Current Projects

Mindfulness-based Interventions and Reward Sensitivity Among Youth with Antisocial Behaviors
(Lead investigator: Callie Mazurek)

This study will examine the role mindfulness has in altering reward-sensitivity in a sample of adolescents and young adults displaying antisocial behaviors. Participants will be randomized to either a mindfulness-based intervention or control condition. This multi-method study will collect self-report, behavioral, and psychophysiological data on changes in reward-sensitivity across time.

Cognition and Context: The Moderating Influence in Predicting Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors
(Lead investigator: Callie Mazurek)

The goal of this study is to look at the role of neurocognitive functioning (e.g., full scale IQ, working memory, inhibition) and contextual factors (e.g., family dysfunction, maternal distress) in predicting externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression, ODD symptoms, ADHD symptoms). Importantly, the primary focus is to examine how these two sets of variables interact to predict externalizing behaviors as opposed to examining their individual contributions.

Understanding and Minimizing Reporting Discrepancy of Anxiety Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
(Lead investigator: Sarah Boland)

Bilingual Advantage in Executive Function Among Preschoolers
(Lead investigator: Shelby Johnson)

The Relation of ASD Symptom Severity to Parental Expressed Emotion, Parental Affiliate Stigma, and Typically-developing Sibling Internalizing Behavior
(Lead investigator: Aurora Brinkman)

This study found significant interrelations among symptom severity and externalizing behavior in children with ASD; parental stress, affiliate stigma, and expressed emotion (EE); and TD sibling internalizing behavior. In addition, certain subcomponents of affiliate stigma predicted unique variance in EE and TD sibling internalizing behavior. Findings are currently under review at the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Affiliate Stigma and Empowerment as Moderators in the Relation Between Family Factors and Child Behavior.
(Lead investigator: Aurora Brinkman)

This study will examine the moderating effect of stigma and empowerment on the relation between family factors and the behavior of children with disabilities. Specifically, caregiver expressed emotion, parenting practices, caregiver distress, and social support will be examined as predictor variables and internalizing/externalizing behavior as criterion variables. It is expected that stigma will be a significant risk factor and empowerment will be a significant protective factor in these relations.

Come One, Come All: Potential Moderators of the Relation Between Psychological Difficulties and Mental Health Treatment Among Caregiver-Child Dyads.
(Lead investigator: Austin Lau)