient-Cnt.Out. Res


Development and feasibility of an online, group intervention for transition-age youth with ASD to promote healthy relationships: Career enhancement for an adolescent health intervention researcher
05/01/2020 - 12/31/2022 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health
5K18MH122791-02

Preventing and Responding to Cyberstalking: Nationally Representative Data for Policy and Interventions
11/01/2019 - 10/31/2022 (Subcontract PI)
NORC at the University of Chicago Violence A Women DOJ


Recovering in Safety: Addressing the intersectional impact of rural poverty, opioid misuse, and partner violence victimization on marginalized women and children in Vermont
09/15/2018 - 12/31/2021 (PI)
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation


Showing 10 of 32 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2024 Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum: Feasibility and Target Engagement 5R34MH131919-02
2023 Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum: Feasibility and Target Engagement 1R34MH131919-01
2022 Online education for high school students to reduce HIV and related sexual behavior risk 5R21HD105482-02
2021 Online education for high school students to reduce HIV and related sexual behavior risk 1R21HD105482-01
2021 Underage alcohol use in youth with autism spectrum disorder 5R21AA027844-02
2021 Alcohol use by underage autistic youth 3R21AA027844-01A1S1
2021 Development and feasibility of an online, group intervention for transition-age youth with ASD to promote healthy relationships: Career enhancement for an adolescent health intervention researcher 5K18MH122791-02
2020 Underage alcohol use in youth with autism spectrum disorder 1R21AA027844-01A1
2020 Development and feasibility of an online, group intervention for transition-age youth with ASD to promote healthy relationships: Career enhancement for an adolescent health intervention researcher 1K18MH122791-01
2013 Underage alcohol use and dating abuse perpetration 5K01AA017630-05 20
Showing 10 of 16 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Mark TE, Bair-Merritt MH, Chung SE, Flessa SJ, Trent M, Rothman EF, Matson PA. Discordant and Concordant Substance Use and Daily Partner Violence in Adolescent and Young Adult Relationships With Baseline Dating Violence. J Adolesc Health. 2024 Jul; 75(1):69-75.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38739051
     
  2. Sheridan-Johnson J, Mumford E, Maitra P, Rothman EF. Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Cyberabuse, Sexual Aggression, and Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. Young Adults. J Interpers Violence. 2024 Aug; 39(15-16):3483-3507. PMID: 38379202
     
  3. Taft CT, Rothman EF, Gallagher MW, Hamilton EG, Garza A, Creech SK. Examining strength at home couples to prevent intimate partner violence on a military installation: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2024 Apr; 92(4):202-212.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38206858
     
  4. Mumford EA, Maitra P, Rothman EF, Sheridan-Johnson J. The Victim-Offender Overlap in Technology-Facilitated Abuse: Nationally Representative Findings Among U.S. Young Adults. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2023 Dec; 26(12):904-912. PMID: 38032960
     
  5. Holmes LG, Xuan Z, Quinn E, Caplan R, Sanchez A, Wharmby P, Holingue C, Levy S, Rothman EF. Alcohol Use Patterns Among Underage Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Sep 26.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37751088; PMCID: PMC11253551; DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06086-4;
     
  6. Adhia A, Richey AE, McMahon S, Temple JR, Rothman EF. Societal Factors and Teen Dating Violence: a Scoping Review. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2024 Jun; 11(2):96-109. PMID: 39045453; PMCID: PMC11262579; DOI: 10.1007/s40471-023-00330-2;
     
  7. Kaldenberg J, Smallfield S, Planche E, Heller S, Rothman E. Mapping the Gap: Understanding the Need for Occupational Therapy Among Older Adults With Visual Impairment. Am J Occup Ther. 2023 Sep 01; 77(5). PMID: 37774100
     
  8. White SW, Siegle GJ, Kana R, Rothman EF. Correction to: Pathways to Psychopathology Among Autistic Adults. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2023 Sep; 25(9):437-438. PMID: 37665508
     
  9. White SW, Siegle GJ, Kana R, Rothman EF. Pathways to Psychopathology Among Autistic Adults. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2023 Aug; 25(8):315-325. PMID: 37378790; PMCID: PMC11078254; DOI: 10.1007/s11920-023-01429-5;
     
  10. Rothman EF, Jimenez C. Introduction to the Special Issue on Substance Use and Occupational Therapy. Subst Abuse. 2023; 17:11782218231160016. PMID: 36923067; PMCID: PMC10009032; DOI: 10.1177/11782218231160016;
     
Showing 10 of 161 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 158 publications over 21 distinct years, with a maximum of 20 publications in 2017

YearPublications
20042
20051
20062
20077
20085
20095
20103
20115
20127
20132
20143
201510
201614
201720
201818
201912
202014
20217
202210
20238
20243


The Same Old Sex Talk Isn’t Enough

The Atlantic 5/31/2024

Is your child experiencing adolescent relationship abuse? Here are red flags parents should watch for.

Aol 10/27/2023

Occupational Therapists Work with Abortion Patients. State Bans Could Handcuff the Way They Practice

BU Today 8/7/2023

Massachusetts is updating its sex education guidelines for the first time in 24 years

The Conversation 7/24/2023

Helping Autistic Adults Have Healthy Relationships

BU Today 7/18/2023

Disturbing data on how doctors treat people with disabilities

The Boston Globe 10/11/2022

The gun deal could close the ‘boyfriend loophole.’ Here’s what it is.

The Washington Post 6/14/2022

Helping Autistic Survivors of Sexual Assault

BU Today 4/27/2022

Republicans Have Sex Ed All Wrong

The Atlantic 4/14/2022

The Secret Service’s New Report on Incels Explains Where We Keep Going Wrong

Mel Magazine 3/23/2022

'Secrets of Playboy' raises the question: What's changed for women who pose nude?

USA Today 2/1/2022

Autistic People of Color Serve as Clinical Research Advisors in a New Project

Health City 1/18/2022

After Billie Eilish talks about porn, experts urge parents and kids to have straight talk about sex

CNN 12/23/2021

Billie Eilish’s Brain on Porn

Slate 12/17/2021

Billie Eilish on How Starting to Watch Porn at 11 Still Affects Her Today

Self 12/15/2021

‘Sex Talks’ Should Start Earlier Than You Think

The New York Times 7/28/2021

If You Ignore Porn, You Aren’t Teaching Sex Ed

The New York Times 6/14/2021

Porn Isn’t a Public-Health Crisis

The Atlantic 6/1/2021

How to better support survivors of domestic violence in a pandemic, according to experts

The Lily 5/11/2021

Researcher looks at rural addiction, domestic violence

The Sun 5/6/2021

GOP proposal aims to block pornography on all cell phones, tablets in Utah

FOXBusiness 3/18/2021

Utah campaign against porn marches on with phone filter plan

AP News 3/16/2021

From Princess to President: What are Meghan Markle's Chances of Making It to the White House?

Sputnik International 3/16/2021

A Quarter of America’s Youth Learns About Sex From Porn

Psychology Today 3/1/2021

Porn is the top source of 'sex education' for young adults

Live Science 1/26/2021

Young Adults Misunderstand Porn as a Help Manual to Have Sex: Study

CNN News18 1/8/2021

Young adults say porn is their most helpful source of information about how to have sex

Medical Xpress 1/6/2021

Almost half of US teens who date experience stalking and harassment

The Conversation 8/13/2020

Stalking, Harassment of Partners Common Among Teens

Health Day 7/23/2020

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Domestic Violence

BU Today 4/16/2020

Teaching Your Kids to Be Safe Online: A Hasty Primer

The New York Times 4/2/2020

Teens are bombarded with graphic images of sex that can lead to dangerous ideas, behavior

USA Today 12/19/2019

“Their sexuality has been hijacked”: How porn is affecting America’s kids

CBS News 11/14/2019

How Porn Changes Teens’ Thoughts About Sex

MedPage Today 10/18/2019

What Does the Internet Teach Your Teen About Sex?

Psychology Today 9/16/2019

How to Talk To Kids And Teens About Porn

Mashable 7/18/2019

The Birds And The Bees — And Porn — In The Internet Age

WBUR 6/17/2019

Middle schools can help prevent teen dating violence

Reuters 6/5/2019

What Is Pornography Doing to Our Sex Lives?

The Atlantic 5/28/2019

A growing number of states call porn a public health crisis

Associated Press 5/9/2019

The rise of incels: How a support group for the dateless became a violent internet subculture

Vox 4/23/2019

Charles River, Medical Campus Faculty Promoted to Full Professor

BU Today 2/11/2019

Arizona considers calling porn a public health crisis

CNN 2/9/2019

Why the Government Should Fund Research on Incel Culture

Mother Jones 11/26/2018

Ending Sexual Violence by Raising Better Boys

Slate 10/8/2018

SPH Sexual Violence Class Becomes Forum on Kavanaugh Hearings

BU Today 10/3/2018

The Birds and the Bees… and Porn

Boston Magazine 5/8/2018

Should you consider letting your teen take a porn literacy class?

The Boston Globe 2/14/2018

What Teenagers Are Learning From Online Porn

The New York Times 2/7/2018

2012 Futures Without Violence and CDC Foundation: Linda Saltzman New Investigator Award
2011 Society for Prevention Research. : Recipient of the Early Career Prevention Network award
2002-2003 Martha May Eliot Fellowship in Maternal and Child Health
2002-2003 Harvard School of Public Health: Occupational Injury Fellowship
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