Our Mission is two-fold:
Understanding the biological aging mechanisms that explain how social relationships (and their loss) influence health, particularly close relationships like marital/spousal and family relationships.
Identifying ways to improve the quantity and quality of social relationships at UCLA through research, programming, and policy as part of the Engage Well Pod of the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA.
Our current research directions:
- Quantifying how losing loved ones “too much” and “too soon” impacts biological aging and mortality in older adults, as well as racial/ethnic disparities in experiencing premature and cumulative bereavement
- Understanding and reducing barriers to accessing resources during grief and bereavement for students
- Using latent profile analyses to identify meaningful profiles of social experience, ranging from social functioning in low-income pregnant women, to married couples in randomized trials of marital interventions, to undergraduate students vis-a-vis belonginess and time use
- Documenting social support and loneliness in the Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention
- Measuring perceived availability of social support in digital platforms
2026 graduate admissions
I will only be admitting students as a Primary Advisor for the 2026-2027 year through the Health Psychology area, not the Clinical Area. More information about graduate admissions can be found at Join Our Lab!
Research opportunities
Several graduate students working with Dr. Robles may be recruiting undergraduate research assistants. No paid opportunities are available at this time.