Faculty Sketch
Vaughn G. Sinclair, PhD, APRN, BC
Professor of Nursingvaughn.sinclair@vanderbilt.edu
Current Research Interests
My research interests focus on resilience and its antithesis, psychological vulnerability, and strategies that promote resilient coping and address psychological vulnerability. Along with my colleague Dr. Ken Wallston, I have developed and published two psychometric tools related to these interests–the Psychological Vulnerability Scale and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. I have appreciated funded opportunities to develop and evaluate the effects of several psychosocial interventions designed to promote resilient coping, particularly in individuals with chronic illness. To date, the interventions have been designed for women with rheumatoid arthritis, women with multiple sclerosis, and individuals with lymphoma and colorectal cancer. These interventions covered similar coping themes, but were tailored to specific patient populations. In an attempt to optimize cost-effectiveness and accessibility, the program for cancer patients was delivered via phone, manual, and videos of cancer survivors and family members telling stories that exemplified resilient coping with this life-threatening condition. In the future, I would like to evaluate the differential efficacy of this type of program delivered in various formats and identify the patient profiles of individuals most likely to benefit from the interventions.
Grants
Principal Investigator. Kathleen A Dwyer, Co-Investigator. “Beyond Cancer: Fostering Transitions Post-Treatment.” Funded by NIH/ NCI 6/1/03 -12/31/05 [1R21 CA100120-01]
Co-Investigator; Kathleen A. Dwyer (PI) ”Living with cancer: Evaluation and refinement of a model.” Funded by NIH/NINR 9/1/02 – 5/30/05 [1R01 NR07769-01]
Principal Investigator. “Effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Women with Multiple Sclerosis.” Funded by National Multiple Sclerosis Society 1/1/02 – 6/30/03 [PP0828]
Representative Publications
Sinclair, V.G., & Dowdy, S.W. (2006). The development and validation of the Emotional Intimacy Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 13(3). 193-206.
Sinclair, V. G., & Scroggie, J. (2005). The effects of a cognitive-behavioral program for women with MS. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 37(5), 249-257.
Sinclair, V. G., & Wallston, K.A. (2004) The development and psychometric evaluation of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Assessment, 11(1),94-101.
Sinclair, V.G. (2001). Predictors of pain catastrophizing in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 15(6), 279-288.
Sinclair, V.G., & Wallston, K.A. (2001). Predictors of improvement in a cognitive-behavioral intervention for women with rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 23(4), 291-7.
Sinclair, V.G., & Wallston, K.A. (1999). The development and validation of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 23(2), 119-129.
Sinclair, V.G., Wallston, K.A., Dwyer, K.A., Blackburn, D.S., & Fuchs, H. (1998). Effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for women with rheumatoid arthritis. Research in Nursing & Health, 21, 315-326.
Patient education material
Sinclair, V.G., Dwyer, K., & Flores, A. (2005). Roadmap toward Recovery: A Guide for Cancer Survivors. Manual developed for participants in the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Cancer Survivorship Research Project. (Funded by NCI)
Dwyer, K., Sinclair, V.G., & Flores, A. (2005). Roadmap toward Recovery: A Guide for Cancer Survivors. Video set developed for participants in the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Cancer Survivorship Research Project. (Funded by NCI)
Professional Research
International Society for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses – National Membership Committee ’03-’07