LabCompass

Melissa M. Franks

Psychology · Purdue University West Lafayette

OpenAlex
Established · publishing since 1992Rising activity
Attachment and Relationship DynamicsIntergenerational Family Dynamics and CaregivingHealth disparities and outcomesDiabetes Management and EducationBehavioral Health and Interventions

Publications

108

Citations

3,912

Est. group size

~2

Recurring co-author estimate

Active years

35

Publishing since 1992

Research summary
AI-generated

Melissa M. Franks studies how married couples manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and osteoarthritis in later life, focusing on how spouses provide support, exert control, and respond to each other's health behaviors. Her work examines both the benefits and potential downsides of spousal involvement in disease management, including daily marital tension, dietary adherence, and caregiving dynamics among older adults. This research draws on psychology and gerontology to understand relationship processes in the context of aging and health.

Marriage and chronic illness managementSpousal support and caregiving in agingDiabetes self-management and adherenceDaily relationship dynamics and health outcomesAging and family psychology

Publication output peaked around 2017-2018 and declined through the early 2020s, with a modest resurgence in recent years, averaging about 2 publications per year over the last 5 years.

Generated by claude-sonnet-5 from public bibliographic data · Jul 20, 2026

Publication cadence
Publications per year over the last 10 years — averaging 2.0/year recently
2017: 7 publications7172018: 5 publications182019: 2 publications192020: 1 publication202021: 1 publication21222023: 3 publications232024: 2 publications242025: 3 publications252026: 2 publications26
Recent publications
Publishes in
  • Innovation in Aging×5
  • International Journal of Health Promotion and Education×2
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B×2
  • Journal of Family Psychology×2
  • American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine×2
Similar researchers
By research-topic overlap

This profile was generated automatically from public scholarly data (OpenAlex). Group size and activity levels are estimates derived from co-authorship patterns.

Last updated Jul 20, 2026.

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