Erica Woodin

My research focuses on close relationships, with particular attention to factors such as conflict and aggression, substance use, and mental health problems that can often lead to relationship difficulties.

My goals are to examine the development of harmful relationship behaviours; to understand the impact of these factors on partners, couples, and children; and to develop prevention programs to enhance couple and family functioning during periods of stress and change (e.g., transition to adulthood, transition to cohabitation, transition to parenthood).

I am currently conducting a SSHRC-funded randomized control trial of a brief motivational intervention for at-risk couples during the transition to parenthood. In collaboration with my colleague Dr. Catherine Costigan, I am also conducting an evaluation of police integration in Assertive Community Treatment teams in Victoria, BC. In support of these activities, I am also affiliated with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR).

I celebrate diversity in all its many forms and believe that our individual differences serve as a resource, strength and benefit. I welcome graduate applications from members of groups who are underrepresented in the field of psychology.

Interests

• Clinical lifespan psychology
• Close relationships
• Intimate partner violence
• Substance use
• Mental health
• Prevention
• Motivational interviewing

Faces of UVic Research video

In this video, Erica discusses her research on addictions and close relationships.

Recent Publications

Song-Choi, P., & Woodin, E.M. (in press). Stress, attributions, and hostility as predictors of psychological intimate partner violence at the transition to parenthood. Psychology of Violence.

Duerksen, K. N., & Woodin, E. M. (in press). Cyber dating abuse victimization: Links with psychosocial functioning. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. doi: 10.1177/0886260519872982

Collardeau, F., Bin Aftab, M.U., Jibeen, T., & Woodin, E.M. (2021). Pakistani immigrants’ nuanced beliefs about shame and its regulation. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 10, 25-38. doi: 10.1027/2157-3891/a000004

Duerksen, K. N., & Woodin, E. M. (2019). Technological intimate partner violence: Exploring technology-related perpetration factors and overlap with in-person intimate partner violence. Computers in Human Behavior, 98, 223–231. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.05.001

Gou, L. H., Duerksen, K. N., & Woodin, E. M. (2019). Coercive control during the transition to parenthood: An overlooked factor in intimate partner violence and family wellbeing? Aggressive Behavior, 45, 139–150. doi: 10.1002/ab.21803

Gou, L. H., & Woodin, E. M. (2017). Relationship dissatisfaction as a mediator for the link between attachment insecurity and psychological aggression over the transition to parenthood. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 6, 1-17. doi:10.1037/cfp0000072

Sotskova, A., Woodin, E., & Cyr, K. S. (2016). Understanding the role of group cohesion and group alliance in a secular peer support group for recovery from substance misuse. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 11, 137–154. doi:10.1080/1556035X.2015.1132400

Woodin, E. M., Sukhawathanakul, P., Caldeira, V., Homel, J., & Leadbeater, B. (2016). Pathways to romantic relational aggression through adolescent peer aggression and heavy episodic drinking. Aggressive Behavior, doi:10.1002/ab.21651

Woodin, E. M. (2015). Motivational interviewing for intimate partner violence. In H. Arkowitz, W. R. Miller, S. Rollnick, H. Arkowitz, W. R. Miller, S. Rollnick (Eds.), Motivational interviewing in the treatment of psychological problems (2nd ed.) (pp. 320-343). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.

Konkolÿ Thege, B., Woodin, E. M., Hodgins, D. C., & Williams, R. J. (2015). Natural course of behavioral addictions: A 5-year longitudinal study. BMC Psychiatry, 15.

Sotskova, A., Woodin, E. M. and Gou, L. H. (2015). Hostility, flooding, and relationship satisfaction: Predicting trajectories of psychological aggression across the transition to parenthood. Aggressive Behavior, 41, 134–148. doi: 10.1002/ab.21570

Woodin, E. M., Caldeira, V., Sotskova, A., Galaugher, T., & Lu, M. (2014). Harmful alcohol use as a predictor of intimate partner violence during the transition to parenthood: Interdependent and interactive effects. Addictive Behaviors, 39, 1890-1897. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.07.033