Ed Whitlock Award
Winner: Emily Carrese-Chacra
Emily Carrese-Chacra is completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University. As a member of the Stress, Interpersonal Relationships, and Health Laboratory, Emily's doctoral research aims to identify interpersonal processes that influence health behavior change in younger as well as older adults. More specifically, her research examines the specific interpersonal processes (i.e., social control, communal coping, autonomy support) that may play a role in how overweight or obese, cohabiting romantic partners influence each other as they attempt to alter their health behaviors (i.e., eating and physical activity habits) post the COVID-19 confinement period. This research will inform couples-based interventions for health behavior initiation and maintenance by highlighting key interpersonal processes clinicians need to target in their couple interventions. Moving forward, Emily will continue to focus on promoting health and wellbeing in the older adult community in her volunteer work, through her graduate training, and her future clinical practice.
