Health Science Journal

Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Judith P. Andersen interested in the psychosocial and biological mechanisms by which adverse experiences impact health across the lifespan. I examine the role of environmental and psychological factors that moderate the relationship between adversity and health, and how these factors may vary among traditionally under-represented groups.  In pursing these research questions, I have studied the impact of severe stress on health among individuals who have experienced adversity such as combat, terrorist attacks, sexual and physical abuse, and personal loss. We are creating several resilience based psychosocial interventions to address physical and mental health issues associated with severe chronic stress. We are applying these interventions community settings and with groups such as emergency workers and first responders.

Romantic relationships, Sexual minority couples, Recruitment exclusion, Health, Biopsychosocial health psychology; severe stress; mental and physical health; trauma, psychophysiology; LGBT health; posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic illnes