Biography and education
Dr. Rhonda N. Balzarini is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Texas State University and a Research Fellow with the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University.
Dr. Balzarini received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies from Sonoma State University in 2009. She subsequently gained research experience at Harvard University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Boston College before earning her M.A. in Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2013 where she worked with Dr. Art Aron. She completed her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Western University in 2018 under the supervision of Dr. Lorne Campbell, with support from the Ontario Trillium Scholarship. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Amy Muise at York University, funded by a Mitacs Elevate grant in partnership with Meta and a Mitacs Accelerate Grant with Standard Innovations, before joining the faculty at Texas State University in 2020. Her research has been supported by more than half a million dollars in funding from government, foundation, and industry sources.
Dr. Balzarini received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies from Sonoma State University in 2009. She subsequently gained research experience at Harvard University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Boston College before earning her M.A. in Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2013 where she worked with Dr. Art Aron. She completed her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Western University in 2018 under the supervision of Dr. Lorne Campbell, with support from the Ontario Trillium Scholarship. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Amy Muise at York University, funded by a Mitacs Elevate grant in partnership with Meta and a Mitacs Accelerate Grant with Standard Innovations, before joining the faculty at Texas State University in 2020. Her research has been supported by more than half a million dollars in funding from government, foundation, and industry sources.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Principal), Percent Contribution: %7, Garcia, Justin (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %10, Lehmiller, Justin (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %10, Gesselman, Amanda (Co-Principal), Percent Contribution: %10. Reconceptualizing the Young Adult Sex Recession, Julie Products Inc and Playboy Inc, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $41000. (Funded: March 1, 2026 - December 1, 2026). Grant.
- Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Principal). Paying for connection: What sustains long-term client–performer relationships on live webcam platforms, Le Shaw, International Sexual Health and Wellness Research Institute, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $24000. (Funded: May 15, 2024 - October 23, 2024). Grant.
- Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole. The Relationship Clarity & Ambivalence Study (ReCAS), Faculty Research Support Award, Texas State University's Psychology Department, Texas State University, $8000. (Funded: December 2025 - Present). Grant.
- Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole (Principal). An experimental test of the mental health and well-being effects of first-time exposure to live interactive sexual content, Le Shaw, International Sexual Health and Wellness Research Institute, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $71623. (Funded: March 19, 2025 - January 1, 2026). Grant.
- 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.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Balzarini, R. N., Himes, T. M., Swanson, F., Reynolds, B. T., & Agnew, C. (2026). Beyond the transaction: Commitment, intimacy, and investment in online camming relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 55, 2181–2194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-026-03476-4. 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(1), 67–92. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15010067. Impact factor = 3.2.
- Reynolds, B. T., Balzarini, R. N., Rogers, M. L., Zoppolat, G., & Slatcher, R. (n.d.). Sexual desire in the face of unmet sexual ideals: The role of perceived partner responsiveness. Archives of Sexual Behavior.
- Balzarini, R. N., & Muise. (n.d.). Meeting sexual needs across multiple relationships: Sexual ideal fulfillment in polyamorous relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior.
- Swanson, F., Balzarini, R. N., Mogilski, J., & Himes, T. M. (2026). How perceived mate value discrepancies are related to jealousy, mate guarding, intrasexual competition, and partner conflict in monogamous and consensually non-monogamous relationships. Evolution and Human Behavior, 47(5), 106936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106936. Impact factor = 2.9
Featured awards
- 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
Featured service activities
- Member
Graduate Program Committew
- Member
Committee for Belonging & Cohesion
- Other
Journal of Sex Research
- Other
Associate Editor for Personality and Individual Differences
- Chair
Love Consortium: Marketing and Public Relations Committee
- Editorial Review Board Member
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships