Dr. King is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at UBC, leading courses in Personality (PSYC-305), Health Psychology (PSYC-314), and the Psychology of Sex and Gender (PSYC-320) since 2012. He also teaches a special topics course on the Psychology of Death and Dying (PSYC-208), reflecting his interest in end-of-life matters. He received his PhD in psychology from UBC in 2013, with a focus on health psychology. He also holds an MSc in statistical modelling and a BSc in psychology, both from Trent University. His research has addressed how stress unfolds within social contexts of varying size and complexity, from relationships to collective threats like the COVID-19 pandemic. Other academic interests include socioeconomic factors in health and the impact of stigma and discrimination on well-being. Today, his work focuses primarily on teaching, writing, and educational leadership. He is passionate about creating engaging and inclusive learning environments that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a strong sense of community. His educational leadership has centred on supporting student success, enhancing equity and belonging within higher education, and improving access to psychology for students from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds. This includes leading PrideMind, a community of care aimed at supporting 2S/LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty in psychology.

David has authored numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to several textbooks and book chapters, mainly in the areas of personality and health psychology. He has also received multiple awards, including an Early Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association and a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. In recognition of his excellence in teaching, he was awarded the Knox Master Teaching Award by UBC’s Department of Psychology in 2019 and the Killam Teaching Prize by the UBC Faculty of Arts in 2026. A central focus of David‘s work is highlighting how psychology can help individuals, communities, and societies address many of today’s most pressing challenges, while also communicating psychological science beyond the university classroom.

Research interests include health psychology, stress and coping, personality, and interpersonal dynamics.

Yerushalmi, M., Sixsmith, A., Star, A. P., King, D. B., & O’Rourke, N. (2021) Ecological momentary assessment of bipolar disorder symptoms and partner affect: Longitudinal pilot study. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Formative Research, 5(9). e30472.

Morstead, T., Zheng, J., Sin, N. L., King, D. B., & DeLongis, D. (2021). Adherence to recommended preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of empathy and perceived health threat. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 56(4), 381-392.

King, D. B., O’Rourke, N., Canham, S. L., & Cobb, R. (2018). Reciprocal effects of life satisfaction and depressive symptoms within long-wed couples over time. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 73(3), 363-371.

King, D. B., Cappeliez, P., Canham, S. L., & O’Rourke, N. (2017). Functions of reminiscence in later life: Predicting change in the physical and mental health of older adults over time. Aging & Mental Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1396581

Pow, J., King, D. B., Stephenson, E., & DeLongis, A. (2017). Does social support buffer the effects of occupational stress on sleep quality among paramedics? A daily diary study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(1), 71-85.

Hilpert, P., Randall, A. K., Sorokowski, P., Atkins, D. C., Sorokowska, A., Ahmadi, K., Algraibeh, A. M.,…King, D. B., et al. (2016). The associations of dyadic coping and relationship satisfaction vary between and within nations: A 35-nation study. Frontiers of Psychology, 7, 1106.

King, D. B., Kamble, S., & DeLongis, A. (2016). Coping with influenza A/H1N1 in India: Empathy is associated with increased vaccination and health precautions. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 54(6), 283-294.

King, D. B., Cappeliez, P., N., Carmel, S., Bachner, Y. G., & O’Rourke, N. (2015). Remembering genocide: The effects of early life trauma on reminiscence functions among Israeli Holocaust survivors. Traumatology, 21(3), 145-152.

King, D. B., & DeLongis, A. (2014). When couples disconnect: Rumination and withdrawal as maladaptive responses to everyday stress. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(4), 460-469.

King, D. B., Mara, C, & DeCicco, T. L. (2012). Connecting the spiritual and emotional intelligences: Confirming an intelligence criterion and assessing the role of empathy. The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 31, 11-20.

King, D. B., & DeCicco, T. L. (2009). A viable model and self-report measure of spiritual intelligence. The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 28, 68-85.

• Killam Teaching Prize (2026)
• Robert E. Knox Master Teaching Award (2019)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award (2014-2016)
• Early Career Achievement Award, American Psychological Association (2014)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship Award (2008-2012)