Dr. Julia Malia

Associate Professor

Family stress is my main research interest. At Iowa State University I examined differences in the stress process in balanced, midrange, and extreme families, using Olson's Circumplex Model of family adaptation and cohesion. A recent specialized topic of my family stress research is in-law bonding/failure-to-bond (mothers- and daughters-in-law as resources and as stressors for each other). Another is mediation of family-related conflicts. Other recent work integrates the family stress process with family resource management. Earlier research projects addressing a wide variety of social phenomena include: using Brief Counseling in secondary schools; using a family life cycle approach to alcohol abuse prevention and treatment; studying women who sexually abuse children; and studying university students' dating and drinking patterns.

Presentations at National Council on Family Relations (N.C.F.R.), the N.C.F.R. Theory Construction and Research Methodology Workshop, the Groves Conference on Marriage and the Family, and the American Association for Counseling and Development regard: family stress process, family mediation and collaboration, a study of regarding friendships among members of professional associations, and an exploratory study on transgenerational sexual and affectional expression issues in family of origin work.

Workshops as a substance abuse prevention specialist focused on family stress and coping, substance abuse in families, basic helping skills, crisis intervention, brief counseling, transforming fear into creative/assertive energy, and changing hurting patterns to healing patterns. I have completed training programs in marital and family therapy and in Gestalt Therapy, and I am certified as a trained mediator and as a Couple Communication Program instructor. In the future, I hope to do evaluation research regarding the comparative effectiveness of these and other helping approaches.

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Malia, J. A., & Malia, J. E. (2000). Divorce mediation: An exemplary program in East Tennessee. Family Science Review, 13(3-4), 204-208.

Malia, J. A., & Malia, J. E. (2000). Effective strategies and a framework for development of community-based educational programs for empowering families. Family Science Review, 13(3-4), 149-164.

Norem, R. H., Malia, J., & Garrison, M. E. (2000). Family Health Status Inventory. In J. Touliatos, B. F. Perlmutter, & G. W. Holden (Eds.), Handbook of family measurement techniques, second edition, volumes 1 and 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Norem, R. H., Garrison, M. E., & Malia, J. (2000). Family Daily Hassles Inventory. In J. Touliatos, B. F. Perlmutter, & G. W. Holden (Eds.), Handbook of family measurement techniques, second edition, volumes 1 and 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Malia, J. A., & Blackwell, E. M. (Submitted). A study of the nature of mother- and daughter-in-law relationships using the QSR NUD-IST Program.

Taylor, S. K., Malia, J. A., & Cunningham, J. L. (Submitted). Parenting as a context for adolescent learning about conflict.

Contact Information

1215 W. Cumberland Ave
419 Jessie Harris Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-1912

Phone: 865-974-6292
Email: jmalia@utk.edu

Contact CEHHS

335 Claxton Complex 1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone: 865-974-2201
Fax: 865-974-8718