Lauren M. Papp

Lauren M. Papp is a Professor in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she has been a faculty member since 2006. She serves as Associate Dean for Research in the School of Human Ecology and chairs the University Committee. Her research focuses on intimate relationships, family dynamics, and their impacts on development across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on physiological synchrony, conflict resolution, and health outcomes. She leads the UW Couples Lab and collaborates on studies involving autism spectrum disorders and prescription drug misuse.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, University of Notre Dame
• Clinical Psychology Internship, Northwestern University
• MA in Psychology, University of Notre Dame
• BS in Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Research Interests: Dr. Papp’s work integrates daily-life assessments to study family and couple interactions. Key themes include marital conflict’s effects on children, breastfeeding’s long-term impacts, opioid misuse prevention, and autism spectrum disorder’s influence on family dynamics. Her studies often utilize physiological measures like cortisol levels to quantify stress and connection.

Grants & Advising: She has secured NIH funding through her role on the PDRP study section and mentors both undergraduate and graduate students in lab-based research. Her lab focuses on translating findings into interventions addressing societal issues like mental health and family well-being.

Labs/Teams: Director of the UW Couples Lab, collaborating with researchers like Sigan Hartley to advance understanding of family systems in health contexts.