Past Research

Gender differences in associations between substance use and depression in adolescents: a longitudinal study.

Adolescence is a critical time period for understanding the emergence of substance use and depression. Research suggests that engaging in substance use places adolescents at risk for depression. Peer and parent relationships may moderate the relationship between substance use and depression. We expected that poor peer socialization and parental monitoring would predict depression beyond substance use involvement and would exacerbate the relationship between substance use and depressed mood. The study examined the relationship between substance use at time 1 and the emergence of depressed symptoms at time 2. In the fall and in the spring 326 (188 female) teens were surveyed on substance use, depressive symptoms, peer support, and parental monitoring. Using hierarchical multiple regression, controlling for Time 1 depressive symptoms, alcohol use in males (p< .05) not females independently predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms at Time 2. Peer and parental moderators are discussed.

Affective Behaviours, Emotional Regulation and Aggressive Relationships in Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study.

The main objective of this study was to longitudinally investigate psychological adjustment in emerging adults who experience aggression. Secondary goals included predicting level of psychological adjustment by type of aggression experienced (i.e. relational victimization and perpetration; physical victimization and perpetration). Other goals included predicting level of psychological adjustment through social sharing and emotional regulation; and examining the role of cognitive beliefs and rumination tendencies as predictors of psychological adjustment by those who experience aggression in relationships.

Effects of Anxiety, Coping, Adjustment and Stress on Eating Dysfunction.

The main objective of this study was to longitudinally examine the predictive relationship of worrying on eating dysfunction. Secondary purposes included exploring if perceived stress, poor coping ability, body image concerns and adjustment to university have any effect on the relationship between anxiety and eating dysfunction in emerging adults.