Clinical Psychology - Seattle Pacific University


 

Clinical Psychology
Seattle Pacific University
3307 Third Ave. W

Suite 107
Seattle, WA 98119
Phone: 206-281-2839
Fax: 206-281-2695
clinicalpsyc@spu.edu

 

A.C.E. Lab Ongoing Research Studies

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SNAP-4-Kids examines how youth respond to stress emotionally, physiologically, and cognitively, and how individual differences in stress responding may be related to individual differences in temperament, rumination, and depressive symptoms. SNAP-4-Kids examines these processes in young adolescents (10–13 year olds). Involvement in the study includes a series of questionnaires and three visits to our lab at Seattle Pacific University.

SNAP-4-Kids is supported by a National Institute of Mental Health grant, #1R15MH09829401A1, titled “Physiological & Cognitive Pathways from Temperament to Adolescent Depression” (2013-2016).

Check out our progress so far!

To learn more, contact Dr. Amy Mezulis at mezulis@spu.edu.

 

 

SASSY: Stress and Somatic Symptoms in Young Adults. The SASSY study examines the relationships between physiological markers, positive and negative events, and cognitive responses as they predict depressive and somatic symptoms among college students. Participants attend a laboratory visit that allows for collection of physiological data in addition to responding to a series of questionnaires.
To learn more, contact Dr. Amy Mezulis at mezulis@spu.edu.

 

 

The Posttraumatic Stress and Growth Study examines the psychological well-being of individuals affected by the school shooting at Seattle Pacific University on June 5, 2014. Traumatic events are associated with both adverse mental health outcomes such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and substance use as well as positive outcomes such as post traumatic growth, which is typically characterized by positive changes in relating to others, personal strength, increased spirituality, or appreciation for life. Mental health outcomes may be affected by characteristics of the trauma such as the degree of trauma exposure, by characteristics of the individual including prior trauma history, resilience, gratitude or forgiveness, and by the types of resources for support and coping offered and utilized following the trauma. SPU students, faculty and staff who were enrolled or employed the day the shooting took place were invited to participate in an online survey about their response to the trauma and related factors. Data is currently be analyzed and findings may have key implications for understanding both protective and coping mechanisms that may decrease negative outcomes and increase positive outcomes when trauma does occur.

To learn more, contact Dr. Amy Mezulis at mezulis@spu.edu.

 


A.C.E. Lab Affiliated Research Studies

Dr. Mezulis collaborates closely with Dr. Janet Hyde on the Wisconsin Study of Families and Work. WSFW is a longitudinal study following youth from birth to adulthood. Read more about WSFW.

A.C.E. Lab Prior Research Studies

Women ROCK is a depression-preventive intervention program for first-year females at SPU. Young women participate in an eight-week manualized stress and emotion regulation program teaching such skills as breathing techniques, mindfulness, and progressive muscle relaxation. Women report on stress, emotion regulation, and depressive symptoms across the first year of college.

PACE: The Positive Affect and College Events Study examined the relationships between positive and negative events, trait and state affectivity, and cognitive responses as they predict depressive and somatic symptoms among college students. During the 2nd wave of data collection, PACE will also be examining the impacts of exercise on depressive symptoms, and predictors of nonsuicidal self-injury. Participants respond to a series of questionnaires. 

The SNAP Study (Situational Negative Affect and Physiology) was conducted during 2010-2012. This study examined how individuals cope with stress emotionally, physiologically, and cognitively and how individual differences in stress coping was related to individual differences in temperament, rumination, and depressive symptoms. SNAP examined these processes in older adolescents (18–19 year olds).

The Stress and Coping Study was conducted during the 2008–10 school years. The purpose was to examine how negative cognitive style, rumination, co-rumination, and affect interact with stress to predict depressive symptoms. We also examined how these vulnerabilities are related to one another, how boys and girls differ in their mean levels of vulnerabilities and stress, and how boys and girls differ in the predictive relationships between vulnerabilities and stress and depression in adolescence. We used a weekly diary format to identify patterns among these variables over time.

Youth PREVAIL is a short-term prospective study examining stress, cognitive vulnerabilities, and depressive symptoms among LGBQ adolescents. To learn more, contact Jordan Simonson at simonson@spu.edu.

 

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