Melissa Curran
Assistant Professor
Division of Family Studies & Human Development
Scholarly Interests
Core Research Areas
Courses/Extension Service
[MAILING ADDRESS]
PO Box 210033
Tucson, AZ 85721-0033
[CAMPUS ADDRESS]
Family and Consumer Sciences Bldg.
1110 East South Campus Drive Tucson, AZ 85721-0033
Phone: (520) 621-1075 Fax: (520) 621-3401
Email:macurran@email.arizona.edu
Scholarly Interests and Activities
The work that I do is grounded in attachment, family systems, interdependence, and commitment theories. I use these theories to study questions about adult romantic relationships and families. I am interested in expanding my research to investigate how illness in one romantic partner impacts the romantic relationship and the overall family system.
My research interests include:
(1) How early representations within the family of origin impact current and later marital, child, and familial outcomes.
Curran, M. A., Hazen, N., Jacobvitz, and Sasaki, T. How representations of the parental marriage predict marital emotional attunement during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Family Psychology. 2006, Vol. 20, No. 3, 477–484
Curran, M. A., Hazen, N., Jacobvitz, D., & Feldman, A. (2005). Representations of early family relationships predict marital maintenance during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 189-197.
Jacobvitz, D., Hazen, N., Curran, M. A., & Hitchens, K. (2004). Observations of early triadic family interactions: Boundary disturbances in the family predict symptoms of depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder in middle childhood. Development and Psychopathology, 16, 577-592.
(2) How making transformations in romantic relationships (e.g., giving up something you like for your partner, doing something you dislike for your partner, or both) impacts current and later relational attitudes and beliefs (e.g., trust, love, commitment).
Curran, M. A., Surra, C. A., & Gray, C. R. (2005). Interdependence, personality, attachment style, and the development of trust in dating relationships. Manuscript in preparation.
Surra, C. A., Curran, M. A., & Gray, C. R. (2004, July). Interdependence: The impact of transformations on dating relationships. Paper presented at the International Association of Romantic Relationships, Madison, Wisconsin. PowerPoint attachment here.
(3) How commitment to the romantic partner and commitment to the relationship differentially predicts cohabiting daters from noncohabiting daters on relational attitudes and beliefs.
Curran, M. A., Wilson, A, Steffek, L., Surra, C., & West, A. (2005, November). Dating and stage of relationship involvement: Implications for cohabitation. Paper presented at the National Council on Family Relations, Phoenix, Arizona.
PowerPoint attachment here.
(4) Methodological implications of measurement and study participation for couples, families, and children.
Jacobvitz, D., Curran, M. A., & Moller, N. (2002). Measurement of adult attachment: The place of self-report and interview methodology. Attachment and Human Development, 4, 207-215.
Surra, C. A., Williams, K., & Curran, M. A. (2006). Thinking and talking about relationships: Effects of participation in a longitudinal study of dating. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Romantic and Sexual Relationships
Family Relationships and Health/Well-being
Social and Emotional Development In Early Childhood
Graduate Courses
FSHD 546 Family and Interpersonal Theory (Fall, 2006)
FSHD 607 Topics in Family Studies and Human Development: Attachment Theory, Romantic and Family Relationships, and Health (Spring, 2007)