Department of psychology

About the DepartmentDepartment Resources For Our Alumni & Friends Participate in Research

Kristin D. Mickelson, Ph.D.

Education: Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University (1995)

Research Interests

My research revolves around a core theme of social relationships in a social context.  I seek to understand the ways in which stress impacts social relationships and, in turn, affects health outcomes.  I am interested in understanding how these processes are altered by various social contexts, such as socioeconomic status and gender.  Thus, my research over the years has covered topics including adult attachment, attributions, perceived stigma, poverty, discrimination, gender attitudes and multiple dimensions of social support.  I am currently in the process of conducting a study to understand how couples make the transition to parenthood.  To address these questions, I utilize field research methods and secondary data analyses.

Lab Site: Social Relationships & Health Lab

Courses Frequently Taught

• Social Psychology (undergraduate)
• Social Psychology (graduate)
• Multivariate Statistics (graduate)
• Gender and Social Class (graduate)

Recent Publications

Claffey, S. T., & Mickelson, K. D. (2009).  Division of household labor and distress: The role of perceived fairness for working mothers.  Sex Roles, 60, 819-831.

Mickelson, K. D., & Demmings, J. L. (2009).  Impact of support network substitution on low-income women’s health: Are minor children beneficial substitutes? Social Science & Medicine, 68, 80-88.

Mickelson, K. D., & Williams, S. L.  (2008).  Perceived stigma of poverty and psychological distress: Examination of interpersonal and intrapersonal mediators.  Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27, 903-930.

Williams, S. L., & Mickelson, K. D. (2008).  A paradox of support seeking and social rejection among the stigmatized.  Personal Relationships, 15, 493-509.

Mickelson, K. D., & Claffey, S. T. (2007). Mechanisms in the relation between urbanicity and gender on distress. In A. J. Lauber (Ed.), Gender Identity, Psychology, and Lifestyle (pp. 159-194). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.

Williams, S. L. & Mickelson, K. D. (2007). A resilience impairment model of partner violence and distress: Moderating role of income. American Journal of Community Psychology, 40, 13-25.

Mickelson, K. D., Claffey, S. T., & Williams, S. L. (2006). The moderating role of gender and gender role attitudes on the link between spousal support and well-being. Sex Roles, 55, 73-82.

Mickelson, K. D. & Kubzansky, L. D. (2003). Social distribution of social support: The mediating role of life events. American Journal of Community Psychology, 32, 265-281.

Bassuk, E., Mickelson, K. D., Bissell, H. D., & Perloff, J. (2002). Role of kin and non-kin support in low-income women's mental health. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72, 39-49.

Mickelson, K. D. (2001). Perceived stigma, social support, and depression. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 1046-1056.

Mickelson, K. D., Kessler, R. C., & Shaver, P. R. (1997). Adult attachment in a nationally representative sample. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 1092-1106.