University of Utah
Health Sciences Center 		Search | College of Nursing Home | HSC Home | U of U Home
About the College Welcome from the Dean
Accreditation
Mission
Strategic Plan
Contact Information
Visitor Info
Information Request
Nursing Programs Applications
BS Program (Traditional)
BS Program (Accelerated)
BS-PhD Program
RN-BS Program
RN-BS Geriatric Specialty
Master's Program
Post-Master's Program
PhD Program
PhD Oncology Distance Education Program
Postdoctoral Program
Gerontology Programs
Clinical Faculty Associate Program Program Information
Baccalaureate Education
Stipend Opportunity
CFA Application
New/Current Students The Student Page
Nursing Student Handbooks
Student Affairs
Student Advisory Committee
Nursing Links
Career Opportunities
Scholarships
Resources/Libraries
Diversity
DIG
International Students
Research Scholar Program
Faculty Directory
Faculty Practices
Research Information
Current Funding
Application to Research Committee
Funding Form
Caring Connections About Us
Events
Newsletters
Grief Groups
Alumni/Development    Alumni Association
Decades of Caring
Honors for Nursing
Award Recipients
Giving Options
Campaign
Gamma Rho Chp/STTI  Gamma Rho Home
Activities/Awards
Calendar
History
Membership
Officers/Committees
Newsletter
Photo Gallery
Research Grants

College of Nursing
10 South 2000 East
SLC, UT 84112
phone: 801-581-7728
fax: 801-581-4642
Nursing Web Designer
Disclaimer | Privacy Statement

To University of Utah Home Page




Becky J. Christian, PhD, RN

Contact Information:

  • Mailing Address:
  • University of Utah
  • College of Nursing
  • 10 South 2000 East
  • Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5880
  • Phone: (801) 581-6708
  • FAX: (801) 587-9838
  • E-mail: Becky.Christian@nurs.utah.edu

Background:

I am a pediatric nurse with clinical nursing expertise with children and adolescents and their families across a variety of health care settings (pediatric medical-surgical units in university health science centers, newborn nursery, adolescents with mental health problems and addictive diseases, and rehabilitation). My research program is focused on children with chronic illness and how children and families adapt to the child's chronic illness. My academic nursing career has included teaching at the undergraduate level (family assessment; pediatric nursing); master's level (family responses to children with chronic conditions; children with chronic illness; and research methods); and doctoral level (families and health; theories of management of chronic illness). In October 2003, I joined the University of Utah College of Nursing faculty after being an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Education:

  • PhD (Nursing), The University of Texas at Austin, May 1989
  • MSN (Family-Child Nursing), The University of Missouri-Columbia, August 1979
  • BSN (Nursing), The University of Missouri-Columbia, December 1975

Research Program/ Scholarly Activity:

My research program has focused on both families and children with chronic conditions. More specifically, my research has explored how families adapt to having a child with a chronic condition (i.e., cystic fibrosis, diabetes, juvenile arthritis, spina bifida, cancer, asthma, etc.), while maintaining a satisfactory quality of life for the child and family. I have been interested in how families function to integrate their children's health needs related to treatment and management of the chronic condition with the children's developmental needs, while creating a positive family environment. I found that families had difficulty managing the demands of the chronic condition and specific treatment required, as they attempted to normalize the child's condition and integrate the child's needs while balancing the needs of the family to create a satisfactory quality of life for the family. I have also studied children's and adolescents' perceptions about what it is like to grow up with chronic conditions including how they minimize their differences and maximize their potential. I received external funding to develop an intervention program to teach school-age children with cystic fibrosis how to build life skills to manage their chronic condition at home and school (#R01 NR04576, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health).

Funded Research:

    3/98 - 11/02 PI: "Building Life skills in School-Age Children with Cystic Fibrosis," NINR, NIH (R01NR04576)
    9/94 - 7/96Co-PI: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. P30-Pilot Study: Nursing Research Center Grant--Center for Research on Chronic Illness, (# 3 P30-NR03962-02S1), NINR, NIH, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
    9/94 - 7/95Co-PI: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. P30-Pilot Phase I--School-age children's conceptualizations of the course of chronic illness.
    7/95 - 7/96Co-PI: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. P30-Pilot Phase II--Intervention pilot: Building life skills for school-age children with cystic fibrosis (carryforward funds--P30 pilot study phase I)
    12/93 - 12/95Co-PI: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. Adolescent chronic illness trajectory. University Research Center (URC) Grant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    1993PI: Christian, B.J. Quality of life and family relationships in families coping with their child's chronic illness: A Quantitative Analysis. Summer Research Award (SRA), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    12/92 - 12/93Co-PI: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. Adolescent conceptualizations of the course of their chronic illness. Biomedical Research Support Grant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (BRSG #S07-RR06013)

Recent Publications:

Books (or chapters in books) (* = refereed)
    *Christian, B. J. (2003). Growing up with chronic illness: Developmental differences in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. In M. S. Miles & D. Holditch-Davis (Eds.), Annual review of nursing research (vol. 21, pp. 151-172). New York: Springer. (Integrative research review.)
    *Christian, B.J. (1998). Home health for the child and adolescent with chronic illness (Chapter 9). In B. Vaughn-Cole, M.A. Johnson, J. Malone & B.L. Walker (Eds.), Family Nursing Practice (pp. 128-148). Philadelphia: Lippincott. (refereed with chapter critiques)
    *Christian, B.J. (1993). Quality of life and family relationships in families coping with their child's chronic illness (Chapter 27). In S.G. Funk, M.T. Champagne, E.M. Tornquist, & R.A. Wiese (Eds.), Key aspects of caring for the chronically ill: Hospital and home (pp. 304-312). New York: Springer. (refereed)

Published Articles

*D'Auria, J. P., Christian, B. J., Henderson, Z. G., & Haynes, M. B. (2000). The company they keep: The influence of peer relationships on adjustment to cystic fibrosis during adolescence. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 15(3), 175-182.

*Christian, B. J., D'Auria, J. P., & Fox, L. C. (1999). Gaining freedom: Self-responsibility in adolescents with diabetes. Pediatric Nursing, 25(3), 255-250, 266-269. (Selected for Pediatric Nursing continuing education series.)

*Christian, B. J., D'Auria, J. P., & Moore, C. B. (1999). Playing for time: Adolescent perspectives of lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 13, 120-125.

*Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. (1997). The child's eye: Memories of growing up with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 12(1), 3-11.

*D'Auria, J.P., Christian, B.J., & Richardson, L.F. (1997). Through the looking glass: Children's perceptions of growing up with cystic fibrosis. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 29(4), 99-112.

*Miles, M.S., Holditch-Davis, D., Wasilewski, Y., Burchinal, M., & Christian, B.J. (1997). Personal, family, and health-related correlates of depressive symptoms in mothers with HIV. Journal of Family Psychology, 11(1), 23-34.

Under review/revision

*Christian, B.J. (under review/revision). Quality of life in families of children with chronic illness. Journal of Pediatric Nursing.

*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Suplit, B.M. (under review/revision). It's all about fear-Hospitalized school-age children with Cystic Fibrosis. Pediatric Nursing.

*D'Auria, J.P., Christian, B.J., & Miles, M.S. (under review/revision). Being there for my baby: Maternal responses to the birth of an HIV seropositive infant. Journal of Pediatric Health Care.

Presentations (selected):

2004 *Christian, B.J. Functional disability and quality of life in school-age children with cystic fibrosis. [Abstract]. Submitted for Eighteenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (October 14-17, 2004), St. Louis, MO (refereed, international).
2004*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J. A psychosocial intervention for school-age children with Cystic Fibrosis. [Abstract]. Proceedings of the 37th annual communicating nursing research conference, Western Institute of Nursing Conference, (April 22-24, 2004), Portland, OR (refereed, regional).
2003 Christian, B.J. A program of research-Growing up with chronic illness: Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Research presentation, University of Utah College of Nursing,(July 17, 2003), Salt Lake City, UT. (invited, regional).
2003*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J. An intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment of school-age children with cystic fibrosis. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, (April 24-27, 2003), Tampa, FL (refereed, international).
2003*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J. Loneliness in school-age children with cystic fibrosis. [Abstract]. Pediatric Pulmonology: Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (October 16-19, 2003), Anaheim, CA (refereed, international).
2003*Santati, S., Ratinthorn. A., & Christian, B.J.Parents' Experiences in Asthma Attack Prevention: Struggling to Take Control [Abstract]. First Asian Congress of Pediatric Nursing, Pediatric Society of Thailand (October 29-November 2, 2003), Bangkok, Thailand (refereed, international).
2002*Christian, B.J.Quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. [Abstract]. Pediatric Pulmonology: Proceedings of the Sixteenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (October 3-6, 2002), New Orleans, LA (paper presentation)(refereed, international).
2002*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J. Effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention for school-age children with cystic fibrosis [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (October 3, 2002), New Orleans, LA (refereed, international).
2002*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J. Children with cystic fibrosis: Physiologic, functional and psychosocial health status [Abstract]. Proceedings of ANA Grand Rounds Poster Session, 2002 ANA Biennial Convention (presented June 29-July 2, 2002), Philadelphia, PA (refereed, national).
2002*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J.Children with cystic fibrosis: Physiologic, functional and psychosocial health status [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Anniversary Conference of the Southern Nursing Research Society, (February 7-9, 2002), San Antonio, TX. (refereed, regional).[*Selected for SNRS Best Poster, ANA Grand Rounds Poster Session, 2002 ANA Biennial Convention (for presentation June 29-July 2, 2002), Philadelphia, PA (refereed, national).]
2002*Morris, K., Compere, J., & Christian, B.J. What do we tell our friends? Exploring disclosure of diagnosis in adolescents with cancer. Proceedings of Association of Pediatric Oncology Nursing Conference, (October 3-5, 2002), Salt Lake City, UT (referred, national).
2001Christian, B.J.An intervention for school-age children with cystic fibrosis. Nursing Research Fireside Chat: 15th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, (October 25, 2001), Orlando, FL. (invited, international).
2001Christian, B.J. Physiologic, functional, and psychosocial health status in school-age children with cystic fibrosis. NINR Spring Science Work Group: Increasing Nursing Research Opportunities in Cystic Fibrosis, Washington, DC (May 1-2, 2001) (invited paper, national).
2001*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J.Psychosocial adjustment, physiologic and functional health status of school-age children with cystic fibrosis [Abstract]. Pediatric Pulmonology: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (October 26, 2001), Orlando, FL (refereed, international).
2001*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Belyea, M.J. Psychosocial adjustment, physiologic and functional health status of school-age children with cystic fibrosis. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, (April 20, 2001), Minneapolis, MN (refereed, international).
2001*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., Hall, E., & White, M. Perceived illness experience and self-esteem with cystic fibrosis [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Anniversary Conference of the Southern Nursing Research Society, (February 2, 2001), Baltimore, MD. (paper presentation: refereed, regional).
2001*D'Auria, J.P., Christian, B.J., & Belyea, M.J.Physiologic, functional, and psychosocial health status in school-age children with cystic fibrosis-Preliminary findings [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Anniversary Conference of the Southern Nursing Research Society, (February 2, 2001), Baltimore, MD. (paper presentation: refereed, regional).
1999*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., Belyea, M.J., & Retsch-Bogart, G.Z. Psychosocial status of school-age children with CF. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Seattle,WA (October 7-10, 1999), (refereed, international).
1999*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Fox, L.C.Gaining self-responsibility in adolescents with diabetes. Proceedings of the Sixth National Conference on Research for Clinical Practice, Key Aspects of Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness, (April 8-10, 1999), Chapel Hill, NC (refereed, national).
1999*D'Auria, J.P., & Christian, B.J.A new company of friends: The influence of peer relationships on adjustment to CF during adolescence. Proceedings of the Southern Nursing Research Society Thirteenth Annual Conference, (February 18-20, 1999), Charleston, SC. (refereed, regional).
1999*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., Belyea, M.J., & Retsch-Bogart, G.Z.Psychosocial status of school-age children with CF [Abstract]. Pediatric Pulmonology: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, (October 7-10, 1999), Seattle, WA. (refereed, international).
1999*Christian, B.J., D'Auria, J.P., & Fox, L.C.Gaining self-responsibility in adolescents with diabetes [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Sixth National Conference on Research for Clinical Practice, Key Aspects of Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness, Chapel Hill, NC (April 8-10, 1999) (paper presentation: refereed, national).
1999*D'Auria, J.P., & Christian, B.J.A new company of friends: The influence of peer relationships on adjustment to CF during adolescence [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Southern Nursing Research Society Thirteenth Annual Conference, (February 18-20, 1999), Charleston, SC. (refereed, regional)
1998*D'Auria, J.P., & Christian, B.J. Impact of peer relationships on adjustment to CF during adolescence [Abstract]. Pediatric Pulmonology: The Twelfth Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (October 15-18, 1998)(refereed, international).
1997*D'Auria, J.P., & Christian, B.J.Through the looking glass: Children's perceptions of growing up with Cystic Fibrosis [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Southern Nursing Research Society Eleventh Annual Conference, (April 10, 1997), Norfolk, VA. (refereed, regional)
1997Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P.Making mountains out of molehills? Building a framework from qualitative data. Center for Research on Chronic Illness (CRCI) Research Seminar, UNC-CH School of Nursing, (November 17, 1997), Chapel Hill, NC; Co-Presenters: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. (local).
1997*Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P.Through the looking glass: Children's perceptions of growing up with cystic fibrosis [Abstract]. Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, (April 5, 1997), Washington, DC; Presenter: B.J. Christian, (refereed, international).

Book Reviews

    Rew, L. Adolescent Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. September, 2003. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA [Review of core multidiscipline textbook in health care psychology (619 pg.)]
    Hymovich, D.P. Advanced Nursing Practice in Chronic Childhood Illness. June, 1991. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA [Review of monograph prospectus.]

Journal Reviews

    1992-1994; 1998-present    Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Review Panel
    1992-present    Pediatric Nursing, Review Panel

Grant Review Activities

    May 9, 2002    Grant Review Consultant, The PPP Foundation, Children & Adolescents Grant Programme; Symone Smith, Grants Administrator, London, UK

Abstract Review Activities

    2002-2003    Research Conference Abstract Review Committee, 17th Annual Conference of the Southern Nursing Research Society, The University of Florida School of Nursing, Orlando, FL (February 7-9, 2003); Conference Abstract Review Panel
    Research Conference Planning Committee, 16th Annual Conference of the 2001-2002 Southern Nursing Research Society, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX (February 7-9, 2002); Conference Abstract Review Panel

Professional Societies:

  • American Nurses Association, 1975-present
  • Association for the Care of Children's Health (ACCH), 1988-present
  • Family Interest Group (FIG), 1988-03
  • North Carolina Nurses Association, 1992-2003
  • Sigma Theta Tau International, 1979-present
  • Society for Research in Child Development, 1998-present
  • Society of Pediatric Nurses, 1992-present
  • Southern Nursing Research Society, 1988-03
  • Western Institute of Nursing, 2003-present

    • Current Professional Activities:

      Adjunct Associate Professor (September, 2003 to 2008), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC
    4/03Keynote Presentation: "Children and Adolescents Growing Up with Cystic Fibrosis," Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Area L, Nash County-Rocky Mount School System, Nashville, NC
    2/02Moderator: "Children's Health Section," 16th Annual Conference of the Southern Nursing Research Society, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
    2/01"Building Academic and Clinical Relationships," Mentor, Visiting Clinical Scholars Program, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
    11/00Panelist: Health Careers Program, American Medical Students Association (AMSA), The University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC
    11/00Panelist: PRAAG Tenure-Track Faculty Brown Bag, The University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC
    11/99Invited Presentation: "KIDS with CF-Building LifeSkills: The Development of a Program of Research with Chronically Ill Children", The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing Foundation Advisory Board, Chapel Hill, NC, Co-Presenters: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. (state).
    1997Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. Research with chronically ill children: Developmental issues. Research Retreat: Care of the Pediatric Research Subject, UNC-CH General Clinical Research Center, (December 1, 1997), Chapel Hill, NC; Co-Presenters: Christian, B.J., & D'Auria, J.P. (local).

    Public Service:

    12/03Invited Research Workshop: "From Dreams to Data: Salt Lake City VA Nursing Research Conference, focus Group Leader--Developing Research Topics;" Veterans Affairs Salt Lake city Health Care System' Salt Lake City, UT
    5/01Keynote Address: "Building Life Skills with Children with Cyctic Fibrosis," Cystic Fibrosis Family Day, Wake-Forest University/Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC.

    Recent Awards:

    1999-2001 Child Health Leadership Fellow, Rochester Child Health Congress
    The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
    1990-1991 Texas Excellence Teaching Award
    The Ex-Students Association and the Cabinet of College Councils
    The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas