Chalandra M. Bryant, Ph.D.
Ph. D., University of Texas at Austin, 1996
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
Contact Information
120 South Henderson Building
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 865-2668
Research
My research focuses on close relationships. I am particularly interested in the developmental roots of the ability to successfully initiate and sustain close relationships. A developmental approach to the study of relationships suggests that individuals learn interpersonal behavioral dispositions, social skills, attitudes and values in their families of origin, and carry that information into their adult relationships. I examine the manner in which young adults' intimate relationships are influenced, directly or indirectly, by specific characteristics in the family of origin. Through my work, I have found a significant link between interactional processes in the family of origin and the quality of early adult romantic relationships. In line with this area of research, I also explore how various domains of social support influence premarital and marital relationships. Not as much is known about the influence of social network members on long-term married spouses. I have found that even after decades of marriage, relationship-specific support from friends and family members is associated with increased marital success.
I am currently examining the marital relationships of newlywed African American couples. The primary goal of this longitudinal research is to examine the effect of social, familial, economic, occupational, and psychological factors on marital and health outcomes, as couples transition through the newlywed phase of their relationships. Given that relatively little is known about (a) the marital relationships of African Americans, (b) the impact of distinct stressors experienced by African Americans, and (c) the interrelationship between health and marriage among African Americans, it is important to conduct a within-group study in order to carefully examine these issues. I also explore singlehood among African American, White, and Latino women -- specifically the reasons that some women choose to live a life of singlehood. In yet another project, I am studying the influence of community, stress, and poverty on the relationship functioning of low-income families. That particular study focuses on neighborhood context.
Current Projects
- A Study of African American Marriage and Health (Principal Investigator)
- Neighborhood Context: A Study of the Influence of Relocation on the Relationship Functioning of Low-Income African American Couples (Principal Investigator)
- Singlehood among Low-Income Women (Principal Investigator)
Education
- 1996, Ph.D., Child Development and Family Relations, The University of Texas at Austin
- 1990, M.A., Science Education, The University of South Florida
- 1988, B.S., Biology, The University of South Florida
Professional Experience
- 2003-Present: Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- 2001-2003: Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- 1998-2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- 1998-2003: Faculty Affiliate, Institute for Social & Behavioral Research, Iowa State University
- 1996-1998: NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow in Family Risk and Resilience, Center for Family Research in Rural Mental Health, Iowa State University.
Honors
- 2005 Academic Leadership Fellow for Committee on Institutional Cooperation
- 2005 Outstanding Young Professional (Awarded by University of Texas, Texas Exes Alumni Association, Human Ecology)
- 2004 Reuben Hill Award
- 2002 International Association for Relationship Research New Contributions Award Honoring Significant Contributions to Personal Relationships Research
- 2001 Certificate of Appreciation for Devoted and Invaluable Services Rendered to the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
- 2001 Vanguard Award for Faculty Excellence in Leadership
Selected Publications
- Bryant, C.M. & Bryant, B.M. (in press). Families, Demographic Trends. In H. T. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Human Relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Bryant, C.M. & Bragg, M. (2008). Marital trends and familial influences: Toward developing an understanding of context. In W. Schaie (Ed.), Social Structures and Aging Individuals: Continuing Challenges. Springer Publishing Company.
- Bryant, C.M., Taylor, R., Lincoln, K.D., Chatters, L. Jackson, J.S. (2008). Marital satisfaction among African Americans and Black Caribbeans: Findings from National Survey of American Life. Family Relations, 239-253.
- Bolland, J. M., Bryant, C. M., Lian, B. E., McCallum, D. M., Vazsonyi, A. T., & Barth, J. M. (2007). Development and risk behavior among African American, Caucasian, and mixed-race adolescents living in high poverty inner-city neighborhoods. American Journal of Community Psychology.
- Bryant, C. M. (2006) Pathways linking early experiences and later relationship functioning. (pp. 103-112). In A. C. Crouter and A. Booth (Eds.) Romance and Sex in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Risks and Opportunities. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
- Bryant, C. M., Bolland, J., Burton, L., Hurt, T., Bryant, B. (2006). The Changing Social Context of Relationships. In P. Noller and J. Feeney (Eds.) Close Relationships: Functions Forms and Processes. Psychology Press (pp. 25-47).
- Wickrama, T., Wickrama, K. A. S., & Bryant, C. M. (2006). The influence of community poverty on adolescent obesity: Race/ethnicity moderating effects. Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
- Bryant, C. M. & Wickrama, K. A. S. (2005). Marital relationships of African Americans: A contextual approach (pp.111-134). In V. McLoyd, N. Hill, and K. A. Dodge (Eds.) Emerging Issues in African American Family Life: Context, Adaptation, and Policy. New York: Guilford Press.
- Bolland, J. M. & Bryant, C. M. (2005). Their voices should count, too: Family structure from the perspective of children, pp 8-9, Family Focus, Issue FF26.
- Bryant, C. M. (2005). Developing Professional Skills in Methods: Writing Grant Proposals (Spotlight on Methods). In V. L. Bengtson, A. C. Acock; K. R. Allen, P. Dilworth-Anderson, & D. M. Klein (Eds.), Sourcebook of Family Theory & Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
- Wickrama, K. A. S., Noh, S., Bryant, C. M. (2005). Racial differences in adolescent distress: Differential effects of the family and community for blacks and whites. Journal of Community Psychology, 33(3), 261-282.
- Donnellan, M. B., Conger, R. D., & Bryant, C. M. (2004). The big five and enduring marriages. Journal of Research in Personality, 38(5), 481-504.
- Conger, K., Bryant, C., & Brennom, J. (2004). The changing nature of adolescent sibling relationships: A theoretical framework for evaluating the role of relationship quality. In R. D. Conger, F. Lorenz, K. A. S. Wickrama (Eds.) Continuity and Change in Family Relations: Theory, Methods, and Empirical Findings (319-344). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum
- Wickrama, K. A. S., Bryant, C., & Conger, R. D. (2004). Change and continuity in marital relationships during the middle years. In R. Conger, F. Lorenz, K. A. S. Wickrama (Eds.) Continuity and Change in Family Relations: Theory, Methods, and Empirical Findings (pp. 123-143). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
- Wickrama, K. A. S. & Bryant, C. M. (2003). Community context of social resources and adolescent mental health. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 850-866.
- Melby, J., Hoyt, W., & Bryant, C. (2003). A generalizability approach to assessing the effects of ethnicity and training on observer ratings of family interactions. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20(2), 171-191.
- Cutrona, C. E., Russell, D. W., Abraham, W. T., Gardner, K., Melby, J., Bryant, C., & Conger, R. D. (2003). Neighborhood context and financial strain as predictors of marital interaction and marital quality in African American couples. Journal of Personal Relationships, 10(3).
- Cui, M., Conger, R., Bryant, C. & Elder, G. (2002). Parental behavior and the quality of adolescent friendships: A social contextual perspective. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 64, 676-689.
- Bryant, C. M. & Conger, R. D. (2002). An intergenerational model of romantic relationship development. In A. L. Vangelisti H. T. Reiss, M. A. Fitzpatrick (Eds.) Stability and Change in Relationships (pp. 57-82). New York: Cambridge University Press.
- Bryant, C. M., Conger, R. D., & Meehan, J. (2001). The influence of in-laws on change in marital success. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 63, 614-626.
- Conger, R. D., Cui, M., Bryant, C., & Elder, G. (2001). Competence in early adult romantic relationships: A developmental perspective on family influences. Prevention & Treatment, 4, American Psychological Association. ISSN 1522-3736 (Reprint).
- Conger, R. D., Cui, M., Bryant, C., & Elder, G. H., Jr. (2000). Competence in early adult romantic relationships: A developmental perspective on family influences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 79, 224-237.
- Bryant, C. M., & Conger, R. D. (1999). Marital success and domains of social support in long-term relationships: Does the influence of network members ever end? Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 437-450.
- Christian, C. & Bryant, C. (1998). Birth Mothers’ Adjustment and Resolution of Grief. In R. McRoy & H. Grotevant (Eds.), pp. 135-172. Openness in Adoption: Exploring Family Connections. Newbury Park: Sage.
- Christian, C., McRoy, R., Grotevant, H., & Bryant, C. (1997). Grief resolution of birthmothers in confidential, time-limited mediated, on-going mediated, and fully disclosed adoptions. Adoption Quarterly, 1(2), 35-58.