Research Interests

I am interested in how adults across the life-span respond to stressful life experiences that can threaten health and well-being. This research is based on the premise that individual differences in personal agency and motivation govern successful adaptation during these difficult junctures. I focus on the role of core motivation processes, including personal beliefs (perceived control, attributions, expectations), discrete emotions (hope, excitement, regret), and behaviors (goal engagement strategies). I am also interested in applications of motivation theory. My focus is on developing interventions to foster health and well-being for those who struggle during stressful life transitions.

This research has been featured in scientific journals that include Psychological Science, Motivation Science, Emotion, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Psychology and Aging, and The Journals of Gerontology among others.

 

Please note that this page is not updated regularly. For up-to-date information on my current research, please see my lab website: https://sites.google.com/view/hamm-mhad-lab/home