Social Psychology Network

Maintained by Scott Plous, Wesleyan University

Shawn M. Bediako

Shawn M. Bediako

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  • SPN Mentor

My primary research interests focus on social identity and health. Currently, I examine social and interpersonal processes that influence psychosocial adjustment among adults with sickle cell disease. I am also interested in the impact of sociocultural and ecological factors on health attitudes and behaviors. I have an avid interest in the history of psychology, with particular emphasis on race, science, and society and the training of African American psychologists in the first half of the 20th century.

Primary Interests:

  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Health Psychology
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Person Perception
  • Prejudice and Stereotyping
  • Self and Identity
  • Social Cognition

Journal Articles:

  • Bediako, S. M. (2010). Psychosocial predictors of employment status among African American adults with sickle cell disease. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 21, 1124-1137.
  • Bediako, S. M., & Friend, R. M. (2004). Illness-specific and general perceptions of social relationships in adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis: The role of interpersonal expectations. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 28, 203-210.
  • Bediako, S. M., & Griffith, D. M. (2007). Eliminating racial/cultural disparities in health: Reconsidering comparative approaches. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 2, 49-62.
  • Bediako, S. M., & Haywood, C. Jr., (2009). Sickle cell disease in a “post-racial” America. Journal of the National Medical Association, 101, 1065-1066.
  • Bediako, S. M., Kwate, N. O. A., & Rucker, R. (2004). Dietary behavior among African Americans: Assessing cultural identity and health consciousness. Ethnicity & Disease, 14, 527-532.
  • Bediako, S. M., Lattimer, L., Haywood, Jr., C., Ratanawongsa, N., Lanzkron, S., & Beach, M. C. (2011). Religious coping and hospital admissions among adults with sickle cell disease. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34, 120-127.
  • Bediako, S. M., Lavender, A. R., & Yasin, Z. (2007). Racial centrality and health care use among African American adults with sickle cell disease. Journal of Black Psychology, 33, 422-438.
  • Bediako, S. M., & Moffitt, K. R. (2011). Race and social attitudes about sickle cell disease. Ethnicity & Health, 16, 423-429.
  • Bediako, S. M., & Neblett, E. W. (2011). Optimism and perceived stress in sickle cell disease: The role of an Afrocultural social ethos. Journal of Black Psychology, 37, 234-253.
  • Gil, K. M., Carson, J. W., Porter, L. S., Scipio, C., Bediako, S. M., & Orringer, E. (2004). Daily mood and stress predict pain, health care use, and work activity in African American adults with sickle cell disease. Health Psychology, 23, 267-274.
  • Green, B. L., Lewis, R. K., & Bediako, S. M. (2005). Reducing and eliminating health disparities: A targeted approach. Journal of the National Medical Association, 97, 25-30.
  • Griffith, D. M., & Bediako, S. M. (2007). The National Negro Health Movement: Policy implications for minority health and health inequities. Harvard Health Policy Review, 8, 89-99.
  • Haywood, C. Jr., Lanzkron, S., Ratanawongsa, N., Bediako, S. M., Lattimer-Nelson, L., Beach, M. C. (2010). Hospital self-discharge among adults with sickle cell disease: Associations with trust and interpersonal experiences with care. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 5(5), 289-294.
  • Haywood, Jr., C., Beach, M. C., Bediako, S. M., Carroll, C. P., Lattimer-Nelson, L., Jarrett, D., & Lanzkron, S. (2011). Examining the characteristics and beliefs of hydroxyurea users and non-users among adults with sickle cell disease. American Journal of Hematology, 86, 85-87.
  • Lattimer, L., Haywood, C., Lanzkron, S., Ratanawongsa, N., Bediako, S. M., & Beach, M. C. (2010). Problematic hospital experiences among adult patients with sickle cell disease. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 21, 1114-1123.
  • Ratanawongsa, N., Haywood, C., Jr., Bediako, S. M., Lattimer, L., Lanzkron, S., Hill, P. M., Powe, N. R., & Beach, M. C. (2009). Health care provider attitudes toward patients with acute vaso-occlusive crisis due to sickle cell disease: Development of a scale. Patient Education & Counseling, 76, 272-278.

Other Publications:

  • Bediako, S. M. (2009). Psychosocial aspects of sickle cell disease: A primer for African American psychologists. In H. A. Neville, B. M. Tynes, & S. O. Utsey (Eds.), Handbook of African American Psychology (pp.417-427). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Courses Taught:

  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • History & Systems of Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Psychology of Food
  • Social/Health Psychology

Shawn M. Bediako
Department of Psychology
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, Maryland 21250
United States of America

  • Phone: (410) 455-2349
  • Fax: (410) 455-1055

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