Carsten Wrosch, Ph.D.
(Ph.D. Psychology 1997; Free University of Berlin)

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Concordia University

7141 Sherbrooke Street, West
Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6

Tel: 514-848-2424 ext. 2231
E-mail: Carsten.Wrosch@Concordia.ca

Research Lab: Personality, Aging and Health Lab

Website: Wrosch Lab Website

Our research indentifies pathways to successful living across the adult lifespan. We examine from a self-regulation perspective how people can adjust to challenging life circumstances and prevent the adverse consequences on their psychological, biological, and physical health (e.g., depression, cortisol dysregulation, or chronic disease). This research program integrates theories from personality, developmental, and health psychology, and is based on the premise that there are reliable individual differences in people’s personality processes that determine the quality of life of individuals who confront problematic life situations.

Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span development. Psychological Review, 117, 32-60. DOI: 10.1037/a0017668

Wrosch, C., & Miller, G. E. (2009). Depressive symptoms can be useful: Self-regulatory and emotional benefits of dysphoric mood in adolescence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 1181-1190. DOI: 10.1037/a0015172

Wrosch, C., Miller, G. E., Lupien, S., & Pruessner, J. C. (2008). Diurnal cortisol secretion and 2-year changes in older adults’ acute physical symptoms: The moderating roles of negative affect and sleep. Health Psychology, 27, 685-693. DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.27.6.685

Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2008). Health engagement control strategies and 2-year changes in older adults’ physical health. Psychological Science, 19, 537-541. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02120.x