Meredith Chivers

Meredith Chivers is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University. Her research focuses on sexual attraction, response, and functioning, particularly examining gender and sex influences. She leads the Sage Lab and holds academic appointments in clinical psychology. Chivers earned her B.Sc. from the University of Guelph (1995), M.A. (2000), and Ph.D. (2003) from Northwestern University.

Her research investigates neurocognitive factors in sexual response, sexual concordance, and the impact of menstrual cycles on hormonal responses. Notable work includes studies on gender-specific arousal patterns, mindfulness-based interventions for sexual disorders, and cross-cultural variations in sexual orientation. Chivers has contributed to debates on sexual essentialism, emphasizing women’s sexual pleasure and dismantling gendered assumptions.

Recent studies explore psychosexual distress in cancer survivors, therapeutic efficacy of mindfulness, and measurement validity in paraphilic disorders. Her work bridges clinical practice and theoretical frameworks, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Chivers advises on sexual health policy and contributes to evidence-based guidelines for sexual dysfunction treatments.

Key collaborations include randomized controlled trials for female sexual arousal disorders and development of standardized sexual stimuli protocols. Her lab focuses on translating neurocognitive findings into clinical applications, addressing gaps in understanding women’s sexual health.