Jon D. Elhai

Jon D. Elhai is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toledo, with a joint appointment in Neurosciences and Psychiatry. His research focuses on cyberpsychology, internet addictions, and problematic smartphone/social media use. He previously studied PTSD and trauma but now emphasizes technology's psychological impacts. Dr. Elhai holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (2000) from Nova Southeastern University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. He teaches courses on abnormal psychology, research design, and advanced data analysis.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 2000
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, PTSD Assessment and Treatment, Medical University of South Carolina, 2002
• Research Interests: Cyberpsychology, internet addiction, fear of missing out (FOMO), digital mental health, and behavioral addictions.
• Affiliations: Anxiety and Stress Lab, University of Toledo; Elhai Psychological Consultants, LLC.
• Students: Advises graduate students on theses and dissertations, with a focus on technology use and mental health. Notable advisees include Elyse Hutcheson, Rachel Bond, and Caleb Hallauer.
• Collaborations: Works with global researchers including Ahmad Alghraibeh (King Saud University), Cherie Armour (Queen’s University Belfast), and Christian Montag (University of Macau).
• Teaching: Courses include abnormal psychology, psychological assessment, and R programming for data analysis.

Dr. Elhai’s 400+ publications span cyberpsychology and PTSD research. He occasionally serves as a forensic expert witness in legal cases involving PTSD diagnoses. His work appears in journals like Journal of Affective Disorders and Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health. Personal interests include Mandarin language learning, travel (e.g., China, Europe), and collecting mechanical watches.