Psychological Sciences
Education and Behavioral Sciences
Ph.D. - Colorado State University
M.A. - Fort Hays State University
B.A. - Evangel University
Nancy J. Karlin, Ph.D. is a professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. As an experimental social psychologist, she has specific interests in familial caregiving of Alzheimer’s disease patients and professional caregiving of the aging patient. For more than thirty-five years, she has conducted a program of research devoted to understanding both the familial caregiver and issues relating to care of the chronically ill. Recently she has collected data in Italy, South Africa, Botswana, Italy, Thailand, Japan, Tunisia, China, and the United States as part of an effort to develop a cross-national framework on perceptions of aging. Nancy also investigates service utilization habits of older adults in rural and frontier counties. She is the Convention Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, member of the Association of Psychological Sciences, and the Gerontological Society of America. Her recent publications can be found in the The Gerontologist, International Psychology Bulletin, Ageing International, The International Journal of Aging in Society, New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, Sage Open, Journal of Loss and Trauma, Activities, Adaptation, and Aging, and other journals.
Follow the Academic Genealogy for Nancy J. Karlin
As a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado, I have specific interests in familial caregiving of Alzheimer's disease patients and professional caregiving of the aging patient. For more than thirty years, I have conducted a program of research devoted to understanding both the familial caregiver and issues relating to care of the chronically ill. One program of research considers how Hispanic families provide care to older family members who have ADRD. This research looks at the needs of Hispanic caregiver families that are not currently being met. Some of my interests with these groups involve understanding disparities in service use, the role of acculturation, spiritual relevance prior, during, and after the care process.
In the past few years, I have been actively involved in collecting data on the psychosocial factors and rhetorical resilience of natural disaster survivors. Data was collected from families and aging populations in L'Aquila, Italy who experienced the devastating earthquake of April 6, 2009. This project followed up on prior pilot data gathered from survivors of Hurricane Katrina, U.S.A. of August 29, 2005 and earthquake survivors of Vina Vieja, Peru 2007 as well as community dwelling elders dealing with the aging process. I have worked very hard to conduct research that extends beyond the physical walls of UNC, thereby adhering to the University's vision for creating cross-cultural connections and diversified learning perspectives.
Since 2011, Dr. Joyce Weil and I have been collecting data outside the United States working to develop a cross-national framework on perceptions of aging. In 2011, data were collected from elders in Rome (N=27) with regard to perceptions of aging. In 2012 Dr. Weil and I collected data from a U.S. sample (N=40) and in 2013 data were collected Thailand (N=59) and from elders in Botswana (N=25). Data collection was completed in January 2014 in South Africa (N=30) and Saudi Arabia (N=59). Additional data was collected during the summer of 2017 in Japan (N=23) and Tunisia (N=61). In 2018, data was obtained from a Chinese cohort (N=39) leading to a total of 363 participants. Please see the list of publications below.
During this same data collection period a needs assessment was completed with older adults residing in the eastern plains of Colorado and throughout western Nebraska. This project resulted in two articles. One that compares the two cohorts with the other dedicated to the development and preliminary validation of the Older Adult Service Usage Assessment (OASUA).
Book Chapters (*indicates student)
Karlin, N. J. (2020). Being a convention coordinator: What graduate school did not teach me. In Woody, W. D. & Miller, R. L. (Eds.). Administration of a Student Friendly Psychology Conference: Challenges and Opportunities. (pp. 49-54). Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology website: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/studentfc
Karlin, N. J., & Woody, W. D. (2020). Managing the money. In Woody, W. D. & Miller, R. L. (Eds.). Administration of a Student Friendly Psychology Conference: Challenges and Opportunities. (pp. 43-47). Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology website: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/studentfc
Weil, J., Karlin, N. J., & Lyu, Z.* (2020). Mobile Messenger Apps as Data-Collection Method Among Older Adults: WeChat in a Health-Related Survey in the People’s Republic of China. SAGE Research Methods: Medicine & Health, SAGE Publications Ltd., London, England. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529707755
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J. & Sammons, K.* (2017). Semi-structured interviewing of older adults in seven countries. In C. Maurer (Ed.), SAGE Research Methods Cases-Part 2,SAGE Publications Ltd, London, England. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781526420787
Machlev, M.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2016). Designing a Measure for Instructor Humor Use in the Classroom: Taking the First Steps. In R. L. Miller et al., (Eds.). Teaching tips: A Compendium of Conference Presentations on Teaching, 2015-16.
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J., & Floren, K.* (2016). The role of social support in less studied context. In S. Chen (Ed.), Social support: Gender differences, psychological importance and impacts on well-being, Nova Science Publishers, New York, NY.
Marrow, S., Karlin, N. J., & Brown, B. B. (2013). Obstacle or opportunity: Toward a typology of rhetorical resilience following family crises. In S. Marrow & D. Leoutsakas (Ed.), More Than Blood: Today’s Reality and Tomorrow’s Vision of Family, Kendall Hunt Publishing Co., Dubuque, IA.
Weil, J., & Karlin, N. J. (2023). Improving cost assessment of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for underrepresented groups of older adults in light of COVID-19-related policy changes. Journal of American Medical Directors Association, 24(9), 1263-1265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2023.07.017. Impact factor of 7.802.
Karlin, N. J. (2023). Divergent Aging Experiences Reported by Rural and Frontier Older Adults Aging in Place. Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 1-20. Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/08959420.2023.2197562. Impact Factor 7.084.
Karlin, N. J. (2023). Current and future service use, satisfaction, and potential need for services as defined by rural and frontier older adults. Journal of Aging and Environment. doi: 10.1080/26892618.2023.2219662. Impact factor 1.57
Kitchin, J. L.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2023). The social ecology of academic achievement: Modeling sources of protection. European Journal of Psychology of Education. doi:10.1007/s10212-023-00702-8 Impact factor 3.82
Ben Salem, M.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2023). Dispositional mindfulness and positive mindset in emerging adult college students: The mediating role of decentering. Psychological Reports.126(2), 601-619. online first in 2021 https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211061705 Impact Factor 2.3
Karlin, N. J., & Weil, J. (2022). Need and potential use of telemedicine in two rural areas. Activities, Adaptation, and Aging. doi:10.1080/01924788.2022.2160689 Impact Factor 1.0 H-Index of 22.
Weil, J., Karlin, N. J., & Monroe, K.* (2022). Developing a conceptual model with policy implications to better support healthcare providers working with older adults during a pandemic: An interpretive descriptive qualitative study. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(5), 832-841. doi: 10.1177/07334648221143603 Impact Factor 2.956
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J., & Monroe, K.* (2022). Experiences of Service Providers Working with Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Loss and Trauma: International Perspectives on Stress & Coping, 27, 495-515. doi: 10.1080/15325024.2021.2009267 Impact Factor 1.711.
Kitchin, J. L.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2022). Awareness and stigma of autism spectrum disorders in undergraduate students. Psychological Reports, 125(4), 2069-2087. Online first in 2021 https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211014144 Impact Factor 2.053
Karlin, N. J., & Weil, J. (2021). Telehealth as an Element of Home and Community-based Services in a Pandemic: An Intrinsic Case Study in Two Rural Areas. Innovations in Aging, 5(S1), 742. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.2737 Impact factor of 6.06.
Karlin, N. J., & Weil, J. (2019). Exploring cultural similarity and cultural diversity: A cross-national study of nine countries. Journal of Aging Science, 7(2), 1-9. doi:10.35248/2329-8847.19.07.204.
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J., & Ben Salem, M.* (2019). Social Support, Retirement Resources, and the Gendered Experiences of Aging for Tunisian Older Adults. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 62(5), 564-577. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2019.1610132
Sammons, K.,* Weil, J., Karlin, N. J., & Watabe, A.* (2019). Interviewer effect and context when conducting qualitative interviews with older persons in contemporary Japan. SAGE Research Methods Cases, 28, 435-451. doi:10.4135/9781526477699
Karlin, N. J., & Ben Salem, M.,* & Weil, J. (2018). Aging in Tunisia. The Gerontologist, 58(6), 1004-1008. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny125
Karlin, N. J. (2017). Older adult service usage assessment: Evidence from two rural samples. Activities, Adaptation, and Aging, 41(4), 1-23. doi:10.1080/01924788.2017.1412228
Karlin, N. J. (2017). Development and preliminary validation of the older adult service usage assessment. Advances in Aging Research, 6, 61-72. doi: 10.4236/aar.2017.64007
Machlev, M.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2017). The relationship between instructor use for different types of humor and student interest in course material. College Teaching.65(2), 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2017.1333080
Karlin, N. J., & Weil, J. (2017). Healthy aging in a global context: Comparing six countries. Ageing International, 42(1). 1-22. doi:10.1007/s12126-016-9274-2
Machlev, M.,* & Karlin, N. J. (September, 2016). Understanding the relationship between different types of instructional humor and student learning. SAGE Open,6(3),1-9. doi: 10.1177/2158244016670200
Diaz, A.,* Cochran, K., & Karlin, N. J. (2016). The influence of teacher power on English language learners’ self-perceptions of learner empowerment. College Teaching.64(4), 158-167. doi:10.1080/87567555.2015.1126801
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J., & Felmban, W.* (2016). Aging in Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study of contemporary older persons’ views about daily life, health, and the experience of aging. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.2, 1-9. doi:10.1177/2333721415623911
Weil, J., Karlin, N. J., & Floren, K.* (2015). Boomer backlash as aging becomes a global institution. International Journal of Contemporary Sociology. 52(1), 37-58.
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J., Pupanead, S.,* Saratapun, N.,* & Kgosidialwa, K.* (2014). Etic and emic perspectives on aging: Italy, Thailand, Botswana, and the United States. Ageing International,39(4), 348-368. doi:10.1007/s12126-014-9198-7.
Karlin, N. J., & Branch, J. (2014). Making short-term study abroad classes ADA compliant: Specifics on utilizing interpreters. International Psychology Bulletin. 18(2-3), 36-39.
Shillingford, S.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2013). Preservice teachers’ self-efficacy and knowledge of emotional behavioral disorders. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 19(2), 176-194. doi: 10.1080/13632752.2013.840958.
Shillingford, S.,* & Karlin, N. J. (2013). The role of intrinsic motivation in nontraditional students academic pursuits. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development. 25(3), 91-102. doi: 10.1002/nha3.20033
Weil, J., & Karlin, N. J. (2013). Italian lessons on aging in place: The day-to-day lived experiences of elders at a roman senior center, The International Journal of Aging and Society,2(2), 1-11.
Karlin, N. J., Weil, J., & Gould, J. (October-December, 2012). Comparisons between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White informal caregivers. SAGE Open. 2(4), 1-10. doi:10.1177/2158244012470108
Karlin, N. J., Marrow, S., Weil, J., Baum, S.,* & Spencer, T.* (2012). Social support, mood, and resiliency following a Peruvian natural disaster. Journal of Loss and Trauma: International Perspectives on Stress and Coping, 17, 470-488.
Kirkland, R. A.,* Karlin, N. J., Stellino, M., & Pulos, S. (2011). Basic psychological needs satisfaction, motivation, and exercise in older adults. Activities, Adaptation, and Aging, 35(3),181-196.
Weil, J., & Karlin, N. J. (2011). Reflections from our visit: The importance of organizations and senior centers in the lives of elders. Associazione Fra Albenzio, 43, 6.
Gould, J., Moore, D., Karlin, N. J., Gaede, D., Walker, J., & Dotterweich, A. R. (2011). Measuring serious leisure in chess: Model confirmation and method bias. Leisure Sciences, 33(4), 332-340.
Karlin, N. J., Eguigure, A.,* & Torres, A.* (2009). Hispanic family members and caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Care Today, 10(4), 189-201.
Karlin, N. J., Emick, J.,* Mehls, E.* & Murry, F. R. (2005). Comparison of efficacy and ageism levels between psychology and nursing students. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, 26(2), 81-96.
Karlin, N. J. (2004). An analysis of religiosity and exercise as predictors of support group attendance and caregiver burden while caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Mental Health and Aging. 10(2), 99-106.
Karlin, N. J., Schneider, K.,* & Pepper, S.* (2002). Issues of attraction, retention, and affective states for geriatric nurse practitioners in long-term care. Geriatric Nursing, 23(6), 324-329.
Karlin, N. J., Bell, P. A., & Noah, J. L.* (2001). Long-term Consequences of the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Role: A Qualitative Analysis. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias, 16(3), 177-182.
Karlin, N. J., Bell, P. A., Noah, J. L.,* Martichuski, D. K., & Knight, B. L. (1999). Assessing Alzheimer’s Support Group Participation: A retrospective follow-up. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 14(6), 326-333.
Karlin, N. J., & Dalley, M. (1998). Alzheimer's disease knowledge: A comparison study. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 4(3), 211-217.
Karlin, N. J., O'Reilly, B. K., & Williams, S. C.* (1997). Cross-cultural differences between Swiss and American caregivers of Alzheimer's disease family members. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 3(4), 257-265.
Martichuski, D. K., Knight, B. L., Karlin, N. J., & Bell, P. A. (1997). Correlates of Alzheimer's disease caregivers' support group attendance. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 21(4), 27-40.
Karlin, N. J., & Bromley, S. P. (1996). Differences in caregivers of demented and lucid chronically ill family members. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 11(5), 39-45.
Karlin, N. J., & Bell, P. A. (1995). Assessing commonality and favorability of first names. Psychological Reports, 77, 97-98. Cited in the Washington Post, Sunday November 26, 1995.
Karlin, N. J., & Retzlaff, P. (1995). Psychopathology in caregivers of the chronically ill: Personality and Clinical Syndromes. The Hospice Journal, 10(3), 55-61.
Dalley, M. B., Bolocofsky, D. N., & Karlin, N. J. (1994). Teacher-ratings and self-ratings of social competency in adolescents with low- and high-depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 22(4), 1-9.
Karlin, N. J. & Bell, P. A. (1992). Self-efficacy, affect and seeking support between caregivers of dementia and non-dementia patients. Journal of Women and Aging, 4(3), 59-77.
Karlin, N. J. (2019). The how and why of creating the first Psi Chi video. RUDN Journal of Psychology and Pedagogics, 16(2), 279-282. http://journals.rudn.ru/psychology-pedagogics/article/view/21381/17077
Karlin, N. J. (2000). Creating an Effective Conference Presentation. Eye on Psi Chi, Winter edition, 28-29.
Kitchin (McReynolds), J. (Spring, 2016). Sensory processing specificity in Autism. Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado. 5(3), 44-57. (Faculty Mentor: N. J. Karlin)
Owens, E., Ulibarri, C., & Karlin, B. D. (Spring, 2016). A portrait of five undergraduate students who serve as caregivers while taking university courses. Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado.5(3), 74-86. (Faculty Mentor: N. J. Karlin)
Lourdes, D. A., & Karlin, N. J. (2005). A cross cultural study of self-perceptions regarding efficacy and attractiveness as related to academic success. University of Northern Colorado McNair Research Journal, Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, 10, 79-90.
Gonzalez, J., & Karlin, N. J. (2004). Self-report mood of single parents in higher education in comparison with traditional students. University of Northern Colorado McNair Research Journal, Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, 9, 23-42.
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