Aims & Scope
The Journal of Human Psychology publishes applied, clinical, and community focused research that improves mental health, wellbeing, and behavioral outcomes. We emphasize clinical psychology, mental health, community psychology, public health behavior, industrial-organizational and workplace psychology, and health psychology and behavioral medicine.
Core Research Domains
JHP centers on psychology that improves mental health, wellbeing, and behavioral outcomes. Submissions should demonstrate clear relevance to patients, communities, or organizations and describe how findings can be applied in real world settings.
Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
Evidence that improves assessment, treatment, and outcomes for mental health conditions across the lifespan.
- Psychotherapy outcomes and comparative effectiveness
- Trauma informed care and recovery pathways
- Diagnostic assessment and clinical decision making
- Suicide prevention and crisis intervention
- Patient reported outcomes and quality of life
- Integrated care and collaborative treatment models
Community Psychology and Public Health Behavior
Research that advances prevention, health promotion, and community wellbeing through behavioral science.
- Community interventions and participatory research
- Behavioral change programs and prevention strategies
- Health equity, access, and social determinants
- Public health behavior in crisis and recovery
- Program evaluation and implementation research
- Stigma reduction and community resilience
Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Studies linking psychological factors to health outcomes, treatment adherence, and chronic disease management.
- Behavioral adherence and lifestyle change
- Stress, coping, and mind body outcomes
- Behavioral interventions for chronic disease
- Pain management and health related quality of life
- Health communication and patient engagement
- Prevention and wellness programs
Industrial-Organizational and Workplace Psychology
Evidence that improves wellbeing, leadership, and psychological safety in organizational settings.
- Workplace wellbeing and burnout prevention
- Leadership, culture, and organizational climate
- Work stress, engagement, and performance
- Occupational mental health interventions
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations
- Hybrid work and employee resilience
We value studies that report outcomes, describe intervention context, and provide practical guidance for clinicians, community leaders, or workplace decision makers.
Secondary Focus Areas
Developmental and Family Psychology
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Family systems and parenting interventions
- School based behavioral programs
- Lifespan wellbeing and aging
- Developmental risk and resilience
Social and Cultural Psychology
- Stigma, identity, and social exclusion
- Cultural influences on mental health
- Interpersonal dynamics and relationships
- Migration, displacement, and adaptation
- Community cohesion and social support
Educational and School Psychology
- Student wellbeing and learning supports
- Behavioral interventions in schools
- Bullying prevention and safety programs
- Teacher mental health and burnout
- Inclusive and trauma informed practices
Applied Assessment and Measurement
- Screening tools for clinical and community use
- Outcome measurement and program evaluation
- Psychological assessment in real world settings
- Measurement of wellbeing and resilience
- Assessment equity across populations
Article Types We Publish
JHP welcomes diverse study designs and formats when they advance clinical or community practice. Manuscripts should emphasize outcomes, implementation context, and ethical reporting.
Empirical studies with clear outcomes and applied relevance.
Evidence syntheses that inform practice, policy, or program design.
Community or workplace interventions with measurable impact.
Studies that capture lived experience and context with rigor.
Population Focus and Equity
JHP values research that addresses disparities in mental health access and outcomes. Submissions should describe participant demographics clearly and consider how cultural, socioeconomic, and structural factors shape psychological wellbeing.
We encourage community engaged research, trauma informed practices, and interventions that are relevant to underserved populations. Studies that demonstrate equity minded design and ethical engagement are especially welcome.
- Community based participatory research and lived experience input
- Stigma reduction and culturally responsive care models
- Access barriers in rural, low resource, or marginalized settings
- Equity focused program evaluation and policy impact
Evidence Standards and Methodological Quality
JHP prioritizes rigorous methods and transparent reporting. Submissions should present clear outcomes, ethical approvals, and appropriate analyses. We welcome randomized trials, cohort studies, qualitative research, mixed methods, and program evaluations when design choices are justified and outcomes are clinically meaningful.
Authors should include data availability statements, describe measures and instruments clearly, and report limitations transparently. Clinical and community studies should explain how outcomes were measured and why they are meaningful for practice.
- CONSORT for randomized and intervention studies
- STROBE for observational and cohort research
- PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta analyses
- COREQ for qualitative and mixed methods studies
Clinical Relevance
- Outcomes tied to patient or community wellbeing
- Clear intervention or program description
- Actionable implications for practice
Transparency and Ethics
- Ethics approval and consent documentation
- Data availability and reporting clarity
- Conflict of interest disclosures
Scope Fit Guidance
To ensure a strong fit, manuscripts should make a clear connection between psychological evidence and actionable outcomes. Studies that focus solely on theoretical mechanisms without clinical or community relevance are not prioritized.
- State how findings inform clinical care, community programs, or workplace practice.
- Explain the population and setting so readers can interpret applicability.
- Provide outcomes that matter to patients, organizations, or public health systems.
- Highlight implications for equity, access, or behavioral change.
Assess your scope fit and submit to JHP
We welcome clinically relevant, community grounded, and workplace focused psychology research that improves mental health and behavioral outcomes. Review the author guidelines and submit your manuscript today.
View Instructions for Author
