Positions:

Professor Emeritus, Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, July 1, 2005
Senior Community Service Associate, Department of Gerontology, through June 30, 2005
Courtesy Professor, Department of Gerontology, through June 30, 2005
Graduate Faculty Fellow, University of Nebraska

Affiliations:

Member, Gerontological Society of America
Member, American Statistical Association
Member, Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions
Member, Academy of Political Science

Education:

B.A., Bellevue College, 1969
M.A., University of Oklahoma, 1972
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1987

University and Community Service:

• Moderator, Caring for Aging Parents Conference, Omaha, NE, August 14, 2004
• Member, Merger Study Committee, League of Women Voters, Greater Omaha, 2004-present
• Member, Douglas County/City of Omaha Merger Study Committee, 2002-present
• Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, Advisory Committee
• Member, AARP Economic Issues Team, 1992-present
• Nebraska Partnership Committee, Research Advisor, 1996-1997
• Delegate, White House Conference on Aging, 1995
• Committee on Academic Standards and Curriculum, 1990-1992
• Ad hoc Gerontology Personnel Committee, 1988
• CPACS Ad hoc Committee on Research Methods and Statistics, 1988
• University of Nebraska System, Computer Network Advisory Committee, 1981
• Governor's Advisory Committee, White House Conference on Aging, Chairman
• National Observer, Research Committee, White House Conference on Aging, November, 1981

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2004). Depression and intrinsic religiosity. Psychological Reports, 95, 1008.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2001). Undertakers' sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 89, 175-176.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Samuel, V. T. (2001). Sense of humor in black and white. North American Journal of Psychology, 3(1), 1-12.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2000). Health practices and attitudes among rural, semi-rural, and urban older people. North American Journal of Psychology, 2(1), 47-58.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1999). Methodological note on the use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale with older samples. Psychological Reports, 85, 823-824.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Samuel, V. T. (1998). Age differences in death anxiety among African-American women. Psychological Reports, 83, 1173-1174.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Samuel, V. T. (1998). African and Euro-American samples differ little in scores on death anxiety. Psychological Reports, 83, 623-626.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Abdel-Khalek, A. M., & Beshai, J. (1997). Constructions of religiosity and death anxiety in two cultures. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 25, 373-382.

Thorson, J. A., Brdar, I., & Powell, F. C. (1997). Factor-analytic study of sense of humor in Croatia and the USA. Psychological Reports, 81, 971-977.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Sarmany-Schuller, I., & Hampes, W. (1997). Psychological health and sense of humor. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53, 605-619.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1996). Undertakers' death anxiety. Psychological Reports, 78, 1228-1230.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1996). Women, aging, and sense of humor. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, 9, 169-186.

Powell, F. C., & Howards, I. (1995). Schools and taxes in New Jersey: The politics of budget making. Washington, DC: American Association of Retired Persons.

Powell, F. C., & Wanzenried, J. W. (1995). Do current measures of dimensions of source credibility produce stable outcomes in replicated tests? Perceptual and Motor Skills, 81, 675-687.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1994). Depression and sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 75, 1473-1474.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C. & Hilt, M. (1994). Epidemiology of gambling and depression in an adult sample. Psychological Reports, 74, 987-994.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). The CES-D: Four or five factors? Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 31, 577-578.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Personality, death anxiety, and gender. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 31, 589-590.

Powell, F. C., & Wanzenried, J. W. (1993). Perceptions of Bush, Clinton, and Perot in relation to frequency of presidential debate viewing. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 77, 35-41.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Relationships of death anxiety and sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 72, 1364-1366.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Sense of humor and dimensions of personality. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49, 799-809.

Powell, F. C., & Wanzenried, J. W. (1993). An empirical test of the Leathers Personal Credibility Scale: Panel responses to the Clinton candidacy. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 75, 1255-1261.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Development and validation of a multidimensional sense of humor scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49, 13-23.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). A revised death anxiety scale. Death Studies, 16, 517-531.

Powell, F. C., Wanzenried, J. W., & Smith-Howell, D. (1992). Source credibility and presidential campaigns: Governor Clinton and the allegation of marital infidelity. Psychological Reports, 70, 992-994.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Vagaries of college norms for the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Psychological Reports, 70, 943-946.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Rural and urban aged construe health differently. The Journal of Psychology, 126, 251-260.

Powell, F. C., & Wanzenried, J. W. (1991). Perceptual changes in source credibility: Repeated tests using two candidates during a political campaign. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 73, 1107-1114.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1991). Measurement of sense of humor. Psychological Reports, 69, 691-702.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1991). Age differences in health attitudes and beliefs. Psychological Reports, 69, 1111-1115.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1991). Life, death, and life after death: Meanings of the relationship between death anxiety and religion. Journal of Religious Gerontology, 8(1), 41-56.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1991). Constructions of death anxiety among those high in intrinsic religious motivation: A factor-analytic study. Death Studies, 15, 131-138.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1991). Medical students' attitudes towards ageing and death: A cross-sequential study. Medical Education, 25, 32-37.

Powell, F. C., Tokheim, C. L., & Wanzenried, J. W. (1990). Cigarette smoking: Effect on perceptions of source credibility. Psychological Reports, 66, 1388-1390.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1990). Political behavior: Voting participation of inner-city elderly blacks compared to other populations in a medium-sized city. Psychological Reports, 67, 64-66.

Powell, F. C., Thorson, J. A., Kara, G., & Uhl, H. S. M. (1990). Stability of medical students' attitudes toward aging and death. The Journal of Psychology, 124, 329-342.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1990). To laugh in the face of death: The games that lethal people play. Omega-Journal of Death & Dying, 21, 221-235.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1990). Meanings of death and intrinsic religiosity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 379-391.

Powell, F. C., Wanzenried, J. W., & Franks, L. J. (1989). Perceptions of political competency and the impact of a televised debate. Psychological Reports, 64, 825-826.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1989). Construct validity of the Lethal Behaviors Scale. Psychological Reports, 65, 844-846.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1989). Death anxiety and religion in an older male sample. Psychological Reports, 64, 985-986.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1988). Medical students' Edwards Personal Preference Schedule norms. Psychological Reports, 63, 465-466.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1988). Elements of death anxiety and meanings of death. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44, 691-701.

Waskel, S. A., & Powell, F. C. (1987-1988). Use of words to describe ageism: A factor analysis. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, 8(1/2), 123-131.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1987). Factor structure of the Lethal Behaviors Scale. Psychological Reports, 61, 807-810.

Powell, F. C., & Hartung Hagen, B. (1983). Influence of personal and academic experiences on formation of attitudes toward mentally retarded adults. Perceptual Motor Skills, 57, 835-838.

Powell, F. C. (1981, May). A challenge for the human resource administrator: Utility costs and the rural elderly. Journal of Health and Human Resources Administration.

Powell, F. C. (1978). Social programs and the aging. In Profiles of aging: Gerontology readings for health professionals. University of Nebraska, College of Medicine.

Powell, F. C., Peterson, D. A., & Robertson, L. (1976). Aging in America: Toward the year 2000. The Gerontologist, 16, 264-270.

BOOKS:

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1989, reprinted 1994). Rural elderly and their needs. Kansas City: National Resource Center for Rural Elderly, University of Missouri-Kansas City.

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS:

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2003). A revised death anxiety scale. In J. Hoyer & J. Margraf (Eds.), Angstdiagnostik - Grundlagen und Testverfahren (Diagnosis of Anxiety - Basic Principles and Procedures) (pp.403-517). Heidelberg, Germany: Springer Verlag.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2000). Death anxiety in younger and older adults. In A. Tomer (Ed.), Death attitudes and the older adult (pp.123-136). Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2000). Developmental aspects of death anxiety and religion. In J. A. Thorson (Ed.), Perspectives on spiritual well-being and aging (pp. 142-158). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1994). A revised death anxiety scale. In R. A. Neimeyer (Ed.), Death anxiety handbook (pp. 31-43). Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1993). Health and health attitude differences among rural and urban older people in the Midwestern United States. In D. Beregi, I. A. Gergely, & K. Rajczi (Eds.), Recent advances in aging science (Vol. II, pp. 1843-1846). Bologna, Italy: Monduzzi Editore.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). The rural aged, social value, and health care. In C. N. Bull (Ed.), Aging in rural America (pp. 134-145). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

REFEREED CONFERENCE PAPERS:

Harris, M. R., Hellman, E. A., Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Relationships among functional status, health status and social support. Presented at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 16, 1995.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Fear of crime and victimization between elderly groups: Inner-city African Americans compared with urban and rural whites. Presented at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 17, 1995.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1993). Health and health attitude differences among rural and urban older. A paper presented at the 15th Congress of the International Association of Gerontology, Budapest, July 5, 1993.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Age differences in health attitudes. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 19, 1992.

Hellman, E., Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Social network participation and health care utilization among older adults in rural and urban areas. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 19, 1992.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Differences in health care perceptions and satisfaction among older rural and urban persons in the Midwestern U.S. A paper presented at the Intercongress Meeting of the Section on Aging of the International Sociological Association, Stockholm, June 26, 1992.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Kara, G., & Uhl, H. S. M. (1989). Medical students' personal traits and attitudes toward old people: A cross-sequential study. A paper presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Tampa, March 4, 1989.

Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., Kara, G., & Uhl, H. S. M. (1988). Personality correlates and changes in medical students' attitudes toward old people and death anxiety. A paper presented at the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, Anaheim, California, May 4, 1988.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1984). Revision and factor analysis of a death anxiety scale. Presented at the 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society, San Antonio, October, 1984.

TECHNICAL REPORTS:

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (2004). Care giving and Nebraska's elders: A report on a survey of 1000 respondents. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1998). Assessment and conditions study: Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, 1998. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1997). Focus groups on Medicaid managed care: A report to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., Foster, B. G., & Thorson, J. A. (1995). Perceptions of elderly programs in Eastern Nebraska: ENOA goals, 1990 - 1995. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1994). Social conditions of Nebraska's elderly, 1994. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1993). Evaluation of the Nebraska Cross-Training Manual. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Position paper on aging persons with developmental disabilities. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). Health care perceptions of Nebraska's urban & rural aged, Occasional Paper No. 92-1. Omaha: Center for Public Affairs Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell. F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1991). Incidence of functionally impaired elderly: Comparing ENOA samples with a rural sample. Omaha: Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1989). Rural elderly and their needs: Understanding, developing, and using a needs assessment. Kansas City: National Resource Center for Rural Elderly, University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1989). Elderly blacks on Omaha's Near North Side: Their health status, utilization of services, and attitudes. Omaha: Charles Drew Health Center and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1988). The economic impact of out-migration among Nebraska's retirees. Omaha: Center on Applied Urban Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Powell, F. C., & Thorson, J. A. (1988). Older people in Eastern Nebraska: Their attitudes, opinions, and behavior. Omaha: Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.