J M Vaterlaus

Biographic Data

ID4044148
NAMEJ M Vaterlaus
GIVEN NAMESJ M
FAMILY NAMEVaterlaus
SIGNATUREVATERLAUS J M
AFFILIATIONSMontana State University
ORCID0000-0001-7139-1457
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS41
TOTAL CITATIONS81
AUTHOR COUNT41
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2014
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX6

  • Delaying adolescent smartphone ownership: A qualitative dyadic study with parents and adolescents

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Tiana Carney et al.ARTICLEJournal of Children and Media2026

    Smartphones are being acquired at increasingly younger ages in the United States. Although existing research suggests that the age of acquisition is not strongly associated with adolescent outcomes, there are growing calls to delay smartphone ownership. Delaying smartphone use can be seen as a form of family media resistance, or the intentional choice to limit or avoid specific technologies. However, little is known about the lived experiences of…

  • Adolescent Cell Phone Acquisition and Experiences Following Parental Separation and Divorce: An Exploratory Study

    J M Vaterlaus, Lori S ReynoldsARTICLEMarriage & Family Review2026References: 25

  • An Exploratory Study on Family Dinners and Technology Use During Adolescence in the United States

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Sarah Tulane et al.ARTICLEMarriage & Family Review2025References: 48

  • Mothers' perspectives on children's recovery from the Covid‐19 pandemic: An exploratory study

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Tiana Carney et al.ARTICLEFamily and Consumer Sciences…2025References: 23

    In large‐scale crises, recovery efforts often receive limited empirical attention. The COVID‐19 pandemic (2020–2023) significantly disrupted children's lives in the United States. This exploratory mixed‐methods study involved 58 mothers who completed online surveys about their children's (ages 2–17) recovery. Using the Children's Best Interest Wheel , the study analyzed data through descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. It expl…

  • A critical science qualitative case study: Historical insights and future directions

    Open AccessNicole C Wanago, Karen L Alexander et al.ARTICLEFamily and Consumer Sciences…2025References: 6

    Home Economics: A Definition (1979) was written by Marjorie Brown and Beatrice Paolucci to provide conceptual clarity to the profession. Their work resulted in an inaugural mission statement and three conceptual frameworks to guide thinking and practice, known as the Critical Science Approach (CSA). After 43 years, what the CSA means for the profession remains unclear. This qualitative study used a case study design to learn from scholars' histor…

  • Food skill development in young adulthood: A qualitative study

    Open AccessMarcy E Gaston, J M Vaterlaus et al.ARTICLEFamily and Consumer Sciences…2025References: 38

    Cooking at home has declined for decades, reducing food skill development among younger generations. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, this study surveyed young adults (n = 270) and food and nutrition educators (n = 93). Thematic analysis resulted in three themes: (1) Life Cycle Influences on Food Skill Development, (2) Food Skill Development and Education, and (3) Practical Strategies for Developing Food Skills. Both groups agreed that fo…

  • TikTok: An Exploratory Study of Young Adults’ Uses and Gratifications

    J M Vaterlaus, Madison WinterARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025Cited by: 4References: 33

    TikTok is a short-form video focused social media app with over 80 million active users in the United States. The current study aimed to understand young adult TikTok users’ and non-users’ (n = 247) motivations (to use or not use), experiences, and perceptions related to TikTok. In total, 52% of young adults reported using TikTok. Through qualitative content analysis procedures, three themes representing participants’ experiences with TikTok were…

  • Spontaneous social media: An exploratory study of young adults’ BeReal uses and gratifications

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Sophia M ChowARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025References: 36

    Spontaneous social media like BeReal encourage users to post quickly after receiving notifications, leaving little time for planning. However, there has been limited research on why people choose to adopt or avoid spontaneous social media. The current Uses and Gratifications (U&G) framed qualitative study sought to understand why college attending young adults (n = 143) in the United States used or did not use BeReal. Participants completed an on…

  • Women’s well-being and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States: A longitudinal mixed-methods approach

    J M Vaterlaus, Lori Andersen Spruance et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025Cited by: 1References: 39

    This longitudinal mixed-methods study aimed to identify changes in women’s well-being and their lived experiences in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women (n = 124) recruited through snowball sampling completed surveys at two time points (March 2020 and April 2021) and follow-up interviews were conducted with 33 women in April 2021. Chi-square analyses, t tests, and multivariable modeling were used to assess changes in well-being …

  • College student interpersonal and institutional relationships during the Covid-19 pandemic: A qualitative exploratory study

    J M Vaterlaus, Tasha Shaffer et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025Cited by: 5References: 24

    Interpersonal relationships are central to young adult development and success in college. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities largely went to remote instruction. In the fall of 2020, universities varied in their approaches and some reopened with online, in-person, hybrid, or mixed instructional methods. The current qualitative study explored young adults' (n = 243) experiences in their relationships while attending college during…

  • Fathers’ experiences with domestic labor during the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Sky Sullivan et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025References: 32

    The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted family life as traditional institutions (e.g., work, schools, childcare) were altered to address public health safety.These changes required families to adapt to new work and childcare routines.Much of the research on domestic labor during the pandemic has rightly focused on mothering and relied on quantitative methods.Less is known about the experiences of fathers who participated in domestic labor during the pand…

  • Women’s longitudinal social media behaviors and experiences during a global pandemic

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Lori Andersen Spruance et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025References: 33

    This longitudinal mixed-methods study explored women’s (n = 124) lived experiences with social media in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women completed surveys at two points in time (March 2020 and April 2021). Follow-up interviews were also conducted with 33 women in April 2021. A longitudinal qualitative approach was used to identify three themes: (a) social media “works as an echo chamber,” (b) connection and community, and (c)…

  • I wish I knew more than my 15-year-old: Mother and early adolescent reflections on information communication technologies

    Sarah Tulane, J M Vaterlaus et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2025References: 53

    This qualitative exploratory study used thematic and dyadic analyses to examine the perceptions of nine White mother-early adolescent dyads regarding information communication technology (ICT) use. Using a general thematic analysis, three major themes presented in the data. Mother and early adolescents focused on ideas for good use of ICT, suggestions for parent education, and ideas about safety including a request for trust from early adolescent…

  • Gender inclusion and family science: Perspectives of undergraduate males on family science

    Open AccessMichael Langlais, Ariana Looz et al.ARTICLEFamily Relations2024

  • Critical Science: A systematic literature review of empirical research (1979–2022)

    Open AccessNicole C Wanago, Karen L Alexander et al.ARTICLEFamily and Consumer Sciences…2024Cited by: 1References: 2

    The Critical Science Approach (CSA) was developed in 1979 with the intent to create a consistent conceptual identity unifying the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) profession's philosophy, knowledge, and practice. This systematic literature review examines empirical CSA research published between 1979 and 2022 to better understand what the CSA means for the profession. A total of 71 articles met the criteria with the CSA highly integrated in 22 …

  • An exploratory study on college student pandemic recovery

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Alison Brennan et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2024References: 3

  • Young Adults’ Closest Sibling Relationships and Interactive Technology

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Madison Dodson et al.ARTICLEMarriage & Family Review2023Cited by: 2References: 36

    Sibling relationships are conceptualized as one of the longest lasting relationships, but empirical information about young adults’ sibling relationships is limited. The current study aimed to understand how young adults (n = 239) conceptualized sibling closeness and how interactive technology influenced their self-identified closest sibling relationship. Through qualitative content analysis, three themes were identified regarding experiences wit…

  • Mother–child relationships during the Covid‐19 pandemic: A longitudinal qualitative approach

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Emily V Patten et al.ARTICLEFamily and Consumer Sciences…2023Cited by: 6References: 24

    Global crises have a disproportionate impact on women, and typical family life for mothers and children in the United States was disrupted by the COVID‐19 pandemic. This longitudinal qualitative study examined mothers' (n = 82) experiences in their mother–child relationships between March 2020 and April 2021 during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Participants completed open‐ended online survey items at both time points, while 22 participants also complete…

  • College Student Loneliness and the Reopening of Campuses During the Covid‐19 Pandemic

    Open AccessJ M VaterlausARTICLEFamily and Consumer Sciences…2022Cited by: 1References: 31

    This exploratory study aimed to understand students’ experience with loneliness and COVID‐19 during the reopening of campuses in Fall 2020. College students (n = 237) at a northwestern university completed online surveys that included theThree Item Loneliness Scaleand items related to COVID‐19 (diagnosis, quarantine, concern, feelings of safety, and commitment to following public health interventions) in November 2020. In total, 64% of the sample…

  • “A smartphone made my life easier”: An exploratory study on age of adolescent smartphone acquisition and well-being

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Alexandra Aylward et al.ARTICLEComputers in Human Behavior2021

  • Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing in the United States: A mixed-methods study on lived experiences and well-being

    J M Vaterlaus, Lori Andersen Spruance et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2021Cited by: 6

    The current mixed-methods study was designed to explore individuals' experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and potential relationships between social distancing and individual well-being. Participants (N = 600) completed an online survey that was distributed March 21–31, 2020. Through multivariable modeling, three main effects (concern for COVID-19, risk for COVID-19, and gender) were together significantly associated with the social distancing …

  • Adolescent Smartphone Acquisition: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study with Late Adolescents and Their Parents

    J M Vaterlaus, Dawn TarabochiaARTICLEMarriage & Family Review2021Cited by: 2References: 23

    The timing of smartphone acquisition for children and adolescence has gained public interest and research on the topic is just beginning. Parent-late adolescent dyads (n = 8; 16 individuals) from one community were recruited for participation in a study regarding smartphone acquisition in adolescence. Late adolescents (mage = 18; female n = 4; male n = 4) and parents (mage = 47; female n = 6; male n = 2) completed in-depth interviews or online su…

  • Technology Use in Young Adult Marital Relationships: A Case Study Approach

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Rachel Stinson et al.ARTICLEContemporary Family Therapy2020References: 4

  • The Perceived Influence of Interactive Technology on Marital Relationships

    Open AccessJ M Vaterlaus, Sarah TulaneARTICLEContemporary Family Therapy2019Cited by: 4References: 6

  • Adolescent life values: An exploratory study of differences and similarities by urbanicity

    Open AccessSarah Schmitt-Wilson, Sarah Schmitt‐Wilson et al.ARTICLEThe Social Science Journal2019References: 1

    This exploratory correlational study examined whether life values (i.e., goals or principles that guide peoples’ lives) differed by urbanicity. The nationally representative sample included adolescents (N = 13,130) from urban, suburban, and rural communities in the USA. Contrary to our hypotheses, there were few differences in life values among urban, suburban, and rural adolescents in economic, educational, occupational, family, and relationship…