Education

2022 M.S.

Human Development and Family Studies, Oregon State University

Thesis: Generativity, cognitive reappraisal, and self-acceptance: Optimizing well-being in midlife

2019 B.S.

Psychology & German Studies, Furman University

Research Experience

Life Scholar

Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University

Project: Contextual Influences on Daily Emotion Regulation (CIDER)

Research Assistant

Social Cognition and Aging Lab, Furman University

Project(s): The Semantic Meaning of Emotion Words; The Semantic Meaning of Aging Terms

Research Assistant

Department of Developmental Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena

Project: Looking at Language: Two Studies on the Meaning of Words

 Teaching Experience

Undergraduate Instructor

Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University

Courses: Adult Development and Aging

Graduate Student Teaching Assistant

Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University

Courses: Adult Development and Aging, Contemporary Families in the U.S., Human Sexuality, Applied Research Methods

German Language Associate

Modern Language Center, Furman University

Teaching Assistant

Department of Developmental Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena

Courses: Empirical Practicum Seminar, Stress and Coping Capstone

Publications

Published

Stawski, R. S., Cichy, K. E., Witzel, D. D., & Nichols, M. J. (2022). Daily stress processes as potential intervention targets to reduce gender differences and improve mental health outcomes in midlife and later adulthood. Prevention Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01444-7 

Nichols, M. J. Generativity, cognitive reappraisal, and self-acceptance: Optimizing well-being in midlife. Oregon State University. https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/4t64gw46c 

Bellingtier, J. A., Rauers, A., Nichols, M. J., & Buttelmann, F. (2022). Stereotyping older adults: How labels and perceived age influence ratings. Educational Gerontology, https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2022.2038422 

Under review

Nichols, M. J., Geldhof, G. J., & Stawski, R. S. (under review).Generativity, cognitive reappraisal, and optimizing self-acceptance across midlife and old age.

Bradetich, A. H., Nichols, M. J., & Chandler, K. D. (under review). It’s the thought that counts: Pregnancy intention and inter-partner stress as a function of SES.

Presentations

An asterisk (*) denotes presentations cancelled due to COVID-19. 

Bradetich, A. H., Nichols, M. J., & Chandler, K. D. (2023, March). It's the thought that counts: Pregnancy and interpartner stress during pregnancy across socioeconomic status groups. Poster presented at the Society for Research on Child Development Biennial Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nichols, M. J., Witzel, D. D., & Stawski, R. S. (2022, November). Giving back to feel good? Social responsibility, age, and negative affect. Poster presented at the 74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Witzel, D. D., Nichols, M. J., White, J. W., & Stawski, R. S. (2022, November). Daily arguments with spouses and affect: Age and emotion work as moderators. Poster presented at the 74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Nichols, M. J., Witzel, D. D., & Chandler, K. D. (2022, August). Partner support and emotion regulation in midlife: Implications for relationship stability. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association’s Annual Convention. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Bellingtier, J. A., Rauers, A., Nichols, M. J., & Buttelmann, F. (2022, July). The influence of labels on the perceived ages of older adults. Poster presented at the 2nd Ageing as Future Conference. Jena, Germany. 

Witzel, D.D., Nichols, M. J., & Stawski, R.S. (2021, November). Marital conflict, anger expression, and marital instability: Associations by age and culture. Poster presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Phoenix, Arizona.

Stawski, R. S., Witzel, D. D., Nichols, M. J., & Charles, S. T. (2021, November). Interpersonal interactions and affect in daily life among midlife and older adults. Poster presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Phoenix, Arizona.

Nichols, M. J., Bellingtier, J. A., & Buttelmann, F. (2020, April). A cross-cultural examination of the influence of labels on ageist stereotypes. Poster accepted for presentation at the 41st Southern Gerontological Society Conference. Norfolk, Virginia. *

Nichols, M. J. (2020, April). Examining age and culture differences across five dimensions of sadness. Individual Symposium accepted for the 12th Annual Furman Engaged Day. Greenville, SC. *

Nichols, M. J., Bellingtier, J. A., & Buttelmann, F. (2019, November).  Anger, love, sadness: Do emotion words have the same semantic meaning across age-groups? Poster presented at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Austin, Texas. 

Nichols, M. J. (2019, June). Looking at language: Two studies on the meaning of words. Presentation given at the Friedrich-Schiller University Department of Developmental Psychology, Jena, Germany. 

Nichols, M. J., Powell, P., & Sanders, W. (2019, April). Beyond the brochure: What engaged learning is really all about. Symposium given at the 11th Annual Furman Engaged Day. Greenville, SC. 

Nichols, M. J. (2018, July). The semantic meaning of emotion words and aging terms at different stages of development and across cultures. Presentation given at the Friedrich-Schiller University Department of Developmental Psychology, Jena, Germany.

Service

Professional

2021-Present HDFS Hour Student Facilitator, Oregon State University

2020-Present Abstract Reviewer, Gerontological Society of America

2019 Reviewer-in-Training, Journal of Gerontology, Series B

Community

2016-2018 Alpha Phi Omega Eta Nu Chapter, National Service Fraternity, Furman University

2018 Volunteer English Classroom Assistant, Droste-Hühlschoff Gymnasium, Berlin, Germany

2018 Volunteer English Tutor, German Red Cross, Berlin, Germany

Fellowships & Honors

2022

Doctoral Student in Aging Travel Award

Oregon State University 

Carol A. Schultz Travel Award

The Gerontological Society of America 

BSS Section Travel Award

The Gerontological Society of America

Dr. Arthur E. Gravatt Fellowship

Oregon State University 

Josephine Zimmerman Gerontology Fellowship

Oregon State University

Life Scholar

Center for Healthy Aging Research

Oregon State University 

2021

Josephine Zimmerman Gerontology Fellowship

Oregon State University 

Dr. Arthur E. Gravatt Fellowship 

Oregon State University 

2020

Oregon State Provost Distinguished Graduate Scholarship

Oregon State University

2019

Furman Advantage Summer Research Fellowship

Furman University 

2018

Furman Advantage Summer Research Fellowship 

Furman University 

2016-2019

Belltower Scholarship 

Furman University 

2016-2019

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship 

South Carolina 

2016-2019

Furman University Dean’s List

Furman University

Memberships

American Psychological Association, Division 20 (APAGS)

Gerontological Society of America

Southern Gerontological Society

Psi Chi (Psychological Honor Society)

Delta Phi Alpha (German Honor Society)

Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society)