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The PATH Lab hosts a diverse range of research foci examining the way purpose in life manifests differently for every person and contributes to health and aging outcomes. Our talented team of researchers are always finding new ways to investigate purpose. Below, you will find a list of projects we are currently working on!
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Purpose & Identity Development
Purpose & Identity Development
Across multiple studies, samples, and ages, there is a robust connection between knowing who you are (your identity) and knowing where you want to go in life (your purpose). A portion of the PATH lab is dedicated to identifying connections between purposeful living and identity development.
PROJECT QUESTIONS:
PROJECT QUESTIONS:
How do people connect themselves to their life direction?
Can their identity unlock new paths to purpose?
How do minority identifications infuse our purpose journey with opportunities?
How do minority identifications influse this journey with risks?
How do discriminatory experiences present obstacles to purpose?
How do discriminatory experiences lead some to develop a purpose centered on social activism?
Primary Investigators: Mary Cox, Megan Wolk, and Jenn Beatty
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Aging Purposefully
Aging Purposefully
Our research in purpose and aging examines how one's sense of purpose can promote aging and development across the lifespan.
PROJECT QUESTIONS
PROJECT QUESTIONS
What are the longitudinal and developmental trajectories for sense of purpose across the lifespan?
How do people shift their purposefulness across their lifetimes?
How do people's future time perspectives (how much time they think they have left to pursue opportunities or goals) influence their wellbeing, development, and capacity to feel purpose-driven?
What benefits can being purposeful have on aging, including cognitive resilience, wellbeing, and health?
Primary Investigators: Kyrsten Hill, Payton Rule, and Megan Wolk
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Transitions in Life and Purpose
Our research investigates how major life transitions shape identity development and a sense of purpose, with a particular focus on the college years.
PROJECT QUESTIONS
PROJECT QUESTIONS
How do campus environments afford opportunities for exploration, belonging, and meaning-making?
How do institutional spaces, norms, and resources support students’ developing identities?
How might access to purposeful roles and experiences during transitions promote well-being and adaptive development over time?
Primary Investigators: Mary Cox, Pat Hill
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Health and Community Identity
Health and Community Identity
Our research in community identity and health explores how health is shaped by racial identity within broader social and structural contexts. Guided by themes of collective care, resilience, and resistance to extractive systems, our work conceptualizes health as something nurtured through everyday practices, community engagement, and shared resources.
PROJECT QUESTIONS
PROJECT QUESTIONS
How do individuals and communities respond to racialized stressors in ways that promote well-being and sustainability?
How do experiences of racial identity inform health-related behaviors and coping over time?
How might values rooted in activism and mutual care support healthier lives in the face of persistent inequities?
Primary Investigators: Mary Cox, Judy Kwak, and Megan Wolk
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