|
 |
Kimberly Wallace
|
|
|
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Dr. Kimberly Wallace describes herself as "one of those people who always knew I wanted to be a professor, and knew I wanted to study human behavior." Interested in Developmental Psychology and understanding the way people change over time, Kimberly's primary research focus is on the psychological and environmental factors that contribute to optimal outcomes in later life.
Growing up in a family where all the females are long-lived (boasting ages of 91, 95, and even 102 years), Kimberly was naturally drawn to the field of gerontology and adult development and aging. Attending graduate school at Notre Dame, she became interested in "enhancing our understanding of the complex interactions among factors that are important for successful outcomes in later life while examining two types of protective factors, including Personal Factors (e.g., self-esteem; control; hardiness) and Family and Community Support Factors (e.g., social support from family and friends, family environment, financial status)." This subject deals with resilience, or people's ability to bounce back after adversity and deal with personal stress within their environment.
Very much interested in theoretical models and the use of quantitative data, Kimberly's master's thesis examined hardiness, a personality dimension that allows one to cope with adversity, in a sample of older adults. She then applied these research interests more broadly in her doctoral work, which examined the confluence of several protective factors in promoting resilience and coping in older adulthood.
Acknowledging that she has been on the academic fast track nearly all of her life, Kimberly arrived at the University of Montana in 1999 at the age of 27 as a tenure-track professor. Major themes in life that helped her be successful are "Finding balance, working hard, and having big momentum." Recognizing that having great support within her department was very helpful, she professes "It was very daunting at first to teach a class of 150 students, however teaching is the most rewarding aspect of my job."
Dr. Wallace is continuing her research in the resilience realm, focusing future research projects on examining the rural component of resilience and how this applies to people dealing with adversity. She describes her work as "a balance of psycho-social interests, particularly with regard to the complex interactions between psychological and social factors in promoting positive outcomes in the elderly." She is also interested in how exercise in later life aids in a better aging process, what motivates people to exercise, and how society can promote physical health and well being with age.
As supervisor of the Gerontology Lab at the University of Montana , Kimberly is involved in many ongoing research projects centered on the psychological and environmental factors that contribute to successful outcomes in later life. In particular, faculty and students are interested in why people age differently, the multidimensional nature of resilience in older adulthood, and whether resources in one area of functioning can be used to compensate for decrements in other areas. During her time at the University of Montana , Dr. Wallace has investigated these themes within three different projects. She describes them as follows:
- Resilience in Native American Older Adults - The major goal of this project is to examine personal and support factors that contribute to positive health outcomes and resilience in a sample of Native American older adults. This line of research is comprised of a qualitative pilot study as well as a three year project funded by the National Institutes of Health- National Institute on Aging.
- Attitudes about Aging - The primary objective of this research is to provide a foundation for understanding the multidimensional nature of resilience in later life. Coupled with this objective, this study attempts to enhance our understanding of the complex interactions among factors that are salient for successful outcomes in later life. This study, which utilizes a survey research design, examines two types of resilience factors, including Personal Factors (e.g., self-esteem; control; hardiness) and Family and Community Support Factors (e.g., social support from family and friends, family environment, financial status).
- Relocation in Later Life Project - The purpose of this study is to examine resilience and the interrelations between personal and familial/community support factors in the context of the transition from the community to a senior retirement community. This project involves in-person interviews and mail-in questionnaires of individuals thinking about moving, as well as individuals who have already transitioned.
|
