Jocelyn Shealy McGee

Education

PhD, Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology Track), Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
MA, Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary
MSG, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
BA in Psychology, Baylor University

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Gerontology Research, Aging Treatment Studies Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA

Clinical Neuropsychology, Baylor College of Medicine/University of Houston (APPCN Accredited), Houston, TX

Internship

Clinical Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology & Geropsychology), VA Palo Alto Health Care System (APA Accredited), Palo Alto, CA

Professional Credentials

Licensed Psychologist
National Certification as a Health Service Provider in Psychology
Fellow, Gerontological Society of America

Research Interests

• International health and aging
• Contemplative practices and health
• Positive psychology and aging
• Living with complex health conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease)
• Caregiving
• Spirituality, Culture and Diversity
• Technology and Aging

Selected Publications

Meraz, R., Osteen, K., McGee, J. S., Noblitt, P., Viejo, H. (accepted June 11^th, 2024, forthcoming). Influence of Neighborhood disadvantage and individual sociodemographic conditions on heart failure self-care. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.

McGee, J. S., *Davie, M., Meraz, R., *Ambrose, M.,Boddie, S. C. (2024). "I can see the good, even when things around are rough”: Gratitude among family caregivers of people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2024.2355119

McGee, J. S., Polson, E. C., Myers, D. R., *McClellan, A. M., Ke, W., Zhao, H. C., Meraz, R. (2024). Gratitude predicts meaning in life in family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s. Geriatrics, 9(3), 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9030072

Polson, E. C., Myers, D. R., *McLellan, A. M., Zhao, H. C., Meraz, R., McGee, J. S. (2024). Perceived benefit or burden?  How positive and negative spiritual/religious coping impacts family caregivers of people with dementia. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, & Aging, 36(3), 235-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2024.2336499

McGee, J. S., Polson, E. C., Myers, D. R., *McLellan, A., Meraz, R., Ke, W., Zhao, H. C. (2024). Hope mediates stress to reduce burden in family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Geriatrics, 9(2), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9020038 

McGee, J. S., Katzenmeyer, C., Boddie, S. C., Meraz, R. L., Wood, S. P. (2023). A sense of connectedness, transcendent experiences, and insights for compassionate action emerge through collective labyrinth walking with a shared intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1232784

Meraz, R. L., McGee, J. S., Caldwell, E. P., Ke, W., Osteen, K. (2023). The impact of resilience, health literacy, and social support on medication adherence and self-care among adults with heart failure. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 38(5), 415-424. DOI: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000948

McGee, J. S., McElroy*, M., Meraz. R. L., & Myers, D. (2023). A qualitative analysis of virtues and strengths in persons living with dementia informed by the values in action framework. Dementia: International journal of social research and practice, 22(1). 46-67. DOI:10.1177/14713012221131857

Meraz, R., McGee, J. S., Ke, W., & Osteen, K. (2023). Resilience mediates the effects of self-care activation and hope on medication adherence in heart failure patients. Research in Nursing & Health, 46(3), 323-335. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22312

Meraz, R., Caldwell, E. P., & McGee, J. S. (2023). The relationships among health literacy, patient activation, and self-care behaviors in adults with heart failure. SAGE Open 13(1) https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231163779

Jean-Charles, W., McGee, J. S., Jean-Baptiste, M. J., Joseph, V. I., & Rouzier, D. G. (2022). Development of the first telepsychology initiative in Haiti in response to COVID-19. [Special Issue: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Mental Health]. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 17(2), 110-122. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2021-0079

McGee, J. S., Davie, M.*, Meraz, R., Myers, D., & McElroy, M.* (2022). Does the tough stuff make us stronger? Spiritual coping in family caregivers of persons with early-stage dementia [Special Issue: Spirituality and Existential Issues in Health]. Religions, 13(8), 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13080756

McGee, J. S., Davie, M.*, Meraz, R., Myers, D., & McElroy, M.* (2022). Does God work in all things for the good of those who love Him? Family caregivers of persons with early-stage dementia share their spiritual struggles [Special Issue: Spirituality and Existential Issues in 2-Health] Religions, 13(7), 645. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13070645

Meraz, R., Osteen, K., McGee, J. S., Noblitt, P., & Viejo, H. (2022). Applying Stress and Coping Theory to Understand Diuretic Adherence Experiences in Persons with Heart Failure. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 45(1), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459221106122

Meraz, R., McGee, J. S., Caldwell, E. P., Ke, W., & Osteen, K. (2022). The impact of resilience, health literacy, and social support on medication adherence and self-care among adults with heart failure. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, Published Online Ahead of Print. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000948

McGee, J. S., Myers, D. R., Meraz, R., & Davie, M.* (2021). Caring for a family member with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease: Caregiver perceptions, connections, and relational dynamics with the sacred. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, & Aging, 34(3), 196-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2021.1934771

McGee, J. S., Meraz, R., Myers, D. R. & Davie, M.*  (2020). Telehealth services for persons with chronic lower respiratory disease and their informal caregivers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Practice Innovations, 5(2), 165-177.  https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000122

McGee, J. S., Myers, D. R., & Groce, H.* (2019). Community services, progression rate, and nursing home placement in persons with Alzheimer’s disease, American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 7(1), 12-18. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190701.13 

Meraz, R. L., Osteen, K., & McGee, J. S. (2019). Applying multiple systematic evaluation methods in narrative analysis for greater validity and deeper meaning. International Journal of Qualitative Methods.https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1609406919892472

McGee, J. S., Zhao, H. C., Myers, D. R. & Eaton, H. S.* (2018). Spiritual diversity and living with early-stage dementia: Cultural aspects of dementia [Special Issue], Clinical Gerontologist, 41(3), 261-267, DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2017.1393478

McGee, J. S., Zhao, H. C, Myers, D. R., & Kim, S.* (2017). Positive psychological assessment and early-stage dementia, Clinical Gerontologist, 40(4) 307-319. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2017.1305032Karlin, B.E., Visnic, S., McGee, J.S., & Teri, L. (2014). Results from the multisite implementation of STAR-VA: A multi-component psychosocial intervention for managing challenging dementia-related behavior in veterans. Psychological Services (Journal of the American Psychological Association), 11(2), 200-208. https://doi.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0033683

Pargament, K. I., Lomax, J. W., McGee, J. S., & Fang, Q. (2014). Sacred moments in psychotherapy from the perspective of mental health providers and clients: Prevalence, predictors, and consequences. Spirituality in Clinical Practice (Journal of the American Psychological Association), 1(4), 248-262. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/scp0000043

Pargament, K. I., Lomax, J. W., McGee, J. S., & Fang, Q. (2014). With one foot in the water and one on the shore: The challenge of research on spirituality and psychotherapy. Spirituality in Clinical Practice (Journal of the American Psychological Association), 1(4), 266-268. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000046

McGee, J. S. & Myers, D. (2014). Sacred relationships, strengthened by community, can help people with mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease, Generations (Journal of the American Society of Aging), 38, 61-67.

*Student research mentee who made an author-level contribution to a journal article.

News and Special Reports

McGee awarded Affordable Course Materials Summer Fellowship (2022-2032) from Baylor University Libraries for her Aging and Mental Health course: https://libguides.baylor.edu/c.php?g=1189904&p=8702827

Baylor professor collaborates with Roman Catholic priest on first telepsychology initiative in Haiti in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: https://baylorlariat.com/2022/05/05/baylor-professor-collaborates-with-roman-catholic-priest-on-first-telepsychology-initiative-in-haiti/

McGee receives the 1^st Annual Spirit of Hope Award for her international humanitarian work in Haiti and Malawi, Africa from CNN Hero and one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and the Sewing Hope Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/BaylorSSW/posts/our-own-dr-jocelyn-mcgee-was-the-recipient-of-a-spirit-of-hope-award-from-sister/10157301561136018/

Baylor Rising Star faculty member honored as Gerontological Society of America Fellow: https://www.baylor.edu/research/resources/news.php?action=story&story=204776

Research is ‘truly wholehearted’ in Baylor School of Social Work: Research is ‘truly wholehearted’ in Baylor School of Social Work | The Baylor Lariat 

Background

Dr. Jocelyn Shealy McGee is an interdisciplinary scholar, researcher and social work educator who serves as an assistant professor at the Baylor University Garland School of Social Work. She has published and presented widely in the field of Gerontology on topics such as spirituality and health, caregiving, living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, the use of virtual reality and other technologies to assist older persons, positive aging, aging well in indigenous communities, and international aging and resilience. She is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section and the past co-chair of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Interest Group.

Dr. McGee has acquired several areas of research methodology expertise that inform her research program:

• Behavioral intervention development (see National Institute on Aging (NIA) webpage to learn more about the NIH Stage Model of Behavioral Intervention Development https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/nih-stage-model-behavioral-intervention-development
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR)
• Photovoice   
• Indigenous research methodologies

Dr. McGee has contributed to the development, implementation, and evaluation of several behavioral interventions over the course of her career such as Resources for Enhancing Caregiver Health (REACH) II which is a psychoeducational intervention for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; STAR VA which is an intervention that aims to reduce anxiety and agitation among residents with dementia in long-term care settings (and has been implemented across the VA system); and En-Rich (Enhancing Rural Interventions for Caregiver Health) which is a cognitive-behaviorally oriented telepsychology intervention for persons with complex chronic health conditions and their families.

Currently, Dr. McGee’s lab has a mixed methods study aimed at better understanding the role of positive psychology, health, & well-being in people living with early-stage dementia and their family members. Additionally, Dr. McGee is working with collaborators from the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska to culturally adapt the Savvy Caregiver educational program for use with Alaska Native families.

Courses Dr. McGee has developed and teaches at Baylor are:    

• Aging and Mental Health    
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment 1
• Introduction to Gerontology 
• International Social Research
• Social Work Research

Dr. McGee was the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Spirit of Hope Award for her humanitarian work and research in Malawi, Africa and Haiti. Recently, she was consulted by her colleagues in Haiti to develop the first telepsychology program in Haiti in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and activities such as photography, hiking, dancing, healthy cooking and traveling. She and her husband are in the process of training their puppy Mishka, which means, “Little Bear” to provide pet therapy.