Research

Jo is a T32 Research Fellow at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health where they are focused on:

  • Reimagining wellbeing theory, measurement, and intervention design through decolonialism and indigenizing

  • Exploring the intersections of Indigenous wellbeing and contemplative practice

  • Leading community-based research in the reduction of transdiagnostic symptoms of traumatic stress for underserved communities and individuals (e.g., Native Hawaiians, Indigenous groups, SGM, global majority) using mind body practices (e.g., mindfulness, Yoga, meditation, biofeedback, therapy)

  • Examining the role of cultural factors in intervention design

  • Transforming the landscape of integrative health equity

  • Mixed-methods research approaches

Education and Training  

  • PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

  • Clinical Fellow in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Massachusetts Mental Health Center

  • Research Fellow, Mechanisms Underlying Mind-Body Interventions & Measurement of Emotional Well-Being Network (NIH)

  • Emerging Scholar, Plasticity of Well-being Research Network (NIH)

  • MA, Psychology in Education (Clinical Psychology), Teachers College, Columbia University

  • BA, English Literature, Tufts University

  • Certified Experienced Yoga Teacher E-YT750

  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Qualified Teacher

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

2025 Treves, I. N., Chen, Y.-Y., Wilson, C. L., Verdonk, C., Qinaʻau, J., Pustejovsky, J. E., Goldberg, S. B., Mehling, W., Schuman-Olivier, Z., & Khalsa, S. S. A meta-analysis of the effects of mindfulness meditation training on self-reported interoception. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 38889.

2025 Qinaʻau, J., Chao, M. T., Austin Seabury, A. A., & Antonio, M. C. K. Imagining Indigenized futures: Multi-eyed seeing and decolonialism in integrative health equity. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.

2025 Renna, M. E., Spaeth, P. E., Behringer, K. F., Qinaʻau, J., Clayton, M., & Mennin, D. S. A pilot study examining differential relationships between inflammation and emotion dysregulation across young and middle adulthood. Health Psychology.

2024 Masuda, A., Nakamura, L., Preston-Pita, H., Hermosura, S., Morgan, L., Stueber, K., Qinaʻau, J., & Austin-Seabury, A. A. Native Hawaiians’ views on depression and preferred behavioral health treatments: A preliminary qualitative investigation. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 51(2), 203–218.

2023 Qinaʻau, J., & Hill, P. L. Finding direction for purpose research in Hawai‘i: A narrative review. Hawai‘i Journal of Health & Social Welfare, 83(4), 108–112.

2023 Qinaʻau, J., Spencer, S., & Sasaki, J. Trauma, mindfulness, distress, and wellbeing in “mixed” emerging adults in Hawaiʻi. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 46(1), 1–19.

2022 Qinaʻau, J., & Antonio, M. C. Wellbeing for all: Indigenizing theories and measures of wellbeing for equitable sustainability. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. 

2022 Qinaʻau, J., Edmonds, G. W., & Hill, P. L. Native Hawaiian wellbeing and transdiagnostic trauma symptoms: The protective role of physical activity in dissociation. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 100296.

2022 Spencer, S. D., Jo, D., Antonio, M., Qinaʻau, J., Hishinuma, E. S., Hamagami, F., & Masuda, A. A psychometric validation of contextual cognitive behavioral therapy-informed measures with racially and ethnically diverse adults. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 25, 61–72.

2020 Pilla, D., Qinaʻau, J., Patel, A., Meddaoui, B., Watson, N., Dugad, S., & Saskin, M. Toward a framework for reporting and differentiating key features of meditation- and mindfulness-based interventions. Mindfulness, 11(11), 2613–2628.


Book Chapters

2022 Masuda, A., Morgan, L., Spencer, S. D., Qina‘au, J., & Jo, D. Cultural adaptations of acceptance and commitment therapy. In Twohig, M. P., Levin, M. E., & Petersen, J. M. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Oxford University Press.

2022 Masuda, A., & Qinaʻau, J. Application of secular mindfulness to Asian Americans in the U.S.: Cultural considerations. In C. M. Fleming, J. Proulx, & V. Womack (Eds.), Beyond White Mindfulness: Critical Perspectives on Racism, Well-being, and Liberation. Routledge.

2021 Masuda, A., Qinaʻau, J., Juberg, M., & Martin, T. Bias in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 and psychopathology. In L. Benuto, M. Duckworth, A. Masuda, & W. O’Donohue (Eds.), Prejudice, Stigma, Privilege, and Oppression: A Behavioral Health Handbook. Springer Publications.

2020 Qinaʻau, J., & Masuda, A. Cultural considerations in establishing rapport: A functional contextualist view on common factors. In L. Benuto, F. Gonzalez, & J. Singer (Eds.), Handbook for Cultural Factors in Behavioral Health: A Guide for the Helping Professional. New York: Springer Publications.

In Submission

Heke, D., Vera, M., Albarrán González, D., Bakic, T., Gaudet, J. C., McGuire-Adams, T., Park, M. L., Qinaʻau, J., Smith, H., & Whiskeyjack, L. Indigenous bodies of knowledge: Embodied [self] care and planetary health. Springer Nature.

Qinaʻau, J., Yanger Mariano, A., Kone, S., Kahili-Heede, M. K., Rivera, C., Clack, V. J., Chatto, S., Johnson, F. N., & Antonio, M. C. K. Indigenous Frameworks and Models of Wellbeing: A Scoping Review of Wisdoms from Moananuiākea and Turtle Island. Frontiers in Public Health [Summary accepted for research topic]. 

Qinaʻau, J., Spencer, S. D., Rapadas, C. C., & Masuda, A. (Invited, accepted for publication). Acceptance and commitment therapy across ethnoracial groups: Cultural considerations. In L. Waelde & D. Pan (Eds.), CBT with ethnoracial populations: Implementing evidence-based practice. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature.

Qinaʻau, J., Rivera, C., Nakamura, L., Souza, P., & Austin Seabury, A. A. (Invited, accepted for publication). Using the Moʻohihia Model, decolonialism, and culture-as-health in therapeutic settings for Pacific Islanders at home and in diaspora. In G. E. Allen & L. D. McCubbin (Eds.), Pasifika psychology: Affirming Pacific Islander mental health. American Psychological Association.

Qinaʻau, J. & Goto, K. (Invited, in press). The Kaʻao of Pilina Welo: A multi-eyed seeing trauma-informed program for intergenerational mauli ola. In L. M. Dunn & T. B. Wakpa (Eds.), Mindfulness, movement, and cultural revitalization: Indigenous contemplative theories and practices. Springer Netherlands.


Works In Progress

Qinaʻau, J., Kaholokula, K., Chung-Do, J., Nakamura, L., Austin, A., Rivera, C., Johnson, K., Steuber, K., Manzana, D., Firoozan, A., Lee, L., Preston-Pita, H., Chan, K., Dudoit, F., Baclayon, K. K. P., Miles, N., Kāneakua, H. K., Papa, T., Spencer, S., Fung, K., & Sasaki, J. (manuscript in preparation). Ke Ao Nōweo 'Ula: A transformative theory for decolonial and indigenized wellbeing. Preparing for submission to American Journal of Community Psychology.

Qinaʻau, J., Wicker, P., Kone, S., Antonio, M. (manuscript in preparation). Transformative wellbeing measurement with Kukui Mālamalama: A relational approach for Indigenous communities. Preparing for submission to Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology.

Qinaʻau, J., Blevins, K., Warren, M., Adler, S., Chao, M.,. (manuscript in preparation). Developing Mindful CREW: A mindfulness program for reducing bias and supporting community wellbeing in healthcare. Preparing for submission to BMC Medical Education.

Wright, B., Luhconf, H.-J., Qinaʻau, J., Parker, K. E., Brown, S., Kahili-Heede, M., Chafouleas, S., & Koslouski, J. (in preparation). Assessing the effects of school-based mindfulness interventions on emotional well-being in adolescents: A systematic review. Preparing for submission to Journal of School Psychology.


Commissioned Guides and White Papers

2025 Qinaʻau, J., & Morelli, P. T.. Ana Kūkulu: An Indigenous framework for mauli ola in evaluation. Pilina Center for Wellbeing. Prepared for Papa Ola Lōkahi, Honolulu, HI.