Julianne Holt-Lunstad facts for kids

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, born in 1971, is a well-known psychologist. She is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University. She is also a respected member of several important psychology groups.

About Julianne Holt-Lunstad

Her Early Life and Education

Julianne Holt-Lunstad was born in 1971 in Minneapolis, a city in the United States. She went to Brigham Young University for her first two degrees. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1994. Then, she completed her master's degree in 1998.

After that, she continued her studies at the University of Utah. She earned her Ph.D. from there in 2001. Soon after finishing her Ph.D., she became a professor. She joined the psychology department at Brigham Young University.

Understanding Her Research

Professor Holt-Lunstad studies psychology and neuroscience. Her main research looks at how our social connections affect our health. She studies how being connected to others helps us stay healthy. She also looks at how feeling lonely can affect our health over time.

She did a big study called a meta-analysis. This study combined results from many other studies. It looked at how loneliness and social isolation affect how long people live. Her research showed a clear link between loneliness and health problems.

Julianne Holt-Lunstad was the first researcher in the U.S. to publish studies. These studies connected poor social support to health issues. This means she was a pioneer in showing how important social connections are for our bodies.

Awards and Important Roles

Because of her important research, Professor Holt-Lunstad is highly respected. In 2017, she became a scientific advisor. She advised the Australian Coalition to End Loneliness. This group works to help people who feel lonely.

She has also been asked to speak to the United States Congress. She shared her research with the Special Committee on Aging. This shows how important her work is for public health.

In 2018, Brigham Young University gave her a special award. It was the Karl G. Maeser Research & Creative Arts Award. This award recognized her excellent research. She is also a fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. She is also a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Being a "fellow" means she is a leading expert in her field.