Overview
Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell is interested in the interplay between mental and physical well-being and has designed and tested interventions that integrate care for people with obesity and depression; HIV/AIDS and substance use; and hepatitis C and alcohol use.
Most recently, Rae Jean has been studying positive mental health as a way to prevent depression and promote caring for one's physical health. Her work currently focuses on caregivers, including clergy in North Carolina and caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children in Kenya, Ethiopia, India, and Cambodia.
Soon, she will be testing four interventions to reduce stress symptoms.
As someone trained in both clinical and community psychology, Rae Jean is interested in the impact of systems and environmental contexts on individuals.
Most recently, Rae Jean has been studying positive mental health as a way to prevent depression and promote caring for one's physical health. Her work currently focuses on caregivers, including clergy in North Carolina and caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children in Kenya, Ethiopia, India, and Cambodia.
Soon, she will be testing four interventions to reduce stress symptoms.
As someone trained in both clinical and community psychology, Rae Jean is interested in the impact of systems and environmental contexts on individuals.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Research Professor of Global Health
·
2021 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Director, Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research
·
2025 - Present
Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research,
Duke Global Health Institute
Recent Publications
A brief report on the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among United Methodist clergy.
Journal Article Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy · October 2025 ObjectiveThis brief report examines the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among United Methodist Church clergy in North Carolina. Clergy serve the mental, spiritual, emotional, and material needs of their congregants and communiti ... Full text CiteDoes Flourishing Mental Health Improve Perceived Quality of Life?
Journal Article Journal of Happiness Studies · August 1, 2025 Flourishing mental health and quality of life (QoL) are related but distinct positive indicators of wellbeing. This study examined the relationship between flourishing mental health and QoL, specifically by using longitudinal data to determine the directio ... Full text CiteEmbedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement
Journal Article Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion · April 2025 Fostering participant engagement in behavioral interventions, especially those delivered via videoconferencing and with families, is challenging. Drawing on social-psychological literature on positive emotions and known emotion-action tendency sets ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Evaluate stress Innoculation and Intervention Programs for UM Clergy in NC
Institutional SupportDirector · Awarded by Duke Endowment · 2018 - 2023mHealth-supported telecolposcopy for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2021Sabbath Living Evaluation
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Blessed Earth · 2017 - 2020View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Arizona State University ·
2003
Ph.D.
Arizona State University ·
1998
M.A.