Brian Don
- Assistant Professor
- Human Development & Family Sciences
Contact Information
Biography
Dr. Brian Don is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Social-Health Psychologist who studies intimate relationships and families. Dr. Don comes to UT Austin after serving for 2.75 years as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Auckland, where he continues to hold an appointment as an Honourary Senior Lecturer. He completed his Ph.D. at Kent State University in Social-Health Psychology, and Postdoctoral Fellowships at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The University of California, San Francisco.
Research
Dr. Don conducts research at the intersection of relationship, affective, and family science to uncover ways in which relationships and families can thrive. Dr Don's research focuses on 4 core areas: (1) Positive affective processes in relationships and families, or how positive emotions and interactions play a central role in the long-term functioning of these relationships, and the mental and physical wellness of the individuals involved. (2) The transition to parenthood among intimate couples, or how having a child in the context of an intimate dyad has an influence on the relationship of the new parent couple. (3) Meditation and mindfulness in relationships, or how meditation can be used as a tool for transforming relationships and families. (4) Social support seeking and provision in close relationships, or how people help each other in times of need.
In his work, Dr. Don and his collaborators implement a variety of methods, including lab-based observational studies, longitudinal methods, psychophysiological methods, and randomized controlled trials.
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Health Psychology, University of California, San Francisco
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Social Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Ph.D., Social-Health Psychology, Kent State University
- B.A., Psychology, Kenyon College (Highest Honors)
Publications
Selected Publications
Don, B. P., Simpson, J. A., Fredrickson, B. L. & Algoe, S. B. (2025) Interparental Positivity Spillover Theory: How Parents’ Positive Relational Interactions Influence Children. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 20, 639–668. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231220626
Don, B. P. & Ferrer, R. (2025). A boost to relational value: Examining how partner expressions of gratitude contribute to self-esteem in close relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02654075251325431
Don, B. P. Gordon, A. M. & Mendes, W. B. (2024). The good, the bad, and the variable: Examining stress and blood pressure responses to close relationships. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 15, 255–263. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506231156018
Don, B. P., Eller, J., Simpson, J. A., Fredrickson, B. L., Algoe, S. B., Rholes, S. W., Mickelson, K. D. (2022) New parental positivity: The role of positive emotions in promoting relational adjustment during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 123, 84–106. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000371
Don, B. P., Fredrickson, B. L. & Algoe, S. B. (2022). Enjoying the sweet moments: Does approach motivation upwardly enhance reactivity to positive interpersonal processes? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 122, 1022-1055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000312
Don, B. P., Roubinov, D., Puterman, E. & Epel, E. S. (2022). The role of interparental relationship variability in parent-child interactions: Results from a sample of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and mothers with neurotypical children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 84, 982-1001. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jomf.12852
Don, B. P., Van Cappellen, P. & Fredrickson, B. L. (2022) Training in mindfulness or loving-kindness meditation is associated with lower variability in social connectedness across time. Mindfulness, 13, 1173–1184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01856-0
West, T. N., Don. B. P., Fredrickson, B. L. (2022) Attachment insecurity moderates emotion responses to mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation in adults raised in low socioeconomic status households. Emotion, 22, 1101–1118. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001049
Don, B. P., Van Cappellen, P. & Fredrickson, B. L. (2021). Understanding engagement in and affective experiences during physical activity: The role of meditation interventions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 83, 592-601. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000909
Don B. P., Algoe, S. B. & Fredrickson, B. L. (2021). Does meditation training alter social approach and avoidance goals? Evidence from a randomized intervention study of midlife adults. Mindfulness, 12, 582–593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01517-0
Don, B. P., & Algoe, S. B. (2020). Impermanence in relationships: Trait mindfulness attenuates the negative personal consequences of everyday dips in relationship satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37, 2419-2437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407520921463
Don, B. P.*, Girme, Y. U.*, Hammond, M. D. (2019). Low self-esteem predicts indirect support seeking and its relationship consequences in intimate relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45, 1028-1041. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218802837
Don, B. P. & Hammond, M. D. (2017). Social support in intimate relationships: The role of relationship autonomy. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43, 1112-1124. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217705119
Don, B.P. & Mickelson, K. D (2014). Relationship satisfaction trajectories across the transition to parenthood among low-risk parents. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76, 684–699. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12111
Don, B.P. & Mickelson, K. D. (2012). Paternal postpartum depression: The role of maternal postpartum depression spousal support and relationship satisfaction. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1, 323-334. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029148
*indicates shared first-authorship
Current Advisees
Hailey Wooten (Ph.D. Student - University of Texas at Austin)
Tara Carville (Masters Student - University of Auckland)
Jamela Ferguson (Honour's Student - University of Auckland)
Arshee Karim (Honour's Student - University of Auckland)
Michael Mayhew (Honour's Student - University of Auckland)