Heidi Fritz

Education

Carnegie Mellon University, PhD, Psychology, 1998
The College of William and Mary, BS, Psychology, 1993

Areas of Expertise

Health Psychology, Developmental Disabilities

Bio

My early research career focused on the experiences of adults coping with a major stressful event: The diagnosis of a chronic illness. Then, I unexpectedly became a member myself of a highly stressed population that has received little empirical attention: Parents of children with developmental disabilities. My research interests have now turned to understanding the unique experiences, stresses, and obstacles to health encountered by parent-caregivers.

Research Interests

For the past twenty-five years, my research has focused on understanding the so-called "resilience factors" that enable people to cope with stressful life events. My current research examines the roles of humor use, positive reappraisal, and social support in facilitating enhanced mental and physical health outcomes among parents of children with developmental disabilities.
Teaching Philosophy

I am aware every day that my students are the future psychologists, teachers, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and social workers who will support our broader community. I am passionate about sending my students out into the world as knowledgeable and empathetic forces for good. Students work hard in my courses to understand their future professions from the perspective of the entire system influencing their clients, from individual physiological, cognitive, and personality factors all the way up through the policies and laws that may ultimately shape developmental outcomes.
Selected Publications

Fritz, Heidi L. (2020) Coping with caregiving: Humor and health outcomes among parents of children with disabilities. vol. 104. Research in Developmental Disabilities.

Fritz, Heidi L. (2020) Why are humor styles associated with well-being, and does social competence matter? Examining relations to psychological and physical well-being, reappraisal, and social support. vol. 154. Personality and Individual Differences.

Fritz, Heidi L. and Gallagher, Brendan P. (2020) Three dimensions of Desirability of Control: Divergent relations with psychological and physical well-being. vol. 35. Psychology and Health.

Fritz, Heidi L. and Sewell-Roberts, Carrie (2018) Family stress associated with cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy, 2nd Edition. Springer Nature Press.

Fritz, Heidi L., Russek, Leslie N. and Dillon, Melissa M. (2017) Humor use moderates the relation of stressful life events with psychological adjustment. vol. 43. pp. 845-859. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Current Courses
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Press Releases
1. SU's Fulton School Announces Faculty, Staff Awards
  Wednesday, September 16, 2020

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