Appointment Link and Zoom Meetings Link
Biography
Dr. Saxena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development at the State University of New York at Oswego. She completed her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut and her M.S. in Child Development from the University of Delhi, India. Dr. Saxena teaches courses on lifespan development, research methods, and special topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, siblings and extended family, and mental health issues. She serves as co-chair of the sibling relationship focus group at the National Council on Family Relations and as a program evaluation consultant for an NGO in NY. She will chair the Family Science Conference 2025 in Costa Rica.
Research
Dr. Saxena’s research interests include mixed methods studies on sibling relationships and caregiving, caregiver’s mental health and caregiving patterns, program evaluation, and pedagogy. Her 2024-25 project aims to study trends and patterns in demands, family routines, coping, life satisfaction, and more on perceptions of stress in the post-pandemic contexts.
Publications
- Saxena M., Shedlock, D., & Gold, Z. (2023). Gender and disruptions in family routines and stress amid COVID-19. Frontiers in Communication. DOI:10.3389/fcomm.2022.820882
- Saxena M. (2022). Resilience among sibling caregivers: Vulnerabilities and adaptations. In ed. K. Adamson, Sourcebook of Family Theories and Methodologies: Springer Nature: UK
- Saxena, M. (April 2022). Research methods and statistics: Instructional practices in the times of a pandemic. Family Science Review. DOI: 10.26536/WSNS2187
- Saxena, M. (March 2022). Navigating the Pandemic: Protective proximal processes in the microsystem of families worldwide. Family Focus, National Council of Family Relations Report. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr- report/spring-2022/navigating-pandemic-protective-proximal-processes-microsystem-families
- Saxena M. (Oct 2021). This, too, shall pass: Age-based perceptions of changes in routine, coping, and stress. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics. DOI:10.24966/GGM-8662/100101
- Saxena, M. Burch, R. L. (2020). Higher survival with older siblings. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M. (2020). Cultural variation. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M. (2020). Presence of siblings. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham.https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M. (2020). Grandparenting. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham.https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M. (2020). Kinship and emotional closeness. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M. (2019). Social context. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M. (2019). Aunt care. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1164-1
- Saxena, M., Farrell, A. F., & Adamsons, K. (2019). An empirical examination of caregiving processes and outcomes among adult siblings of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. OBM Geriatrics, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902054
- Mauldin, L. & Saxena, M. (2017). Mutual exchange: Caregiving and life enhancement in siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities. Journal of Family Issues, https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X17746452
- Saxena, M. & Ali, S. (2016) Parenting: Behaviors, cultural influences, and impact on childhood health and well-being (Book review). Interpersonal Acceptance. 10(3), 3-6.
- Saxena, M. (2015). Variables that can enhance and complicate adult sibling caregiving of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 12, 210-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12127
- Saxena, M., & Adamsons, K. (2013). Bioecological framework and siblings of individuals with disabilities. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 5, 300-316. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12021
- Saxena, M., & Sharma, N. (2000). Growing up with a mentally retarded child: A study of adolescent siblings. Journal of Personality and Clinical Studies, 16, 16-23.
Awards and honors
- Best Presentation Award (May 2023). Juggling Chaos: Gender Issues in Navigating Demands, Family Routines and Stress during the Pandemic, The World Conference for Women Studies, Singapore.
- Awarded The Cognella Innovation in Teaching Award for Family Science (Nov 2022), the National Council of Family Relations Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Education
- Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 2013
- MSc, Child Development, University of Delhi, India, 1998
- BSc, Home Science, University of Delhi, India, 1996
Classes taught
- HDV 403 – Internships and Supervision in Human Development
- GLS 402 – Adopt a Village Program: A Trip to India
- HDV 400 – Research Designs and Applications in Human Development
- HDV 368 – Diversity and Social Justice
- HDV 322 – Child Development
- HDV 303 – Applied Field Experience and Analysis in Human Development
- HDV 302 – Methods in Human Development II
- HDV 301 – Methods in Human Development I
- HDV 342 – Siblings and Close Relatives
- HDV 198 – Finding Calm in Chaos
- HDV 101 – Introduction to Human Development