Biography
Check out my brand new TEDx talk!
Research Interests
There is now robust evidence of the protective effects of social relationships both on morbidity and on mortality, with a magnitude of effect comparable with many well-established risk factors such as smoking cessation and obesity. My program of research examines the influence of both the quantity and the quality of social relationships on long-term health and on risk for mortality, and the biological pathways (e.g., cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, genetic) by which such associations may occur. I also consider the potentially detrimental influence of negativity in close relationships (e.g., ambivalence, marital distress). My studies have examined social relationships at a network level, among married couples, in mother-and-infant relationships, and within friendships. My work is interdisciplinary and takes a multimethod approach including experimental, naturalistic, meta-analytic, and intervention studies.Honors and Awards
- Fellow, American Psychological Association (2019 - Present)
- Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (2016 - Present)
- Martin B Hickman Outstanding Scholar, Brigham Young University (2021 - 2022)
- Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Research Award, BYU (2018 - 2019)
- Marjorie Pay Hinkley Endowed Chair Research Award, Brigham Young University (2013 - 2015)
- George A. Miller Award, American Psychological Association (2013 - 2014)
- Fulton Young Scholar Award, Brigham Young University (2009 - 2012)
- Citation Award for Excellence in Research, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2010 - 2010)
- Citation Award for Excellence in Research, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2008 - 2008)
- Citation Award for Excellence in Research, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006 - 2006)
Memberships
- American Psychosomatic Society
- Society of Experimental Social Psychology (2012 - Present)
- European Health Psychology Society (2011 - Present)
Professional Citizenship
- Committee/Council Member, National Academy of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (2023 - Present)
- Committee/Council Member, Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (2021 - Present)
- Committee/Council Chair, Foundation for Social Connection (2020 - Present)
- Board Member, Rural Aging Advisory Counsel (2018 - Present)
- Board Member, AARP Service, Inc and UnitedHealthCare (2017 - Present)
- Board Member, Australian Coalition to End Loneliness (2017 - Present)
- Board Member, Foundation for Art & Healing (2017 - Present)
- Editorial Review Board Member, American Psychological Association (2015 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Annals of Internal Medicine (2013 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Epidemiology (2013 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP) (2013 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (2013 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, PLOS One (2013 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) (2013 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Annals of Behavioral Medicine (2010 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, APA: Psychological Bulletin (2010 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Social Science and Medicine (2010 - Present)
- Board Member, Connec (2018 - 2020)
- Editor, Associate Editor, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2018 - 2020)
- Board Member, National Academy of Sciences (2018 - 2020)
- Board Member, UK Cross Departmental Loneliness Team (2018 - 2019)
- Committee/Council Member, American Psychological Association (2018 - 2018)
- Other, US Senate Committee on Aging (2017 - 2017)
- Conference-Related Role, American Psychological Association (2012 - 2014)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, American Psychosomatic Society (2009 - 2014)
- Guest Speaker, American Psychological Association (2013 - 2013)
- Editorial Review Board Member, Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine (2013 - 2013)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, National Institute of Health (2010 - 2010)