Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science

Christine M. Proulx, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Human Development and Family Science and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Her primary research is shaped by her belief that interpersonal relationships are the bedrock of our health and wellbeing across the life course, and she incorporates this belief in her classes on adult development and aging and family relationships.

Dr. Proulx's research focuses on adults’ social relationships, roles, and health, with a particular emphasis on marriage and caregiving in mid- and later-life. Her work examines how close relationships and social roles change over time, and how those changes are associated with increases and decreases in mental, physical, and cognitive health. She specializes in quantitative data analyses, with an emphasis in longitudinal and dyadic modeling.

Proulx is a co-editor of the forthcoming Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methodologies (Springer), a seminal volume published approximately every 15 years in the field.

Publications

Recent publications (see attached CV and web links for full listing)

Skoblow, H. F., Drewelies, J., & Proulx, C. M. (in press). Sexual health in older adult dyads: The role of perceptions of aging. The Gerontologist.

Skoblow, H. F., & Proulx, C. M. (in press). C-Reactive protein, subjective aging, and incident  cardiovascular disease: A mediation model. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B Social Psychological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac051

Ermer, A. E., & Proulx, C. M. (2022). The association between relationship satisfaction and  well-being among older adult couples: The moderating role of social connectedness. Aging and Mental Health, 26(6), 1198-1206. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2021.1910786

Kanter, J., & Proulx, C. M. (2021). The longitudinal association between marital and  psychological functioning in socioeconomically disadvantaged relationships. Journal  of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(9), 2465-2473. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F02654075211011704

Ogan, M., Monk, J. K., Kanter, J. B., & Proulx, C. M. (2021). Stress, dyadic coping, and relationship instability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social and Personal  Relationships, 38(10), 2944-2964. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F02654075211046531

Thompson, T., Heiden-Rootes, K., Joseph, M., Gilmore, L. A., Johnson, L., Proulx, C. M.,  Albright, E. L., Brown, M., & McElroy, J. A. (2021). The social context of cancer for  sexual minority women: A systematic review. Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113214

Kanter, J. B., & Proulx, C. M. (2021). Understanding the early years of socioeconomically  disadvantaged couples’ relationships. Family Process, 60(3), 806-822.  https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12602

Cooney, T. C., Proulx, C. M., & Bekelman, D. (2021). Social support and relational  mutuality as moderators in the association between heart failure patient functioning and  caregiver outcomes. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 36, 212 - 220. https://doi.org/10.1097/jcn.0000000000000726

Rauer, A., & Proulx, C. M. (2020) A social perspective on couples across the lifespan:  Challenges and opportunities. Research in Human Development. 17, 191-194.   https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2021.1878000

Marini, C. M., Ermer, A. E., Fiori, K. L., Rauer, A. J., & Proulx, C. M. (2020). Marital  quality, loneliness, and depressive symptoms later in life: The moderating  role of self  and spousal functional limitations. Research in Human Development, 17, 211-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2020.1837598

Monk, J. K., Proulx, C. M., Marini, C. M., & Fiori, K. (2020). Advancing research and theory  on aging military veterans in a relational context. Journal of Family Theory and Review,  12, 180-199. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12378

Ermer, A. E., & Proulx, C. M. (2020). Social support and well-being among older adult  married couples: A dyadic perspective. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37,  1073-1091. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519886350

Kanter, J. B., & Proulx, C. M. (2020). Trajectories of willingness to compromise and critical  marital conflict behaviors after childbirth. Journal of Family Issues, 41(6), 808–830. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X19885995

Rauer, A. J., Sabey, A., Proulx, C. M., & Volling, B. (2020). What are the marital problems of  happy couples? A multi-method, two-sample investigation. Family Process, 59, 1275- 1292. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12483

Awards and Recognition

  • Awarded Fellow Status in the Gerontological Society of America, 2018
  • Gold Chalk Award, University of Missouri Graduate Professional Council, 2018
  • Graduate Student Association Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, University of Missouri, 2014
  • Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri, 2012

Associations and Affiliations

  • The Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
  • National Council on Family Relationships (NCFR)
Christine Proulx

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

  • Intimate relationships
  • Caregiving
  • Aging
  • Health
  • Dyadic methodologies

Education

  • Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
  • M.S., Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
  • B.A., Women’s Studies (individually designed program), Regis College, Weston, MA

CV

PDF icon CV_Proulx_July_2022.pdf

Contact

Email:

christine.proulx@uvm.edu

Website(s):
  1. Google Scholar
  2. Research Gate

Courses Taught

  • HDF 161 Social Context of Development
  • HDF 221 Psychology of Aging