Sherryl Goodman, Ph.D.

Research

My research interests, grounded in the field of developmental psychopathology, concern the mechanisms by which mothers with depression may transmit psychopathology to their children. Within a developmental psychopathology perspective, I am particulary interested in risk and protective factors and vulnerabilities to the development of psychopathology. I am also interested in the development of evidence-based approaches to the prevention of perinatal depression and examining the potential benefits to the infants.

Current Projects

(a) Maternal depression as an early life stress for infants

(b) Developing and testing the feasibility and effectiveness of a form of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, adapted specifically for pregnant women, in reducing depression and associated problems such as stress, anxiety, and pregnancy and birth related complications.

(c) Vulnerabilities to depression in preschool aged children of depressed mothers

(d) The development of a measure of children’s perceptions of parental sadness

(e) The development of children’s understanding of sadness and other emotions in others, especially in their parents

(f) Women’s narratives on their experiences of having depression and raising children

Currently Funded Projects

(a) 2007-2012, P.I., The Impact of Maternal Depression, Anxiety, and Stress on Infant Vulnerabilities to the Development of Psychopathology, one of three projects within National Institute of Mental Health, 1 P50 MH077928-01A1, Perinatal Stress and Gene Influences: Pathways to Infant Vulnerability, a Translational Research Centers in Behavioral Science (TRCBS) at Emory University School of Medicine, Zachary Stowe, P.I. of the Center.

(b) 2008-2010, Co-P.I., Brief Depression Screener Developed Using IRT for Antenatal and Postpartum Women, Small Business Innovation Research Grant, 1 R44 MH082485-01A1,  PI: Benjamin B Brodey.

(c) 2008-2011, Co-P.I., Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Prevention of Perinatal Depression (#R34 MH83866-01), PI: Sona Dimidjian

Graduate Students

• Matthew Rouse
• Cara Lusby

Recent Masters Theses (since 1996)

Matthew H. Rouse (2009). Antenatal Depression Influences on Negative Affectivity in 3 Month Old Infants

Sarah R. Brand (2007). The Effects of Maternal Depression During Pregnancy on Newborn Arousal and Distress

Diana Simeonova-Lennon (2005). Depression and Anxiety during Pregnancy: Associations with Cortisol in Women at Risk for Depression

Marisa Lascher (2004). Ambivalence, internal expectancies, and external expectancies in adolescents’ emotional expression to mothers

Erin Tully (2002). Correlates of locus of control and attributional style in children: Implications for processes involved in their development

Christie Hall (2001). Children’s perception of control and coping strategies for reducing maternal sadness and anger

Arin Connell (2000). Maternal depression in the family context: An examination of paternal influences and the mechanisms of risk to children

Michelle Robbins Broth (1999). The roles of predominant affect and cognitive perceptions in the relationship between maternal depression symptoms and inadequate parenting

Andrea M. Belli (1997). Risk factors for oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: Comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, family environment adversity, and stressful life events.

Recent Doctoral Dissertations

Erin Tully (2006). Interpersonal, Affective, and Cognitive Vulnerabilities for Psychopathology in Preschool-Aged Children of Depressed and Nondepressed Mothers

Christine M. Hall (2004). Physical discipline and child behavior problems in European American and Immigrant Korean families

Arin M. Connell (2003). Marital conflict and child adjustment problems: Links with children’s social information processing and regulation of emotional arousal.

Michelle Robbins Broth (2002). Associations between mothers’ negative emotionality and stress and their socialization of emotion practices: Mothers’ emotional competence as resiliency or risk.

Alice Frye (2001). Correlates of behavior problems in children of teen-age mothers.

Current Positions of Recent Ph.D.’s

Alice Frye
NICHD Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Wellesley Centers for Women

Michelle Broth
Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, School of Medicine

Arin Connell
Assistant Professor, Case Western University

Christine Hall
Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University

Erin Tully
Post-doctroal Fellow, W. Iacono, University of Minnesota, Department of Psychology

Publications

Teaching

Curriculum Vitae