My current work focuses on the application of self-regulation strategies for the management of physical disorders involving regions of the body innervated by the trigeminal nerve. The broad, long-term objective of my research program has been to understand the linkages between emotional states and physical health.  My early research career focused on exploring the influence of positive emotion, or happiness, on social behavior and perceptual processes.  Later, my clinical interests in emotional dysregulation and its effects on physical health were the impetus for my research with relaxation and other self-regulation strategies for the management of chronic pains.

Our clinical research with persons reporting pain in trigeminally-mediated regions of the body has focused on the delivery of physical self-regulation strategies targeting the control of fatigue, pain, and anxiety.  We have developed a keen interest in using heart rate variability as an index of dysregulation in these patients.   Our central hypothesis is that orofacial pain patients are not able to inhibit activation well and thus are prone to fatigue and pain.  We continue to examine the self-regulation approaches that our program has developed to improve inhibitory controls.

For the past six years I have also been developing a research program that explores the role of religiosity and spirituality in underage drinking, drug usage, and risky sexual behavior.  My research team has published a series of papers examining these issues along with developing a model to guide the development and implementation of preventive interventions.  Our goal is to foster the self-regulatory capacity of young persons so that negative outcomes from risky behavior are reduced.

In summary, my research has been directed at the interface between self-regulation, emotional processes, and health.  Our studies have contributed to a growing data base establishing the mechanisms and outcomes of the self-regulation-emotion-health linkage.  My primary research objective over the next five years is to continue systematic exploration of the psychological and physiological parameters associated with the development and treatment of pain disorders in regions of the body influenced by the trigeminal nerve.  I also will continue to develop and evaluate models guiding self-regulatory interventions directed at underage alcohol use.

Click here for information on SPRIG: Spirituality and Psychology Research Interest Group.