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The Health Behavior Change Research Lab is directed by Barbara Stetson, Ph.D. a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in health psychology. Our lab is within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville and we are housed with other health psychology research groups in Lutz Hall. The HBCL provides clinical research training for students in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Louisville. Undergraduate students and students from other programs also volunteer as Research Assistants on specific research projects.                                                                                                                                            

Our lab also reflects the contributions of an interdisciplinary group of collaborators from the Department of Medicine and other Colleges within the university. Our lab provides a behavioral medicine perspective with interdisciplinary approaches to studying the intersection of behavioral, social and environmental influences in health and disease. Our interests and work include the evaluation of assessment approaches for studying health and behavior and providing evidence for key influences and mechanisms of action on disease prevention approaches to improving management of chronic health conditions and increasing well-being and optimal approaches to patient-centered care.

Our research focuses on health-related behavior change at the community, medical setting and individual levels. An emphasis is on psychological aspects of living with chronic disease, self-care behaviors, and promotion of functional status and quality of life. Of particular interest is diabetes self-care and education. A related research area is risk reduction and physical activity and promotion of functional status and well-being. An associated area of work is the evaluation of evidence-based approaches to teaching community leaders and health care providers optimal strategies to promote environmental and behavioral change. Our primary work is with adult and senior populations.