Research Interests
My research interests broadly involve improving the relationship between children and their families. Research suggests that many childhood problems stem from difficulties in the home, typically beginning early in the child's development. The importance of providing children quality early experiences cannot be overlooked. Therefore, a main focus of my research involves the importance of parenting education for parents of young children. Previous research has shown the Parenting Young Children program (formerly the STAR Parenting Program) to be an effective intervention in assisting parents to reduce their reliance on verbal and corporal punishment, increase their positive nurturing behavior and develop more appropriate expectations for their young children. Further, parents have reported reduced stress and aggression and reductions in behavior problems experienced by their young child.
Recent PPRT Projects
Howard, Jackson, Nicholson, B.C. & Chesnut, S. Relationships Between Positive Parenting, Helicopter Parenting, Grit, and Academic Success
Howard, J. M., Nicholson, B. C., Madson, M. B., Mohn, R. S., & Bullock-Yowell, E. (2021). Student-athlete wellness: An examination of parenting, grit, academic success, and mental health outcomes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 16(2), 109-129.
Perez, C.M., Jordan, H.J., Nicholson, B.C., Mohn, R.S., & Madson, M.B. (2021). Protective behavioral strategies mediate the relationship between overparenting and alcohol-related consequences among college students. Substance Use and Misuse, 56, 510-516.
Stroud, S. Ammons, C., Howard, J., & Nicholson, B. C., (in preparation). Anxiety, Fear and Stress as Predictors of Overparenting.
Winner, N. A., & Nicholson, B. C. Overparenting and Narcissism in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Psychological Control.
Howard, J. M., Nicholson, B. C., Madson, M. B., Mohn, R. S., & Bullock-Yowell, E. (2021). Student-athlete wellness: An examination of parenting, grit, academic success, and mental health outcomes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 16(2), 109-129.
Perez, C.M., Jordan, H.J., Nicholson, B.C., Mohn, R.S., & Madson, M.B. (2021). Protective behavioral strategies mediate the relationship between overparenting and alcohol-related consequences among college students. Substance Use and Misuse, 56, 510-516.
Stroud, S. Ammons, C., Howard, J., & Nicholson, B. C., (in preparation). Anxiety, Fear and Stress as Predictors of Overparenting.
Winner, N. A., & Nicholson, B. C. Overparenting and Narcissism in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Psychological Control.
Thesis Projects
Ammons, Chrissy. Parental Attachment and Adult Attachment: The moderating roles of dispositional forgiveness and gratitude.
Bigalke, Katie. Parenting a Chronically Ill Child: Coping, Social Support, Hardiness, and Maternal Stress.
Kison, Saarah. Parenting as a Predictor of Protective Behavioral Strategies and College Student Alcohol Consumption.
McMurtry, Sarah. The Relations between Parenting, Collectivism, and College Student Adjustment.
Perez, Christopher. Overparenting and Emerging Adults' Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance.
Prater, Melanie. The Impact of Overparenting, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, and Alcohol use on Risky Sexual Behavior in College Students
Raisanen, Erica. The Role of Hardiness, Family Hardiness, and Parenting Self-Efficacy on Parenting Stress in Adoptive Parents.
Teller, Alexandra. Natural Disasters and Attachment Quality: The Mediating Role of Coping.
Tomassetti, Tory. Role of Hardiness in Moderating Parenting Stress in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans
Winner, Nathan. Parenting Styles and Young Adults’ Emotional Health: The Moderating Roles of Family Structure and Race.
Watts, Roxanne. Examining the Association between Fictive Kin Care, Parental Attachment & Emotional Distress in College Students.
Bigalke, Katie. Parenting a Chronically Ill Child: Coping, Social Support, Hardiness, and Maternal Stress.
Kison, Saarah. Parenting as a Predictor of Protective Behavioral Strategies and College Student Alcohol Consumption.
McMurtry, Sarah. The Relations between Parenting, Collectivism, and College Student Adjustment.
Perez, Christopher. Overparenting and Emerging Adults' Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance.
Prater, Melanie. The Impact of Overparenting, Psychological Needs Satisfaction, and Alcohol use on Risky Sexual Behavior in College Students
Raisanen, Erica. The Role of Hardiness, Family Hardiness, and Parenting Self-Efficacy on Parenting Stress in Adoptive Parents.
Teller, Alexandra. Natural Disasters and Attachment Quality: The Mediating Role of Coping.
Tomassetti, Tory. Role of Hardiness in Moderating Parenting Stress in Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans
Winner, Nathan. Parenting Styles and Young Adults’ Emotional Health: The Moderating Roles of Family Structure and Race.
Watts, Roxanne. Examining the Association between Fictive Kin Care, Parental Attachment & Emotional Distress in College Students.
Dissertation Projects
Ammons, Chrissy. Attachment Quality Across Contexts: The Mediating Role of Cognitive-Affective Traits.
Bigalke, Katie. Parenting a Chronically Ill Child: Coping, Social Support, Hardiness, and Maternal Stress.
Cooke, Josie. Hope, Optimism, Stress and Social Support in Parents of Children with Cognitive Disabilities.
Howard, Jackson. Student Athlete Success: An Examination of Parenting, Grit, Academic Success & Mental Health Outcomes.
Lamkin, Liz. Parenting for Wellness: Positive Parenting Factors as Predictors of College Student Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Connectedness through the Lens of Self Determination Theory.
McMurtry, Sarah. Parenting Style Differences in African American and Caucasian American Adults
Perez, Chris. Overparenting, emotional distress, and subjective well-being: Facets of emotional distress tolerance as mediators.
Smith, Erica. The Mediational effects of parenting stress on the relation between Parenting Self-Efficacy, Hardiness and Parenting Behaviors in Fathers and Mothers.
Schultz, Paige. Parenting Stress, Behavior, Treatment Satisfaction, and Hope in Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities.
Teller, A. Natural disasters and attachment quality: The mediating role of self-compassion.
Tomassetti, Tory. Hardiness, Social Support, Parental Stress, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Recent Service Members.
Varner, Jane. The Effects of Spiritual Well-Being, Religious Coping, and Hardiness on Parenting Behaviors in Low Socioeconomic Status Families.
Winner, Nathan. Overparenting and Young Adult Narcissism: Psychological Control and Interpersonal Dependency as Mediators.
Bigalke, Katie. Parenting a Chronically Ill Child: Coping, Social Support, Hardiness, and Maternal Stress.
Cooke, Josie. Hope, Optimism, Stress and Social Support in Parents of Children with Cognitive Disabilities.
Howard, Jackson. Student Athlete Success: An Examination of Parenting, Grit, Academic Success & Mental Health Outcomes.
Lamkin, Liz. Parenting for Wellness: Positive Parenting Factors as Predictors of College Student Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Connectedness through the Lens of Self Determination Theory.
McMurtry, Sarah. Parenting Style Differences in African American and Caucasian American Adults
Perez, Chris. Overparenting, emotional distress, and subjective well-being: Facets of emotional distress tolerance as mediators.
Smith, Erica. The Mediational effects of parenting stress on the relation between Parenting Self-Efficacy, Hardiness and Parenting Behaviors in Fathers and Mothers.
Schultz, Paige. Parenting Stress, Behavior, Treatment Satisfaction, and Hope in Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities.
Teller, A. Natural disasters and attachment quality: The mediating role of self-compassion.
Tomassetti, Tory. Hardiness, Social Support, Parental Stress, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Recent Service Members.
Varner, Jane. The Effects of Spiritual Well-Being, Religious Coping, and Hardiness on Parenting Behaviors in Low Socioeconomic Status Families.
Winner, Nathan. Overparenting and Young Adult Narcissism: Psychological Control and Interpersonal Dependency as Mediators.