Research
Research conducted at Mt. Hope Family Center is dedicated to elucidating developmental processes in normal and abnormal development, with special interest in understanding pathways contributing to maladaptation, psychopathology, and resilience. Formulated on the principles of the field of developmental psychopathology, research studies at the center examine diverse psychological, social-contextual, and biological processes and their interrelations across development as they contribute to adaptation, resilience, maladjustment, and psychopathology. Individuals with psychopathology and those at high risk for emergent psychological difficulties are studied in contrast to demographically comparable low risk individuals in order to expand knowledge of the ontogenesis of diverse forms of psychopathology, as well as contributors to adaptive, normative development. In addition to furthering basic knowledge about development and psychopathology, research at the center is used to inform intervention and prevention efforts, as well as to investigate intervention efficacy.
Special Populations Investigated:
- Child maltreatment: infancy through adolescence
- The effects of poverty on development
- Children of mothers with major depressive disorder: Toddlerhood through age nine
- Major Depression
- Adult development in mothers and fathers
Domains Investigated:
Socioemotional Development
- Affect development and regulation
- Attachment across the lifespan
- Self-system processes
- Representational development
- Social-cognitive development
- Peer relations
- School functioning
- Moral development
Cognitive Development
- Intellectual functioning
- Language development
- Memory
- Neuropsychological functioning
Family Processes
- Parent-child interaction
- Family system processes
- Parenting
Contextual Influences
- Poverty
- Community violence
- Neighborhood influences
- Traumatic events
Biological Processes
- Neurophysiology
- Neuroendocrine regulation/reactivity
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (planned)
- Immune Functioning (planned)
Adaptation and Psychopathology
- Internalizing disorders/ syndromes (e.g., major depression, anxiety disorders)
- Externalizing disorders/ syndromes (e.g., conduct disorder, attention deficit disorder)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Dissociation
- Personality Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia (planned)
- Substance use/abuse
- Social Maladaptation
- Resilience
Intervention/Prevention Efficacy Studies
- Toddler-Parent Psychotherapy for mothers with major depression and their toddlers
- Infant-Parent Psychotherapy for maltreated infants and their mothers
- Psychoeducational Home Visitation for maltreated infants and their mothers
- Therapeutic Preschool/Parent Training for maltreated preschoolers
- Parent-Child Attachment Therapy for maltreated preschoolers
Current and Past Grant Funding for Research:
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Office of Child Abuse and Neglect
- A. L. Mailman Foundation
- Halcyon Hill Foundation
- Smith Richardson Foundation
- Spencer Foundation
- William T. Grant Foundation
- William C. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc.