Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Rhonda Nicole Balzarini

  • Assistant Professor - Psychology
Portrait of Dr. Rhonda Nicole Balzarini

Biography and education

Dr. Balzarini received a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies from Sonoma State University in 2009. She assisted in labs at Harvard, University Massachusetts Boston, and Boston College from 2010-2012 before completing a Masters in Science from Stony Brook in 2013. Dr. Balzarini pursued a Ph.D. from Western University from 2014 to 2018 and received the prestigious Trillium Award to fund her doctoral studies. Dr. Balzarini then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at York University from 2018-2019 before beginning at Texas State as an Assistant Professor in the Psychology department.
  • Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole. Virtually connected: Examining self-expansion among romantic couples in virtual reality, Research Enhancement Program, Texas State University, $4000. (Funded: January 25, 2024 - January 1, 2026). Grant.
  • Rodrigues, David L. (Principal), Percent Contribution: %25, Lopes, Diniz (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %25, Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %25, Richard de Visser, Richard (Supporting), Percent Contribution: %10, Prada, Marília (Supporting), Percent Contribution: %5, Garrido, Margarida (Supporting), Percent Contribution: %5. Prevent2Protect (P2P): Understanding motivational determinants of consistent condom use among single heterosexual adults to prevent sexually transmitted infections and improve sexual health, FCT Scientific Research and Technological Development Projects, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $248349. (Funded: February 1, 2021 - January 31, 2023). Grant.
  • Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Principal), Percent Contribution: %80, Ijzerman, Hans (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %10, Moors, Amy (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %10. How technology is changing our social relationships: Current evidence and future research directions, Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), Private / Foundation / Corporate, $7000. (Submitted: 2020, Funded: April 2020 - April 2021). Grant.
  • Muise, Amy (Principal), Percent Contribution: %50, Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %50. “Virtually” connected: Relational self-expansion in virtual reality can enhance couples’ satisfaction, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant, Federal, $64830. (Funded: December 2019 - December 2021). Grant.
  • Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Principal). Virtually connected: Can virtual reality technology foster closeness and intimacy in romantic relationships?, Mitacs and Facebook, Federal, $120000. (Funded: June 2019 - May 2021). Grant.
View all grants
  • Balzarini, R. N., Muise, A., Dobson, K. D., Kohut, T., Raposo, S., & Campbell, L. (2021). The detriments of unmet sexual ideals and buffering effect of sexual responsiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 120, 1521–1550. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000323. Impact factor = 6.7.
  • Mogilski, J., Miller, G., Jonason, P., Grunter-Mejer, K., Varella Valentova, J., & Balzarini, R. N. (n.d.). How do people maintain consensual non-monogamy? An international development and validation of the Multiple Relationships Maintenance Scale (MRMS). Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/Impact factor = 2.9.
  • Valshtein, T., Harris, A., DiGiovanni, A., Balzarini, R. N., Zoppolat, G., & Slatcher, R. (2025). Investigating the social benefits of long-distance romantic relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251371365. Impact factor = 2.3.
  • Chopik, W. J., Oh, J., Weidmann, R., Weaver, J., Balzarini, R. N., Zoppolat, G., & Slatcher, R. (2025). The perks of pet ownership on for well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1177/01461672231203417. Impact factor = 2.9.
  • Balzarini, R. N., Sharma, A., & Muise, A. (2025). Virtually connected: Do shared novel activities in virtual reality enhance self-expansion and relationship quality? Behavioral Sciences, 15, 67–92. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15010067. Impact factor = 2.5.
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Lester A. Kirkendall Outstanding Mentor Award, The Society of the Scientific Study of Sexuality. September 19, 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Kenneth R. Haslam, MD Relationship Diversity Research Award, Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. April 17, 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Seminar Award for Scholarly/Creative Activities, Academic Affairs Council, Texas State University. September 18, 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Scholarly/Creative Activities, Liberal Arts, Texas State University. August 22, 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Valero Award for Excellence, Academic Affairs Council. August 19, 2025
View all awards
  1. Member

    Hiring Committee

  2. Coordinator / Organizer

    Sexuality Preconference for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology

  3. Member

    Publication Committee, Kinsey Institute, Indiana University

  4. Reviewer / Referee

    Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

  5. Editor

    Associate Editor for the Archives of Sexual Behavior

  6. Co-Chair

    Kenneth R. Haslam Relationship Research Award Selection Committee, Kinsey Institute, Indiana University

  7. View all activities