
Current Research Projects
Child and Adolescent Social-Emotional Development Study

This study focuses on how parents can help foster more positive development of social and emotional competencies as children grow. Participants in the study will complete ratings and behavioral tasks on two occasions, approximately one year apart (visit lengths = ~2.5 hours), and parents will complete daily ratings for a two week period following the visits.
Parent questionnaires involve multiple questionnaires on their child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and medical functioning, and their own stress, emotions, and parenting practices. Families will be provided with feedback and a report detailing the findings of the mental health and academic evaluation following the visits (30 minute feedback visits).
Your family will be compensated up to $200 for completing all parts of the study, and your child will be given a small prize at each visit.
If you would like to learn more about the study, please contact the CALMER Lab at calmerlab@gmail.com or 540-231-8511.
At this time we are only recruiting participants ages 9-15 years, as we have hit our quota for 4-8-year-old children.
Cultural Differences in Parenting of Preschoolers Study
We are inviting White, Black, or Latino parents of 3 to 6-year-old children to participate in an online research study focused on understanding parent emotion socialization practices during early childhood (IRB 21-857).
You will be asked to complete a brief ~30 minute online survey about your parenting practices and beliefs, and information about your child’s emotions and behaviors.
Your family will be compensated $10 for completing this online survey.
If you would like to learn more about the study or are interested in participating, please contact the CALMER Lab at calmerlab@gmail.com.

Recently Completed Studies
Telehealth RELAX Intervention Pilot Study - The RELAX intervention targets emotion dysregulation and family conflict in families of adolescents with ADHD. RELAX consists of 8 weekly 90 minute groups for parents and adolescents. With a review session 1 month and 6 months after the groups are completed.We recently finished the telehealth RELAX intervention pilot study for middle schoolers with ADHD (n = 20). We have applied for additional funding to continue to provide this opportunity for families and hope to run more groups in winter and spring 2022. If you would like to be contacted when we begin recruitment, please email us at calmerlab@gmail.com.
Middle School Coping Program Study - During the COVID-19 pandemic we offered a free, online coping program for middle school students to help them cope with the stresses of the pandemic and the transition back to school.
Teleworking COVID-19 Impact Study - Working with Dr. Charles Calderwood and the Work Stress and Recovery Lab, this study sought to better understand how living through the COVID-19 pandemic may affect work, family, parent, and child functioning. Parents completed rating scales about spring 2020 stay-at-home orders and rating scales during fall 2020 after the transition back to hybrid schooling and in person work for many parents. Additionally, they provided daily ratings on weekdays over a 2 week period so we could better assess daily interactions between parent, work, and child functioning.

