Jonah Li, Ph.D.

He, him, his
Assistant Professor
Social, Behavioral and Human Sciences, division of School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Email
jonahli@uw.edu
Office
McDonald Smith (MDS) 106C
Phone Number
253-692-4688
Campus Mailbox
358436

About

Degrees

Ph.D.
Counseling Psychology (APA-accredited)
Indiana University Bloomington
2022
Doctoral Psychology Internship
(APA-accredited)
University of Washington Seattle Counseling Center
2022

Current Research

My research program seeks to promote resilient and optimal psychological experiences among diverse and minority groups multiculturally. To this end, my three lines of research include: (a) advancing the conceptual clarity of relevant constructs and their associations with mental health outcomes, (b) developing psychometrically sound measures of those constructs, and (c) establishing, evaluating, and promoting innovative and efficacious interventions to achieving resilient and optimal psychological experiences.

The Positive and Existential Psychology (PEP) Research Lab

The PEP Lab is a collaborative space where students and professors co-construct research processes to achieve the above goals. Current members of the PEP Lab include:

  1. Perrin Appleton
  2. Bee Kisky
  3. Rebecca Leong
  4. Dani Rowe
  5. San Saucedo

Quantitative Research Instruments

Below, please find the quantitative research instruments my colleagues and I have developed. These instruments can be used for research and educational purposes for free.

Teaching

TPSYCH 209 & 309 Fundamentals of Psychological Research I & II
TPSYCH 210 Abnormal Psychology 
TPSYCH 311 Personality Theory
TPSYCH 314 Tests and Measurement
TPSYCH 315 Intro to Counseling Psychology
TPSYCH 409 Group Counseling and Dynamics 
TPSYCH 410 Existential Psychology

Selected Publications

Research Line I: Conceptualization

  1. Li. P. F. J. (in press). Subjective social status, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation in U.S. college students: A cross-sectional examination on race and gender. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2446440 
  2. Li, P. F. J. (2024). Being Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR): Testing the Tripartite Meaning in Life Model with beliefs in free will and determinism as meaning frameworks. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. Advanced online publication. http://doi.org/10.1177/00221678241273353 
  3. Li, P. F. J., Chan, C.-K., Xiao, Y. J., & O'Donnell, M. (2023). A further comparison between meaning and purpose: Examining factor structures, partial correlational, unique and indirect associations with mental health outcomes. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 37(4), 673-694. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2023.2292208 
  4. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., Granderson, R. M., & Jackson, D. (2022). Comprehension, purpose, and mattering? A latent profile analysis of laypeople’s beliefs about meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 17(6), 909-923. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2021.1991445 
  5. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., & McDermott, R. C. (2021). Examining Nietzsche’s Epigram: Having a why helps you bear almost any how? Journal of Humanistic Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678211041828
  6. Li, P. F. J., & Wong, Y. J. (2020). Beliefs in free will versus determinism: Search for meaning mediates the life scheme—depressive symptom link. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 64(5), 940–953. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022167820933719 
  7. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., McDermott, R., Cheng, H, & Ruser, J. (2019). U.S. college students’ lay beliefs about hope: A mixed-methods study. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(2), 249-262. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1689420 
  8. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., & Chao, R. C.-L. (2019). Happiness and meaning in life: Unique, differential, and indirect associations with mental health. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 32(3-4), 396-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2019.1604493 

Research Line II: Measurement

  1. Li, P. F. J., & Chow, A. (2025). Has human progress stagnated in recent decades? Evaluating Seligman’s (2021) model of agency and its correlates using the MIDUS three-wave longitudinal study. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 20(1), 15-30. http://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2024.2314288
  2. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., McCullough, K. M., Jin, L., & Wang, C. D. (2022). Existential Meaninglessness Scale: Scale development and psychometric properties. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00221678211072450

Research Line III: Intervention

  1. Li, P. F. J., & Wong, Y. J. (2024). The Multilevel Personality-to-Purpose (MPP) Framework: Promoting purpose in life through fulfilling basic psychological needs, strengths, values, identity and passion. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 8(7), 1-13. https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-8-2024/volume-8-article-7 
  2. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., Deng, K., & Li, Y. (2024). Gratitude in a culturally adapted psychotherapy group and in Chinese culture: Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 15(2), 118–133. https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000336 
  3. Li, P. F. J., & Wong, Y. J. (2021). Strength-Centered Therapy: A positive and culturally flexible therapeutic approach. Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 12(2), 154-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/21507686.2021.1925313 
  4. Li, P. F. J., Wong, Y. J., & Cawthra, J. N. (2019). I’d like to have all the characteristics of a hero: A case study of Strength-Centered Therapy. Clinical Case Studies, 18(3), 200-219. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1534650119837353