Jeanne Alhusen, UVA School of Nursing

Jeanne L Alhusen, PhD, CRNP, RN, FAAN

Professor of Nursing
Associate Dean for Nursing Research
University of Virginia Medical Center Endowed Professor of Nursing
Department
Nursing Research
Office
McLeod 5005
Phone
(434) 924-1585

Biography

Jeanne Alhusen, PhD, CRNP, RN — associate dean for research, professor of nursing, and an award-winning scholar and mentor — researches ways to improve maternal mental health and, consequently, early childhood outcomes, particularly for families living in poverty. In 2021, she earned a $1.9M NICHD grant to study the experiences that women with disabilities have related to reproductive care, violence, and psychosocial stress, work that was informed by a two-year NIH-funded pilot study and is PI on a HRSA grant examining infant outcomes in mothers experiencing perinatal intimate partner violence.

She received a K23 from NINR which is focused on understanding the biological and psychological underpinnings of maternal attachment and maternal depression. Additionally, she has current research support from AWHONN, the American Nurses Foundation, and Fahs-Beck to test an intervention incorporating self-management support for perinatal depression, and its influence on infant outcomes.

Dr. Alhusen earned her BSN from Villanova University, an MSN from Duke University, and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Medicine in 2013. As a board-certified advanced practice family nurse practitioner, she brings extensive professional nursing experience with a particular interest in the health disparities in maternal and child health.

Certifications

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC)

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2018)
  • AACN's Leadership for Academic Nursing Program (2018)
  • Board member, Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing (2016-present)
  • AWHONN's Excellence in Research Award (2016)
  • Johns Hopkins Nursing Faculty Shining Star Award (2015)
  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Didactic Faculty Teaching Award (2015)
  • Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award (2015)
  • Southern Nursing Research Society Early Science Investigator Award (2015)
  • College of Nursing’s Award for Emerging Scholar, Villanova University (2014)
  • New Nursing Faculty Fellowship Program, Maryland Higher Education Commission (2013)
  • Child Intervention, Prevention, and Services Selected Fellow, NIMH Division of Services and Intervention Research (2012)
  • Translational Science 2012: Improving Health Through Research and Training Scholars Abstract Award (2012)
  • The Honorable Ruth D. Vogel Professional Development Award, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (2012)

Research Focus

Improving maternal mental health and its consequent influence on early childhood outcomes, particularly among families living in poverty

Recent Grants

  • Psychosocial stress and its relation to maternal and infant outcomes among women with disabilities, NICHD (2021-2025)
  • Risks and protective factors for unintended pregnancy in women with disabilities, Principal Investigator, NICHD, R21HD086471 (5/20/16 - 4/30/18)
  • Biological underpinnings of maternal attachment in high risk populations, Principal Investigator, NINR, K23NR015810 (7/01/15 – 6/30/18)
  • Improving maternal-child interaction through a perinatal depression intervention, Principal Investigator, Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation (2015 – 2017)
  • A population-based examination of intimate partner violence in the perinatal period and adverse neonatal outcomes, Principal Investigator, HRSA R40MC28309 (4/1/15 – 3/31/16)
  • Group-based intervention for perinatal depression in low-income mothers, Principal Investigator, American Nurses Foundation (2016 – 2017)
  • Tailored self-management intervention promoting resilience in perinatal depression, Principal Investigator, 2015 March of Dimes Margaret Comerford Freda “Saving Babies, Together” Award (2015 – 2016)
  • Effectiveness of a safety intervention for dating violence, Co-Investigator, NICHD R01HD076881 (2014 – 2019)
  • Perinatal Nurse Home Visiting Enhanced with mHealth Technology, Co-Investigator, NINR R01 HD071771 (2011 – 2016)

Clinical Focus

Maternal and child health, mental health, public health

Publications

Journal Articles

Dreisbach, C., Alhusen, J., Prescott, S., Dudley, D., Trinchieri, G., & Siega-Riz, A. M. (2023). Metagenomic characterization of the maternal prenatal gastrointestinal microbiome by pregravid BMI. Obesity, 31(2), 412-422. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23659

Robinson-Whelen, S., Hughes, R. B., Alhusen, J. L., Beers, L., Minard, C. G., & Davidson, D. (2023). Health information seeking in the digital age: A national survey of women with disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(17), 2751-2760. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2105960

Alhusen, J. L., Hughes, R. B., Lyons, G., & Laughon, K. (2023). Depressive symptoms during the perinatal period by disability status: Findings from the United States Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(1), 223-233. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15482

Alhusen, J. L., Lyons, G., Laughon, K., & Hughes, R. B. (2023). Intimate partner violence during the perinatal period by disability status: Findings from a United States population-based analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(4), 1493-1502. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15340

McDonald, M., & Alhusen, J. (2022). A review of treatments and clinical guidelines for perinatal depression. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 36(3), 233-242. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpn.0000000000000661

Glass, N. E., Clough, A., Messing, J. T., Bloom, T., Brown, M. L., Eden, K. B., Campbell, J. C., Gielen, A., Laughon, K., Grace, K. T., Turner, R. M., Alvarez, C., Case, J., Barnes-Hoyt, J., Alhusen, J., Hanson, G. C., & Perrin, N. A. (2022). Longitudinal impact of the myPlan app on health and safety among college women experiencing partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(13-14), NP11436-NP11459. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260521991880

Kelsey, C., Prescott, S., McCulloch, J., Trinchieri, G., Valladeres, T., Dreisbach, C., Alhusen, J., & Grossman, T. (2021). Gut microbiota composition is associated with newborn functional brain connectivity and behavioral temperament. Brain Behavior and Immunity, 91, 472-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.11.003

Alhusen, J. L., Bloom, T., Laughon, K., Behan, L., & Hughes, R. B. (2021). Perceptions of barriers to effective family planning services among women with disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 101055, 14(3), 101055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.101055

Alhusen, J., Hayat, M., & Borg, L. (2021). A pilot study of a group-based perinatal depression intervention on reducing depressive symptoms and improving maternal-fetal attachment and maternal sensitivity. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 24(1), 145-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01032-0

Liu, X., Logan, J., & Alhusen, J. (2020). Cardiovascular risk and outcomes in women who have experienced intimate partner violence: An integrative review. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 35(4), 400-414. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000654

Alhusen, J., Bloom, T., Anderson, J., & Hughes, R. (2020). Intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and unintended pregnancy in women with disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 13(2), 100840-100849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2019.100849

Siega-Riz, A., Keim-Malpass, J., Lyons, G., & Alhusen. J. (2020). The association between legalization of recreational marijuana use and birth outcomes in Colorado and Washington state. Birth Defects Research, 112(9), 660-669. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.1680

Foronda, C., Jawid, M., Alhusen, J., Muheriwa, S., Ramunas, M., & Hooshmand, M. (2020). Healthcare providers' experiences with gaps, barriers, and facilitators faced by family caregivers of children with respiratory diseases. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 52, 49-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.03.003

Choi, K., Records, K., Low, L.K., Alhusen, J., Kenner, C., Bloch, J., Premji, S., Hannan, J., Anderson, C., Yeo, S., & Logsdon, M. (2020). Promotion of maternal-infant mental health and trauma-informed care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 49(4), 409-415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2020.07.004

Dreisbach, C., Prescott, S., & Alhusen, J. (2020). Influence of maternal prepregnancy obesity and excessive gestational weight gain on maternal and child gastrointestinal microbiome composition: A systematic review. Biological Research for Nursing, 22(1), 114-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800419880615

Sabri, B., Warren, N., Kaufman, M. R., Coe, W. H., Alhusen, J. L., Cascante, A., & Campbell, J. C. (2019). Unwanted sexual experiences in university settings: Survivors' perspectives on effective prevention and intervention strategies. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 28(9), 1021-1037. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2018.1481901

Samankasikorn, W., Alhusen, J., Yan, G., Schminkey, D., & Bullock, L. (2019). Relationships of reproductive coercion and intimate partner violence to unintended pregnancy. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 48(1), 50-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2018.09.009

Kelsey, C., Dreisbach, C., Alhusen, J., & Grossman, T. (2019). A primer on investigating the role of the microbiome in brain and cognitive development. Developmental Psychobiology, 61(3), 341-349.

Alhusen, J., Geller, R., Jellig, J., Budhathoki, C., & Decker, M. (2018). Intimate partner violence, small for gestational age birth and cigarette smoking in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Journal of Women’s Health, 27, 458-465. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2017.6322

Mosher, W., Hughes, R., Bloom, T., Horton, L., Mojtabai, R. & Alhusen, J. (2018). Contraceptive use by disability status: new national estimates from the National Survey of Family Growth. Contraception, 97, 552-558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2018.03.031

Bower, K.M., Geller, R.J., Perrin, N.A., & Alhusen, J. (2018). Experiences of racism and preterm birth: Findings from pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system, 2004 through 2012. Women’s Health Issues, 28(1), 495-501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2018.06.002

Alhusen, J., Norris-Shortle, C., Cosgrove, K., & Marks, L. (2017). “I’m opening my arms rather than pushing away:” Perceived benefits of a mindfulness-based intervention among homeless women and young children. Infant Mental Health Journal, 38, 434-442. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21641

Bloom, T., Mosher, W., Alhusen, J., Lantos, H., & Hughes, R. (2017). Fertility desires and intentions among U.S. women by disability status: Findings from the 2011-2013 national survey of family growth. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21(8), 1606-1615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2250-3

Mosher, W., Bloom, T., Hughes, R., Horton, L., Mojtabai, R., & Alhusen, J. (2017). Disparities in receipt of family planning services by disability status: New estimates from the National Survey of Family Growth. Disability and Health Journal, 10, 394-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.03.014

Epstein, E., Arechiga, J., Dancy, M., Simon, J., Wilson, D. & Alhusen, J. (2017). Integrative review of technology to support communication with parents of infants in the NICU. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 46(3), 357-366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2016.11.019

Alhusen, J. L., Geller, R., Dreisbach, C., Constantoulakis, L., & Siega-Riz, A. M. (2017). Intimate partner violence and gestational weight gain in a population-based sample of perinatal women. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 43(3), 390-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2016.12.003

Alhusen, J., Bower, K., Epstein, E., & Sharps, P. (2016). Racial discrimination and adverse birth outcomes: An integrative review. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 61(6), 707-720. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12490

Sharps, P.W., Bullock, L.F., Campbell, J.C., Alhusen, J.L., Ghazarian, S.R., Bhandari, S.S., & Schminkey, D.L. (2016). Domestic Violence Enhanced Perinatal Home Visits: The DOVE randomized clinical trial. Journal of Women’s Health, 25(11), 1129-1138. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2015.5547

Alhusen, J., Ayres, L., & DePriest, K. (2016). Effects of maternal mental health on engagement in favorable health practices during pregnancy. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 61(2), 210-216. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12407

Alhusen, J.L., & Alvarez, C. (2016). Perinatal depression: A clinical update. The Nurse Practitioner, 41(5), 50-55. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NPR.0000480589.09290.3e

Ray, E. & Alhusen, J. (2016). The suspected macrosomic fetus at term: A clinical dilemma. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 61, 263-269. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12414

Foronda, C. & Alhusen, J. (2016). Lessons learned from an international, multisite simulation research study. Nurse Educator, 41(4), 199-203. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000000242

Alhusen, J.L., Bloom, T., Clough, A., & Glass, N. (2015). Development of the MyPlan safety decision app with friends of college women in abusive relationships. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 33(3), 263-282. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2015.1037414

Foronda, C., Alhusen, J., Budhathoki, C., Lamb, M., Tinsley, K., MacWilliams, B., Daniels, J., Baptiste, D., Reese, K., & Bauman, E. (2015). A mixed methods, international, multisite study to develop and validate a measure of nurse-to-physician communication in simulation. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36(6), 383-388. https://doi.org/10.5480/15-1644

Alhusen, J.L., Ray, E., Sharps, P., & Bullock, L. (2015). Intimate partner violence during pregnancy: Maternal and neonatal outcomes. Journal of Women’s Health, 24(1), 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2014.4872

Alhusen, J.L., & Wilson, D. (2015). Pregnant mothers’ perceptions of how intimate partner violence affects their unborn children. Journal of Obstetrics Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN), 44(2), 210-217. https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12542

Maxwell, L., Devries, K, Zionts, D., Alhusen, J., & Campbell, J. (2015). Estimating the effect of intimate partner violence on women’s use of contraception: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS One, 10(2), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118234

Alhusen, J.L., Frohman, N., & Purcell, G. (2015). Intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation in pregnant women. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 18(4), 573-578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0515-2

Glass, N., Clough, A., Case, J., Hanson, G., Waterbury, A., Barnes-Hoyt, J., Alhusen, J., Ehrensaft, M., Grace, K., & Perrin, N. (2015). A safety app to respond to dating violence for college women and their friends: The MyPlan Study randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 871. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2191-6

Trautmann, J., Alhusen, J., & Gross, D. (2015). Impact of deployment on military families with young children: A systematic review. Nursing Outlook, 63(6), 656-679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2015.06.002

Alhusen, J. L., Bullock, L., Sharps, P., Schminkey, D., Comstock, E., & Campbell, J. (2014). Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes in low-income women. Journal of Women's Health, 23(11), 920-926. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2014.4862

Alhusen, J.L., Hayat, M. & Gross, D. (2013). A longitudinal study of maternal attachment and infant developmental outcomes. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 16(6), 521-529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-013-0357-8

Sharps, P., Bullock, L., Alhusen, J., Bhandari, S., Udo, I., Ghazarian, S., & Campbell, J. (2013). Engaging and retaining abused women in perinatal home visitation programs. Pediatrics, 132(Suppl 2), S134-S139. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-1021l

Alhusen, J., Lucea, M.B., Bullock, L., & Sharps, P. (2013). Intimate partner violence, substance use, and adverse neonatal outcomes among urban women. Journal of Pediatrics, 163(2), 471-476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.01.036

Gross, D., Alhusen, J., & Jennings, B. (2012). Authorship ethics with the dissertation manuscript option. Research in Nursing & Health, 35(5), 431-434. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21500

Alhusen, J.L., Gross, D., Hayat, M.J., Rose, L., & Sharps, P. (2012). The role of mental health on maternal-fetal attachment in low-income women. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN), 41(6), E71-E81. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01385.x

Alhusen, J.L., Gross, D., Hayat, M.J., Woods, A.B., & Sharps, P.W. (2012). The influence of maternal-fetal attachment and health practices on neonatal outcomes in low-income, urban women. Research in Nursing and Health, 35(2), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21464

Szanton, S., Mihaly, L., Alhusen, J. & Becker, K. (2010). Taking charge of the challenge: Factors to consider in taking your first nurse practitioner job. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 22(7), 360. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00522.x

Alhusen, J.L., Baty, M.L., & Glass, N. (2010). Perceptions of and experience with system responses to female same-sex intimate partner violence. Partner Abuse, 1(4), 443-462. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.1.4.443

Rose, L., Alhusen, J., Bhandari, S., Soeken, K., Marcantonio, K., Bullock, L. & Sharps, P. (2010). Impact of intimate partner violence on pregnant women: mental distress and mental strength. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 31(2), 103-11. https://doi.org/10.3109/01612840903254834

Alhusen, J.L. (2008). A literature update on maternal-fetal attachment. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 37(3), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00241.x

Book Sections

Spearman, K., Alhusen, J., Ho, G., Smith, K., & Campbell, J. (2022). Addressing intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: Challenges and opportunities. In J. Korbin & R. Krugman (Eds.), Child maltreatment handbook (2nd ed., pp. 327-349). Springer

Alhusen, J., Jellig, J., & Campbell, J. C. (2020). Violence and human abuse. In M. Stanhope & J. Lancaster, (Eds.), Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (10th ed., pp. 836-861). St. Louis, Missouri

Alhusen, J., Bloom, T., Garcia, M., & Campbell, J.C. (2016). Violence and human abuse. In M. Stanhope & J. Lancaster (Eds.), Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (9th ed., pp. 825-849). Elsevier.

Alhusen, J., Ho, G., Smith, K., & Campbell, J.C. (2014). Addressing intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: Challenges and opportunities. In J. Korbin & R. Krugman (Eds.), Child maltreatment handbook (2014th ed., pp. 187-203). Springer

Campbell, J., Alhusen, J., Draughon, J., Kub, J., & Walton-Moss, B. (2010). Vulnerability and protective factors for intimate partner violence. In J. White, M. Koss, & A. Kazdin, (Eds.), Violence against women and children: Consensus, critical analyses and emergent priorities (1st ed., pp. 1). APA press

Baty, M.L., Alhusen, J.L., Campbell, J.C., & Sharps, P.W. (2008). Female victims of violence. In J. Keeling & T. Mason (Eds.), Domestic violence: A multi-professional approach for health professionals (1st ed., pp. 1). McGraw Hill Education

Columns, Editorials and Op-Eds

Alhusen, J. & Kinser, P. (2021, January). From the Editors. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 35, 1-2. https://journals.lww.com/jpnnjournal/pages/default.aspx.