Yifang Peng

Yifang obtained her master degree in Experimental Psychology in 2021. After research on the effectiveness and mechanisms of mindfulness training on de-automatization, she joined the GHEP lab as a PhD student working on the project: Cognitive Vulnerability and Emotion during the Menstrual Cycle since 2023.

While studying for master degree, Yifang helped develop mindfulness-based interventions for teachers to relieve stress and determined the reasons that mindfulness reduced anger and impulsivity. but she gradually became interested in research about women health. Yifang’s doctoral project is supervised by Prof. Dr. Maire-Anne Vanderhasselt and co-supervised by Prof. Dr. Kristof Hoorelbeke (Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience lab) and Prof. Dr. Steven Weyers (Gynaecology Research Group). The project concentrates on the cognitive-emotional mechanisms underlying Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Experience sampling method and cross-lagged panel model are combined to shed light on the dynamic interplays of cognitive vulnerabilities (e.g. rumination, stress reactivity) and PMS complaints (e.g. anger, depression) in different phases of the menstrual cycle. If you are interested in participating in our study or information about PMS and PMDD, please contact yifang.peng@ugent.be