Laura Donorfio

Assistant Professor

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

Phone: (203) 236-9837
Fax: (860) 486-3452
E-Mail: laura.donorfio@uconn.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Educational Background:

Ph.D., Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 1996
M.A., Human Development and Family Relations, University of Connecticut, 1991
Graduate Certificate, Business Mastery, University of Connecticut and The Hartford Leadership Center, 2001
Graduate Certificate, Gerontology, University of Connecticut 1990

Professional Interests:

• Later life dependencies
• Filial responsibility – Family dynamics providing/receiving care
• Transportation/Independence and the older driver
• Qualitative research methods/design

Selected Professional Accomplishments:

• Principal Investigator, Psychological Stages of Informal Caregiving: An Examination of Daughters Providing Care to Widowed Mothers. Funded by the University of Connecticut Large Grant Competition, $7,550, 6/2005 – 6/2006.

Selected Publications:

• Donorfio, L. M. & Sheehan, N. W. (2001). Relational dynamics between aging mothers and their caregiving daughters: Filial expectations and responsibilities. Journal of Adult Development, 8, 39-49.
• Sheehan, N. W. & Donorfio, L.M. (1999). Efforts to create meaning in the relationship between aging mothers and their caregiving daughters: A qualitative study of caregiving. Journal of Aging Studies, 13, 161-176.

Selected Presentations:

• Donorfio, L.M., Sheehan, N.W., & Kellett, K. (2005, November). Psychological Stages of Caregiving: A Qualitative Exploration of Widowed Mothers and Their Caregiving Daughters. Poster presented at the annual meeting of The Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, FL.
• Donorfio, L.M. & Kellett, K. (2005, November). Do Psychological Stage Frameworks Exist? A Systematic Review of the Informal Caregiving Literature. Poster presented at the annual meeting of The Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, FL
• Donorfio, L.K.M. (2004, May). The Psychological Stages of Caregiving. Paper presented at Connecticut Caregivers Conference: Caring for our Caregivers, Connecticut Department of Public Health, Cromwell, CT.