Ivanka Simic Stanojevic
Assistant Professor
B.S., M.S. School of Special Education and Rehabilitation, University of Belgrade, Serbia 2019
Ph.D. School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University 2024
Dr. Simić Stanojević is a sexual health researcher and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist whose work centers on reducing sexual health disparities among people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Her research aims to inform the development of tailored, sex-positive interventions to improve sexual health outcomes, as well as educational and training programs for professionals who serve historically underprioritized populations, particularly allied health professionals and recreational therapists.
Her scholarship also examines sexual behavior through the lens of leisure philosophy, offering a nuanced and interdisciplinary perspective that bridges sexuality, wellbeing, and leisure behavior. Dr. Simić Stanojević’s work is grounded in principles of human rights, and reproductive and intimate justice.
- Herbenick, D., Simić Stanojević, I., Fu, T. C., Chen, X., Ali, S., Wright, P. J., Hensel, D. J., Harezlak, J., Fortenberry, J. D. (In press). Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Rough Sex Behaviors Findings from a U.S. Nationally Representative Survey of Adolescents Ages 14 to 17. Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
- Herbenick, D., Fu, T., Simić Stanojević, I., Miller, O., Patterson Perry, C., Eastman-Mueller, H., Kawata, K., Jozkowski, K. (2025). Sexual Choking at University Students’ Most Recent Sexual Event Consent, Wantedness, and Choking-Related Symptoms. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01247-9
- Herbenick, D., Fu, T., Simić Stanojević, I., Rosenberg, M., Eastman-Mueller, H., Patterson Perry, C., Kawata, K., Strack, G., Gwinn, C., & Wright, P. (2025). Exploring educational messages about sexual choking: Results of a feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy study among college students. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01189-2
- Herbenick, D., Fu, T. C., Chen, X., Ali, S., Simić Stanojević, I., Hensel, D., Wright, P. J., Peterson, Z. D., Harezlak, J. & Fortenberry, J. D. (2025). Prevalence and demographic correlates of “rough sex” behaviors: Findings from a U.S. nationally representative survey of adults ages 18 to 94. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03245-9
- Simić Stanojević, I., Wheeler, G., Fu, J., Piatt, J., Herbenick, D. (2025). Experiences with rough sex among autistic university students: Descriptive findings from a campus probability-based survey. The Journal of Sex Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2025.2551734
- Greer, K. M., Simić Stanojević, I., Baugh, M., Cary, K., Piatt, J., Yarber, W., Clark, C., Sciara, T., Okolocha, A. (2025). An exploration of condom use beliefs, barriers, and experiences among blind and low-vision adults in the United States. Sexuality and Disability, 43(26). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-025-09905-x
- Herbenick, D., Fu, T. C., Chen, X., Ali, S., Simić Stanojević, I., Hensel, D., Wright, P. J., Peterson, Z. D., Harezlak, J. & Fortenberry, J. D. (in press). Prevalence and demographic correlates of "rough sex" behaviors: Findings from a U.S. nationally representative survey of adults ages 18 to 94. Archives of Sexual Behavior.
- Herbenick, D., Fu, T., Simić Stanojević, I., Rosenberg, M., Eastman-Mueller, H., Patterson Perry, C., Kawata, K.; Strack, G.; Gwinn, C.; Wright, P. (in press). Exploring educational messages about sexual choking: Results of a feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy study among college students. Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
- Greer, K., PettyJohn, M., Cary, K., Sciara, T., Simić Stanojević, I., Lester, J. (2025) Man or Bear?: A Thematic Analysis of Men's Responses to Gender-Based Violence Discourse on TikTok. Journal of Leisure Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2025.2502107
- Greene, A., Simić Stanojević, I., Sherwood-Laughlin, C. L., Sangmo, D., Baugh, M., Greathouse, L., Chow, A., Galyan, J. (2024). Teachers' perceptions of barriers to implementing school-based sexual health education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Journal of Sexuality Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2024.2429432
- Stanojević, Č., Kim, Y., Piatt, J. A., Allsop, J, Fecske, C., Kim, J., Simić Stanojević, I., Lee, J. (2024). Perspectives on clinical supervision: Recreational therapy and the need for rigorous clinical supervision. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 23(3), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.0289
- Simić Stanojević, I., Piatt, J., Herbenick, D., Stanojevic, C., Shields, T., Harnoy, T., Loftin, H., & Bisch, E. (2024). She said, "Really, you're just going to have to suffer through it": The lack of discussion of perimenopause between women and healthcare professionals. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 50(8), 1030–1045. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2024.2418545
- Greene, A., Baugh, M., Sherwood-Laughlin, C., Greathouse, L., Galyan, J., Simić Stanojević, I., Sangmo, D., Jozkowski, K., Dubie, M., & Chow, A. (2024). Development of a sexual consent intervention for adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13272
- Greer, M. K., Simić Stanojević, I., Cary, M. K., PettyJohn, M. E., Piatt, J., Yarber, L. W. (2023). Barriers to reporting and lack of equitable support: Abortion access for adults with autism experiencing rape-related pregnancies post-Roe. The Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 24(4), 506-519. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2023.2212405
- Simić Stanojević, I., Baugh, M., Greer, K.M., Piatt, J., & Yarber, W. (2023). Increasing opportunities for healthy sexual socialization in LGBTQ+ people with IDD: The role of LGBTQ+ organizations and community. Sexuality and Disability, 41(3), 531-541. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-023-09789-9
- Simić Stanojević, I., Gerth, J., Piatt, J. A. (2022). Stuck inside - Impact of loneliness and social isolation due to COVID-19 countermeasures for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 56(3). https://doi.org/10.18666/trj-2022-v56-i3-11000
- Piatt, J. A., Stanojevic, C., Simić Stanojević, I., Fisher, A., Kim, J. (2022). Attitudes toward sexual wellness for individuals with disabilities: Recreational therapists' and students' perspectives. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 56(2). https://doi.org/10.18666/trj-2022-v56-i2-11182
- Piatt, J. A., Simić Stanojević, I., Stanojevic, C., Zahl, M. L., Richmond, M. A., & Herbenick, D. (2022). Sexual health and women living with spinal cord injury: the unheard voice. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2022.853647