Biography
Research interests
- Purpose in life
- Self-Regulation Strategies
- Aging
- Psychological & Physical Health
Educational qualifications
September 2020 – Present
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology – Research & Clinical Training Option)
Supervisor: Carsten Wrosch, Ph.D.
Concordia University, Montreal QC.
September 2018 – August 2020
Master’s of Arts (Psychology – Research & Clinical Training Option)
Certificate of Clinical Psychology
Supervisor: Carsten Wrosch, Ph.D.
Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
September 2014 – May 2018
Bachelor of Arts (Honours Psychology)
Graduated with Great Distinction
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Master’s thesis
My master’s thesis investigated the association between purpose in life and C-reactive protein, a physiological marker of inflammation linked to the onset of age-related disease in older adulthood. While previous literature demonstrated a robust association between purpose and improved psychological and physical well-being, the extant literature largely examined inter-individual differences in purpose, with little work considering intra-individual fluctuations. Furthermore, although research suggested a substantial normative decline in purpose from midlife to old age, little was known as to whether the protective health effects of purpose remained across older adulthood. To address these limitations, my research investigated the effects of inter-and-individual variations in purpose on low-grade chronic inflammation, and whether this association would be further qualified by age. 129 adults in early and advanced old age (age range = 63-91) were followed every two years over a total period of six years. At each wave, participants reported their levels of purpose in life, and CRP levels were obtained from blood samples. Hierarchical linear models demonstrated that greater within-person levels of purpose in life predicted reduced inflammation in early old age (coefficient = -.017, p < .01), but not in advanced old age (coefficient = .002, p = .67). Between-person differences in purpose were not related to chronic low-grade inflammation. These findings suggest that within-person fluctuations in purpose may protect health-relevant physiological processes in early old-age but may become less effective in advanced old age.
Beginning in September 2020, I will continue this line of research as part of my PhD research. More specifically, I would like to explore possible mechanisms that might underlie the health effects of purpose, and whether these mechanisms demonstrate age-specific effects. For instance, it is possible that a greater sense of purpose predicts age-appropriate coping and self-regulation strategies leading to improved subjective and physical well-being across the lifespan. A second line of research I will be pursuing is the association between stress, coping strategies and well-being. More specifically, I am interested in studying the effects of intra- and inter-individual fluctuations in stress on the use of self-regulation strategies, and how these strategies in turn might predict physical and psychological well-being in young and older adults.
Honours and awards
- 2019–2021 Master’s Training Award, Fonds de Recherche du Québec Santé (FRQS) ($35,000)
- 2019 First place winner for the Master’s Poster Competition, Center for Research Development Annual Conference
- 2018–2019 Canada Graduate Scholarships- Master’s Program, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) ($17,500)
- 2018–2019 Dean of Arts and Science Award of Excellence Award, Concordia University ($2,500)
- 2018–2019 Concordia University Special Entrance Award, Concordia University ($6,000)
- 2017–2018 Hazel Weldon Scholarship, McGill University ($1,500)
- 2016–2017 Dean’s Honours List, McGill University
Professional affiliations
- Student member, Canadian Psychological Association
- Student member, Association for Psychological Science