Yeqing (Yuan) Yuan, PhD, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor at Simmons School of Social Work. Her research examines the intersection of loneliness, mental health, and substance use, with a focus on how loneliness contributes to adverse mental health and substance use outcomes among marginalized populations navigating major life transitions — such as the transition from homelessness to housing. Dr. Yuan's program of research aims to develop and test interventions that mitigate loneliness during these critical transition periods in order to improve behavioral health outcomes.
Dr. Yuan's research is informed by her clinical social work experience providing behavioral health services to individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use problems. This direct practice background shapes her commitment to developing interventions that are clinically grounded, community-engaged, and responsive to the lived experience of the populations she studies.
Dr. Yuan's research has been funded by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation and supported by a NIDA T32 Predoctoral Fellowship. She has received a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco.
Education
- PhD, New York University Silver School of Social Work (2022)
- MSW, Boston College School of Social Work (2012)
- BSW, Eastern New Mexico University (2011)
Area of Expertise
Serious mental illness, substance use, loneliness, homelessness
Licenses/Certifications
- LICSW, MA (inactive)
- LCSW, NJ (active)
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- Member, Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
- Member, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Courses
SW411 Human Behavior in Social Environment
Publications
- Yuan, Y., Evans, J.L., Neilands, T.B. et al. Factors Associated with Loneliness Among Older Adults Who Experienced Homelessness: Results from the HOPE HOME Study. J GEN INTERN MED 41, 1020–1029 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-09818-7
- Yuan, Y., Manuel, J. Factors Associated with Housing Stability Among Individuals with Co-Occurring Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders Receiving Assertive Community Treatment Services. Community Ment Health J 61, 1007–1016 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-024-01443-8
- Yuan, Y., Knight, K.R., Weeks, J. et al. Loneliness among homeless-experienced older adults with cognitive or functional impairments: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study. BMC Public Health 24, 569 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18052-5
- Chen, Y., Yuan, Y., & Glover Reed, B. (2023). Experiences of peer work in drug use service settings: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. International Journal of Drug Policy, 120, 104182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104182
- Yuan, Y., Padgett, D., Thorning, H., & Manuel, J. (2023). “It’s Stable but Not Stable”: A Conceptual Framework of Subjective Housing Stability Definition Among Individuals with Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 19(2–3), 111–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2023.2225357