149 - Jenna Wells: How Micro-Moments of Connection Shape Health and Happiness

This week, Enna chats with Dr. Jenna Wells, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University. Jenna’s research examines how emotion in close relationships contributes to mental and physical health over the life course, with a focus on late life. She is particularly interested in positive interpersonal processes and their associations with long-term health and well-being in individuals and dyads.

In our conversation, Jenna shares her journey from aspiring therapist to emotion researcher, the story behind how she began to study positivity resonance, and what we can all do to navigate conflict with warmth and cultivate more emotional connection in our lives.

Jenna’s Website: https://psychology.cornell.edu/jenna-wells

Jenna’s Twitter: @JennaLWells

Jenna’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennalwells 

Jenna’s Paper: https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000385 

Enna’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ennayuxuanchen/ 

Enna’s Twitter: @EnnaYuxuanChen

Podcast Contact: stanfordpsychpodcast@gmail.com 

Podcast Twitter: @StanfordPsyPod

Podcast Substack: https://stanfordpsypod.substack.com/ 

Podcast Contact: stanfordpsychpodcast@gmail.com