Welcome to The Relationships & Health Lab
Our research examines why some couples grow stronger and healthier through hardship, while others experience relationship conflict and health problems.
We are a part of the Health research area in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. We are also affiliated with and have several members located at Purdue University.
Our current studies address:
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How stress affects the immune and cardiovascular systems in breast cancer survivors and their partners
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How breast cancer survivors and their partners cope with fears of cancer recurrence and stress in daily life
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Aging couples' emotional and physiological responses to conflict
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How individuals with concealable chronic illness talk about their illness at work and home
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The relationship, health, and academic outcomes of students with concealable chronic illness amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Lab News & Events
UBC PURC Conference
The Relationships and Health Lab's first Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference at UBC!
Maya, Kaela, and Kaylee all presented their findings at the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference! Well done!
Purdue Research Conferences
The Relationships and Health Lab had several presentations at Purdue's Research Conference!
Ashley, Muskaan, Janelle, Makenzie, and Katie all presented their findings at the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference, Spring Undergraduate Research Conference, Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference and the Helen R. Johnson Leadership Conference. Congratulations to them!
SBSM Presentations
MiKaila, Carly, and Rosie presented their findings at the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine Conference!
MiKaila’s research showed that spousal support may serve as a protective factor and buffer the negative effects that childhood maltreatment has on BDNF levels in adulthood. Carly’s poster showed that low-performing cochlear implant users demonstrated greater increases in galvanic skin response.
Canadian Sex Research Forum
Rosie and Khiara presented their findings at the Canadian Sex Research Forum!
Khiara’s CSRF presentation examined how gender attitudes changed across the pandemic. Rosie's presentation showed that sexual satisfaction provided relationship and health benefits among couples with concealable chronic illness.