Research Interests

  • Mindfulness in couple relationships
  • Couples’ communication under stress
  • Innovative methods in systemic intervention research (e.g., machine learning)

Selected Conference Presentations

Machine Learning and Systemic Intervention

  • Zheng, Y., Hu, Y., Lowery, D. F., Wu, Q., McWey, L. M., & Peluso, P. R. (2026, November). Personalized optimal strategies for therapeutic alliance in couple therapy: Applying Q-learning in couple therapy process research. Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Minneapolis, MN.

  • Zheng, Y. (2026, October). Using pretrained natural language processing models in MFT research: Applied AI tools for relational and therapy process data. Workshop to be presented at the Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Topical Interest Network (TIN) Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ.

  • Zheng, Y., & Peluso, P. R. (2026, October).
    Automated sentiment analysis in psychotherapy: Validation against human coding and dyadic associations with therapeutic alliance. Paper to be presented at North American Society for Psychotherapy Research (NASPR), New York, NY.

  • Peluso, P. R., & Zheng, Y. (2026, October).
    Beyond linear influence: Integrating automated sentiment analysis and parabolic functions into dynamical systems models of the therapeutic relationship. Paper to be presented at North American Society for Psychotherapy Research (NASPR), New York, NY.

Mindfulness and Relationship Processes

  • Zheng, Y., & Kimmes, J. G. (2025, November).
    Mindfulness and marital stability over time: Does general relationship quality make a difference? Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Baltimore, MD.

  • Zheng, Y., Ledermann, T., & Kimmes, J. G. (2025, September).
    Closeness moderates the relationship benefits of relationship mindfulness: A common fate approach. Paper presented at the Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Topical Interest Network (TIN) Annual Conference, Columbus, OH.

  • Zheng, Y. (2024, November). Mindfulness-Based couple interventions: For whom and under what conditions do they have relationship benefits? Poster presented at the AAMFT Intervention Research in Systemic Family Therapy Conference, Orlando, FL.

  • Zheng, Y., Smedley, D. K., & Kimmes, J. G. (2024, July).
    Translating trait mindfulness into relationships: Own and partner’s mental well-being moderate the link between trait mindfulness and relationship mindfulness. Paper presented at the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) main conference, Boston, MA.

Stress, Support, & Relational Coping

  • Zheng, Y. & Peluso, P. R. (2026, November). Tracing co-rumination in couples’ conversations through language-based models: Developing a dyadic co-rumination language index. Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Minneapolis, MN.

  • Zheng, Y., Tudder, A., DiGiovanni, A. M., Peters, B. J., & Kimmes, J. G. (2025, November).
    When talking too much about problems hurts the relationship: Mindfulness profiles and co-rumination in romantic relationships. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Baltimore, MD.

  • Zheng, Y., Marroquin, C. G., & Kimmes, J. G. (2024, November).
    Mindfulness and stress spillover in relationships: A moderated mediation model. Poster presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Bellevue, WA.

  • Zheng, Y., Williamson, H. C., & Neff, L. A. (2023, May).
    “We” are in this together: Problem severity and the benefits of we-talk among lower and higher SES couples. Poster presented at the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) Mini-Conference, Phoenix, AZ.