Jessica M. McIlvane, Ph.D.
Fordham University, 2001

Assistant Professor
School of Aging Studies

Email: mcilvane@cas.usf.edu
Telephone: 813-974-9749
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
NIH Biosketch (pdf)

Description of Research Interests

In general, my research interests focus on coping with stress and chronic illness in adulthood, as well as the potential stress-buffering effects of social relationships. In a recent study, I examined the effects of race and socioeconomic status on coping with arthritis, health, and well-being. This study led to a second study in which I am examining daily coping, stress, and well-being in African American and White women with arthritis. More recently, I began to expand my research interests to include how older people and their care-partners cope with mild cognitive impairment. My other research interests include how sense of control influences the relationship between health stressors (e.g., pain, functional impairment) and well-being, as well as health disparities in arthritis and in general.

Two of my earlier projects focused on coping with stress in different contexts. One project examined whether relationship quality (with family and friends) buffered or worsened the effects of daily hassles on depressive symptoms. An earlier project focused on the interactive effects of social support from family and friends on elders with vision impairment. My interest in applied research is reflected in the fact that I have collaborated with medical professionals (e.g., Rheumatologists) in hospital and clinic settings in many of the above research projects.

Current Grant Support

Principal Investigator, “Use of Daily Diary Methodology in a Study on Coping with Arthritis,” USF New Researcher Grant, 2005

Principal Investigator, “Living With Memory Impairment – Assessing the needs of Families with Mild Cognitive Impairment,” Sarasota Memorial Hospital, 2005-2006

Principal Investigator, " Coping with Arthritis," Effects of Age, Race, and SES, National Institute on Aging, RO3, 2003-2005

Publications

McIlvane, J.M., Popa, M.A., Robinson, B, Houseweart, K., & Haley, W.E. (in press). Perceptions of illness, coping, and well-being in persons with mild cognitive impairment and their care partners. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders.

McIlvane, J.M. (2007). Disentangling the effects of race and SES on arthritis-related symptoms, coping, and well-being in African American and White women. Aging & Mental Health, 11, 556-569.

McIlvane, J.M., Ajrouch, K.J., & Antonucci, T.C. (2007). Generational structure and social resources in mid-life: Influences on health and well-being. Journal of Social Issues, 63, 759-773.

McIlvane, J.M., Schiaffino, K.M., & Paget, S.A. (2007). Age differences in the pain-depression link for women with osteoarthritis: Functional impairment and personal control as mediators. Women’s Health Issues, 17, 44-51.

Schiaffino, K.M., & McIlvane, J.M. (2007). Research in health psychology. In D. McKay (Ed.). Handbook of research methods in abnormal and clinical psychology (pp. 483-491).Newbury Park, CA:Sage.

Fiori, K.L., McIlvane, J. M., Brown, E.E., & Antonucci, T.C. (2006). Social relations and depressive symptomatology: Self-efficacy as a mediator. Aging & Mental Health, 10, 227-239.

Mingo, C.M., McIlvane, J.M., & Haley, W.E. (2006). Impact of the diagnostic label of osteoarthritis on perceptions of disability and willingness to help a parent in African Americans and Whites. Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research), 55, 913-919.

Antonucci, T.C., & McIlvane, J.M. (2003). Environmental social stressors. In R. Fernandez- Ballesteros (Ed.). Encyclopedia of psychological assessment (pp.931-937). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Sulmasy, D.P., & McIlvane, J.M. (2002). Patients’ ratings of quality and satisfaction with care at the end of life. Archives of Internal Medicine, 162, 2098-2104.

Sulmasy, D.P., McIlvane, J.M., Pasley, P.M., & Rahn, M. (2002). A scale for measuring patient perceptions of the quality of end-of-life care and satisfaction with treatment: The reliability and validity of QUEST. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 23, 458- 470.

McIlvane, J.M., & Reinhardt, J.P. (2001). Interactive effect of support from family and friends in visually impaired elders. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 56B, 374-382.

2007 William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award, given by the Florida Education Fund on behalf of the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program

2007 Nominated as Outstanding Faculty Member by Residential Life Student, University of South Florida

2006 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of South Florida
2005 Selected as one of USF's “Research Rising Stars”
2004 Alumni Honor Roll Award, Rhode Island College (Psychology Department)
2001-2003 NIMH Postdoctoral Traineeship, Institute for Social Research
1998-1999 Doctoral Dissertation Award, Arthritis Foundation (National)

Classes Taught

DEP 2004 – The Life Cycle
GEY 4612 – Psychology and Aging
GEY 6600 – Human Development