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Timothy J. Loving

Timothy J. Loving

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Breakup of a dating relationship significantly predicts incidence of first major depression. Becoming married increases men’s, but not women’s, life expectancy. Hostile marital interactions delay the rate at which wounds heal. These are just a few examples of the profound impact close relationships have on individuals’ physical and mental health. Yet, a complete understanding of the psychological and physiological mechanisms underlying such effects remains elusive. My research has contributed to knowledge concerning the features of close relationships that affect the health of individuals and their personal relationships by focusing on two primary areas of study: (1) social networks and the prediction of the fate of romantic relationships, and (2) the psychophysiology of personal relationships. I have used a variety of methods to study these topics, including experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal and physiological assessments methods.

Primary Interests:

  • Close Relationships
  • Health Psychology
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Neuroscience, Psychophysiology
  • Research Methods, Assessment

Research Group or Laboratory:

Books:

  • Campbell, L., & Loving, T. J. (Eds). (2012). Interdisciplinary research on close relationships: The case for integration. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  • Lewandowski, G. L., Loving, T. J., Le, B., & Gleason, M. E. J. (Eds). (2013). The science of relationships: Answers to your questions about dating, marriage, and family. Holmdel, NJ: Dr. L Industries, LLC.

Journal Articles:

  • Agnew, C. R., Loving, T. J., & Drigotas, S. M. (2001). Substituting the forest for the trees: Social networks and the prediction of romantic relationship state and fate. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 1042-1057.
  • Jaremka, L.M., Glaser, R., Loving, T. J., Malarkey, W. B., Stowell, J., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2013). Attachment anxiety is linked to alterations in cortisol production and cellular immunity. Psychological Science, 24, 272-279.
  • Keneski, E., Schoenfeld, E. A., & Loving, T. J. (in press). Individual differences in the relationship transition context: Links to physiological outcomes. Journal of Personality.
  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Loving, T. J., Stowell, J. R., Malarkey, W. B., Lemeshow, S., Dickinson, S., & Glaser, R. (2005). Hostile marital interactions, proinflammatory cytokine production, and wound healing. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 1377-1384.
  • Le, B., Loving, T. J., Lewandowski, G. L., Feinberg, E. G., Johnson, K. C., Fiorentino, R., & Ing, J. (2008). Missing a romantic partner: A prototype analysis. Personal Relationships, 15, 511-532.
  • Loving, T. J. (2006). Predicting dating relationship fate with insiders’ and outsiders’ perspectives: Who and what is asked matters. Personal Relationships, 13, 349-362.
  • Loving, T. J., & Agnew, C. R. (2001). Socially desirable responding in close relationships: A dual-component approach and measure. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 18, 551-573.
  • Loving, T. J., & Campbell, L. (2011). Mind-body connections in personal relationships: What close relationships researchers have to offer. Personal Relationships, 18, 165-169.
  • Loving, T. J., Crockett, E. E., & Paxson, A. A. (2009). Passionate love and relationship thinkers: Experimental evidence for acute cortisol elevations in women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34, 939-946.
  • Loving, T. J., Gleason, M. E. J., & Pope, M. T. (2009). Transition novelty moderates daters’ cortisol responses when talking about marriage. Personal Relationships, 16, 187-203.
  • Loving, T. J., Heffner, K. L., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Glaser, R., & Malarkey, W. B. (2004). Stress hormone changes and marital conflict: Spouses’ relative power makes a difference. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 594-611.
  • Schoenfeld, E. A., & Loving, T. J. (2013). I do…do you? Dependence and biological sex moderate daters’ cortisol responses when accommodating a partner’s thoughts about marriage. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 88, 325-333.
  • Smith, A., Loving, T. J., Crockett, E. E., & Campbell, L. (2009). What’s closeness got to do with it? Men’s and women’s cortisol responses when providing and receiving support. Psychosomatic Medicine.

Other Publications:

  • Loving, T. J., Heffner, K. L., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2006). Physiology and interpersonal relationships. In A. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.), Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships (385-405). New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Loving, T. J., & Wright, B. L. (2012). Eustress in romantic relationships. In L. Campbell & J. LaGuardia (Eds.), The Science of the Couple: The Ontario Symposium, Vol. 12 (pp. 169-184). New York: Psychology Press.

Timothy J. Loving
Human Development and Family Sciences
1 University Station
Box A2702
Austin, Texas 78712
United States of America

  • Phone: (512) 471-0973
  • Fax: (512) 471-8662

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