Brian N. Chin
Social–health psychologist and human behavioral neuroscientist studying relationships, sleep, and stress
About
I am a social–health psychologist and human behavioral neuroscientist focused on how relationships influence stress and sleep through brain-body interaction. My work links attachment, stress, and pet guardianship to autonomic and circadian regulation.I direct the Social & Behavioral Health Lab, where students lead projects in human-animal interaction, psychophysiology, sleep, and emotion regulation. We use HRV, actigraphy, salivary assays, and feasible experimental designs that fit a small college environment. My work appears in peer-reviewed journals and public outlets like The Conversation.I am an award-winning teacher-scholar, recognized by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine, Carnegie Mellon University, and Trinity College.My lab supports students across identity, citizenship, and experience, with a focus on equity, co-authorship, and open science.Impact Snapshot (as of June 2025):
• 1,590+ citations | h-index: 14 | i10-index: 16 (Google Scholar)
• 160,000+ readers via The Conversation and affiliated outlets
• Articles republished and featured by Scientific American, Business Insider, Yahoo! News, Chicago Sun-Times, and others; cited by TIME
Currently Working On
Recipient of the 2025 SAGE Early Career Trajectory Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Our study on pet attachment and mental health, co-authored with undergraduate Betsy Orlando, was selected as an Editor’s Choice article in Human–Animal Interactions. Read the journal feature!
A student co-authored manuscript from a grant-funded study examining whether imagined pet touch buffers stress more effectively than imagined pet presence just published in Human–Animal Interactions.
An SPSSI-funded study on socioeconomic disparities in veterinary care decision-making and links to caregiver mental health.
An accessible, accelerated online course in research methods and statistics — see a curated sample of lab assignments here
Selected Publications
A sampling of recent peer-reviewed articles. Undergraduate student mentees are indicated with an asterisk (*). Full list available in CV.
*Fung, H. L., *Lowe, K., & Chin, B. N. (2025). Loneliness and insomnia in a representative sample of United States adults: Investigating the effects of age, sex, and depression. Cogent Psychology, 12(1).
*Orlando, E. M. & Chin, B. N. (2025). Human-animal bonds and mental health: Examining the roles of bond strength, interactions, and attachment security. Human-Animal Interactions, 13(1), 0005.
Chin, B. N., *Singh, T., & *Carothers, A. (2024) Co-sleeping with pets, stress, and sleep in a nationally-representative sample of United States adults. Scientific Reports, 14, 5577.
*Kinsella, J. E. & Chin, B. N. (2024). Mechanisms linking social media use and sleep in emerging adults. Behavioral Sciences, 14(9), 794.
Chin, B. N., *Kim, L., Parsons, S., & Feeney, B. C. (2024). Attachment orientation and preferences for partner emotional responses in stressful and positive situations. Behavioral Sciences, 14(1), 77.
Chin, B. N., Kamarck, T. W., Kraut, R. E., Zhao, S., Hong, J. I., & *Ding, E. Y. (2023). Longitudinal associations of social support, everyday social interactions, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(5), 1579-1600.
*Marcial-Modesto, D., Chin, B. N., Casserly, E. D., Parsons, S. M., & Feeney, B. C. (2023). Pet ownership and mental health in United States adults during COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1217059.
Chin, B. N. & Feeney, B. C. (2022). Physiological bases of secure base support-provision in a longitudinal study of married older adult couples. Psychophysiology, e14044.
Public-Facing Writing
Chin, B. N. (2025, July 25). The 3 worst things you can say after a pet dies, and what to say instead. The Conversation.
Chin, B. N. (2025, May 16). Touch can comfort and heal, but also harm – a psychologist explains why gestures don’t always land as intended. The Conversation.
Chin, B. N. (2025, April 8). Social media before bedtime wreaks havoc on our sleep – a sleep researcher explains why screens alone aren’t the main culprit. The Conversation.
Chin, B. N. (2025, February 28). Just having a pet doesn't help mental health – but pet-owners with secure relationships with their pets are less depressed. The Conversation.
Chin, B. N. (2024, April 3). Could sharing a bedroom with your pets be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep? The Conversation.
More About My Work