Culture and Social Support: Implications for Health and Well-Being

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UCSB Library is pleased to present Heejung Kim (Psychological and Brain Sciences) in the Pacific Views: Library Speaker Series for Winter 2026. In her talk, “Culture and Social Support: Implications for Health and Well-Being,” she explores how relationships lie at the heart of human life, strongly influencing our health and well-being. Yet what counts as a “good relationship” can vary widely across cultures. Different cultural values—such as prioritizing personal independence or emphasizing group harmony—shape how people set social expectations, regulate emotions, and interact with those closest to them. In this talk, Kim will present her research on how these cultural differences influence the way people use and benefit from social support when dealing with stress.

This talk is in conjunction with the UCSB Reads 2026, UC Santa Barbara's campus- and community-wide common book program. The 2026 book selection, Crying in H Mart by musician and writer Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast), is a vibrant and sensory memoir exploring self-discovery, grief, and Korean-American culture through the celebratory lens of food and family. 

Heejung Kim is a Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at UCSB. Her research interests are in cultural psychology, looking at how culture influences psychological processes to understand why and how people engage in a range of everyday behaviors, such as acting pro-environmentally, giving and seeking social support, making product choices, and interacting with others from different cultures. Her research has been funded by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation.

Kim’s approximately 45-minute presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

This event may be photographed or recorded.

Advance registration is recommended as space is limited.