The Understanding Children and Families laboratory seeks to better the lives of children and their families through its applied research activities, clinical work, and community service. Based on the work that the Understanding Children and Families laboratory has done thus far, there are three main activities that have helped us to work toward and begin to achieve this goal. These activities are described below.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

The Young Child and Family Research Clinic (YCFRC)

The YCFRC is a research clinic that is dedicated to understanding the relationships among the behaviors of young children, parent-child interactions, and the development of emotional and behavioral problems in young children and to the assessment and treatment of such problems. The YCFRC has multiple goals. It serves as a mechanism for providing psychological services to families who have young children (who are 6-years of age and younger) in the community, for training graduate students in the provision of psychological services to these families, and for furthering research endeavors to better understand the precursors of and effective interventions for emotional and behavioral problems in young children. Also see the following link for more information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfzcgyJxWY

As part of the psychological services that are provided to families, mothers and fathers are asked to take part in a thorough intake process by completing an interview regarding their children’s presenting issues, a packet of questionnaires about their families, and a videotaped play period with their children. Mothers and fathers also can be provided with further assessment of their children’s presenting issues (e.g., assessment of intellectual and academic functioning) and interventions that are meant to alleviate the problems experienced by these children (e.g., parenting information, children’s skills training). Families also are asked to provide information following any interventions that they might receive and again approximately six months after they have completed their contact with the YCFRC. With the permission of parents, parents’ responses at intake, post-treatment, and follow-up are used to develop research that is conducted through the YCFRC, to answer research questions, and to identify other services that families may require.

As these services are used additionally to provide training experiences for graduate students in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in the Department of Psychology and for research purposes, services are free to families in the community. All activities are supervised by a licensed psychologist and are conducted in the spirit of the scientist-practitioner model, with activities informed by the empirical literature. For more information, contact the Young Child and Family Research Clinic office at 407-257-2978.

Family PAIRS (Perception and Interaction Research Studies)

Family PAIRS provides a venue for graduate and undergraduate students to conduct research that examines the functioning of children and their families. In particular, Family PAIRS has a particular interest in conducting research studies that examine the perceptions that family members have of each other (e.g., attributional styles, cross-informant ratings), the interactions that transpire between family members (e.g., discipline transactions, conflict), and precursors to improving family functioning and to decreasing the emotional and behavioral problems experienced by children and adolescents. Given the creative energy of the graduate and undergraduate students involved with Family PAIRS, these topics have been examined for various groups of children and their families, including preschoolers and school-age children from diverse backgrounds, families who have had a child diagnosed with cancer, adolescents who are pregnant and parenting, and children with special needs like cerebral palsy.

Family Interactions Group for Graduate Students (FIGGS)

FIGGS serves as a forum for graduate students interested in research involving family interactions. FIGGS provides members with opportunities to present research questions, conduct research projects, and receive feedback regarding their current research ideas. FIGGS also strives to facilitate the understanding or and general interest in the dimensions of interactions between family members for hosting and providing guest lectures as well as attending workshops and symposia. FIGGS assists its members by securing or raising funds for student representation at regional, national, and international psychological conferences.

Recent Conference Presentations

PEER-REVIEWED-NATIONAL

Klein, J., Peterson, R. D., Donnelly, R., & Renk, K.   (2007, November).  Parental reactivity to negative emotion and their emerging adult children’s cognitive and psychological functioning. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mortensen, D., Grills-Taquechel, A., & Renk, K.  (2007, November).  Trauma, anxiety symptoms, and the role of locus of control in youth following a natural disaster.  Special Interest Group poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Oliveros, A., Asberg, K., & Renk, K.  (2007, November).  Young children’s behavior problems:  The role of maternal depression, parenting relationship, and discipline in dyad of high- and low-socioeconomic status. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Peterson, R. D., Klein, J., Donnelly, R., & Renk, K.  (2007, November).  Predicting psychopathology:  The role of perceived thought control ability. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Roddenberry, A., McKinney, C., & Renk, K.  (2007, November).  Locus of control, self-efficacy, stress, illness, and health service usage.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Scott, S., Marino, T., Baksh, E., Middleton, M., Renk, K., & Grills-Taquechel, A.  (2007, November).  The relationships among coping strategies, locus of control, and level of worry following exposure to hurricanes. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ernst, S., & Renk, K.  (2007, August). Relationships among parenting behaviors, cognitions, and preschoolers’ emotion regulation.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California.

Wiley, R., & Renk, K.  (2007, March). Psychological correlates of quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.  Poster presented at the Biennial Convention of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, Massachusetts.

Asberg, K., Klein, J., & Renk, K.  (2006, November).  Predictors of psychological adjustment in incarcerated females:  Exploring the role of stress, social support, and locus of control. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois.

Baksh, E., Roddenberry, A., Asberg, K., Renk, K., & Donnelly, R.  (2006, November).  The relationship between fathers’ depressive and anxious symptomatology and psychological adjustment in emerging adults.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois.

Donnelly, R., Klein, J., Oliveros, A., & Renk, K.  (2006, November).  Self-esteem from parent to child and the influence of parental role orientation. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois.

Miller, L., Grills-Taquechel, A., Baksh, E., & Renk, K.  (2006, November).  Trauma, internalizing symptoms, and the role of religious coping following natural disasters. Special Interest Group poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois.

Klein, J., & Renk, K.  (2006, August).  Socioeconomic status, social competence, and adjustment of ethnically diverse early adolescents. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

McKinney, C., Donnelly, R., & Renk, K.  (2006, August).  Mediating effects of late adolescents’ perceptions of their parents.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Damis, L. F., Hoggatt, C. E., Renk, K., & Votolato, R. C.  (2006, March).  Relationship of child abuse, anxiety, and depression to chronic pain.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, California.

Donnelly, R., & Renk, K.  (2005, November).  Self-talk from parent to child. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.

Oliveros, A., Alfonso, J., Renk, K., & Dunn, M. E.  (2005, November).  Development of the Brief Homophobia Inventory. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.

Renk, K.  (2005, November).  Parenting as a mediator of maternal perceptions of children and children’s behavior problems.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.

Renk, K., Donnelly, R., Cain, E. L., Klein, J., Oliveros, A., & Baksh, E.  (2005, November).  Cross-informant correspondence in ratings of emerging adults’ emotional and behavioral functioning.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.

Roddenberry, A., & Renk, K.  (2005, November).  The relationship between quality of life ratings for pediatric cancer patients and paternal characteristics. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC.

Klein, J., & Renk, K.  (2005, August).  Family characteristics and current functioning of ethnically diverse college students.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Silva, M. A., Dorso, E., Azhar, A., & Renk, K.  (2005, August).  Parenting, anxiety, and motivation in college:  Keys to academic success? Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Donnelly, R., Cain, E., Roddenberry, A., Kanter Agliata, A., & Renk, K.  (2004, November).  Relationships among parenting style, communication, perceptions, and functioning in college students.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

McKinney, C., & Renk, K.  (2004, November). Differential parenting between fathers and mothers: Implications for late adolescents.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Klein, J., Renk, K., & Cruz, D.  (2004, November).  Perceptions of familial expectations for performance and psychological health of ethnically diverse college students.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Oliveros, A., Renk, K., & Horn, T.  (2004, November).  Discipline, parental characteristics, and child behavior problems.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sieger, K., & Renk, K.  (2004, November). Adolescent, child, and family characteristics in pregnant and parenting adolescents.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

McKinney, C., & Renk, K.  (2004, July). A holistic model of the interplay of parent-adolescent interaction variables:  Outcomes as a result of conflictual processes.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Renk, K., Oliveros, A., Roddenberry, A., Klein, J., Kanter Agliata, A., McKinney, C., Asberg, K., Donnelly, R., & Cain, E.  (2004, July).  Reasons young children are referred for psychological services.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Roddenberry, A., Renk, K., & Klein, J.  (2004, April). The relationships among parental characteristics, children’s characteristics, and children’s quality of life in pediatric cancer patients.  Poster presented at the Society for Pediatric Psychology National Conference on Child Health Psychology, Charleston, South Carolina.

Dyson, R., & Renk, K.  (2003, November).  Freshmen adaptation to university life:  Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Klein, J., Rojas-Vilches, A., Asberg, K., McKinney, C., & Renk, K.  (2003, November).  The relationship among competencies displayed by adult children and their parents. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Meehan, C., Sieger, K., Oliveros, A., Roddenberry, A., Renk, K., & Sims, V.  (2003, November).  An intergenerational examination of perceptions of parents. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Oliveros, A., Roddenberry, A., Meehan, C., Sieger, K., Renk, K., & Sims, V.  (2003, November).  Intergenerational comparison of attributions of control. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Renk, K., McKinney, C., Klein, J., & Oliveros, A.  (2003, November).  Childhood discipline and current functioning in college students. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Renk, K., Klein, J., & Rojas-Vilches, A.  (2003, August).  Predictors of the characteristics of parent-adult child relationships.   Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Phares, V., Renk, K., & Duhig, A.  (2003, April).  The associations of positive and negative feelings among adolescents and their mothers and fathers.  Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Tampa, Florida.

Renk, K., Roberts, R., Klein, J., & Rojas-Vilches, A.  (2002, November).  Retrospective reports of college students’ childhood problems.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, Reno, Nevada.

Renk, K., Roddenberry, A., Oliveros, A., & Sieger, K.  (2002, November).  The relationship of parental characteristics and perceptions of children to children’s behavior problems. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, Reno, Nevada.

Phares, V., Kamboukos, D., Clark, T., Renk, K., & Liljequist, L.  (2002, August).  Children’s age in relation to parental psychopathology.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois.

Renk, K., Oliveros, A., Roberts, R., Roddenberry, A., & Liljequist, L.  (2002, August).  College students’ response to conflict with their mothers and fathers.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois.

PEER-REVIEWED-REGIONAL

Middleton, M., Scott, S. L., & Renk, K. (2007, February).  Parental depression, parenting behaviors, and behavior problems in young children.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Kanter Agliata, A., Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Renk, K.  (2004, March).  The priming effects of teasing during adolescence.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, Georgia.

Oliveros, A., Klein, J., Roddenberry, A., & Renk, K.  (2004, March).  Retrospective recollections of college students’ childhood competencies.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, Georgia.

Klein, J., Rojas-Vilches, A., & Renk, K.  (2003, March).  Relationships among childhood family environments and perceptions of family members. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Renk, K., Oliveros, A., Roddenberry, A., & Sieger, K.  (2003, March). The relationship of parent-child relationship characteristics and child competencies.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Renk, K., Oliveros, A., Roddenberry, A., Klein, J., Sieger, K., Roberts, R., & Phares, V.  (2002, March).  The relationship of parental psychological symptoms and ratings of adolescent functioning.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Orlando, Florida.