Individual Listing

3121 PSYCHOLOGY BUILDING
University of California
Riverside, CA 92521

DiMatteo, Robin

Distinguished Professor of Psychology

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Psychology


Biography

My research involves the role of interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in the achievement of health, the utilization of medical care, and the adjustment to illness and disability. My recent work on patient compliance/adherence to medical treatment focuses on the practitioner-patient relationship as a central component in bringing about patients' behavior change. I am using meta- analytic techniques for synthesizing the literature on adherence, and also examining the value of a multifactorial model in the determination of health promoting vs. health compromising behavior. This model takes into account patients' beliefs and attitudes, social norms, commitment to action, rapport and effective communication with their practitioners, and the provision of supports for the removal of barriers to health action. Relatedly, I've been involved in research focused on enhancing both physician and patient use of preventive medical services and on adherence to pediatric regimens. I have conducted research in recent years on the psychosocial aspects of childbirth. I am interested in the sources and effects of stress on health professionals. Other research involves the study of the process of coping with illness, particularly the psychological and social consequences of chronic pain. Finally, I am also interested in the development of curriculum materials in the field of health psychology and am completing a textbook with an individual perspective on the field of health psychology.

Degrees

BS Psychology/Mathematics 1972

Jackson College of Tufts University

MA Social Psycyhology 1974

Harvard University

PhD Social Psychology 1976

Harvard University

Awards

2001-02 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Fellow of the American Psychological Association; Fellow of the American Psychological Society; UCR Distinguished Teaching Award
1998 American Association for the Advancement of Science, Psychology


Research Area

Health Psychology Health Services

Publications

1. DiMatteo, M.R. & Martin, L. (2002). Health Psychology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 2. DiMatteo, M.R., Lepper, H.S., & Croghan, T.W. (2000). Depression is a rish factor for noncompliance with medical treatment: A meta-analysis of the effects of anxiety and depression on patient adherence. Archives of Internal Medicine, 160, 2101-2107. 3. Rosenthal, R. & DiMatteo, M.R. (2001). Meta-analysis: Recent developments in quantitative methods for literature reviews. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 59-82. 4. DiMatteo, M.R., Robinson, J.D., Heritage, J., Tabbarah, M., Fox, S.A., in press. Correspondence among patients' self reports, chart records, and audio/videotapes of medical visits. Health Communication, vol. 15, issue 2.