Skip to main content
Alexandra L. Terrill

Alexandra L. Terrill, PhD

Languages spoken: German

Academic Office Information

alex.terrill@hsc.utah.edu

Research Statement

<p>
<font color="#000000"><spancalibri font-size: mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin mso-fareast-font-family: calibri mso-fareast-theme-font: mso-hansi-theme-font: mso-bidi-font-family: arial mso-ansi-language: en-us mso-fareast-language: mso-bidi-language: ar-sa>My background is in clinical psychology with specialized training in health and rehabilitation psychology. More specifically, my research experience encompasses three basic areas: (1) adjustment to chronic conditions such as stroke and associated disability, (2) the role of close relationships in managing chronic conditions (to include caregiving), and (3) positive psychology. <spancalibri font-size: mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin mso-fareast-font-family: calibri mso-fareast-theme-font: mso-hansi-theme-font: mso-bidi-font-family: new roman mso-ansi-language: en-us mso-fareast-language: mso-bidi-language: ar-sa mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi>My broad goal is to improve our understanding of how social, psychological and biological processes interact to affect the aging individual and develop interventions that enhance productivity and quality of life from early to late adulthood. Within this broad framework, I am particularly interested in investigating protective factors involved in the prevention of and adjustment to chronic medical conditions and associated disability, and to translate this knowledge into interventions designed to help individuals and their families foster resilience in the face of chronic conditions. </spancalibri></spancalibri></font></p>

Education History

Postdoctoral Fellowship University of Washington
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Washington School of Medicine
Intern
Graduate Training Washington State University
PhD
Washington State University
MS
Post Graduate Training Ohio State University
Postgraduate Studies
University of Florida
BSc (Hons)

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Terrill AL, Reblin M, MacKenzie JJ, Baucom BRW, Einerson J, Cardell B, Richards L, Majersik JJ (2023). Promoting Resilience After Stroke in Dyads (ReStoreD): A Supplemental Analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 104(10), 1580-1587.
  2. Einerson J, Lundstrom LK, Allen BK, Sefandonakis A, Terrill AL (2022). Learning to flourish in a new reality: a thematic analysis of couples' experience of participation in a positive psychology intervention post-stroke. Disabil Rehabil, 45(16), 2612-2619.
  3. Utz RL, Terrill AL, Thompson A (2021). Online interventions to support family caregivers: The value of community-engaged research practices. J Prev Interv Community, 51(3), 238-253.
  4. Einerson J, Cardell B, Majersik JJ, Reblin M, Richards LG, Terrill AL (2022). Piloting GETCare: A Goal-Based Education and Skills Training Program for Caregivers. Rehabil Nurs, 47(6), 220-227.
  5. Otto AK, Ketcher D, Reblin M, Terrill AL (2022). Positive Psychology Approaches to Interventions for Cancer Dyads: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(20).
  6. Gordon EL, Terrill AL, Smith TW, Ibele AR, Martinez P, McGarrity LA (2022). Overvaluation of Shape and Weight (Not BMI) Associated with Depressive Symptoms and Binge Eating Symptoms Pre- and Post-bariatric Surgery. Obes Surg, 32(7), 2272-2279.
  7. Anderson MA, Buffo C, Ketcher D, Nguyen H, MacKenzie JJ, Reblin M, Terrill AL (2021). Applying the RISE Model of Resilience in Partners Post-Stroke: A Qualitative Analysis. Ann Behav Med, 56(3), 270-281.
  8. McGarrity LA, Terrill AL, Martinez PL, Ibele AR, Morrow EH, Volckmann ET, Smith TW (2022). The Role of Resilience in Psychological Health Among Bariatric Surgery Patients. Obes Surg, 32(3), 792-800.
  9. Bristol AA, Mata AC, Mickens M, Dassel KB, Ellington L, Scammon D, Thompson A, Towsley GL, Utz RL, Terrill AL (2021). "You Feel Very Isolated": Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Caregiver Social Connections. Gerontol Geriatr Med, 7, 23337214211060166.
  10. Dassel KB, Towsley GL, Utz RL, Ellington L, Terrill A, Scammon D, Bristol AA, Thompson A, Mickens M (2021). A Limited Opportunity: COVID-19 and Promotion of Advance Care Planning. Palliat Med Rep, 2(1), 194-198.
  11. Akinwuntan A, Hu X, Terrill AL (2021). Young Stroke: Resources for Patients, Their Families, and Caregivers for Long-Term Community Living. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 102, 1035-1039.
  12. Pincock JS, Terrill AL (2020). Association of mindfulness to resilience, anxiety, and depressive symptoms after spinal cord injury-a correlational study. Spinal Cord Ser Cases, 6(1), 7.
  13. Furrer A, Michel G, Terrill AL, Jensen MP, Mller R (2019). Modeling subjective well-being in individuals with chronic pain and a physical disability: the role of pain control and pain catastrophizing. Disabil Rehabil, 41, 498-507.
  14. Terrill AL, MacKenzie JJ, Reblin M, Einerson J, Ferraro J, Altizer R (2019). A Collaboration Between Game Developers and Rehabilitation Researchers to Develop a Web-Based App for Persons With Physical Disabilities: Case Study. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol, 6(2), e13511.
  15. Terrill AL, Molton IR (2019). Frequency and impact of midlife stressors among men and women with physical disability. Disabil Rehabil, 41, 1760-1767.
  16. Terrill AL, Schwartz JK, Belagaje S (2019). Understanding Mental Health Needs After Mild Stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 100, 1003-1008.
  17. Beier M, Hartoonian N, DOrio VL, Terrill AL, Bhattarai J, Paisner ND, Alschuler KN (2019). Relationship of perceived stress and employment status in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Work, 62(2), 243-249.
  18. Terrill AL, Reblin M, MacKenzie JJ, Cardell B, Einerson J, Berg CA, Majersik JJ, Richards L (2018). Development of a novel positive psychology-based intervention for couples post-stroke. Rehabil Psychol, 63(1), 43-54.
  19. Terrill AL, Ellington L, John KK, Latimer S, Xu J, Reblin M, Clayton MF (2018). Positive emotion communication: Fostering well-being at end of life. Patient Educ Couns, 101(4), 631-638.
  20. Terrill AL, Molton IR, Ehde DM, Amtmann D, Bombardier CH, Smith AE, Jensen MP (2017). Resilience, age, and perceived symptoms in persons with long-term physical disabilities. J Health Psychol, 21, 640-9.
  21. Mller R, Terrill AL, Jensen MP, Molton IR, Ravesloot C, Ipsen C (2016). Happiness, Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, and Distress in Individuals with Physical Disabilities. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 94, 1041-51.
  22. Mller R, Gertz KJ, Molton IR, Terrill AL, Bombardier CH, Ehde DM, Jensen MP (2015). Effects of a Tailored Positive Psychology Intervention on Well-Being and Pain in Individuals With Chronic Pain and a Physical Disability: A Feasibility Trial. Clin J Pain, 32(1), 32-44.
  23. Terrill AL, Mller R, Jensen MP, Molton IR, Ipsen C, Ravesloot C (2015). Association between age, distress, and orientations to happiness in individuals with disabilities. Rehabil Psychol, 60, 27-35.
  24. Hartoonian N, Terrill AL, Beier ML, Turner AP, Day MA, Alschuler KN (2015). Predictors of anxiety in multiple sclerosis. Rehabil Psychol, 60, 91-8.
  25. Terrill AL, Gjerde JM, Garofalo JP (2013). Background Stress Inventory: Developing a Measure of Understudied Stress. Stress Health, 31(4), 290-8.
  26. Terrill AL, Hartoonian N, Beier M, Salem R, Alschuler K (2015). The 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale as a tool for measuring generalized anxiety in multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care, 17, 49-56.
  27. Molton IR, Terrill AL, Smith AE, Yorkston KM, Alschuler KN, Ehde DM, Jensen MP (2014). Modeling secondary health conditions in adults aging with physical disability. J Aging Health, 26, 335-59.
  28. Terrill AL (2012). Multiple Roles and Stress Burden in Women: A Conceptual Model of Heart Disease Risk. J Appl Biobehav Res, 17(1), 4-22.
  29. Terrill AL, Ruiz JM, Garofalo JP (2011). Look on the bright side: do the benefits of optimism depend on the social nature of the stressor? J Behav Med, 33, 399-414.
  30. Ruiz JM, Hutchinson JG, Terrill AL (2008). For Better and Worse: Social Influences on Coronary Heart Disease Risk. Soc Personal Psychol Compass, 2(3), 1400-1414.

Review

  1. Molton IR, Terrill AL (2014). Overview of persistent pain in older adults. [Review]. Am Psychol, 69(2), 197-207.

Book Chapter

  1. Terrill AL, MacKenzie JJ, Einerson J, Reblin M (2019). Resilience and disability: Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social environment factors. In Dunn DS (Ed.), Understanding the experience of disability: Perspectives from social and rehabilitation psychology (pp. 313-327). Oxford University Press.
  2. Terrill AL, Garofalo JP (2012). Cardiovascular disease and the workplace. In Gatchel RJ, Schultz IZ (Eds.), Handbook of Occupational Health and Wellness. New York, NY: Springer.

Editorial

  1. Terrill AL (2023). Mental Health Issues Poststroke: Underrecognized and Undertreated. Stroke, 54(6), 1528-1530.