Research Interests
Brenda DeVellis is a Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education and a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology. Dr. DeVellis is PI on a study funded by NIMH investigating the risk and protective factors for the development of significant psychological distress in a community sample of people with serious medical illnesses. She also is a co-investigator on two funded research projects aimed at changing health-related behaviors that impact on cancer risk. The first is a CDC-funded demonstration project using tailored feedback and lay health advisors to help women factory workers increase their physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The second project, funded by NCI, uses tailored feedback and motivational interviewing to change these same behaviors in a population of people who have had colon cancer. Finally, Dr. DeVellis has collaborated with a number of other investigators in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center on studies of attitudes and behaviors related to the decision to obtain genetic testing and the impact of that testing on people's risk perceptions and well-being.

Publications
1) DEVELLIS, B.M., DeVellis, R.F., & Spilsbury, J.C. (1988). Parental actions when children are sick: The role of belief in divine influence. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 9:185-196.

2) DEVELLIS, B.M. (1989). Decision-making: Logical bases for "illogical" choices. Patient Education and Counseling, 13:207-209.

3) DEVELLIS, B.M., Blalock, S.J., & Sandler, R.S. (1990). Predicting participation in cancer screening: The role of perceived behavioral control. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 20:639-660.

4) Blalock, S.J., DEVELLIS, B.M., Afifi, R.A., & Sandler, R.S. (1990). Risk perceptions and participation in colorectal cancer screening. Health Psychology, 9:792-806.

5) DEVELLIS, B.M., & Blalock, S.J. (1992). Illness attributions and hopelessness depression: The role of hopelessness expectancy. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101:257-264.

6) Campbell, M.K., DEVELLIS, B.M., Strecher, V.J., Ammerman, A.S., DeVellis, R.F., and Sandler, R.S. (1994). The impact of message tailoring on dietary behavior change for disease prevention in primary care settings. American J. of Public Health, 84:783-787.


7) Royak-Schaler, R., DEVELLIS, B.M., Sorenson, J.R., Wilson, K.R., Lannin, D.R., and Emerson, J.A. (1995). Breast cancer in African-American families: Risk perception, cancer worry, and screening practices of first degree relatives. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 281-286.

8) Kinney, A.Y., Choi, Y., DEVELLIS, B.M., Kobetz, E., Millikan, R.C., & Sandler, R.S. (2000). Interest in genetic testing among first degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 18:249-252.

9) Kinney, A., Choi, Y., DEVELLIS, B.M., Millikan, R., Kobetz, E., & Sandler, R.S. (2000). Attitudes toward genetic testing among colon cancer patients. Cancer Practice, I:178-186.

10) McConkie-Rosell, A. & DEVELLIS, B.M., (2000). Threat to parental role: A Possible Mechanism of Altered Self-concept Related to Carrier Knowledge. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 285-302.

11) DEVELLIS, B.M., and DeVellis, R.F. (2001). Self efficacy and health. In A. Baum & T. Revenson Handbook of Health Psychology, NJ: L. Earlbaum, 235-248.

12) Kinney, A.Y., DEVELLIS, B.M., Skrzynia, C., & Millikan, R. (2001). Genetic testing for colorectal carcinoma susceptibility: Focus group responses of individuals with colorectal carcinoma and first-degree relatives. Cancer, 91:57-65.

13) Ainsworth, B.E., Anderson, L.A., Blalock, S.J., Brownson, R.C., DEVELLIS, B.M., Folger, S., et al. (2001). Community Prevention Studies: Contributions to women's health and prevention research. Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine, 10(10):913-920.

14) Lewis, M., DEVELLIS, B.M., & Sleath, Betsy (2002). Social influence in dyadic relationships. In K. Glanz, M., Lewis & B. Rimer. Health Behavior and Health Education 3rd ed., Jossey-Bass.

E-mail: bdevelli@sph.unc.edu
Telephone: (919) 966-3908
FAX: (919) 966-2921
Address: 309 Rosenau Hall Chapel Hill, NC

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