Research ProjectsWe use various forms of data gathering (rating and coding behavior, psychosocial surveys, bio-markers, neuro-indicators, and interview data) to understand the bidirectional relationships between physical, emotional, and relational health. See our project descriptions below!
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Funded projects
Health Status and Health Behavior Concordance in Couples with Type 2 DiabetesGrant from Auburn University Intramural Grants Program- Interdisciplinary Team Research Grant.
Novak, J. R. (PI), Frugé, A., Wadsworth, D., & Hunt, C. (Co-Is) Although much research has identified the ways romantic partners influence health behavior adherence in people living with type 2 diabetes, the lack of knowledge of the indirect mechanisms (i.e., health status and health behaviors of the partner) prevents sustainable health behavior change efforts. Illuminating these mechanisms prevents informed development of programs that intervene at a dyadic level (both partners) and account for relational and contextual factors. This project aims to (1) model the health status and health behavior congruity as well as reciprocal influences between partners across time, (2) examine key ecological-level factors that moderate the influence of partner involvement and patient outcomes, and (3) predict the non-diabetic partner’s health and disease risk.
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Healthy We, Healthy Us: Becoming Partners in HealthGrant from Auburn University Women’s Philanthropy Board (WPB). Novak, J. R. (PI).
This project brings together information on the study of couple functioning in the context of a chronic health condition, efforts to provide supports for couples through couple-oriented interventions (COIs), and research on the general provision of couple relationship education (CRE). This pilot study will test a hybrid couples program, "Healthy We, Healthy Us: Becoming Partners in Health," that combines CRE modules and newly-developed COI modules that address health condition management in the couple relationship. |
Ongoing Projects
Committed Relationships and Health BehaviorsA large body of literature has found a direct influence of romantic relationships on health behaviors--known as health-related support or control (Cohen, 2004)--but there is still much research needed to further identify how relationships influence health in other ways. These include the indirect of mediating mechanisms, moderating or conditional variables, and an investigation into the dyadic pathways and systemic effects of partners in committed relationships. This project focuses on Sleep, Diet/Nutrition, Exercise and Physical Activity, and Stress Management
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Health attitudes & Behaviors in Gay Male Couples Although there is much research on the positive and negative aspects that social relationships can have on health and health behaviors (e.g., Uchino, Cacioppo, Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996; Umberson, 1987), it is problematic in that it has greatly relied on gender socialization theory, which states that women are socialized to care about others' health and also socialized to express this care more so than men (Umberson, 1992). Other research has begun to examine health promotion in gay and lesbian relationships (Weinke & Hill, 2009), and scholars are interested in whether the relationship dynamics in same-sex relationships influence health behaviors differently from heterosexual marriages.
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New Projects...Coming soon
We have many projects in development or under way. Stay tuned!