Jeff Levin, (2000). A Prolegomenon to an Epidemiology of Love: Theory, Measurement, and Health Outcomes. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 117-136.
doi: 10.1521/jscp.2000.19.1.117

A Prolegomenon to an Epidemiology of Love: Theory, Measurement, and Health Outcomes

Jeff Levin

National Institute for Healthcare Researh.

This work was supported by a grant from the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) through its funding program on Inner Mechanisms of the Healing Response. The author thanks Lea Steele Levin, Berton H. Kaplan, and Larry Dossey for comments on an earlier draft of this article.

Address correspondence to Jeff Levin, 13520 Kiowa, Valley Falls, KS 66088.



Existing research and writing on the topic of love is explored in order to encourage study of the epidemiology of love. Theoretical work in the psychology of love is reviewed, followed by a profile of measurement instruments developed to assess love. Next, existingempirical findings linking love-related constructsto health and healing are summarized. Finally, an outline is provided of pertinent questions in the epidemiology of love. The possibility is raised that love may not be just a host factor, similar to other psychosocial constructs, but also an agent of salutogenesis.

Cited by

Alex M. Wood, Nicholas Tarrier. (2010) Positive Clinical Psychology: A new vision and strategy for integrated research and practice. Clinical Psychology Review 30:7, 819-829
Online publication date: 1-Nov-2010.
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