Marie-France Lafontaine, PhD

Biography

Marie-France Lafontaine has a doctoral degree in psychology from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. She is currently an associate professor with the School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa. Her research interests include adult attachment, clinical psychology, heterosexual and same-sex couple relationships, intimate partner violence, and physical and mental health. In 2003 she established the University of Ottawa Couple Research Laboratory. This laboratory conducts scientific research on couple relationships (heterosexual and same-sex). Its various transverse and longitudinal research projects are designed to explore the emotional, cognitive and behavioural determinants of conjugal satisfaction, and identify the many personal and relationship-related factors involved in a successful relationship for Francophone and Anglophone couples in the population, and for couples with a specific problem, including chronic pain, diabetes or intimate partner violence.

Research interest:

• Attachment
• Clinical psychology
• Couple relationships (homosexual and heterosexual)
• Domestic violence
• Mental and physical health