Anne Fletcher

PhD, Temple University
Office: Stone 165C

Classes Taught

• HDF 203 Adolescent Development
• HDF 375 Research Methods in HDFS
• HDF 713 Socioemotional Development

Research Interests

PARENT–CHILD RELATIONSHIPS

Dr. Fletcher is currently pursuing two lines of research that relate to the study of parent-child relationships.

First, Dr. Fletcher is collaborating with Drs. Vrshek-Schallhorn and Jensen from the Clinical Psychology program at UNCG to understand how adversity exposure among college students impacts academic success. This project tests a model through which adversity exposure leads to stress responses (anxiety, depression, dysregulated cortisol responses) which then contribute to academic avoidance behaviors. Finally, these avoidance behaviors undermine students’ academic success. In addition, this project is exploring potential points of intervention in this pathway such as mobilizing parental support, decreasing levels of student rumination regarding adversity experiences, and encouraging students experiencing stress to respond proactively rather than by shutting down.

Second, Dr. Fletcher is conducting a mixed-methods investigation of parent-adolescent relationships during the college years. This project focuses on understanding how parents and adolescents negotiate autonomy and connectedness across a normative but potentially stressful developmental transition – entering college.

ADOLESCENCE

Dr. Fletcher is currently pursuing three lines of research that relate to development during the adolescent years.

• First, Dr. Fletcher is collaborating with Drs. Vrshek-Schallhorn and Jensen from the Clinical Psychology program at UNCG to understand how adversity exposure among college students impacts academic success. This project tests a model through which adversity exposure leads to stress responses (anxiety, depression, dysregulated cortisol responses) which then contribute to academic avoidance behaviors. Finally, these avoidance behaviors undermine students’ academic success. In addition, this project is exploring potential points of intervention in this pathway such as mobilizing parental support, decreasing levels of student rumination regarding adversity experiences, and encouraging students experiencing stress to respond proactively rather than by shutting down.
• Second, Dr. Fletcher is collaborating with other researchers at universities across North Carolina to understand how experiences with COVID-19 have impacted both (a) decision-making regarding and enrollment in postsecondary education and (b) academic success once enrollment occurs.
• Third, Dr. Fletcher is conducting a mixed-methods investigation of parent-adolescent relationships during the college years. This project focuses on understanding how parents and adolescents negotiate autonomy and connectedness across a normative but potentially stressful developmental transition – entering college.

If you are interested in pursuing graduate work at UNCG focused on some or all of these topics, Dr. Fletcher would love to speak with you about her research. Please contact her at acfletch@uncg.edu.

Selected Publications

Fletcher, A. C., Jensen, M., & Vrshek-Schallhorn, S. (2023). Keep on Keeping On: Novel Perspectives on Adversity Exposure, Stress Reactivity, and Academic Retention among First-generation Students. Emerging Adulthood, 11(1), 175-189.

Alligood, B. N.*, McCurdy, A.*, & Fletcher, A. C. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first-year college students: Racial/ethnic differences. Journal of American College Health, 1–7. Advance online publication.

Fletcher, A. C., & Alligood, B. N.* (2022). “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to make it through college without my Dad’s money”: American college students reflections regarding caregiver financial support. Emerging Adulthood, 10(6) 1497–1510.

Fletcher, A. C., Alligood, B. N.*, & McCurdy, A.* COVID – 19 Impact and Psychological Adjustment among College Students: Variability across Race/Ethnicity and Generational Status (2022). Journal of First-Generation Student Success, 2(3). https://doi.org/

Benito-Gomez, M.*, Lee, G. Y.*, McCurdy, A.*, & Fletcher, A. C. (2021). “If hadn’t had that support system, I think I would have dropped out by now”: Parental support in college and its implications for student adjustment. Journal of Family Issues.

Benito-Gomez, M.*, Williams, K. N.*, McCurdy, A.*, & Fletcher, A. C. (2020). Autonomy-Supportive Parenting in Adolescence: Cultural Variability in the Contemporary United States. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 12, 7-26. doi: 10.1111/jftr.12362