I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Georgia before completing my master's degree in Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Arizona. Currently, I am a Graduate Student studying Clinical Psychology under the advisement of Dave Sbarra, Ph.D. and Emily Butler, Ph.D. 

Research Interests: 

• How our social world influences our health
• How interpersonal processes influence the psychological and physical wellbeing of both individuals and dyads over time, as well as the potential bidirectional nature of this relationship.
• Utilizing advanced quantitative methods, including multilevel modeling and Bayesian statistics.
• Examining autonomic physiological linkage (i.e., any form of statistical interdependence between the physiological signals of interacting partners) among romantic partners and strangers - with an emphasis on understanding mechanisms, context-dependency, and non-linear modeling of this phenomenon.
• Translating findings from relationship science to develop new interventions that promote mental, physical, and relational wellbeing among couples and families. 

My research focuses on a central question: How does our social world influence our health? 

More specifically, I am interested in how interpersonal processes influence the psychological and physical wellbeing of both individuals and dyads over time as well as the potential bidirectional nature of this relationship. In pursuit of this work, I utilize advanced quantitative methods, including multilevel modeling and Bayesian statistics. Over the past several years, I have examined autonomic physiological linkage (i.e., any form of statistical interdependence between the physiological signals of interacting partners) among romantic partners and strangers, with an emphasis on understanding mechanisms, context-dependency, and non-linear modeling of this phenomenon. In my clinical work, I am interested in translating findings from relationship science to develop new interventions that promote mental, physical, and relational wellbeing among couples and families.

Selected Publications: 

PHYSIOLOGICAL LINKAGE:

• Li, X., Kuelz, A., Boyd, S.M., August, K., Markey, C., & Butler, E. (2020). Exploring physiological linkage in same-sex male couples. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 3951. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.619255
• Boyd, S.M., Kuelz, A., Butler, E.A., Page-Gould, E., & Danyluck, C. An exploratory study of physiological linkage among strangers. Submitted for review. 

STATISTICS:

• Boyd, S.M., Lee, L., & Sbarra, D.A. Multilevel models. Entry to appear in B. Frey, Encyclopedia of Research Design. New York: Wiley Publications. Accepted for publication. 
• Kuelz, A., Boyd, S.M., & Butler, E.A. Close TIES in relationships: A nonlinear approach to modeling physiological linkage and interpersonal dynamics. Submitted for review. 

COUPLES HEALTH:

• vanDellen, M.R., Boyd, S.M., Ranby, K. W., & Beam L.B. (2016). Successes and failures in resisting cigarettes affect partner support for smoking cessation. Psychology and Health. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2016.1255945
• vanDellen, M.R., Boyd, S.M., Ranby, K. W., MacKillop, J., & Lipkus, I. M. (2015). Willingness to provide support for a quit attempt: A study of partners of smokers. Journal of Health Psychology. doi: 10.1177/1359105314567209

RELATED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

• Boyd, S.M., Yee, C.I., Kuelz, A., Shiota, M.N., & Butler, E.A. (2019, September). Estimating patterns of physiological linkage utilizing the new R package, rties. Poster presented at the Society of Psychophysiological Research, Washington, D.C.

Courses Taught: 

• PSYC 383 - Health Psychology (2021)
• PSY 483A - Developmental Psychology

• FSHD 117 - Lifespan Development
• FSHD 450 - Human Sexuality 
• FSHD 496Z - Social Justice and Healthcare  
• FSHD 537L - Introductory Graduate Statistics Laboratory

Updated: 07/14/22