The Relationships and Health Lab at UBC and Purdue University

The Relationships and Health Lab at UBC and Purdue University A research lab at UBC & Purdue studying how couples grow stronger during difficult times.

High heels have never been just about fashion. Their history shows how clothing carries meanings of status, class, power...
09/21/2026

High heels have never been just about fashion. Their history shows how clothing carries meanings of status, class, power, and gender. Once worn by Persian riders and European aristocratic men as symbols of authority and privilege, heels later became coded as feminine through shifting cultural norms.
Today, artists like Prince, David Bowie, Elton John, and Harry Styles continue to challenge those boundaries, showing that fashion does not naturally belong to one gender. Instead, what we wear reflects the social rules we inherit- and the ones we choose to rewrite.

https://batashoemuseum.ca/standing-tall/?utm
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-high-life-a-history-of-men-in-heels/VAVBgMgwSKV5Kw?hl=en

Renata (She/Her), a fourth-year Psychology student at the University of British Columbia. Her academic and research int...
09/19/2026

Renata (She/Her), a fourth-year Psychology student at the University of British Columbia. Her academic and research interest centre on clinical and health psychology, with a growing fascination for neuropsychology. She is especially curious about how the brain, mind, and body interact and how these processes shape human connection. She plans to pursue a graduate studies in Clinical Psychology. In her free time she enjoys exploring new places, reading, and snuggling with her cats!

As summer comes to a close, we are looking back on how members of our lab spent the season. From travel and time outdoor...
09/11/2026

As summer comes to a close, we are looking back on how members of our lab spent the season. From travel and time outdoors to connecting with friends and family, it was a summer filled with meaningful experiences and well-deserved time to recharge.

We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back and beginning another year of research, collaboration, and learning together.

Wishing our team a great start to the academic year!

Congratulations to our Research Assistant Maya, who is one of four recipients of this award supporting summer research i...
09/09/2026

Congratulations to our Research Assistant Maya, who is one of four recipients of this award supporting summer research in healthy aging!

Maya’s project examined how relationship satisfaction and dyadic coping, or how couples cope with stress together, may shape sleep, fatigue, and physical activity among breast cancer survivors and their partners over time.

By identifying relational factors that support health, this research aimed to inform future interventions that improve the quality of life for couples affected by cancer.

Congratulations, Maya!

Let’s talk about STIs! Having conversations about sexual health is vital to reduce stigma, prevent transmission, and pro...
09/03/2026

Let’s talk about STIs! Having conversations about sexual health is vital to reduce stigma, prevent transmission, and protect your health! Educating yourself on how to get properly tested is especially important. Make sure you test outside of the window period to ensure accurate results. Another way to improve testing accuracy is to utilize various testing methods, such as swabs, blood cultures, and urine cultures. While condoms greatly reduce transmission, it’s still possible to contract an STI even with condoms. Therefore, it’s important to get tested regularly, regardless of condom use and relationship status. Get informed, protect your health!

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 19). Condom Use: An Overview. https://www.cdc.gov/condom-use/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, March 7). Neurosyphilis, Ocular Syphilis, & Otosyphilis. https://www.cdc.gov/syphilis/hcp/neurosyphilis-ocular-syphilis-otosyphilis/index.html #:~:text=Infection%20of%20the%20visual%20system,of%20syphilis%20in%20a%20patient.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 22). Chlamydial Infections. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/chlamydia.htm.

Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 25). Gonorrhea. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4217-gonorrhea

Are you or is someone you know a breast cancer survivor?The Relationships and Health Lab at the University of British Co...
08/29/2026

Are you or is someone you know a breast cancer survivor?

The Relationships and Health Lab at the University of British Columbia is looking for female breast cancer survivors who are at least 3 months post-treatment to participate in a study exploring how relationships and stress affect immune and cardiovascular systems during survivorship.

You can participate individually or as a couple with your romantic partner. We are interested in relationships that are going well and those that are having difficulties.

Participation can be fully virtual or in-person and may involve:
• An online survey
• 7 days of brief daily surveys on a mobile app
• If participating as a couple, one 3-hour in-person visit OR one 2-hour virtual visit

Participants will be compensated for their time.

Interested in participating? Complete our screening survey through the link in our bio or here:
https://flex.redcap.ubc.ca/surveys/?s=7ARKAY3J3LNXY9AD

More information is available on our website:
https://mshrout.wixsite.com/research/couples-daily-health-study

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Are you or is someone you know a breast cancer survivor?The Relationships and Health Lab at the University of British Co...
08/12/2026

Are you or is someone you know a breast cancer survivor?

The Relationships and Health Lab at the University of British Columbia is looking for female breast cancer survivors who are at least 3 months post-treatment to participate in a study exploring how relationships and stress affect immune and cardiovascular systems during survivorship.

You can participate individually or as a couple with your romantic partner. ​We are interested in relationships that are going well and those that are having difficulties.

Participation can be fully virtual or in-person and may involve:
• An online survey
• 7 days of brief daily surveys on a mobile app
• If participating as a couple, one 3-hour in-person visit OR one 2-hour virtual visit

Participants will be compensated for their time.

Interested in participating? Complete our screening survey through the link in our bio or here:
https://flex.redcap.ubc.ca/surveys/?s=7ARKAY3J3LNXY9AD

More information is available on our website:
https://mshrout.wixsite.com/research/couples-daily-health-study

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Healthy relationships are shaped by a variety of factors that influence how partners connect, communicate, and grow toge...
08/08/2026

Healthy relationships are shaped by a variety of factors that influence how partners connect, communicate, and grow together. Relationship research suggests that trust, responsiveness, ongoing maintenance, adaptability, and respect for individuality all play important roles in relationship well-being.

Trust provides a foundation for emotional security, while communication and responsiveness help partners feel heard and understood. Relationships also require continued investment over time, and successfully navigating life transitions can strengthen resilience and commitment. At the same time, maintaining a sense of individuality contributes to a healthy balance between connection and independence.

Understanding these relationship dynamics can provide insight into the processes that support strong, satisfying, and enduring relationships.

Source:

Brenner, G. H. (2017, March 19). 14 dynamics in healthy relationships: Defining core principles brings clarity to a hazy subject. Psychology Today.

Winnie (she/her) is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student at the University of British Columbia, with a minor in Phil...
07/31/2026

Winnie (she/her) is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student at the University of British Columbia, with a minor in Philosophy. Her research interests center on health psychology and su***de, with a particular focus on how close relationships influence psychological and physical health, and how relational processes can buffer stress and promote well-being. She is especially interested in counselling psychology and relationship-based approaches to mitigating stress-related health outcomes. Outside of the lab, Winnie works as a crisis responder. She plans to pursue graduate studies in counselling or clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing guitar and singing, and making matcha lattes.

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