Sexuality and Well-Being Lab

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Sexuality and Well-Being Lab

Research Lab studying individuals’ and couples’ sexual health and well-being. Based in the Depar

Dr. Samantha Dawson is the Director of the Sexuality and Well-being (SWELL) Lab and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is also in the process of registering as a psychologist in British Columbia. Dr. Dawson’s current multimethod research program focuses on identifying cognitive and affective mechanisms contributing to sexual function in individuals and couples, with the goal of using these mechanisms to develop targeted interventions for sexual dysfunction. Her research program involves experimental laboratory-based research using various sexual
psychophysiological measures (e.g., eye tracking, genital plethysmography), as well as more ecologically valid daily experience and longitudinal methodologies. Her research is multidisciplinary, and she has ongoing collaborations with clinicians and academics across a variety of fields including psychology and medicine. Dr. Dawson’s research has been recognized by awards from the International Academy of Sex Research and the Canadian Sex Research Forum. Her research is currently funded through operating grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, as well as internal grants through the University of British Columbia.

12/07/2024

📢 Are you interested in participating in our research about culture and sexuality? 📢

🌎 We’re looking for South American folks to participate in a 35- to 45-minute online survey focused on how individuals from different countries experience their sexual well-being. All participants will get a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card (CAD)💵

You are eligible if you...
· identify as an immigrant to North America
· are currently residing in Canada or the United States
· are 18 years of age or older
· are fluent in English

🌟 To participate, go to swelllab.psych.ubc.ca (see bio!) and look for the “Exploring Cultural Experiences and S*xuality Study” under the Research tab. The Principal Investigator of this study is Dr. Samantha J. Dawson.

*Please note that endorsement of this ad or post will publicly link you with the study.

*All information is kept strictly confidential.

11/30/2024

🌟 What’s better than one student graduating??? It’s two amazing students graduating with their MAs in Clinical Psychology!!! We are so proud of everything the two of you have accomplished during your time in the lab (even before graduate school) and are so incredibly excited to see all the places you will go! 🌟 Kiarah is cosupervised with one of our fave collaborators who directs the and this was our first cosupervised student to graduate!

11/27/2024

A few weeks ago we escaped the Kenny building and got together to 🌟 CELEBRATE 🌟 all that our lab accomplished in the past summer including two successful MA defenses and an MA proposal defense! It’s been a busy semester for all of us and this was a much needed break. We had a fun afternoon making jewellery 💎together followed by some yummy donuts 🍩 !

11/25/2024

Are you interested in participating in our research about culture and sexuality?

We’re looking for people to participate in a 35-to-45 -minute online survey focused on how individuals from different countries experience their sexual well-being. All participants will get a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card (CAD)

You are eligible if you...
· identify as an immigrant to North America
· are currently residing in Canada or the United States
· are 18 years of age or older
· are fluent in English

To participate, go to swelllab.psych.ubc.ca (see bio!) and look for the “Exploring Cultural Experiences and S*xuality Study” under the Research tab. The Principal Investigator of this study is Dr. Samantha J. Dawson.
*Please note that endorsement of this ad or post will publicly link you with the study.
*All information is kept strictly confidential.

11/19/2024

📣 PUBLICATION SPOTLIGHT 📣

We just published an exciting new paper in Body Image! Grad student, Erin Fitzpatrick, led this paper as her Master’s thesis at UBC. 👩🏻‍🎓 We are excited to see it in print - and it’s open access! ⭐️

In this paper, we examined daily associations between body satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction among new parent couples at a vulnerable time (3-4 months postpartum).

➡️ Swipe to see what we found!

Fitzpatrick, E. T., Rosen, N. O., Kim, J. J., Kolbuszewska, M. T., Schwenck, G. C., & Dawson, S. J. (2024). S*xual satisfaction mediates daily associations between body satisfaction and relationship satisfaction in new parent couples. Body Image, 51, 101810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101810

09/20/2024

📢 Are you interested in how people from all cultural backgrounds experience sexuality? Participate in our research study!

🌍The SWell lab is looking for folks to participate in a 45 to 60 minute online survey in understanding how people from different cultural backgrounds experience sexuality.

❓What is involved: You will complete a 45-60 minute online survey that will ask you questions about your cultural background and your sexual and relational experiences.

You are eligible if you...
• Are 18 years of age or older
• Are fluent in English

🌈Inclusivity: This study aims to be inclusive to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations.

To participate, click the link in our bio! Or, if you are enrolled in a PSYCH course at UBC, you can also access this study on HSP and earn credits for participating!

The Principal Investigator of this study is Dr. Samantha J. Dawson.

*All information is kept strictly confidential.

*Please note that endorsement of this ad or post will publicly link you with the study.

08/15/2024

📣We need 47 more participants for our online study on Persistent Ge***al Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysaesthesia (PGAD/GPD)!

You might be eligible to participate in the S*xual Health Implications of PGAD Study (SHIPS) if:
⭐You are 18 years of age or older 
⭐You have unwanted and/or persistent feelings of ge***al arousal (Persistent Ge***al Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysaesthesia)
⭐You were assigned female at birth and currently have a v***a
⭐You have access to a personal email account to receive emailed links to study surveys
⭐You are able to read and understand English

❓What is involved: This study will involve a phone interview, 3 online surveys over a 6-month period, and brief daily surveys for 21-days.

💵Compensation: Participants will be compensated with up to $95 (CAD).
 
🌈Inclusivity: This study aims to be inclusive to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations. 

*All information is kept strictly confidential.

* Endorsement of this ad or post will publicly link you with the study.

To participate, or to find out more, please click the link in bio or contact us directly at pgad@psych.ubc.ca.

Please share widely!

06/15/2024

📢 WE’VE WIDENED OUR RECRUITMENT!

👣Are you a couple expecting your first baby?

🔍 We are seeking couples from Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK who are ≤ 26 weeks pregnant to participate in the STORK pilot study (i.e., first trial): Supporting the Transition to Parenthood through Online S*x and Relationship Knowledge.

❓What is STORK: The first online couple-based program designed to enhance knowledge about changes to sexuality during pregnancy and postpartum and skills to cope with these changes. STORK was designed to strengthen couples’ relationships across the transition to parenthood.

📅 What is involved: You and your partner will complete 5 online modules in pregnancy (1 per week) and a final module at 2 months postpartum. You will also complete 2 surveys—before and after you have completed the program—that gather information about your relationship, your pregnancy experience, your feedback on the STORK program, and your child.

💰 Compensation: As a thank you for your participation, you can receive $33 CAD or currency equivalent each ($66 CAD or currency equivalent per couple). Your time is valuable to us!

🌈 Inclusivity matters: STORK requires one member of the couple to be currently pregnant. Otherwise, STORK is open to individuals of all genders, bodies, and sexual orientations.

Couples who have had previous pregnancies but do not live with a child can participate if they otherwise meet eligibility criteria.

💌 For more information or to participate in the STORK pilot study, email us at at STORK@dal.ca.

06/13/2024

🌟Please join us in congratulating SWell/Phase lab MA student Kiarah on receiving the 2024 SSHRC Vanier Graduate Canada Scholarship!

🌟Kiarah received this award to support their PhD research project “A multi-method examination of links between gender euphoria and sexual wellbeing in gender-diverse and cisgender individuals and couples.”

🌟Across Canada, 166 doctoral students received the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS). The Vanier CGS program awards up to $50,000 per year for three years to students working in social sciences and humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and health.

Congratulations Kiarah, we can’t wait to see what you accomplish 🎉

05/28/2024

👣Are you a couple expecting your first baby?

🔍 We are seeking couples from Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK who are up to 22 weeks pregnant to participate in the STORK pilot study (i.e., first trial): Supporting the Transition to Parenthood through Online S*x and Relationship Knowledge.

❓What is STORK: The first online couple-based program designed to enhance knowledge about changes to sexuality during pregnancy and postpartum and skills to cope with these changes. STORK was designed to strengthen couples’ relationships across the transition to parenthood.

📅 What is involved: You and your partner will complete 5 online modules in pregnancy (1 per week) and a final module at 2 months postpartum. You will also complete 2 surveys—before and after you have completed the program—that gather information about your relationship, your pregnancy experience, your feedback on the STORK program, and your child.

💰 Compensation: As a thank you for your participation, you can receive $33 CAD or currency equivalent each ($66 CAD or currency equivalent per couple). Your time is valuable to us!

🌈 Inclusivity matters: STORK requires one member of the couple to be currently pregnant. Otherwise, STORK is open to individuals of all genders, bodies, and sexual orientations.

Couples who have had previous pregnancies but do not live with a child can participate if they otherwise meet eligibility criteria.

💌 For more information or to participate in the STORK pilot study, email us at at STORK@dal.ca or click the link in our bio! Please share widely!

05/07/2024

Do you have unwanted or persistent feelings of arousal in your ge***als?

⛵Participate in our online study on Persistent Ge***al Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysaesthesia (PGAD/GPD)!

You might be eligible to participate in the S*xual Health Implications of PGAD Study (SHIPS) if:
⭐You are 18 years of age or older
⭐You have unwanted and/or persistent feelings of ge***al arousal (Persistent Ge***al Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysaesthesia)
⭐You were assigned female at birth and currently have a v***a
⭐You have access to a personal email account to receive emailed links to study surveys
⭐You are able to read and understand English

❓What is involved: This study will involve a phone interview, 3 online surveys over a 6-month period, and brief daily surveys for 21-days.

💵Compensation: Participants will be compensated with up to $95 (CAD).

🌈Inclusivity: This study aims to be inclusive to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations.

*All information is kept strictly confidential.

* Endorsement of this ad or post will publicly link you with the study.

To participate, or to find out more, contact us directly at pgad@psych.ubc.ca.

Please share widely!

05/06/2024

We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership between the STORK study and .ca! 🫄🏾🤰🏻🫃🏼

Dr. Dawson and grad student Erin Fitzpatrick have partnered with Dr. Tina Ureten, the president and founder of UC Baby - Canada’s #1 trusted company for 3D/4D pregnancy ultrasound services - for STORK study recruitment. 👩🏻‍⚕️

There are 28 UC Baby clinics across Canada. We are so grateful to UC Baby for sharing our STORK study with their clients! Click the link in our bio to find a UC Baby location near you or to participate in our paid STORK study testing the first online program designed to promote sexual well-being in couples transitioning to parenthood. 🧑🏽‍🍼

Address

2136 West Mall
Vancouver, BC
V6T1Z4

Website

https://swelllab.psych.ubc.ca/contact-us/

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