Texas Tech University

Jean Pearson Scott, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus
Human Development and Family Sciences

Email: jean.scott@ttu.edu

Phone: (806) 834-6589

 

Jean Scott

Research Focus

My research focus as a family gerontologist took form at the time I was a doctoral student in HDFS.  As a research assistant, I worked with a large survey project addressing the needs of older adults living in rural areas.  The data became the basis for my dissertation and first publications and launched my research career examining the linkages between the family relationships of older adults and their perceived quality of life.  I have conducted research focused on parent –adult child relationships, caregiving for a family member with probable Alzheimer's Disease, sibling relationships, end-of-life decision-making, women's issues, and intergenerational ties.  Contextual influences of rural environments have continued to be an area of focus.

Areas of Expertise

  • Needs of older adults in rural contexts
  • Older women's issues
  • Informal supportive ties of older adults including sibling relationships, parent adult-child relationships, widowhood, intergenerational relationships
  • End-of-life decision making
  • Spirituality in later life

Publications and Presentations

Heinz, M., Martin, P., Doll, G., & Pearson-Scott, J. P. (2014).  The delivery of distance education – Is it time for doctoral programs in gerontology? Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 2, 1-22

Kang, H., & Scott, J. P.  Feelings of kinship support of Mexican American adult children for their elderly parents in stepfamily context.  Unpublished Manuscript.

Stelle, C., & Scott, J.P. (2007).  Alcohol abuse by older family members:  A family systems analysis of assessment and intervention.  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 25, 43-63.

Hiatt, K., Stelle, C., Mulsow, M., & Scott, J.P. (2007).  The importance of perspective:  Evaluation of hospice care from multiple stakeholders.AmericanJournal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 24,376- 382.

Fuller, H. R., O'Connor, M., Scott, J.P., Margrett, J., Killian, T., Doll, G., & Bishop, A. (2015, November).  Rural aging across the South Plains:  An examination of sociodemographic variation in quality of life. Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, FL.

O'Connor, M., Fuller, H.R., Bishop, A., Doll, G., Killian, T., Margrett, J., & Scott, J.P. (2015, November).  Engaging distance learners in research:  A collaborative investigation of rural aging.  Gerontological Society of America, Orlando, FL.

Reifman, A., Fang, D., Fitzpatrick, J., Gregersen, L., Harris, J., Henderson, D., Lieway, M., Niehuis, S., Oldham, R., Scott, J. P., and Yuan, S. (2015, November).  Ranking HDFS departments:  A look at publication statistics.  Annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Vancouver, Canada.

 Juergens, C., Fischer, J., Reifman, A., & Scott, J. P. (2013, November).  Associations of gender characteristics and relationship length with fitness and health outcomes:  A 25-year study. Annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, San Antonio, TX.

Heinz, M., Martin, P., Doll, G., & Pearson-Scott, J. (2013, February). The future of distance education- Is it time for doctoral programs in gerontology? Paper presented at the 39th annual meeting of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), St. Petersburg, FL.

Cong, Z., Park, S., Feng, Du, & Scott, J. P. (2012, November).  Living arrangements and depressive symptoms in Mexican American elders:  The moderating effects of culture and needs.  Poster session at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Diego, CA.

Links

Vita