Gene Brody

Brody grew up in California and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1972. He then earned a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology at the University of Arizona in 1973 followed by a PhD in Developmental Psychology in 1976 also at the University of Arizona.

He began his academic career as an assistant professor at the University of Georgia in 1976 {{Cite web |title=Gene Brody {{!}} UGA FACS |url=https://www.fcs.uga.edu/people/bio/gene-brody |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=www.fcs.uga.edu |language=en}} and began a program of research in which he became known for examining the physiological, biological, and mental health effects of poverty, community disadvantage, and racial discrimination. His longitudinal studies that focus on strengths rather than deficits in investigating resilience among Black Americans have not only demonstrated how such work can help narrow disparities but has influenced theoretical and methodological approaches in developmental and prevention science.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=Gene Brody to receive APS lifetime achievement award |url=https://research.uga.edu/news/?p=44318 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=UGA Research News |language=en-US}} His research has shown, for example, that African American youth who are exposed to family economic hardship and racial discrimination in childhood and adolescence are more likely to develop diabetes, increased allostatic load, accelerated cellular aging, and higher levels of systemic inflammation later in life.{{Cite news |date=2016-11-28 |title=Some resilient black youth may face higher diabetes risk as adults |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-poverty-kids-stress-idUSKBN13N2C2 |access-date=2022-12-09}}{{Cite web |last=Service |first=UGA News |title=UGA research uncovers cost of resiliency in kids |url=https://www.redandblack.com/uganews/science_health/uga-research-uncovers-cost-of-resiliency-in-kids/article_96aa1d96-c92b-11e2-a9ab-001a4bcf6878.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=The Red and Black |date=30 May 2013 |language=en}} He has also investigated how these effects can be offset by other environmental variables, such as support from family members.

Brody's recent research has shed light on the ways in which there may be physiological costs associated with achieving resilience on outward indicators of psychosocial functioning, a phenomenon known as “skin-deep resilience”.{{Cite journal |last1=Brody |first1=Gene H. |last2=Yu |first2=Tianyi |last3=Chen |first3=Edith |last4=Miller |first4=Gregory E. |last5=Kogan |first5=Steven M. |last6=Beach |first6=Steven R. H. |date=2013-07-01 |title=Is resilience only skin deep?: rural African Americans' socioeconomic status-related risk and competence in preadolescence and psychological adjustment and allostatic load at age 19 |journal=Psychological Science |volume=24 |issue=7 |pages=1285–1293 |doi=10.1177/0956797612471954 |issn=1467-9280 |pmc=3713113 |pmid=23722980}}{{Cite web |title=APA PsycNet |url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-46370-001 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=psycnet.apa.org |language=en}} Although high levels of self-control, goal directed behavior, and high-effort coping are thought to contribute to outward signs of resilience in adverse environments, these same behaviors may undermine individuals’ physical health as a result of the physical strain and wear-and-tear associated with growing up with socioeconomic disadvantage.

Much of this research has led to deeper work understanding prevention strategies and direct intervention programs which focus on strengthening family relationships, parenting processes and youth competencies as well as preventing negative outcomes. The Strong African American Families and Strong African American Families-Teen programs for preadolescents and adolescents have been embedded in communities across the United States.

The Association for Psychological Science awarded him a lifetime achievement award in 2023.{{Cite web |title=APS James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award |url=https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/cattell-award |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Association for Psychological Science - APS |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.fcs.uga.edu/people/bio/gbrody Faculty page] at University of Georgia website
• [https://cfr.uga.edu/about/directory/gene-brody-bio/ Gene Brody - Center for Family Research] (uga.edu)
• [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=t5RF8w8AAAAJ Gene Brody] publications indexed by Google Scholar
• [https://cfr.uga.edu/for-researchers/prevention-research-at-the-center-for-family-research/ Prevention Research at the Center for Family Research] - Center for Family Research (uga.edu)
• [https://provost.uga.edu/resources/faculty-resources/professorships/regents-professorships/ Regents' Professorships] - Provost's Office - University of Georgia (uga.edu)
• [https://www.psychologicalscience.org/ Association for Psychological Science] – APS
• [https://www.arizona.edu/ University of Arizona]
• [https://www.ucsb.edu/ University of California, Santa Barbara]
• [https://cfr.uga.edu/saaf-programs/saaf/ Strong African American Families Program] | Center for Family Research (uga.edu)
• [https://cfr.uga.edu/saaf-programs/saaf-t/ Strong African American Families Teen Program] | Family Research (uga.edu)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brody, Gene Howard}}

Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:University of Georgia faculty

Category:Emory University faculty

Category:21st-century American psychologists

Category:American developmental psychologists

Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni

Category:University of Arizona alumni

Category:20th-century American psychologists