John Perez
Dr. Perez’s primary research interest is to understand how spirituality and religiousness influence mental 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 depression. His work is based on social cognitive theory and utilizes cognitive-behavioral interventions. Across both of these research domains, Dr. Perez is committed to enhancing the welfare of low-income, multicultural populations, especially Latinos. Currently, Dr. Perez and his students in the Spirituality and Health Lab are examining the types of prayer that people use to cope with stressful situations and looking at which types of prayer may be beneficial (or harmful) to mental health and well-being.
Recent research
* The role of personal agency beliefs and coping style in mediating the relation between spirituality and depressive symptoms among adolescents
* The relation between religious/spiritual coping, depression, and utilization of health services among welfare mothers and their daughters
* Pain, distress, and social support in relation to spiritual beliefs and experiences among persons living with HIV/AIDS
* Spiritual growth, acceptance, and depression among adults with HIV/AIDS
Teaching
Graduate Courses:
Psych 602: Testing and Assessment II
Psych 612: Developmental Psychopathology II
Undergraduate Courses:
Psych 215: Abnormal Psychology
Phone: 617-287-6434
Fax: 617-287-6336
E-mail: john.perez@umb.edu
Office Hours: Tu, Th 11:30-12:30