Faculty Profile
Sylvia Niehuis, Ph.D.
Human Development and Family Studies
(806) 742-3000, ext. 243 - Office: HS 509
sylvia.niehuis@ttu.edu
University of Texas, Austin, 2001
Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Interests:
My program of research focuses on the development of premarital relationships within various ecological contexts, such as family, peer groups, and culture. I explore whether and how couples' courtship experiences bear upon their subsequent marital relationship, using dyadic, longitudinal data. For example, I have examined how various premarital events (such as pregnancy) and courtship experiences (such as cohabitation) influence the likelihood and timing of marital disruption. I have also studied interpersonal psychological processes that move couples toward marriage and, in particular, the interplay between those dyadic processes and long-term marital outcomes. For instance, I have looked at how individuals build up overly favorable perceptions of their partners' qualities and how disillusionment may later emerge as perceivers' lofty impressions of their partners succumb to the more realistic, less glamorous daily experiences of ongoing relationships.
Selected Funded Projects:
Niehuis, S. (PI), Transforming a Research Program on Marital Relationships to Encompass Psychological and Physical Health. Creative Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; VPR, Texas Tech University. Funded for FY 2011-2012 at $20,000.
Niehuis, S. (PI), Reifman, A. (Co-PI), & Lee, K.-H.* Proposal to Administer the Marital Disillusionment Scale in the NCFMR/Knowledge Networks Panel Survey. National Center for Family & Marriage Research, Bowling Green State University. Awarded for FY 2010-2011.
Niehuis, S. (PI), Decision-Making Processes in Premarital and Marital Relationships. Associate Dean for Research and Faculty, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University. Funded for FYs 2007- 2009 at $9,000 total.
Niehuis, S. (PI). The Development of Commitment to Marriage in Hispanic Newlywed Couples. Faculty Diversity Development Award; Office of Institutional Diversity & the Cross Cultural Academic Advancement Center, Texas Tech University. Funded for FY 2008-2009 at $2,000.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
(*=Graduate Student Author)
Niehuis, S., Reifman, A., & Lee, K.-H.* (in press). Disillusionment in Cohabiting and Married Couples: A National Study. Journal of Family Issues.
Niehuis, S., Lee, K.-H.*, Reifman, A., Swenson, A.*, & Hunsaker, S.* (2011). Idealization and disillusionment in intimate relationships: A review of theory, method, and research. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 3, 273-302.
Lee, K.-H.*, Swenson, A. V. R.*, & Niehuis, S. (2010). His or her parents? Perceived parental approval of romantic relationships among college students and their partners. Interpersona, 4 (2). Available online (click here).
Boden, J.*, Fischer, J., & Niehuis, S. (2010). Predicting marital adjustment from young adults’ initial levels and changes in emotional intimacy over time: A 25-year longitudinal study. Journal of Adult Development, 17, 121-134.
Busby, D. M., Holman, T. B., & Niehuis, S. (2009). The association between partner enhancement and self-enhancement and relationship quality outcomes. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 449-464.
Higginbotham, B., Miller, J.*, & Niehuis, S. (2009). Remarriage preparation: Usage, perceived helpfulness, and dyadic adjustment. Family Relations, 58, 316-329.
Niehuis, S., Huston, T. L., & Rosenband, R.* (2006). From courtship into marriage: A new developmental model and methodological critique. Journal of Family Communication, 6, 23-47.
Miller, P. J., Niehuis, S., Huston, T. L. (2006). Positive Illusions in Marital Relationships: A 13-Year Longitudinal Study. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 1579-1594.
Recent Encyclopedia Entries
(*=Graduate Student Author)
Niehuis, S., Lee, K.-H.*, & Oblad, T.* (2013). Cohabitation before marriage. In R. E. Emery & G. J. Golson (Eds.), Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia (pp. 276-280). Sage Publications.
Niehuis, S., & Lee, K.-H.* (2013). Age at marriage. In R. E. Emery & G. J. Golson (Eds.), Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia (pp. 54-57). Sage Publications.
Fischer, J., Boden J. S.*, & Niehuis, S. (2013). Marital Adjustment over 25 Years. In A. C. Michalos (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Quality of Life Research. Dordrecht: Springer.
Niehuis, S., & Boden, J.* (2009). Idealization. In H. T. Reis & S. K. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relationships (pp. 823-826). Sage Publications.
Niehuis, S., & Lee, K.-H.* (2009). Disillusionment in marriage. In H. T. Reis & S. K. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relationships (pp. 430-432). Sage Publications.
Niehuis, S. (2008). Dating and courtship. In J. T. Sears (Ed.), The Greenwood encyclopedia of love, courtship, and sexuality through history, Vol. 6: The modern world (pp. 57-60). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Selected Awards, Honors, and Recognitions
2013 |
Recipient, Faculty Development Leave (Fall 2013), Texas Tech University. |
2013 |
First Place for Outstanding Graduate Student Poster Presentation, Texas Tech University.Awarded toOldham, R. (grad. student), Reifman, A., & Niehuis, S. (mentor). |
2012 |
Nominee (Departmental Level), Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award. Texas Tech University. |
2011 |
Recipient, Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Poster Presentation from the Center for Undergraduate Research at Texas Tech University. Awarded to Chester, M. (undergrad. Student), Lee, K. H. (grad. student), & Niehuis, S. (mentor). |
2011 |
Nominee, Outstanding Faculty Mentor, Center for Undergraduate Research, Texas Tech University. |
2010 |
Nominee, President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Texas Tech University. |
2010 |
Inclusive Excellence Fellowship, Office of Institutional Diversity & Community Engagement, Texas Tech University. |
2009 |
Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Member Award, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University. |
2009 |
Recipient, Most Improved Professional Organization Award, Texas Tech University. Awarded toTech Council on Family Relations, of which I was Co-Advisor. |
2008 |
Recipient, Outstanding Student Organization Award, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University. Awarded to Tech Council on Family Relations, of which I was Co-Advisor. |
2002 |
Recipient, Best Student Paper Award. International Society for the Study of Personal Relationships. |