Ubuntu Family Health Psychology Research Center
Understanding what helps couples, children, and families adapt, connect, and thrive.
The Ubuntu Family Health Psychology Research Center is an independent, faith-informed research center founded and directed by Dr. Yolanda Adwoa, PhD. Grounded in health psychology and family systems research, the lab examines how physical health, psychological well-being, and relationships shape one another within everyday family life.
My research centers on families of diverse cultural backgrounds navigating medical complexity, chronic health conditions, neurodivergence, disability, and caregiving. This includes families raising children with additional needs, parents and spouses living with their own health conditions, and couples caring for a family member together. Attention extends to caregivers, siblings, couple relationships, and the well-being of the whole family.
The work explores the everyday experiences that can receive too little attention: staying connected as a couple, supporting siblings, navigating food and mealtimes, managing financial strain, and balancing caregiving with each person’s needs. It also considers how families experience stress, life transitions, and relationship challenges beyond the context of a diagnosis.
Using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, the lab examines both the demands families carry and the resources that help them adapt—including faith, social support, cultural context, and family strengths. The goal is to build knowledge that informs meaningful support for couples, children, parents, and families.
“When families are well, truly well, everything changes.”
— Dr. Adwoa
Featured Study
The Family Beyond the Diagnosis
Working title
Childhood, caregiving, and family adaptation in
medical complexity
A child’s diagnosis is part of a larger family story. Alongside medical care come relationships, routines, financial responsibilities, and each family member's psychological well-being.
This mixed-methods study explores how families navigate childhood medical complexity, with attention to caregiving experiences, family adaptation, emotional and relational well-being, financial strain, and sources of support.
The study seeks to understand both the challenges families experience and the strengths they draw upon in everyday life.
Status: IRB application in progress.
Anticipated data collection: 2027, pending IRB approval.
Recruitment: Not yet open.
Research in Progress & Development
Caregiving and Social Support in Families of Color
Working title: Caregiving Scoping Review
A scoping review examining caregiver burden in families of color and the role of social support.
The review considers what existing research reveals about caregiving demands, available resources, and gaps in understanding and support.
Status: In preparation.
Disability, Parenthood & Social Expectations
Working title
A collaborative critical narrative autoethnography exploring experiences of disability and parenthood in relation to social expectations.
Status: In preparation with collaborators.
Multilevel Determinants of Diet-Related Behaviors in Youth of Color with Autism and/or IDD
A scoping review examining the factors that shape diet-related behaviors among youth of color with autism and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The review considers influences across individual, family, community, and broader social contexts.
Collaboration: Cornell University.
Status: In progress.
Home Front: Military Couples and Families Navigating Disability
Working title
A scoping review examining how military couples and families adapt when disability is part of family life. This includes a child’s disability, a service member’s or spouse’s disability or service-connected condition, and family caregiving responsibilities.
The review focuses on communication, couple connection, family functioning, and sources of support and strength across military life.
Status: In preparation.
Dissertation Manuscript Series
Food, Motherhood & Psychological Well-Being
This manuscript series develops findings from Dr. Adwoa's PhD dissertation research on food attitudes and social-ecological factors associated with the psychological health of Black mothers in the United States.
Manuscripts in preparation address:
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Food Attitudes & Maternal Well-Being: Relationships between food attitudes and psychological well-being.
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Weight Concern & Mental Health: The potential role of weight concern in the relationship between food behaviors and mental health.
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The Mental Health of Black Mothers: Patterns of psychological well-being across four U.S. regions.
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Rethinking Mental Health Models: Interpretation of findings concerning social support and socioeconomic status, including their implications and the limits of the study.
Status: Manuscripts in preparation. Titles are provisional.
Future Research Directions
“We Still Choose Each Other”: Couple Intimacy and Health in Families Raising a Child with a Disability
Proposed study; working title
This proposed study would explore how couples across cultural backgrounds sustain emotional, physical, and relational intimacy while raising a child with a disability.
Grounded in a strengths-based family systems perspective, the study would examine communication, shared coping, and the intentional ways couples maintain connection amid caregiving demands.
Student Research Opportunities
I welcome inquiries from college students interested in gaining research experience in family health, caregiving, and psychological well-being.
Internship opportunities are anticipated in 2028.
Inquire About Joining the Lab
Participate in a Study
Interested in contributing to research on family health and psychological well-being?
We email studies open for recruitment to those who inquire; this includes eligibility requirements, participation details, and contact information. Families, couples, and individuals are welcome to inquire about upcoming opportunities.
The Family Beyond the Diagnosis is not yet recruiting. We will post recruitment information after IRB approval.
Ask About Future Research Participation
Stay Connected
Explore the blog for reflections on faith, family, and health psychology, or join the book club for reading and conversation.
For research inquiries and potential collaborations, please get in touch.
