معرفی
Dr. Austen Anderson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. He leads the Lifestyle, Environment, and Flourishing (LEAF) Lab, which focuses on studying how lifestyle choices impact mental health and well-being through quantitative and qualitative research. His work emphasizes daily diary methods, longitudinal studies, and the integration of lifestyle medicine perspectives into psychological treatment.
Dr. Anderson holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami (2019) and a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young University (2012). His research interests include lifestyle behaviors (diet, exercise, nature engagement), social interaction effects, and the role of nature in mental health. He has published extensively on topics such as sleep patterns, depression-social functioning links, and the benefits of outdoor activities.
His lab supports a diverse team of doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students, with active projects on aging populations, athlete mental health, and virtue ethics. Dr. Anderson teaches courses on counseling theories, practicum experiences, and developmental psychology. He is also developing behavioral intervention manuals for veterans' nature engagement and collaborates with clinical settings like the VA system.
Key research trends in his publications highlight the bi-directional relationships between social behaviors and mental health, the moderating role of environmental factors, and the application of diary methods to understand daily life dynamics. The LEAF Lab’s work underscores the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors in promoting well-being across diverse populations.
