Dr. Robert D. Henry is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and a faculty member of the TSET Health Promotion Research Center. His research lies at the intersection of quantitative methodology, digital health, and health promotion, with a focus on understanding emotion regulation, stress, and health-related behaviors across time and context. He leverages intensive longitudinal data (e.g., ecological momentary assessment, wearables, and smartphone-based measures) and advanced statistical modeling to inform prevention and intervention efforts in vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant individuals, rural men).
In addition to his substantive research program, Dr. Henry provides statistical and quantitative consulting support to HPRC investigators and collaborators across the health sciences. His methodological expertise includes longitudinal and multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, psychometrics and measurement, and applied causal inference for observational data. Through collaborative partnerships, he supports study design, analytic planning, and reproducible data analysis workflows to advance rigorous health promotion research.
Education:
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, PhD, 2023, Psychology (specialization in quantitative methods)
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, MS, 2019, Clinical Psychology
Funding:
Henry, R. D. (Co-I)
2026
Templeton Religion Trust: Giving hope: Joining education and virtuous hope
Total Costs: $135,244
Henry, R. D., (Co-I)
2025-2028
John Templeton Foundation: Youth hope and flourishing: A holistic perspective in the context of systemic adversity
Total Costs: $1,049,75
Select Publications:
- Thomas, K. J., Rand, K., Rogers, S. K., Henry, R. D., & Witvliet, C. V. O. (2025). Hope as a virtue: Toward a theoretically grounded measure in English, isiZulu, and Portuguese. Applied Developmental Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2025.2486062
- Henry, R. D. (2024). Predicting newborn birth outcomes with prenatal maternal health features and correlates in the United States: A machine learning approach using archival data. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24, 603. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06812-5
- Boucher, E. M., Ward, H., Henry, R. D., Miles, C. J., & Stoeckl, S. E. (2024). Effects of a digital mental health intervention on perceived stress and rumination in adolescents aged 13 to 17: A randomized controlled trial. JMIR, 26, e54282. https://doi.org/10.2196/54282
- Huberty, J. L., Puzia, M. E., Green, J., Vlisides-Henry, R. D., Larkey, L., Irwin, M. R., & Laird, B., Vranceanu, A.-M. (2021). A mindfulness meditation mobile app improves depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance: Analysis from a randomized controlled trial. General Hospital Psychiatry, 73, 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.09.004
- Vlisides-Henry, R. D., Gao, M., Thomas, L., Kaliush, P. R., Conradt, E., & Crowell, S. E. (2021). Digital phenotyping of emotion dysregulation across lifespan transitions to better understand psychopathology risk. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 618442. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.618442
- Vlisides-Henry, R. D., Deboeck, P. R., Grill-Velasquez, W., Mackey, S., Ramadurai, D. K. A., Urry, J. O., Neff, D., Terrell, S., Gao, M., Thomas, L., Conradt, E., & Crowell, S. E. (2021). Behavioral and physiological stress responses: Within-person concordance during pregnancy. Biological Psychology, 159, 108027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108027