Current Projects:
- Psychological and Biological Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Men with Prostate Cancer
The purpose of this study is to examine psychosocial factors (e.g., coping processes, gender-linked attributes, relationships, mood) that may be related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (e.g., incontinence, sexual function, sleep disturbance), mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety), and neuroendocrine (i.e., cortisol) and proinflammatory cytokine activity in men with prostate cancer, the most prevalent cancer in men. This study employs a longitudinal design and includes patients who have recently completed medical treatment. HRQOL, mental health (by clinical interview), coping processes, and circulating proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-6, CRP, TNF-alpha) are assessed at study entry and again 4 months later. In addition, cortisol and sleep quality are assessed over 3 consecutive days initially and at 4 months. This study is supported by funding from the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and the UC Merced Academic Senate.
- Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adults with Testicular Cancer
Relative to other cancer types, individuals with early stage testicular cancer have a high 5-year survival rate, and the majority of individuals with metastatic disease who receive chemotherapy are cured, extending cancer survivorship for young men across the lifespan. At the same time, the long-term sequelae of testicular cancer can include sexual dysfunction, infertility, body image concerns, decreased self-esteem, gender role threat, and depression. Despite this, few studies have examined aspects of HRQOL specific to testicular cancer, and no studies have specifically examined biopsychosocial predictors of HRQOL, including coping behaviors, in young men. The purpose of this study is to establish a developmentally appropriate conceptual model and assessment tool of HRQOL. It aims to identify biopsychosocial domains of HRQOL; to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess HRQOL; and to examine coping behaviors and sociodemographic factors as correlates of HRQOL. This study is supported by funding from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
- Emotional Processing and Physiological Responding in Response to a Goal-related Stressor
This laboratory-based experimental study examines the influence of emotional processing on indicators of psychological adjustment, including mood and autonomic arousal (i.e., heart rate variability, skin conductance) following a negative emotional stressor related to a life goal challenge.
- Constructive and Unconstructive Repetitive Thought and Emotional Processing
The primary goal of this study is to examine the moderating effects of constructive anf unconstructive repetitive thought processes on primary outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, health care visit) following an expressive writing intervention. Repetitive thought refers to “a process of thinking attentively, repetitively or frequently about one’s self and one’s world.”
- Emotional Regulation and Goal Adjustment Following High School Bullying
The primary goal of this study is to examine the impact of high school bullying experiences on emotional regulation, coping, and goal-related processes in college students.
*Additional Collaborative Research Projects
In addition the projects described above, we have been involved in a number of collaborative projects including a comprehensive meta-analysis of the intervention literature on behavioral and pharmacological treatments for depression in cancer patients, an experimental placebo and nocebo effects on symptom perceptions and immunological (sIgA) and hormonal (cortisol) changes, in response to an inert substance.
