Contact Information

Research

  • My program of research is guided by the social neuroscience and biopsychosocial perspectives. Social neuroscience is characterized by the use of physiological principles and events to inform theory and generate research on social psychological phenomena (Cacioppo & Berntson, 1992). This perspective assumes that there are multiple levels of influences relevant to social behavior and well-being and that social processes that are conscious or verbally reportable provide information at just one level. Therefore, an examination of physiological processes may shed light onto social processes that complement traditional social psychological methods and thus foster a more integrative approach to the study of social behavior. Complementary to the social neuroscience perspective, the biopsychosocial perspective posits that there are multiple levels that shape health and disease;social processes being one level. My current research focuses on the association between one's close relationships and mental and physical health.

Education

  • MS PSYCHOLOGY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY 1998
  • BS PSYCHOLOGY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY 1994
  • PHD SOCIAL and Health PSYCHOLOGY UNIV OF UTAH 2001

Publications

  • Light K, Holt-Lunstad J, Birmingham W, and Grewen K. (2009). Oxytocin (OT), cardiovascular and sympathetic (SNS) benefits of warm partner contact in both husbands and wives.. Psychosomatic Medicine.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J. Birmingham, W., Jones, B. (2009). The influence of close relationships on nocturnal blood pressure dipping.. International Journal of Psychophysiology.
  • Bushman, B.B. & Holt-Lunstad, J. (2009). Understanding social relationship maintenance among friends: Why we don't end those frustrating friendships.. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
  • Campo. R., Uchino, B.N., Holt-Lunstad, J., *Vaughn, A., *Reblin, M., & Smith, T.W. (2009). The Assessment of Positivity and Negativity in Social Support Networks: Reliability and Validity of the Social Relationships Index.. Journal of Community Psychology..
  • Uchino, B.N., Ruiz, J.M., & Holt-Lunstad, J. (2009). Stress. Oxford Companion to Affective Sciences.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J. Birmingham, W., Jones, B. (2008). The influence of close relationships on nocturnal blood pressure dipping.. International Journal of Psychophysiology.
  • Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy W. Smith, and Bert N. Uchino (2008). Can hostility interfere with the health benefits of giving and receiving social support? The impact of cynical hostility on cardiovascular reactivity during social support interactions among friends. Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., *Birmingham, W., & Light, K.L (2008). The influence of a "warm touch" support enhancement intervention among married couples on ambulatory blood pressure, oxytocin, alpha amylase and cortisol. Psychosomatic Medicine.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., *Birmingham, W., & *Jones, B.Q. (2008). Something Unique about Marriage? The Relative Impact of Marital Status, Relationship Quality, and Network Support on Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Mental Health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Uchino, B. N., Smith, T.W., Holt-Lunstad, J., Campo, R., & Reblin, M. (2007). Stress and Illness.. Handbook of Psychophysiology.
  • Uchino, B.N., Holt-Lunstad, J., Uno, D., Campo, R., & Reblin, M. (2007). The social neuroscience of relationships: An examination of health relevant pathways.. Social neuroscience: Integrating biological and psychological explanations of social behavior.
  • Smith, J.L., Kausar, R., & Holt-Lunstad, J (2007). Stigma consciousness in the class room: A comparison of Pakistani women's motivation and well-being in non-science fields of study.. Sex Roles.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Uchino, B. N., Smith, T. W. & Hicks, A. (2007). On the importance of relationship quality: The impact of ambivalence in friendships on cardiovascular functioning.. Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Julianne Holt-Lunstad and Patrick R. Steffen (2007). Diurnal variation in salivary cortisol predicts ambulatory blood pressure dipping. Psychosomatic Medicine.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Steffen, P.R, & Mead, B.G. (2006). Diurnal variation in cortisol predicts diurnal variation in blood pressure. Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Uchino, B. N., & Smith, T.W. (2005). Does hostility interfere with social support during stress. Psychophysiology. Psychophysiology.
  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Jones, B. Q., Mead, B.G., Cummings, L., Birmingham, W., Howard, A. Ernhoffer, S. & Thunnell, B (2005). The impact of marital status and quality on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. Psychophysiology.
  • Uchino, B. N., Holt-Lunstad, J., Bloor, L. & Campo, R. (2005). Aging and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress: Longitudinal Evidence for Changes in Stress Reactivity.. Psychology and Aging.
  • Uchino, B. N., HOLT-LUNSTAD., & Smith, T. W. (2004). Heterogeneity in social networks: A comparison of different models linking relationships to psychological outcomes.. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
  • HOLT-LUNSTAD, J., Uchino, B.N., Smith, T.W., Cerny, C.B., & Nealey-Moore, J.B. (2003). Social Relationships and Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Structural and Qualitative Predictors of Cardiovascular Function During Everyday Social Interactions.. Health Psychology.
  • Uchino, B. N., HOLT-LUNSTAD, JULIANNE, Uno, D., & Flinders, J. B. (2001). Understanding the Health Effects of Social Relationships: An Examination of Positivity and Negativity (Ambivalence) in the Social Networks of Young and Older Adults.. Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
  • HOLT-LUNSTAD, JULIANNE; Clayton, C. J., & Uchino, B.N. (2001). Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Competitive Stress.. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.

Awards

  • Citation Award for Excellence in Research Society of Behavioral Medicine 2006
  • Citation Award for Excellence in Research Society of Behavioral Medicine 2008
  • Fulton Young Scholar Award Brigham Young University 2009
  • Early Career Award (Nomination, award pending) American Psychosomatic Society 2009​