Research

Publications   

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Vowels, L. M., Vowels, M. J., & Mark, K. P. (in press). Identifying the most important predictors of sexual satisfaction using explainable machine learning. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Advance online publication. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/sbhmd

Vowels, L. M., Vowels, M. J., & Mark, K. P. (in press). Is infidelity predictable? Using interpretable machine learning to identify the most important predictors of infidelity. The Journal of Sex Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1967846

Vowels, L.M.*, Francois-Walcott, R. R. R.*, Perks, R. E.*, & Carnelley, K. B. (in press). “Be free together rather than confined together”: A qualitative exploration of how relationships changed in the early COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Advance online publication. osf.io/qr7cm/ *joint first authorship

Vowels, L.M., Carnelley, K. B., & Francois-Walcott, R. R. R.(2021). Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211033341.

Vowels, M. J., Vowels, L. M., & Wood, N. D. (in press). Spectral and cross-spectral analysis: A primer for psychologists and social scientists. Psychological Methods. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/mj75a

Vowels, L. M. & Carnelley, K. B., & Francois-Walcott, R. R. R.  (in press). Partner support and goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study. European Journal of Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2745

Vowels, L. M., Vowels, M. J., & Mark, K. P. (2021). Uncovering the most important factors for predicting sexual desire using explainable machine learning. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 18, 1198-1216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.04.010.

Vowels, L. M. & Carnelley, K. B., (2021). Attachment styles, negotiation of goal conflict, and perceived partner support during COVID-19. Personality and Individual Differences, 171, 110505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110505

Vowels, L. M., Mark, K. P., Rosenkrantz, D. R., & Brown, H. (2020). Ebbs and flows of desire: A qualitative exploration of contextual factors affecting sexual desire in bisexual, lesbian, and straight women. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 46, 807-823. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2020.1828207

Mark, K. P. & Vowels, L. M. (2020). Sexual consent and sexual agency in women in healthy relationships following a history of sexual trauma. Psychology and Sexuality, Sexual Consent Special Issue, 11, 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2020.1769157

Mark, K. P.*, Vowels, L. M.*, & Bunting, A. M. (2020). The impact of bi-erasure on sexual and relationship satisfaction in a sample of mixed-sex couples. Journal of Bisexuality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2020.1734137 *joint first authorship
*Study featured in “Bisexual people who are fully out are having worse sex, and researchers think it’s due to bi-erasure.” PinkNews on Nov, 23, 2019.

*Study featured in “Bisexual people who are out to their partners may have worse sex because of ‘bi-erasure’.” Business Insider Malaysia on Nov 18, 2019.

Vowels, L. M. & Mark, K. P. (2020). Strategies for mitigating sexual desire discrepancy in relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49, 1017-1028. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01640-y.

*Study featured in “What to try when one of you wants sex, but the other doesn’t” PsychologyToday on Mar 25, 2020.

Mark, K. P., Vowels, L. M., & Leistner, C. E. (2020). “Not tonight, honey”: Reasons for not engaging in sex in a daily experience study of couples. Journal of Sexual Medicine. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17, 431-441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.12.011
*Study featured in “Why didn’t we have sex last night?” PsychologyToday on Mar 21, 2020. 

Vowels, L. M. & Mark, K. P. (2020). Partners’ daily love and desire as predictors of engagement in sexual activity and quality of sexual experience. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2019.1711274
*Study featured in “Both love and desire are important factors in predicting sexual activity.” PsyPost.org on Feb 22, 2020.

Vowels, L. M. & Mark, K. P. (2020). Relationship and sexual satisfaction: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model approach. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 35, 46-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2018.1441991

Vowels, M. J., Mark, K. P., Vowels, L. M., & Wood, N. D. (2018). Using spectral and cross-spectral analysis to identify patterns and synchrony in couples’ sexual desire. PLoS ONE, 13(10): e0205330. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205330    

Mark, K. P., Vowels, L. M., Bennett, S., & Norwick, J. (2018). Sources for the formation of sexual values in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and straight adults and the impact on sexual satisfaction. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 13, 399-410. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2018.1470950

Mark, K. P., Vowels, L. M., & Murray, S. (2018). Attachment, sexual satisfaction, and sexual desire in a sexually diverse sample. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 44, 450-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2017.1405310
*Study featured in “Does attachment style impact our interest in sex?” PsychologyToday on Dec 22, 2018. 

*Study featured in “Why won’t my boyfriend have sex with me? (LGBT Advice)”. Datingadvice.com on July, 5, 2019. 

Conference Presentations
Vowels, L. M., Mark, K. P., & Bunting, A. (2019). The impact of bi-erasure on sexual and relationship satisfaction in a sample of mixed sex couples. Talk presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) annual conference in Denver, CO, US
Hoskins, K., Vowels, L. M., & Mark, K. P. (2019). Effective and ineffective strategies for moving beyond sexual trauma into a healthy sexual relationship. Talk presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) annual conference in Denver, CO, US
*Study featured in “Sexual trauma victims said self-care and support groups were some of the most helpful methods for healing.” Insider and Business Insider on Nov 9, 2019.

Vowels, M. J., Vowels, L. M., Wood, N. D., & Mark, K. P. (2019). Insights into the cycles of family life via spectral and cross-spectral analysis. Workshop presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology (TCRM) Preconference workshop in Fort Worth, Texas, US
Vowels, L. M. (2019). Strategies for mitigating sexual desire discrepancy in relationships: A mixed-methods approach. Talk presented at the International Association for Relationships Research (IARR) mini-conference in Brighton, UK
Mark, K.P., Vowels, L.M., & Luftman, V. (2018). Sexual pleasure in clients with sexual trauma: A qualitative approach. Talk presented at the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy annual conference in Louisville, KY. US
Vowels, L.M. & Mark, K.P. (2018). Partners’ daily love and desire as predictors of engagement in sexual activity and quality of sexual experience. Poster presented at the International Academy of Sex Research annual conference in Madrid, Spain
Vowels, L. M., Kumashiro, M., & Wood, N.D. (2018). Attachment styles and the Michelangelo phenomenon: Role of individual differences in interpersonal growth striving. Poster presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology annual conference in Atlanta, GA, US
Vowels, L.M. & Mark, K.P. (2017). A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence model approach to the link between sexual and relationship satisfaction. Talk presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality annual conference in Atlanta, GA, US
Vowels, L.M. (2017). Attachment and the Michelangelo Phenomenon: Theoretical integration and implications. Poster presented at the Human Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Research Day at the University of Kentucky, KY, US
Vowels, L.M., Kumashiro, M., & McGranahan, R. (2015). Designing a new positive psychology exercise to increase goal pursuit and well-being. Poster presented at the annual conference of the International Association for Relationships Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Vowels, L.M., Kumashiro, M., & McGranahan, R. (2014). Grit, personal growth initiative and subjective well- being. Poster presented at the annual conference of the British Society for Personality and Individual Differences, London, UK
McGranahan, R., Vowels, L.M., & Kumashiro, M. (2014). Self-esteem, affirming relationships, and goal pursuit. Poster presented at the annual conference of the British Society for Personality and Individual Differences, London, UK
Kumashiro, M., Coolsen, M.K., & Vowels, L.M. (2014). Self-respect and considerate pursuit of personal goals. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX, US

Invited Presentations
Vowels, L.M. & Mark, K.P. (2019). Strategies for mitigating sexual desire discrepancy in relationships. SSTAR 44th Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada
Vowels, L.M. (2019). Partner support and goal pursuit: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Centre for Research on Self and Identity, University of Southampton, UK
Vowels, L.M. & Mark, K.P. (2018). Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to analyze dyadic data in SEM. University of Kentucky Sexual Health Promotion Lab, Lexington, KY, US
Vowels, L.M. (2017). Attachment and the Michelangelo Phenomenon: Theoretical integration and implications. Talk presented at the Human Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Research Day at the University of Kentucky, KY, US