Institute of Gerontology


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Gail M. Williamson

Professor
lgmw@uga.edu

Room 240, Psychology Building
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-
706.542.3069 (voice)
706.542.3275 (fax)



Research Interests

My research interests center around identifying psychosocial factors that predict adjustment of patients and their families to chronic and/or serious illness, with particular focus on helping and caregiving, emotions, interpersonal relationships, and physical health. I have studied adjustment in diverse subpopulations with various illness conditions, ranging from children with chronically painful conditions to medically compromised elderly patients. An ongoing program of research investigates processes underlying the effects that providing help/care to another person has on providers’ well-being and the quality of care they actually provide.



Selected Publications

Williamson, G. M., Martin-Cook, K., Weiner, M. F., Svetlik, D. A., Saine, K., Hynan, L. S., & Schulz, R. (in press). Caregiver resentment: Explaining why care recipients exhibit problem behavior. Rehabilitation Psychology.

Beach, S. R., Schulz, R., Williamson, G. M., Miller, L. S., Weiner, M. F., & Lance, C. E. (in press). Risk factors for potentially harmful informal caregiver behavior. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Peck, S. R., Shaffer, D. R., & Williamson, G. M. (in press). Sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction in dating couples: The contributions of relationship communality and favorability of sexual exchanges. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality.

Williamson, G. M., & Shaffer, D. R. (in press). Age and physical functioning. In S. Ayers, A. Baum, C. McManus, S. Newman, K. Wallston, J. Weinman, & R. West (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of psychology, health, & medicine (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.