Publications

Prior research has shown cognitive reactivity to be a diathesis for depression. Seeking evidence for the developmental origins of such diatheses, the current study examined peer victimization and harsh parenting as developmental correlates of cognitive reactivity in 571 children and adolescents (ages 8–13 years). Four major findings emerged. First, a new method for assessing cognitive reactivity in children and adolescents showed significant reliability and demonstrated construct validity vis-à-vis its relation to depression. Second, history of more severe peer victimization was significantly related to cognitive reactivity, with verbal victimization being more strongly tied to cognitive reactivity than other subtypes of peer victimization. Third, harsh parenting was also significantly related to cognitive reactivity. Fourth, both peer victimization and harsh parenting made unique statistical contributions to cognitive reactivity, after controlling for the effects of the other. Taken together, these findings provide preliminary support for a developmental model pertaining to origins of cognitive reactivity in children and adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)

Although current cognitive-behavioral models have highlighted a central role of dysfunctional “obsessive beliefs” about threat, responsibility, uncertainty, perfectionism, importance and control of thoughts in the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), empirical evidence in support of this notion has been inconsistent. The present investigation further examines the association between obsessive beliefs and OCD symptoms among nonclinical (Study 1) and clinical samples (Study 2). Findings from Study 1 (n = 368) demonstrated that OCD symptom dimensions are associated with some form of obsessive belief (generality). Although findings from Study 1 revealed that different obsessive beliefs related to different OCD symptom dimensions in a meaningful way (congruence), findings from Study 2 failed to support the hypothesis that OCD patients (n = 30) would endorse obsessive beliefs more strongly than patients (n = 30) with generalized anxiety disorder (specificity). However, both patient groups endorsed obsessive beliefs more strongly than non-clinical controls (n = 30). Implications of these findings for conceptualizing the relationship between obsessive beliefs and specific dimensions of OCD are discussed.

The prevalence of mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts and behavior, increase during adolescence. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents, with a prevalence of 4.04 per 100,000. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts is even greater, with up to 17% of adolescents reporting having seriously considered attempting suicide and 8% having made a suicide attempt at least once in the past year. The current study focuses on advancing our understanding of how social support may influence links between psychopathology and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Cohen and Wills (Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A., 1985, Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357) described two broad models whereby social support could mitigate the deleterious effects of stress on health: a main effect model and stress-buffering model. A specific application of these models was tested in a three-wave, multimethod study of 1888 children to assess ways parental support (social support) mitigates the effects of peer victimization (stress) on children’s depressive symptoms and depression-related cognitions (health-related outcomes). Results revealed that (a) both supportive parenting and peer victimization had main effects on depressive symptoms and cognitions; (b) supportive parenting and peer victimization did not interact in the prediction of depressive thoughts and symptoms; (c) these results generalized across age and gender; and (d) increases in depressive symptoms were related to later reduction of supportive parenting and later increase in peer victimization. Although supportive parenting did not moderate the adverse outcomes associated with peer victimization, results show that its main effect can counterbalance or offset these effects to some degree. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)

Social anxiety is the most common anxiety disorder among youth; theoretical and empirical work suggest specific parenting behaviors may be relevant. However, findings are inconsistent, particularly in terms of maternal as compared to paternal effects. In the current study, we evaluated the indirect effects of perceived psychological control on the relation between anxious rearing behaviors and child social anxiety among 112 community-recruited girls (ages 12–15 years). In addition to self-report, adolescent participants completed a laboratory-based social stress task. In line with hypotheses, results indicated indirect effects of psychological control on the relation between anxious rearing behaviors and child social anxiety in maternal but not paternal models. Findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and empirical implications for clarifying the role of parental relations in adolescent social anxiety.

Experiencing a client suicide or another form of client death is not uncommon for health service psychology trainees, or trainees in other mental health disciplines (e.g., psychiatry, counseling, social work). Yet, the majority of training programs and training clinics do not have procedures in place for managing a client death. The purpose of the current paper is to provide a set of recommendations for client death postvention procedures, focused primarily on client death by suicide. The aim is to help training programs and clinics respond appropriately to trainees in the aftermath of a client death. Our recommendations are based in a review of existing literature around therapists and trainees experiences with client suicide, and involve suggestions for notification procedures and 2 separate meetings with the trainee who served as the primary therapist for the deceased client. The first meeting involves provision of support to the trainee, with secondary goals of planning around communication of the client death to program staff and students, and additional future planning around trainee needs. The second meeting serves as a critical incident review, with administrative and educational goals around understanding the case progression to help the trainee, supervisor, clinic, and program improve client care. We provide a basic template that can be amended for specific programs and settings, and discuss the extant research support for the recommendations, as well as implications for longer term training needs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)