Contact Information
Email: mfranz@umbc.edu
Office: Math/Psychology 307
Fax: 410-455-1055
Phone: 410-455-8161
Lab: Sondheim 405
Lab Website: The Family Adversity Lab
Leadership Roles
- Director, Psychology Training Clinic
Assistant Professor
Education
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2019
Area of Study
- Clinical Psychology
Courses Taught:
- Abnormal Psychology (Psyc 285)
- Clinical Interventions II (PSYC 623)
- Research Methods in Psychology (PSYC 710)
Research Interests
The overarching aims of Dr. Franz’s research are to (1) understand the effects of PTSD and trauma-related psychopathology on survivors’ family relationships, particularly intimate partner and parent-child relationships, and (2) reinforce and strengthen support networks to aid in the prevention and treatment of trauma-related psychopathology and comorbid family dysfunction.
Graduate Research and Training Opportunities
TBD for Fall 2027.
Students with particular interests in trauma, PTSD, and family functioning, including couple relationships and/or parent-child relationships, are especially encouraged to apply. My goal is to provide a training experience that scaffolds students to become independent investigators. I integrate students into ongoing projects and provide opportunities to publish from existing datasets to hone critical analytic and writing skills. Additionally, I guide students in the development of their own programmatic lines of research, which involves mentorship across many different skills (e.g., study design and implementation, grant writing, graduate mentorship of undergraduates). We engage in collaborative discussions about professional development, healthy work-life balance, and emerging science on trauma and PTSD. I am passionate about mentorship and have published several articles related to research and training: Taking a gap year: A guide for prospective clinical psychology Ph.D. students and Mentorship matters: Graduate student mentorship of undergraduate mentees.
Interested graduate students should contact Dr. Franz directly via email.
Undergraduate Research and Training Opportunities
No undergraduate opportunities available.
Graduate Program Affiliation(s)
Human Services Psychology
Selected Publications
- Toward a more comprehensive understanding of PTSD and parenting. Meijer, L., Franz, M. R., Deković, M., van Ee., E, Finkenauer, C., Kleber, R., van de Putte, E., Thomaes, K. (2023). Comprehensive Psychiatry, 127, 152423.
- Women’s disengagement behaviors during couple conflict: Investigating risk indicators of intimate partner violence. Franz, M. R., Smethurst, M. A., Cole, H. E., Barry, R. A., Taft, C. T. (2023). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(15-16).
- The effects of a multi-family group trauma intervention on caregiver posttraumatic stress symptom clusters. Franz, M. R., Savella, G. M., Salen, N., Contractor, A. A., Kiser., L. J. (2022). Violence and Victims. Advance online publication.
- PTSD and parental functioning: The protective role of neighborhood cohesion among Black and White veterans. Franz, M.R., Sanders, W., Nillni, Y. I., Vogt, D., Matteo, R., Galovski, T. (2021). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication.
- Parenting Behaviors of Mothers with PTSD: The Roles of Cortisol Reactivity and Negative Emotion. Franz, M. R., Kumar, S., Brock, R., Calvi, J., DiLillo, D. (2021). Journal of Family Psychology. Advance online publication.
- Trauma symptoms contribute to daily experiential avoidance: Does partner support mitigate risk? Franz, M. R., Brock, R. L., & DiLillo, D. (2021). Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38, 322-341.
- Associations of Warzone Veteran Mental Health with Partner Mental Health and Family Functioning: Family Foundations Study. Franz, M. R., Pless Kaiser, A., Phillips, R., Lee, L. O., Lawrence, A., Taft, C. T., Vasterling, J. J. (2020). Depression and Anxiety, 37, 1068-1078.
- An integrated relational framework of depressed mood and anhedonia during pregnancy. Brock, R. L., Franz, M. R., & Ramsdell, E. R. (2020). Journal of Marriage and Family, 82, 1056-1072.
- Posttraumatic stress and parenting behaviors: The mediating effect of emotion regulation. Kumar, S., Franz, M. R., Brock, R. DiLillo, D. (2020). Journal of Family Violence, 35, 417-426.
- The dynamic interplay between daily satisfaction with intimate relationship functioning and depressed mood in low SES outpatients. Brock, R., Franz, M. R., O’Bleness, J., & Lawrence, E. (2019). Family Process, 4, 891-907.
- Further validation of a laboratory analog sexual aggression task: Associations with novel risk factors for sexual violence. Franz, M. R., Haikalis, M., Riemer, A. R., Parrott, D. J., Gervais, S. J., & DiLillo, D. (2018). Violence and Victims, 33, 486-503.