Kathryn Spearman, Ph.D., M.S.N., R.N.
Assistant Professor, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Education
2025, PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Baltimore, MD
2023 Maternal and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Baltimore, MD Child Health Public Health Certificate
2019 MSN Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Baltimore, MD
2004 BS University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA
Expertise
Kathryn Spearman, PhD, MSN, RN is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the Pennsylvania State University Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a faculty member of the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network. Dr. Spearman earned her PhD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Her dissertation was funded through an F31 training grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development and focused on understanding how post-separation abuse impacts children’s health. Dr. Spearman’s broad program of research examines how experiences of abuse and legal system responses impact social determinants of health. Dr. Spearman uses mixed-method study designs to center survivor perspectives and needs and translate these findings into actionable policy change and interventions that promote the health, safety, and well-being of children and their protective parents. Her scientific inquiry is informed by clinical experience working as a pediatric nurse with abused children in inpatient and residential treatment settings. Her BS and MSN are from the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, respectively. She earned a graduate certificate in maternal child health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Research Interests
child maltreatment | intimate partner violence | post-separation abuse | family court | civil and criminal legal system responses to family violence
Selected Grants
2023 – 2025
Understanding the Impact of Post-Separation Abuse on Children's Health and Flourishing Outcomes.
Selected Publications
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Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, Volume 18, 2024, paae062, https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae062
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Spearman KJ, Marineau L, Owolabi A, Alexander KA, Campbell J. Firearms and post-separation abuse: Providing context behind the data on firearms and intimate partner violence. J Adv Nurs. 2024 Apr;80(4):1484-1496. doi: 10.1111/jan.15933. Epub 2023 Nov 3. PMID: 37921256; PMCID: PMC10939897.
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Lin, H.-F., Spearman, K. J., Ross, J. L., Blackburn, E., Messing, J. T., Campbell, J. C., AbiNader, M. A., & Grimm, K. J. (2023). A Transdisciplinary Analysis of Domestic Violence Homicides in Harris County, Texas (2016-2020). Homicide Studies, 27(4), 472-492. https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679231182331 (Original work published 2023)
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Pizarro, J. M., Messing, J. T., AbiNader, M., Zeoli, A. M., Spearman, K., & Campbell, J. (2023). Building a Transdisciplinary Team to Prevent Intimate Partner Homicide: A Research Note. Homicide Studies, 27(4), 454-471. https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679231178786 (Original work published 2023)
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Spearman, K., Hoppe, E., & Jagasia, E. (2023). A systematic literature review of protective factors mitigating intimate partner violence exposure on early childhood health outcomes. Journal of Advanced Nursing. DOI:10.1111/jan.15638
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Spearman, K. J., Vaughan-Eden, V., Hardesty, J. L., & Campbell, J. (2023). Post-separation abuse: A literature review connecting tactics to harm. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 21(2), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/26904586.2023.2177233
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Bagwell-Gray, M. E., Messing, J. T., Durfee, A. A., & Spearman, K. J. (2023). A Critical Examination of the Influences of Intimate Partner Violence, Help-Seeking, and Social Identity on Women’s Experiences Seeking and Obtaining Civil Protection Orders. Women & Criminal Justice, 35(3), 173–190. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2023.2167060
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Spearman, K., Hardesty, J. & Campbell, J. (2022). Post-separation abuse: a concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 00, 1– 22. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15310
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Hoppe ER, Klepper M, Spearman KJ. "Trauma Club": Reflections on Scholarly Collaboration and Psychosocial Support from an Adverse Childhood Experiences Student Research and Advocacy Group in the Time of Covid-19. J Nurs Dr Stud Scholarsh. 2022;8:40-45. PMID: 39473827; PMCID: PMC11521392.