Megan L. Dolbin-MacNab, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Human Development
E-Mail mdolbinm@vt.edu
Mailing Address 840 University City Blvd., Suite 1 (0515)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone 540-231-6807
Fax 540-231-7209
Office Hours By appointmentStaff Contact Ms. Chris Sokol (540-231-7201)
Curriculum Vitae
Primary Academic Interests
- Grandparents-Headed Families
- Community-Based Interventions
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Research Methods and Program Evaluation
Professional Credentials & Responsibilities
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Fellow & Approved Supervisor
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Faculty Affiliate, Center for Gerontology
- Editorial Board Member:
- Family Relations
- Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Selected Publications
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Roberto, K. A., & Finney, J. W. (in press). Formal social support: Promoting resilience in grandparents parenting grandchildren. In B. Hayslip Jr. & G. C. Smith (Eds.), Resilient grandparent caregivers: A strengths-based perspective. New York: Routledge.
Smith, G. C., & Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (in press). The role of negative and positive caregiving appraisals in key outcomes for custodial grandmothers and grandchildren. In B. Hayslip Jr. & G. C. Smith (Eds.), Resilient grandparent caregivers: A strengths-based perspective. New York: Routledge.
Wittenborn, A. K., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Keiley, M. K. (2012). Dyadic research in marriage and family therapy: Methodological considerations. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00306.x
Piercy, F. P., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Richardson, T. A. (2011). Affair-proofing a relationship: Discussion questions for couples. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 10, 345-362.
Keeling, M. L., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Ford, J., & Perkins, S. (2010). Partners in the spiritual dance: Learning clients’ steps while minding all our toes. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36, 229-243. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00161.x
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (2009). Becoming a parent again: An exploration of transformation among grandparents raising grandchildren. In J. A. Mancini & K. A. Roberto (Eds). Pathways of development: Explorations of change (pp. 207-226). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Keiley, M. K. (2009). Navigating interdependence: How adolescents raised solely by grandparents experience their family relationships. Family Relations, 58, 162-175. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00544.x
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Rodgers, B. E., & Traylor, R. M. (2009). Bridging the generations: A retrospective examination of adults’ relationships with their kinship caregivers. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 7, 159-176. doi: 10.1080/15350770902851197
Keeling, M. K., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Hudgins, C., & Ford, J. (2008). Caregiving in family systems: Exploring the potential for marriage and family therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 27 (3), 45-63. doi: 10.1521/jsyt.2008.27.3.45
Roberto, K. A., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Finney, J. W. (2008). Promoting the health of grandmothers parenting young grandchildren. In B. Hayslip & P. Kaminski (Eds.), Parenting the custodial grandchild (pp. 75-89). New York: Springer.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (2006).Just like raising your own? Grandmothers’ perceptions of parenting a second time around. Family Relations, 55, 564-575. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00426.x
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Keiley, M. K. (2006). A systemic examination of grandparents’ emotional closeness with their custodial grandchildren. Research in Human Development, 3, 59-71. doi: 10.1207/s15427617rhd0301_6
Recent Presentations
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Pasymoswski, S. G., & Bao, A. K. (2011, September). Parent-child relationships in kinship care families. Poster presented at the 69th Annual Conference of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Fort Worth, TX.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Roberto, K. A. (2010, November). Grandchildren as caregivers for their custodial grandmothers: Who are they and how are they doing? In Savla, J. Expanding paradigms of care and support: Challenges faced and lessons learned. Symposium presented at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Yancura, L. A. (2010, November). Opportunities and challenges in multigenerational research with grandparent-headed families. In Yancura, L. A. Current reseach on grandparents raising grandchildren: Cutting edge methodologies. Symposium presented at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., (2009 November). Adolescents and their custodial grandmothers: Agreement about grandchild behavior problems. Paper presented at the 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Atlanta, GA.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Savla, J. (2009 November). A dyadic analysis of behavior problems amound adolescents raised by grandparents. Paper presented at the 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Atlanta, GA.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (2008, November). Multigenerational research: Learning from grandparent-headed families. In Brosi, W. A. Research and recruitment challenges in gerontology. Symposium presented at the 70th Annual Conference of the National Council on Family Relations, Little Rock, AR.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Traylor, R. M. (2008, November). Well-being of grandmothers raising adolescent grandchildren: The influence of grandchild behavior problems, parenting stress, and coping. Paper presented at the 70th annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations, Little Rock, AR.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (2008, October). “Thanks for caring about me”: Perspectives on children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. Presentation to the New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Grandparents and Relatives as Parents Conference.Manchester, NH.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Rodgers, B. E., & Traylor, R. M. (2008, October). Adults’ relationship with their kinship caregivers. Poster presented at the 66th Annual Conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Memphis, TN.
Dolbin-MacNab, M. L. (2008, September). Putting the puzzle together: A conceptual framework of risk and resilience for grandparents raising grandchildren. Paper presented at the 2008 Virginia Tech Institute for Culture, Society, Environment, Riva San Vitale, Switzerland.