Associate Professor and Department Head Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science
Biography
Dr. Dunn has conducted research focused on hopelessness in patients with heart disease for over 14 years. Findings from her NINR-funded dissertation research demonstrated that hopelessness is prevalent in patients with ischemic heart disease. Based on these findings, she led several studies that resulted in the development and testing of the State-Trait Hopelessness Scale. She additionally discovered an association between decreased home-based exercise and increased state hopelessness in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Throughout her research career, Dr. Dunn has worked closely with a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the fields of psychology, kinesiology, communications, and statistics.