Research

 

Dr. Toth's research interests have been guided by a developmental psychopathology perspective, which emphasizes the interplay between normal and atypical development and addresses the transactions between ecological contexts and development. As such, she has been invested in elucidating processes and mechanisms that contribute to the adaptation of children who are confronted by significant psychosocial adversity. In particular, my work has addressed the development of children who have experienced maltreatment or who have been reared by a depressed caregiver. Her research has examined representational development in these youngsters, specifically with regard to self-system processes and the emergence of depression. Research utilizing the narrative story-stem techniques has been at the forefront of investigations directed toward atypical populations.

 

Much of Dr. Toth's empirical work has examined factors contributing to maladjustment in children who have been physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected. She has been particularly interested in examining the relation between representational development of self and caregiver and the emergence of internalizing disorders. Another major research focus for Dr. Toth has been the utilization of a narrative story-stem technique to examine maternal and self-representation in maltreated preschool-age children. Dr. Toth also has been interested in examining the effects of trauma on children's memory. Finally, Dr. Toth has been committed to bridging research and clinical practice. She has been funded to initiate and evaluate a number of randomized clinical trials of preventive interventions for maltreated infants and preschoolers and for toddler offspring of depressed mothers.

 

Recent and in Press Publications

• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (In Press).  The past achievements and future promises of developmental psychopathology:  The coming of age of a discipline. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (In Press). A developmental psychopathology perspective on adolescent depression.  In S. Hoeksema & L. Hilt (Eds.)  Handbook of Adolescent Depression.  New York:  Taylor & Francis.
• Cicchetti, D., Toth, S. L., Nilsen, W. J., & Manly, J. T. (In Press).  What do we know and why does it matter?  The dissemination of evidence-based interventions for child maltreatment.  In H. R. Schaffer & K. Durkin (Eds.), Blackwell Handbook of Developmental Psychology in Action.  Oxford:  Blackwell.
• Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (In Press).  The history and developmental trajectory of developmental psychopathology.  Israel Journal of Psychiatry.
• Toth, S. L., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., & Sturge-Apple, M. (In Press).  Maternal depression, children's attachment security, and representational development:  An organizational perspective.  Child Development, 80.
• Toth, S. L., Pickreign, E., & Gravener, J. A. (In Press).  Child abuse and neglect.  In H. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Human Relationships.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage.
• Valentino, K., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., & Toth, S. L. (In Press).  Memory, maternal representations and internalizing symptomatology among abused, neglected and nonmaltreated children.  Child Development.
• Toth, S. L., Manly, J. T., & Nilsen, W. (2008).  From research to practice:  Lessons learned.  Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29, 317-325.
• Toth, S. L., Rogosch, F. A., & Cicchetti, D. (2008).  Attachment-theory informed intervention and reflective functioning in depressed mothers.  In H. Steele & M. Steele (Eds.) Clinical Applications of the Adult Attachment Interview. (pp. 154-172).  New York:  Guilford.
• Toth, S. L. & Valentino, K. (2008).  Translating research on children's memory and trauma into practice:  Clinical and forensic implications.  In M. Howe, G. Goodman, & D. Chicchetti (Eds.). Children's memory and trauma:  Cognitive, neuropsychological, and clinical perspectives (363-399). 
• Valentino, K., Cicchetti, D., Toth, S. L., & Rogosch, F. A. (2008).  True and false recall and dissociation among maltreated children:  The role of self-schema.  Development and Psychopathology, 20, 213-232.
• Maughan, A., Chicchetti, D., Toth, S. L., & Rogosch, F. A. (2007).  Early-occurring maternal depression and maternal negativity in predicting young children's emotion regulation and socioemotional difficulties.  Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 685-703.
• Ayoub, C. C., O'Connor, E., Rappolt-Schlichtmann, G., Fischer, K. W., Rogosch, F. A., Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (2006).  Cognitive and emotional differences in young maltreated children:  A translational application of dynamic skill theory.  Development and Psychopathology, 18, 679-706.
• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., & Toth, S. L (2006).  Fostering secure attachment in maltreating families through preventive interventions.   Development and Psychopathology, 18 (3), 623-650.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2006).  Editorial: Building bridges and crossing them:  Translational research in developmental psychopathology.  Development and Psychopathology, 18 (3), 619-622.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2006).  Developmental psychopathology and preventive intervention.  In A. Renninger and I. Sigel (Eds.), Handbook of Child Psychology (6th Ed.) (pp. 497-547).  New York:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2006).  Special Issue:  Translational Research and Developmental Psychopathology.  Development and Psychopathology, 18 (3), 619-933.
• Howe, M. L., Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L., (2006).  Children's basic memory processes, stress, and maltreatment.  Development and Psychopathology, 18, 759-770.
• Howe, M. L., Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (2006).  Memory and developmental psychopathology.  In D. Cicchetti & D. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental Psychopathology (2nd Edition): Developmental Neuroscience (Vol. 2) (pp. 759-769).  New York:  Wiley.
• Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (2006).  Promises and possibilities:  The application of research in the area of child maltreatment to policies and practices.  Journal of Social Issues, 62 (4), 863-880.
• Toth, S. L., Rogosch, F. A., Manly J. T., & Cicchetti, D. (2006).  The efficacy of toddler-parent psychotherapy to reorganize attachment in the young offspring of mothers with major depressive disorder:  A randomized preventive trial.  Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74 (6), 1006-1016.
• Valentino, K., Cicchetti, D., Toth, S. L., & Rogosch, F. A. (2006).  Mother-child play and emerging social behaviors among infants from maltreating families.  Developmental Psychology, 42, 474-485.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S.L. (2005). Child Maltreatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 409-438.
• Toth, S. L. (2005).  Attachment-Based Interventions.  Comments on Dozier, Egeland, and Benoit.  Centre for Excellence for Early Childhood Development Website, <http://www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca>.  (Reprinted in French on the Centre of Excellence's Internet site <http://www.excellence-jeunesenfants.ca>.)
• Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (2005). Child maltreatment and its impact on psychosocial child development.  In Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development.  Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development Website.  http://www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca/liste_theme.asp?lang=En&act=32 (Reprinted in French on the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development Website, http://excellence-jeunesenfants.ca/documents/Toth-CicchettiFRxp.pdf)
• Rogosch, F. A., Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2004).  Expressed emotion in multiple subsystems of the families of toddlers with depressed mothers.  Development and Psychopathology, 6 (3), 689-709.
• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., Maughan, A., Toth, S. L., & Bruce, J. (2003).  False belief understanding in maltreated children.  Development and Psychopathology, 15 (4), 1067-1091.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2003).  Child maltreatment:  Past, present, and future perspectives.  In R. P. Weissberg, H. J. Walberg, M. U. O'Brien, and C. Bartels-Kuster (Eds.), Trends in the well-being of children and youth:  Volume 2 (pp. 181-205).  Washington, D. C.:  Child Welfare League of America Press.

 

Recent Conference Presentations

• Nilsen, W., Toth, S. L., & Manly, J. T. (August 2008).  Fostering Recovery in Families of Young Children in Child Welfare.  Paper presented at the American Psychological Association, Boston.
• Toth, S. L. (August 2008).  Design and Implementation of Preventive Interventions for Depressed Mothers Offspring.  Paper presented at the American Psychological Association, Boston.
• Toth, S. L., Rogosch, F. A., & Cicchetti, D. (June 2008).  The Efficacy of Child-Parent Psychotherapy in Increasing Attachment Security in at Risk Populations.  Paper presented at the International Society for Psychotherapy Research, Barcelona, Spain.
• Toth, S. L., (March 2008).  Developmental Psychopathology:  Implications for the Design and Evaluation of Preventive Interventions.  Grand Rounds, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center.
• Rogosch, F. A., Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L.  (April 2007).  Expressed Emotion and Attachment Insecurity Mediate the Linkage Between Maternal Depression and Toddler Behavior Problems.  Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Convention, Boston.
• Toth, S. L., Cicchetti, D., & Rogosch, F. A. (April 2007).  The Efficacy of Toddler-Parent Psychotherapy in Fostering Secure Attachment in Offspring of Depressed Mothers.  Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Convention, Boston.
• Toth, S. L. (May 2006).  Attachment Theory Informed Interventions.  Presentation at the University of Utah Conference on Attachment, Salt Lake City.
• Toth, S. L. (March 2006).  The Efficacy of a Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Infants.  Presentation for the University of Washington, Seattle.
• Toth, S. L. (March 2005).  Efficacy Versus Effectiveness Research:  Design Considerations.  Presentation at Zero to Three, Washington, D. C.
• Toth, S. L. (March 2005).  Clinical Considerations in the Provision of Child Parent Psychotherapy.  Workshop presented to Zero to Three, Washington, D. C.
• Toth, S. L., Cicchetti, D., & Rogosch, F. A. (April 2003).  The Efficacy of Toddler-Parent Psychotherapy for Offspring and their Depressed Mothers.  Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Convention, Tampa.

 

Current Collaborations Outside the Psychology Department

• Dr. Mark Cummings - Collaboration between the University of Rochester and the University of Notre Dame.  A multi-site, NIMH funded project designed to explore pathways among family relationships, children's emotional security, and psychological competence and symptomatology.  Project conducted in Rochester and South Bend, IN.
• Dr. Dante Cicchetti - Collaboration between University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center, and the University of Minnesota on projects related to children's neuroendocrine responses to psychosocial stressors and child adaptation to domestic violence.

 

Current Graduate Students

• Adriana Gonzalez (Pre-doctoral intern, Yale Child Studies Center)
• Julie Gravener
• Jack Peltz
• Erin Pickreign

 

Former Graduate Students

• Natalie Cort (Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Rochester Medical Center)
• Jenny Macfie (Associate Professor, University of Tennessee)
• Angeline Maughan (Post-doctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School)
• Kristin Valentino (Post-doctoral Fellow, Yale Child Studies Center)

Recent Courses Taught

• CSP 582 - Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology
• CSP 586 - Evidence Based Child Psychotherapy
• CSP 575 - Developmental Psychopathology
• CSP 501 - Ethical Issues in Psychology
• CSP 388 and 389 – Research Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology

 

Recent or Current Grants

• 2007-2012  Investigator (PI, Nancy Talbot):  "Effectiveness of IPT Adapted for Depressed Women with Trauma Histories in a CMHC" Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Services.  Total Direct Costs $1,835,992.
• 2007-2011  Principal Investigator:  "Building Healthy Children",  Monroe County Department of Human Services.  Total Direct Costs $4,350,000.
• 2007-2010  Principal Investigator:  Administration on Children and Families, "Fostering Recovery".  Total Direct Costs $1,500,000.
• 2005-2007  Investigator (with Department of Pediatrics Faculty):  "Factors Affecting the Life Trajectories and Resilience of Maltreated Children".  Administration on Children and Families.  Total Direct Costs $80,000.
• 2004-2009  Principal Investigator:  "Memory Processes in Abused and Neglected Children", National Institute of Mental Health.  Total Direct Costs $80,000.
  
• 2004-2009  Principlal Investigator:  "Prevention for Infants of Low-Income Depressed Mothers" National Institute of Mental Health.  Total Direct Costs $3,827,706.
• 2000-2004  Co-Principal Investigator (with Dante Cicchetti): "A Preventive Intervention for Toddlers of Depressed Mothers" (Continuation):  NIMH Life Course Prevention.  Total Direct Costs $2,298,423.
• 1998-2003  Co-Principal Investigator (with Dante Cicchetti):  "Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Infants (five year).  NIMH Lifecourse Prevention.  Total Direct Costs $4,447,794.

 

Recent Honors and Distinctions

• Standing Member, NIH Psychosocial Development, Risk, & Prevention Integrated Review Group (2006)
• Associate Editor, Development and Psychopathology (2007)
• Recipient of the Outstanding Research Article Award, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (2004 & 2007)
• Board of Directors, Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester (2003 - present)