Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education

Mojisola F. Tiamiyu, Ph.D.
Director,ComPoP Lab 

The Community and Positive Psychology (ComPoP) Laboratory integrates community psychology and positive psychology perspectives to study factors that promote psychological well-being, resilience, empowerment and positive growth.

Community psychology examines the relationships between individuals and their communities and considers how social and community contexts influence health and well-being. Positive psychology focuses on human strengths, positive emotions, resilience, meaning, hope, gratitude and other factors that help individuals and communities thrive.

Research Focus

Research in the ComPoP Lab examines physical, mental, and behavioral health from community, positive psychology, and cross-cultural perspectives. We are particularly interested in understanding strengths and protective factors that may promote well-being and positive adjustment in the face of stress and adversity.

Our research interests include:

• Gratitude, hope, resilience, and psychological well-being
• Posttraumatic growth and adjustment following adversity
• Positive psychology interventions
• Anxiety, stress, and other mental health outcomes
• Problematic smartphone and social media use
• Psychological factors associated with technology and online behavior
• Community engagement, empowerment, and social support
• Cross-cultural and community-based approaches to psychological well-being

Recent research in the lab has examined gratitude interventions and their effects on mental health and well-being among Hispanic/Latine adults; posttraumatic growth following collective trauma; and factors that may contribute to positive psychological adjustment following adversity.

We have also investigated problematic smartphone and social media use, including the roles of negative affect and protective psychological strengths such as hope, gratitude, resilience, and mindfulness.

Earlier ComPoP Lab research addressed a broad range of community and applied psychology topics, including women’s economic and psychological empowerment, domestic violence, welfare reform, child support enforcement, minority health, services for older adults, college student stress and coping, university-community collaboration, youth mentoring, and hope and well-being among helping professionals.

Student Research and Mentoring

The ComPoP Lab has provided research and mentoring opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students for many years. Students have participated in research practica, independent studies, honors theses, graduate theses and dissertations, conference presentations, and scholarly publications.

Dr. Tiamiyu also mentors students interested in positive psychology, community psychology, resilience, gratitude, posttraumatic growth, psychological well-being, and related areas.

Dr. Tiamiyu is not accepting new graduate students at this time.

The Star Mentee Program and Undergraduate Externships

Community engagement is an important part of the ComPoP Lab's work. Dr. Tiamiyu developed the Star Mentee Program in 2002 and continues to direct the program.

The Star Mentee Program is an undergraduate psychology externship and service-learning opportunity that connects University of Toledo students with elementary school children in the Toledo community who can benefit from academic mentoring and support.

Students from psychology and other majors have the opportunity to apply what they are learning while providing meaningful service to children and the community.

In addition to the Star Mentee Program, Dr. Tiamiyu supervises undergraduate psychology externships in other community and professional settings. Students may complete externships at approved sites that provide meaningful experiences related to psychology, human services, health care, education, or their career interests.

Students who are interested in completing a psychology externship with Dr. Tiamiyu, including students who already have a potential externship site, are welcome to contact her to discuss the opportunity.

Contact

Mojisola F. Tiamiyu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Director, Community and Positive Psychology (ComPoP) Laboratory
The University of Toledo
mojisola.tiamiyu@utoledo.edu