Mari Kira

My research approaches people’s lives contextualized in social structures and systems, illuminating how theories and concepts in psychology gain more meaning and power when grounded in relevant social contexts. Drawing from personality, positive, and organizational psychology, I explore adult psychological growth that can emerge from struggles with life’s adversities. Moreover, I explore the meaning of wellbeing among vulnerable and marginalized people (e.g., refugees; individuals with a history of incarceration), and the strategies and resources that foster their wellbeing. Most recently, I have focused on how people cope with losses and create meaningful lives during a global pandemic.