Spirituality and Health Lab

Dr. Pérez’s primary research interest in exploring how spirituality and religiousness influence mental and physical health across the lifespan. He is particularly interested in the ways people use religious or spiritual resources (e.g., prayer, meditation, support from religious community) to cope with chronic illness and stressful life events. A related research interest focuses on identifying the cognitive, social, and cultural mechanisms that buffer high-risk individuals against major depression. Across both of these research domains, Dr. Pérez examines the strengths and needs of low-income, multicultural populations, especially Latinos.