Social Psychology & Health Research Lab
SPHERE - Social Psychology and HEalth REsearch Lab.
About the SPHERE Lab
The SPHERE Lab consists of a team of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate student researchers examining how individuals’ beliefs and motivations interact with the social environment to influence their health and intergroup perceptions.
Within the health domain, we apply social psychological theories to: 1) understand how people view their health, 2) examine predictors of health behaviors, and 3) gain insight into health-related help seeking.
Our recent work within the area of intergroup perceptions focuses on the zero-sum perspective, a win-lose competitive mindset where people believe that one group’s gains coincide with another group’s losses. For example, believing that as women gain social status, men lose social status. We study this mindset within various contexts, including sexism, racism, and antisemitism. A related concept that we study is social comparison within interpersonal and performance contexts.
To learn more about current projects see our Meet the Research Team section and Publications, Grants, and Presentations section.
Prospective Graduate Students & Undergraduate Research Assistants
Interested in joining the SPHERE Lab? Both graduate students and undergraduate research assistants are involved in the SPHERE Lab. Graduate students interested in conducting research in our lab’s areas of expertise are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Ruthig about potential mentorship before applying to our graduate programs. Prospective undergraduate research assistants who are motivated, dependable, hard-working students with plans for continuing with graduate education should also reach out to Dr. Ruthig about any lab openings.
Meet the Team
Lab Director
- joelle.ruthig@UND.edu
- 701.777.3533
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Columbia Hall Room 2101
Grand Forks ND 58203-8380
Faculty Collaborators
- ethan.dahl@UND.edu
- 701.777.3139
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Education Building Room 378
Grand Forks ND 58202-7189
Graduate Student Advisees
- Gracynn Young: Experimental Psychology PhD Student
- Riley Pelowski: Clinical Psychology PhD Student
Graduate Student Collaborators
- Brogan Lommen-Solig: Counseling Psychology PhD Student
- Jessica van Bree: Experimental Psychology PhD Student
- Madison Adrian: Experimental Psychology PhD Student
Former Graduate Advisees
- Dr. Abigail Kroke: Assistant Professor, Psychology - University of Illinois - Springfield
- Dr. Karen Bernhardt (Vanderzanden): Research Analyst - University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Dr. Harpa Jondottir: Assistant Professor, Psychology - University of Iceland
- Dr. Nicole Haverstock: Assistant Professor, Clinical Health Psychology - University of Manitoba
- Dr. Kelly Jones: Assistant Professor, Psychology - Limestone College
- Dr. Kylee Heston: Clinical Psychologist - Lipp, Carlson, Witucki & Associates
- Dr. Wendy Swokel (Fisher): Data Scientist - University of North Dakota, University Analytics & Planning
Publications, Grants, and Presentations
Stewart, T. L., Schumann, M. E., & Ruthig, J. C. (2025). Development and validation of a scale to assess the belief that “age causes illness”. Psychology and Health, 40, 1143-1155.
Kroke, A. M., & Ruthig, J. C. (2024). Conspiracy beliefs predicting health behaviors: An integration of the theory of planned behavior and health belief model. Current Psychology, 43, 7959-7973.
Kroke, A. M., & Ruthig, J. C. (2022). Conspiracy beliefs and the impact on health behaviors. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 14, 311-328.
Jonsdottir, H., & Ruthig, J. C. (2021). A longitudinal study of the negative impact of falling on health, well-being, and survival in later life: The protective role of perceived control. Aging and Mental Health, 24, 742-748.
Haverstock, N., Ruthig, J. C., & Chipperfield, J. G. (2020). Primary and secondary control strategies and psychological well-being among familial caregivers of older adults with dementia. The Journal of Social Psychology, 160, 61-74.
Ruthig, J. C., Poltavski, D., & Petros, T. (2019). Examining positivity effect and working memory in young-old and very old adults using EEG-derived cognitive state metrics. Research on Aging, 41, 1014-1035.
Chipperfield, J. G., Hamm, J. M., Perry, R. P., Parker, P., Ruthig, J. C., & Lang, F. (2019). A healthy dose of realism: The role of optimistic and pessimistic expectations when facing a downward spiral in health. Social Science & Medicine, 232, 444-452.
Vanderzanden, K., & Ruthig, J. C. (2018). Comparative optimism in older adults’ future health expectations. British Journal of Health Psychology, 23, 758-774.
Ruthig, J. C. (2016). Applying Protection Motivation Theory to examine health risk perceptions and exercise in later life. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 35, 939-959.
Ruthig, J. C. & Holfeld, B. (2016). Positive thinking and social perceptions of a female vs. male peer’s cancer experience. Journal of Social Psychology, 156, 154-167.
Ruthig, J. C., Trisko J., & Chipperfield, J. G. (2014). Shifting positivity ratios: Emotions and psychological health in later life. Aging and Mental Health, 18, 547-553.
Stewart, T. L., Chipperfield, J. G., Ruthig, J. C., & Heckhausen, J. (2013). Downward social comparison and subjective well-being in late life: The moderating role of perceived control. Aging & Mental Health, 17, 375-385.
Chipperfield, J. G., Newall, N., Perry, R. P., Stewart, T. L., Bailis, D. S., & Ruthig, J. C. (2012). Retaining a sense of control in late life: Health and survival implications. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 1081-1092.
Ruthig, J. C., Hanson, B. L., Pedersen, H., Weber, A., & Chipperfield, J. G. (2011). Later life health optimism, pessimism, and realism: Psychosocial contributors and health correlates. Psychology & Health, 26, 835-853.
Ruthig, J. C., Hanson, B. L., Ludtke, R., & McDonald, L. R. (2009). Perceived barriers to health care, health behaviors, and self-rated health among Native American elders. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 14, 190-200.
Ruthig, J. C., Chipperfield, J. G., Bailis, D. S., & Perry, R. P. (2008). Perceived control and risk characteristics as predictors of older adults’ health risk estimates. Journal of Social Psychology, 148, 667-688.
Ruthig, J. C., & Chipperfield, J. G. (2007). Health incongruence in later life: A longitudinal analysis of well-being and health care. Health Psychology, 26, 753-761.
Ruthig, J. C., Chipperfield, J. G., Perry, R. P., Newall, N. E., & Swift, A. (2007). Comparative risk and perceived control: Implications for psychological and physical well-being among older adults. Journal of Social Psychology, 147, 345-369.
Ruthig, J. C., Chipperfield, J. G., Newall, N. E., Perry, R. P., & Hall, N. C. (2007). Detrimental effects of falling on health and well-being in later life: The mediating roles of perceived control and optimism. Journal of Health Psychology, 12, 231-248.
Kroke, A., & Ruthig, J. C. (2025). An intersectional zero-sum perspective across seven decades. (under review)
Ruthig, J. C., Kehn, A., Fisher, W. N., & Carsten Namie, E. M. (2021). Consequences of a zero-sum perspective of gender status: Predicting later discrimination against men and women in collaborative and leadership roles. Sex Roles, 85, 13-24.
Ruthig, J. C., Gamblin, B., Jones, K., Vanderzanden, K., & Kehn, A. (2017). Concurrently examining unrealistic absolute and comparative optimism: Temporal shifts, individual-difference and event-specific correlates, and behavioral outcomes. British Journal of Psychology, 108, 107-126.
Ruthig, J. C., Kehn, A., Gamblin, B., Vanderzanden, K., & Jones, K. (2017). When women’s gains equal men’s losses: Predicting a zero-sum perspective of gender status. Sex Roles, 76, 17-26.
Kehn, A., & Ruthig, J. C. (2013). Perceptions of gender discrimination across six decades: The moderating roles of gender and age. Sex Roles, 69, 289-296.
Ruthig, J. C., Hanson, B. L., & Marino, J. (2009). A three-phase examination of academic comparative optimism and perceived academic control. Learning and Individual Differences, 19, 435-439.
Ruthig, J. C., Haynes, T. L., Perry, R. P., & Chipperfield, J. G. (2007). Academic optimistic bias: Implications for college student performance and well-being. Social Psychology of Education, 10, 115-137.
Hoffman, W. R., Willis, A., Bjerke, E., & Ruthig, J. C. (2022-2024). ERAC0005311 - Qualitative study of factors that influence healthcare seeking in pilot trainees. Department of Defense/Geneva Foundation, $339,795.
Pedersen, D., Ruthig, J. C., & Minnotte, K. L. (2017-2018) Documenting a rural penalty among informal caregivers. Arts & Sciences Applied Research to Address State’s Critical Needs, $18,146.
Chipperfield, J. G., Perry, R. P., Ruthig, J. C., & Stewart, T. L. (2010-2013) The role of control-based belief systems in achievement and well-being. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council operating grant, $84,436.
Ruthig, J. C. (2009-2012). Cardiovascular and functional health crises, preventative health behaviors, and health outcomes in later life: Applying a health congruence framework. Faculty Research Seed Money grant, $32,042.
Chipperfield, J. G., Payne, B., Menec, V. H., Perry, R. P., & Ruthig, J. C. (2007-2013). Health, well-being, and vitality in very late life: The role of everyday physical activity and personal control. Canadian Institutes of Health Research operating grant, $280,000.
Lommen-Solig, B., Young, G., Sorby, M., Dahl, E., & Ruthig, J. C. (April, 2025). Mental health help seeking in rural and urban settings. Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.
Kroke, A., & Ruthig, J. C. (April, 2025). An intersectional approach to the zero-sum perspective across seven decades. Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.
Young, G., Lommen-Solig, B., Sorby, M., Dahl, E., & Ruthig, J. C. (April, 2025). From symptom recognition to help-seeking: Understanding mental health behaviors. Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.
Van Bree, J., Adrian, M., Stornelli, L., Bjerke, E., Hoffman, W., Yuan, A., Ruthig, J. C., & Evanson, T. (August, 2024). Understanding factors in mental health: Civilian trainee pilot perspectives. Military Health System Research Symposium. Kissimmee, FL.
Duffy, M., Hoffman, W., Ruthig, J. C., & Bjerke, B. (August, 2023). Exploring health literacy as a barrier to healthcare utilization and information disclosure in trainee pilots. Military Health System Research Symposium. Kissimmee, FL.
Kroke, A., & Ruthig, J. C. (April, 2022). Reducing the zero-sum perspective of gender status: Preliminary findings. Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.
Kroke, A., Ruthig, J. C., & Holfeld, B. (April, 2022). Performance expectations and control strategies: Anticipating the best then preparing for the worst. Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.