Fall 2018 Newsletter | Conference and Publication Highlights

Molly Mather and Genna Santorelli, graduate students in Clinical Psychology, presented their research in August at the Annual Convention for the American Psychological Association in San Francisco. They also co-authored a paper with Professor Rebecca Ready.  

Mather, M., Santorelli, G.D., & Ready, R.E.  (August, 2018).  Alexithymia Predicts Depressive Symptoms, But Not Vice Versa.  Poster presented at the Annual Convention for the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.

Santorelli, G.D., Mather, M., & Ready, R.E.  (August, 2018).  Older and younger adults differently judge the similarity between affect terms. Poster presented at the Annual Convention for the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.

Ready, R.E., Santorelli, G.D., & Mather, M.  (August, 2018).  Affective well-being: Patterns of misperceptions between older and younger adults.  Paper accepted at the Annual Convention for the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.


Turns out it’s all about attitude when it comes to scientists. The survey of studies aimed at “Understanding Scientists’ Willingness to Engage” references emeritus Icek Aizen’s work on behavior.


Ashley Woodman, director of the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services Specialization, presented research conducted in collaboration with the Boston Higashi School (Randolph, MA) at the International Society for Autism Research conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in May. Both studies presented focused on physical activity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Several PBS undergraduate students were involved in these projects and included as co-authors (Emily Breviglia '17, Hannah Wisniewski '18, Emily Starratt '17, and Shelby Ripa '16).

L-r: Ashley Woodman and Yumiko Mori, researcher at the Boston Higashi School


Michael Constantino, director of the Psychotherapy Research Lab, presented a keynote address, Motivational interviewing as an evidence-based, interpersonally-responsive intervention for generalized anxiety disorder, at the 21st annual meeting of the Society for Interpersonal Theory and Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June, 2018).


Kirby Deater-Deckard has recently completed work as one of four associate editors working since 2015 with Editor in Chief Barbara Fiese, on the three-volume APA Handbook of Contemporary Family Psychology. Vol. 1 describes the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the discipline within a lifespan development perspective. Vol. 2 focuses on the application of family psychology to an array of mental and physical health conditions, societal issues, and shared systems such as schools and health care. Vol. 3 addresses contemporary couple, family, and parenting interventions grounded in family psychology theory and science, as well as issues related to family psychology training. The handbook will be published this fall.


"Behavioral activation with adolescents: A clinican's guide" co-authored by Christopher Martell will be translated into Korean.  


Catherine McEachern '19 has contributed an inspirational article to the summer edition of Newsline, a publication of the Federation for Children with Special Needs. ​Her article "LINK Center: Self-Advocacy in Action" recounts her struggle and ultimate victory in finding the correct accommodations and support to help her reach academic success.

She is currently completing her internship at the LINK Center, connecting families, professionals and individuals with disabilities who are of transition age (14-26) with information, supports, and services to achieve students’ future visions. McEachern is a current student in the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services Program at UMass Amherst.