Research

 

Dr. Toth's research interests are guided by a developmental psychopathology perspective that emphasizes the interplay between normal and atypical development and addresses the transactions between ecological contexts and development. As such, she is invested in elucidating processes and mechanisms that contribute to the adaptation of children who are confronted by significant psychosocial adversity. In particular, Dr. Toth's work addresses 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.

 

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 is particularly interested in examining the relation between representational development of self and caregiver and the emergence of internalizing disorders.

 

In addition to basic research, Dr. Toth is committed to bridging research and clinical practice.  Building upon a developmental psychopathology framework, she has received NIMH-funding to initiate and evaluate a number of randomized clinical trials of preventive interventions.  Dr. Toth has also received funding from NIMH since 1991 to conduct investigations with maltreated children and offspring of mothers with Major Depressive Disorders.  This body of work has significantly advanced the field’s understanding of the adverse consequences of negative caregiving on child development.

 

 

Recent and in Press Publications

In Press
• 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.
• *Gravener, J.A., Rogosch, F.A., Oshri, A., Narayan, A., Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S.L. (in press). The relations among maternal depressive disorder, maternal Expressed Emotion, and toddler behavior problems and attachment. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.
• Toth, S.L., & Cicchetti, D. (in press). Children who may have been exploited, abused, or neglected. In A. Ben-Arieh, J. Cashmore, G. Goodman, J. Kampmann, & G.B. Melton (Eds.), Handbook of Child Research. New York: Springer.
• Toth, S.L., & Gravener, J.A. (in press). Bridging Research and Practice: Relational Interventions for Maltreated Children. Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Published

• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., Toth, S.L. (2011). The effects of child maltreatment and polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter and dopamine D4 receptor genes on infant attachment ant intervention efficacy. Development and Psychpathology, 23, 357-372.
• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F., Toth, S.L., & Sturge-Apple, M.L. (2011).  Normalizing the Development of Cortisol Regulation in Maltreated Infants Through Preventive Interventions.  Development and Psychopathology, 23, 789-800.
• *Cort, N. A., Toth, S.L., Cerulli, C., & Rogosch, F. (2011). Maternal intergenerational transmission of childhood multitype maltreatment. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20, 19-38.
• Howe, M.L., Toth, S.L., & Cicchetti, D., (2011). Can maltreated children inhibit true and false memories for emotional information? Child Development, 82, 967-981.
• Jee, S.H., Szilagyi, M.A., Conn, A.M., Nilsen, W., Toth, S., Baldwin, C.D., Szilagyi, P.G. (2011). Validating Office-Based Screening for Psychosocial Strengths and Difficulties Among Youths in Foster Care. Pediatrics, 127, 904-910.
• *Rohrer, L.M., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., Toth, S.L., & Maughan, A. (2011). Effects of maternal negativity and of early and recurrent depressive disorder on children’s false belief understanding.  Developmental Psychology, 47, 170-181.
• *Stronach, E.P., Toth, S.L., Rogosch, F., Oshri, A., Manly, J.T. & Cicchetti, D. (2011). Child Maltreatment, Attachment Security, and Internal Representations of Mother and Mother-Child Relationships.  Child Maltreatment, 16, 137-145.
• Toth, S.L., & Cicchetti, D. (Eds.), (2011). Frontiers on translational research in trauma (Special Section). Development and Psychopathology, 23(2), 357-721.
• Toth, S.L., & Cicchetti, D. (2011). Frontiers on translational research in trauma. Development and Psychopathology, 23, 353-355.
• Toth, S.L., LaTonya, S., Harris, G.S. & Cicchetti, D. (2011).  Influence of Violence and Aggression on Children’s Psychological Development:  Trauma, Attachment, and Memory.  In P.R. Shaver & M. Mikulincer (Eds.), Human Aggression and Violence: Causes, Manifestations, and Consequences. (pp. 351-365).  Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Toth, S.L., Manly, J.T. & Hathaway, A. (2011). Relational interventions for young children who have been maltreated.  In J.D. Osofsky (Ed.), Clinical Work with Traumatized Young Children. (pp. 96-113). New York:  Guilford Press.
• Toth, S.L., Pianta, R. & Erickson, M. (2011). From Research to Practice: Developmental Contributions to the Field of Prevention Science. In D. Cicchetti & G. I. Roisman (Eds.), Minnesota Symposia: The Origins and Organization of Adaptation and Maladption (pp. 323-377). New York: Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Toth, S.L., Stronach, E.P., Rogosch, F.A., Caplan, R., & Cicchetti, D. (2011).  Illogical Thinking and Thought Disorder in Maltreated Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 50, 650-668.
• *Valentino, K., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., & Toth, S.L. (2011) Mother-child play and maltreatment: A longitudinal analysis of emerging social behavior from infancy to toddlerhood.  Developmental Psychology, 47, 1280-1294.
• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., Gunnar, M.R., & Toth, S.L. (2010). The Differential Impacts of Early Abuse on Internalizing Problems and Daytime Cortisol Rhythm in School-aged Children. Child Development, 81(1), 252-269. PMID: 20331666; PMCID: PMC2846099
• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., Howe, M.L., & Toth, S.L. (2010).  The Effects of Maltreatment and Neuroendocrin Regulation on Memory Performance. Child Development, 81, 1504-1519. 

• Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., Sturge-Apple, M., & Toth, S.L. (2010). Interaction of Child Maltreatment and 5-HTT Polymorphisms: Suicide Ideation Among Children from Low SES Backgrounds. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35(5), 536-546. PMID: 19779024
• Toth, S.L., & Cicchetti, D. (2010).  The Historical Origins and Developmental Pathways of the Discipline of Developmental Psychopathology.  Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 47, 5-14.

• Toth, S.L., & Pickreign, E. (2010). From research to practice: The Treatment of Adolescent Psychopathology. In D. P. Swanson, M. C. Edwards & M. B. Spencer (Eds.), Adolescence: Development During a Global Era (pp. 449-476). New York: Elsevier, Inc.
• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S.L. (2009). 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. (2009). The Past Achievements and Future Promises of Developmental Psychopathology: The Coming of Age of a Discipline. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 16-25.
• Toth, S.L., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., & Sturge-Apple, M. (2009). Maternal Depression, Children's Attachment Security, and Representational Development: An Organizational Perspective. Child Development, 80, 192-208.
• Toth, S.L., Pickreign, E., & Gravener, J.A. (2009). Child abuse and neglect. In H. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Human Relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Valentino, K., Toth, S.L., & Cicchetti, D. (2009). Autobiographical memory functioning among abused, neglected and nonmaltreated children: The overgeneral memory effect. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 1029-1038.
• 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. Cicchetti (Eds.),  Stress, trauma, and children's memory development: Neurobiological, cognitive, clinical, and legal perspectives, pp. 363-399.  New York: Oxford University Press. 
• Valentino, K., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., & Toth, S.L. (2008).  Memory, maternal representations and internalizing symptomatology among abused, neglected and nonmaltreated children.  Child Development, 79, 705-719.
• 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., Cicchetti, 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.

 

Current Collaborations Outside the Psychology Department

• 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 gene by environment interactions in maltreated children, and at RCT directed toward the prevention of adolescent depression.

 

Current Graduate Students

• Julie Gravener, M.A.

    2nd Year Project Title: Parental Reflective Functioning in Mothers with and without a History of Major

    Depressive Disorder.

• Jack Peltz

    2nd Year Project Title: Maternal Major Depressive Disorder, marital Satisfaction, and Coparental

    Functioning

• Erin Pickreign, Ph.D. (2011)

    Dissertation: Preventive Interventions and Sustained Attachment Security in Maltreated Children: A 12-

    month Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

 

 

Former Graduate Students

• Adriana Gonzalez, Ph.D. (2009)
  Dissertation: Attachment Insecurity and Maternal Affective Discourse as Mediators of Emotion Dysregulation Among Toddlers of Mothers Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.
  Current Position: Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center
• Natalie Cort, Ph.D. (2008)
  Dissertation: Processes Underlying Materal Intergenerational Transmission of Child Maltreatment: The Role of Attachment Insecurity, Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Psychological Distress.
  Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Rochester Medical Center)
• Jenny Macfie, Ph.D. (1999)
  Dissertation: The Development of Dissociation in Maltreated Preschoolers
  Current Position: Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee
• Angeline Maughan, P.D. (2005)
  Dissertation: Variability of Self-Concept across Personal Relationships: The Role of Culture, Basic Psychological Needs, and Authenticity in China, Russia, and the United States.
  
• Kristin Valentino, Ph.D. (2007)
  Dissertation: Autobiographical memory functioning among abused, neglected, and nonmaltreated children: Mediators of the overgeneral memory effect.
  Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame

 

Recent Courses Taught

• CSP 582 - Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology
• CSP 586 - Evidence Based Child Psychotherapy
• CSP 575 - Developmental Psychopathology

 

Recent or Current Grants

• 2011-2016 Principal Investigator: Prevention of Depression in Maltreated and Nonmaltreated Adolescents. NIMH.
• 2009-2012  Principal Investigator:  "Promoting Positive Pathways:  Community Treatment and Services Center," SAMHSA.  Total Direct Costs $1,045.204.
• 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.

 

Recent Honors and Distinctions

• Toth, S. L. (June 2010). Bridging Research and Practice: Relational Interventions for Maltreated Children. Keynote speaker at the Association for Child and Adolescent mental Health's Jack Tizard Memorial Lecture and National Day Conference on "Child Maltreatment: The Way Forward." London
• Toth, S. L. (May 2009). Bridging Research and Practice: Relational Interventions for At-Risk Infants and Toddlers. Harris Visiting Scholar at the University of Minnesota's Center for Early Education and Development.
• Standing Member, NIH Psychosocial Development, Risk, & Prevention Integrated Review Group (2006-2009).
• Associate Editor, Development and Psychopathology (since 2007).
• Editorial Board, Child Maltreatment (since 2009).
• 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).