Faculty Profiles
Joseph R. Merighi
Associate Professor
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Phone: 617-353-7914
merighi@bu.edu
Education
B.S. (psychology and life sciences), Juniata College
M.A. (clinical psychology), Connecticut College
M.S.W. (social welfare), University of California at Berkeley
Ph.D. (social welfare), University of California at Berkeley
Additional Study: Fédération Universitaire et Polytechnique de Lille, École des Hautes Études Industrielles, Lille, France
Courses Taught
HB720 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
HB721 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
Scholarly and Practice Interests
Social work practice in health care settings, renal social work, cross-national research.
Selected Publications
Peck, M. D., & Merighi, J. R. (in press). The relation of social comparison to subjective well-being and health status in older adults. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment.
Dinis, M. C., Merighi, J. R., & Anders, K. (in press). Therapeutic approaches, beliefs, and perceptions of providers when treating alcohol or drug using clients: Selecting best practices. In A. Browne (Ed.), Comprehensive series on addictions. Westport, CT: Praeger-Greenwood.
Wong-Kim, E., & Merighi, J. R. (2007). Complementary and alternative medicine for pain management in US- and foreign-born Chinese women with breast cancer. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 18, 118–129.
Wong-Kim, E., Sun, A., Merighi, J. R., & Chow, E. A. (2005). Understanding quality of life issues in Chinese women with breast cancer: A qualitative investigation. Cancer Control, 12(Nov. Suppl.), 6–12.
Merighi, J. R., Ryan, M., Renouf, B., & Healy, B. (2005). Reassessing a theory of professional expertise: A cross-national investigation of expert mental health social workers. British Journal of Social Work, 35(5), 709–725.
Merighi, J. R., & Ehlebracht, K. (2005). Emotional exhaustion and workload demands in renal social work practice. Journal of Nephrology Social Work, 24, 14–20.
Ryan, M., Merighi, J. R., Healy, B., & Renouf, N. (2004). Belief, optimism, and caring: Findings from a cross-national study of expertise in mental health social work. Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 3(4), 411–429.
Merighi, J. R., & Ehlebracht, K. (2004). Unit-based patient services and supportive counseling provided by renal social workers in the United States. Nephrology News & Issues, 18(7), 55, 59–63.
Merighi, J. R., & Ehlebracht, K. (2004). Issues for social workers in dialysis clinics in the United States. Nephrology News & Issues, 18(6), 67–68, 71–75.
Merighi, J. R., & Ehlebracht, K. (2004). Workplace resources, patient caseloads, and job satisfaction of renal social workers in the United States. Nephrology News & Issues, 18(5), 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68.
Nelson, K., & Merighi, J. R. (2003). Emotional dissonance in medical social work practice. Social Work in Health Care, 36(3), 63–79.
Courtenay, W. H., McCreary, D. R., & Merighi, J. R. (2002). Gender and ethnic differences in health beliefs and behaviors. Journal of Health Psychology, 7(3), 219–231.
Selected Presentations
Merighi, J. R. (2007, April). Role ambiguity, conflict mediation, and job satisfaction in dialysis units: Are appropriate limits being set? Paper presented at the National Kidney Foundation Clinical Meetings, Orlando, FL.
Merighi, J. R. (2007, April). Research methods for renal social workers. Paper presented at the National Kidney Foundation Clinical Meetings, Orlando, FL.
Merighi, J., & Dinis, M. (2007, January). Emotional labor, job demands, and emotional exhaustion among Portuguese social workers. Paper presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco, CA.
Dinis, M., & Merighi, J. (2007, January). Alcohol consumption, medication use, and professional functioning of Portuguese social workers. Paper presented at the 11th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco, CA.
Merighi, J. R., & Nunes-Dinis, M. (2006, August). Workload demands and emotional exhaustion of American, Australian, and Portuguese social workers. Paper presented at the International Association of Schools of Social Work Conference, Santiago, Chile.
Merighi, J. (2005, January). Emotional labor, affective well-being, and job satisfaction of renal social workers in the United States. Paper presented at the Ninth Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Miami, FL.
Selected Grant Activity
Principal Investigator, (2007–08), "A Nationwide Survey of Kidney Transplant Social Workers' Job Roles, Responsibilities, and Occupational Well-Being," National Kidney Foundation.
Co-Investigator, (2004–05), "A Survey of Portuguese Social Workers' Professional Functioning, Job-Related Well-Being, and Alcohol/Drug Use," CSUS Research and Creative Activity Award Program (PI: Maria Nunes-Dinis).
Principal Investigator, (2004), "A Nationwide Survey of Australian Nephrology Social Workers' Professional Roles, Responsibilities and Job-Related Well-Being," Kidney Health Australia.
Co-Principal Investigator, (2002–03), "A Nationwide Survey of Nephrology Social Worker Job Roles and Responsibilities," National Kidney Foundtion, (PI: Karen Ehlebracht).
Consulting and Professional Activities
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Nephrology Social Work, 2007–present
Consulting Editor, Journal of Social Work Education, 2003–present
Consulting Editor, Social Work, 2001–present
Investigator, Portuguese Center for Social Work History and Research, Lisbon, Portugal, 2001–present
Awards and Honors
Teacher-Scholar Award, Institute for Teaching and Learning, San José State University, 2000
Outstanding Young Educator Award, California Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1999
Outstanding Young Educator Award, San José Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1999
Sybil B. Weir/John Galm Endowment Award, San José State University, 1999
