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Faculty

Edna Brown

Edna Brown, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Human Development & Family Studies
University of Connecticut
348 Mansfield Road, Unit 2058
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-2058

Phone: (860) 486-2781
Fax:(860) 486-3452
E-Mail: edna.brown@uconn.edu

Curriculum Vitae


Educational Background:

Joint Ph.D. Degree in Social Work and DevelopmentalPsychology, University of Michigan, 2002
M.S.W., University of Michigan,1997
B.A., Mount Holyoke College, Frances Perkins Scholar 1994

Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Psychology, University of Michigan2002-2004
Research Fellow, Life Course Development Program, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan 2004-2005

Research Interests:
  • Race, gender, social and personal resources effects on coping, health and well being during transitions in adulthood and older age.
  • Marital dissolution and coping with divorce in the context of race and gender.
  • Intergenerational and social relationships, the influence of culture.
  • Social relations and spirituality in easing health transitions during adulthood.

Professional Accomplishments:

  • Co-Principal Investigator, Employment Services Needs and Resource Assessment for Homeless Individuals;
    Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness.
  • Principal Investigator, Faculty Research Development Award; Easing the Pain: The Role of Spirituality and Social Support in Coping with Advanced Cancer.

Selected Publications:

  • Brown, E. (2009).  African American Families.  In Harry T. Reis & Susan Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Human Relationships (pp. 60-62). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage<
  • Brown, E., Orbuch, T., & Bauermeister, J.A. . (2008)  Religiosity and marital stability among Black American couples and White American couples.  Family Relations 57: 185-196.
  • Brown, E., Caldwell, C., Antonucci, T. (2008).  Religiosity as a Moderator of Family Conflict and Depressive Symptoms among African American and White American Young Grandmothers.  Journal of Human Behavior and the Social Environment. 18, 4, 397- 413.
  • Jackson, J.S., Antonucci, T.C., Brown, E.E., Daatland, S.O., Sellers, B. (2008) Race and ethnic influences on normative beliefs and attitudes: Toward Provision of Family Care. In (Eds.) A. Booth, A.C. Coulter, S. Bianchi, & J.A. Seltzer. Intergenerational Caregiving (pp. 317- 331). Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute Press.
  • Brown, E. (2007).  Care recipients’ psychological well being: The role of sense of control and caregiver type.  Aging and Mental Health, 11 (4), 405-414.
  • Brown, E., Jackson, J.S, & Faison, N. (2006). The work and retirement experiences of Aging Black Americans. In J. B. James & P. Wink (Eds.), Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics: The Crown of Life: Dynamics of the Early Post-retirement Period Vol. 26, (pp. 39- 60). New York: Springer.
  • Orbuch, T., & Brown, E. (2006). Divorce in the context of being African American. In M. Fine and J. Harvey (Eds.), In Handbook of Divorce and Dissolution of Romantic Relationships (pp. 481-498) New Jersey: Erlbaum.
  • Fiori, K. L., Brown, E. E., Cortina, K. S., & Antonucci, T. C.  (2006). Locus of control as a mediator of the relationship between religiosity and life satisfaction: Age, race, and gender differences.  Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 9, 239-263.
  • Fiori, K. L., McIlvane, J., Brown, E. E., & Antonucci, T. C.  (2006). Social relations and depressive symptomatology: Self-efficacy as a mediator.  Aging and Mental Health, 10, 1-13.
  • Sy, S., Brown, E., Amsterlaw, J., & Myers, J. (2005).  Attachment parenting: A media activity for developmental psychology research methods.  Psychology Learning and Teaching, 112-116.
  • Brown, E., & Jackson, J. S. (2004). Age-related issues among minority populations. In C. Spielberger, and R. K. Lee (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology. (pp. 79-90). London: Elsevier.
  • Jackson, J. S., Antonucci, T.C., & Brown, E. (2004). Cultural lens on biopsychosocial model. In P.T. Costa & I.C. Siegler (Eds.) Advances in Cell Aging and Gerontology, Vol 15.  (pp. 221-241).  New York: Elsevier.

Selected Presentations at Professional Meetings:

  • Birditt, K. & Brown, E. (2009).  Keeping Quiet or Fighting it Out: A Longitudinal Study of Marital Conflict and Well-Being.  Paper presented in symposium at XIX International Association of Gerontology & Geriatrics 2009 World Congress in Paris, France.
  • Brown, E. & Sherman, A. (Co-Chairs) (2008).  Risk and Resiliency in Social and Cultural Contexts.  Symposium presented at the Gerontological Society of America, National Harbor, MD.
  • Brown, E. & Maharaj, A. (2008).  Divorce Adjustment: The Role of Race and Gender. Paper  presented at the Gerontological Society of America, National Harbor, MD.
  • Brown, E., Maharaj, A., & Davis, C. (2008).  Individuals and Families Coping with Advanced Cancer: Receiving and Providing Social Support.  Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America, National Harbor, MD.
  • Davis, C. & Brown, E. (2007) Individuals and families coping with advanced cancer: the role of spirituality.  Poster presentation at the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA.