Research Interests

Childhood risk and resilience; Educational handicapping conditions in young adults.

Research statement

The theme underlying my research is the psychosocial development of individuals at risk for adjustment problems due to conditions experienced during childhood or developmental disabilities. Currently my projects focus on adolescents and adults at risk because of childhood experience of parental divorce or because of developmental disabilities. I am particularly interested in the development of “resilience” –those personality characteristics that allow the individual to adjust and adapt well despite risk conditions. Assessment of resilience and vulnerability characteristics in youth with educationally handicapping conditions is a related research interest.

• Faculty Public Service Award, College of Arts & Sciences (1997-98)
• UT Alumni Public Service Award (1998)
• Faculty Appreciation Award, Department of Psychology (1999)
• Editorial Board: Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
• Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology (1978-1983 and 2002-2005)

McIntyre, A., Heron, R.L., McIntyre, M.D., Burton, S.J., Engler, J. (2003). College students from families of divorce: Keys to their resilience. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 24, 17-31.

McIntyre, A. (1991). Attribution of control and ego development: Marker variables for a model of foster care risk. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 12: 413-428.