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Mary Ann Parris Stephens

Professor, Dean of Graduate Studies
Education: Ph.D., University of Houston (1980)

Research Area: Experimental - Social

Dr. Stephens is currently serving as Dean of Graduate Studies, and will not be accepting new students this year.

Research Interests

Stress and coping theories guide my research on social relationships and chronic illness. Interests focus on effects of family interactions on adjustment to illness, as well as effects of illness on family caregivers. Of special interest are social support and social control (social influence) as ways married couples cope with illness.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Graduate program review
  • Graduate program development
  • General Graduate Studies administration
  • Graduate School Catalog
  • Regents Advisory Committee on Graduate Studies
  • Educational Policy Committee
  • Graduate enrollment management
  • Graduate programs services administration
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Stephens, M. A. P., Franks, M. M., Rook, K. S., Iida, M., Hemphill, R. C. & Salem, J.K. (in press).  Spouses' attempts to regulate day-to-day dietary adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes.  Health Psychology.

Hemphill, R. C., Stephens, M. A. P., Franks, M. M. & Rook, K. S. (in press).  Older adults' beliefs about the timeline of type 2 diabetes and adherence to dietary regimens.  Psychology & Health.

Khan, C. M., Stephens, M. A. P., Franks, M. M., Rook, K. S. & Salem, J. K. (in press).  Influences of spousal support and control on diabetes management through physical activity.  Health Psychology.

Franks, M. M., Hemphill, R. C., Seidel, A. J., Stephens, M. A. P., Rook, K. S. & Salem, J. K. (in press).  Setbacks in diet adherence and emotional distress:  A study of older patients with type 2 diabetes and their spouses.  Aging and Mental Health.

Rook, K. S., August, K. J., Stephens, M. A. P., & Franks, M. M. (2011).  When does spousal social control provoke negative reactions in the context of chronic illness?:  The pivotal role of patients' expectations.  Journal of Social and Personal Relations, 28, 772-789.

Martire, L. M., Stephens M. A. P. & Schultz, R. (2011).  Independence centrality as a moderator of the effects of spousal support on patient well-being and physical functioning.  Health Psychology.  doi:  10.1037/a0023006.

Franks, M. M., Lucas, T., Stephens, M. A. P., Rook, K. S. & Gonzalez, R. (2010).  Diabetes distress and depressive symptoms:  A dyadic investigation of older patients with Type 2 Diabetes and their spouses.  Family Relations, 59, 599-610.

Stephens, M. A. P., Rook, K. S., Franks, M. M., Khan, C. M., Iida, M. (2010).  Spouses Use of Social Control to Improve Diabetic Patients' Dietary Adherence.  Families, Systems and Health, 28, 199-208.  doi:  10.1037/a0020513.

Iida, M., Stephens, M. A. P., Rook, K. S., Franks, M. M. & Salem, J. K. (2010).  When the Going Gets Tough, Does Support Get Going?  Determinants of Spousal Support Provision to Type 2 Diabetic Patients.  Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 780-791.

Stephens, M. A. P., Fekete, E. M., Franks, M. M., Rook, K. S., Druley, J. A., Greene, K. (2009).  Spouses' Use of Pressure and Persuasion to Promote Osteoarthritis Patients' Medical Adherence After Orthopedic Surgery.  Health Psychology, 28, 48-55.  doi:  10.1037/a0012385.

Mary Ann Parris Stephens
OFFICE
Department of Psychology
Graduate Studies
CONTACT INFO
Phone: 330-672-4712
Fax: 330-672-2658
mstephen@kent.edu
EXPERTISE