- Ph.D., Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1991
- B.S., Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 1983
What are your main research interests?
I am currently working with data from the Midlife in the United States survey (MIDUS), which is a national, longitudinal study of health and well-being in mid- to late-life. It encompasses a wide range of psychological, sociological, and biological measures collected over two decades. My interests involve the long-term effects of child adversity on health, as well as the effects of caring for an adult child with a developmental disorder or mental illness. Recent projects have involved the moderating effect of generativity on caregiving and the mediating role of purpose in life in explaining the association between early adversity and adult health.
What specific courses or specialties do you teach?
I enjoy teaching our advanced research course, which is unlike most lecture-based courses. In advanced research methods, I mentor our students as they develop their own research project from start to finish. I always end up learning a great deal as they explore different areas of psychology.
Selected Publications
- "Self-acceptance in mid to late life: Lingering effects of childhood maltreatment and positive contributions of warm and supportive relationships." Journal of Adult Development, 2023.
- "Sibling support exchange in late adulthood moderates the long-term impact of childhood neglect on psychological outcomes." Aging and Mental Health, 2023.
- "Longitudinal trajectories of adult sibling relationship quality and psychological well-being: The effect of childhood maltreatment." Family Relations, 2023.
- "Religious support moderates the long reach of adverse childhood events on physical health in middle to late adulthood." Journal of Religion and Health, 2021.
- "Exploring the gratitude model of body appreciation and intuitive eating among Japanese women." Body Image, 2021.
- "Longitudinal health consequences of childhood adversity: The mediating role of purpose in life." Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 2020.
- "Double disadvantage: Health impacts of parenting a child with a disability for parents with prior exposure to childhood maltreatment." Child Abuse & Neglect, 2020.
- "Generativity and well-being of midlife and aging parents with children with developmental or mental health problems." Research on Aging, 2019.
- "Gratitude and the self: Amplifying the good within." Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2019.
- "Development and exploration of the gratitude model of body appreciation." Body Image, 2018.
- "Secure attachment and eudaimonic well-being in late adulthood: The mediating role of self-compassion." Aging and Mental Health, 2018.
- "Self-compassion and physical health: Exploring the roles of perceived stress and health-promoting behaviors." Health Psychology Open, 2017.
- “Don’t bring me down: Effects of priming secure and anxious attachment on body image." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. In press, 2017.
- "Secure attachment, eudaimonic well-being, and self-compassion in late adulthood." Aging and Mental Health. In press, 2016.
- "Factor structure and psychometric properties of a state version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2." Body Image, 2016.
- "Self-compassion and psychological well-being in older adults." Journal of Adult Development, 2016.
- "Perceived relationship with God moderates the relationship between social comparison and body appreciation." Mental Health, Religion, & Culture, 2015.
- "Exercise motives and positive body image in physically active college women and men: Exploring an expanded acceptance model of intuitive eating." Body Image, 2015.
- "Self-compassion moderates body comparison and appearance self-worth’s inverse relationships with body appreciation." Body Image, 2015.
- "A mediation model linking attachment to God, self-compassion, and mental health." Mental Health, Religion, & Culture, 2014.
- "Gratitude buffers the adverse effect of viewing the thin ideal on body dissatisfaction." Body Image: An International Journal, 2014.