Doctoral Student Research

Doctoral graduates from the past ten years now work for a collection of prestigious research universities and think tanks. Check out where our graduates are now below:

• University of Houston
• Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW)
• Salem State University
• University of Kentucky
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• University of Wyoming
• Radford University
• University of West Florida
• University of Alabama
• University of South Florida
• Florida State University
• Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)
• Northern Iowa University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Council of Criminal Justice
• National University of Singapore
• University of Georgia
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of Louisville
• Western Michigan University
• Wright State University
• University of Virginia Children’s Hospital

 Doctoral Dissertations (2014 - present)

Woods, M. N. (2024). Veteran Suicide and the Ideation to Action Framework: A Critical Examination and Analysis of Theory.

Collins, C. J. (2023). Engaging In Lethal Means Safety (ELMS) : An Evaluation Of A Suicide Prevention Means Safety Training Program For Mental Health First Responders. Florida State University.

Murphy, M. (2023). Treating Depression: Clinical Judgments of Social Work Students.

Stanley, L. H. K. (2022). Childhood Trauma Screening And Early Literacy Skills: Predictor Importance And Classification Accuracy Of Childhood Trauma Measures For Early Identification Of Kindergarteners At-Risk For Poor Reading Outcomes. In ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC.

Bagneris, J. (2022). Development And Implementation Of A Socioculturally Transformative Intervention For Pre-Service Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Dowdy-Hazlett, T. (2022). Latent Profiles of Foster Parents and Their Associations with Intent to Disrupt Placement and Turnover.

Ferguson, A. (2022). Understanding Risk And Resilience In Nonmonosexual Populations: Testing A New Framework. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Holland, M. M. (2021). Employment And Earnings Disparities Before And After The Implementation Of The Americans With Disabilities Act: An Intersectional Approach. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Berry, K. (Katherine R. (2021). Kids In Context : An Exploratory Analysis Of Environment And Engagement In Adolescent Residential Treatment. Florida State University.

Rakes, S. (2021). The Role Of Custodial Caregiving On Grandmother Well-Being : An Examination Of Protective Factors And Positive Outcomes. Florida State University.

Dunleavy, D. J. (2020). Appraising Contemporary Social Work Research : Meta-Research On Statistical Reporting, Statistical Power, And Evidential Value. Florida State University.

Forsman, R. L. (2020). Queering College Sexual Violence: The Interaction Of Gender Identity And Sexual Assault On Campus. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Deichen Hansen, M. E. (2019). Disparate Beginnings: Predicting Inequalities in Infant Health Outcomes Using Theoretical Modeling. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

King, E. A. (2019). An Exploration of the Effects of Primary and Secondary Trauma on Child Welfare Workers’ Mental Health and Commitment to the Field. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Williams, J. M. (2018). Using Computer-Mediated Communication to Reduce Loneliness in Older Adults. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Yelick, A. (2018). Decision Making: An Experimental Study Examining Potential Child Welfare Professionals’ Biases of Family Structure. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Groton, D. B. (2017). A Lower Glass Ceiling: Understanding the Role of Employment in the Lives of Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Lee, J. (2017). Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying in Childhood and Young Adulthood: Prevalence, Relationship, and Psychological Distress Outcomes Among Young Adults. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Prost, S. G. (2017). The Perception Gap in Prison Healthcare: Correlates of Inter-Rater Agreement of Patient Quality of Life. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Cheatham, L. P. (2016). “Aging out” of foster care with disabilities: Predictors of educational attainment and employment. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Kennedy, S. C. (2016). The relationship between childhood polyvictimization and subsequent mental health and substance misuse outcomes for incarcerated women. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Stephens, S. G. (2016). Relationship of sexual violence and high-risk behaviors among male and female U.S. college students. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Brown, K. M. (2015). The Voices Of African Descent Bisexual Women: Experiences Related To Identity And Disclosure In Social Support Networks And Health Care Settings In The United States And United Kingdom. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Clem, J. M. (2015). Self-objectification: Understanding the mediational pathway in predicting women’s alcohol use. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Kim, H. (2015). The mechanism of ageism: The relationship between perceived ageism and depressive symptoms in later life. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

McPherson, J. (2015). Human rights practice in social work: A rights-based framework & two new measures. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Mennicke, A. M. S. (2015). Toward a new understanding of intimate partner violence: Exploring typology-, gender-, and racially-inclusive dynamics. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Thomas, J. G. (2015). Capacity to consent to sexual activity among residents of long-term mental health treatment programs: Perspectives of clients, staff, and administrators. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

2024

• Ai, A. L., Guang, Q., & Sabuncu, C. (2024). Meta-analysis review of posttraumatic growth in cardiovascular diseases. International Journal of Psychology, 56(3/4), 1.
• Copeland, P., Collins, C., Pederson, S., Tripodi, S. J., & Epperson, M. (2024). To what extent is criminal justice content specifically addressed in MSW programs? A 10 year review and update. Journal of Social Work Education, 60(1), 73-85.
• Curley, E., Killian, M., Renn, T., Veeh, C., Pettus, C., (2024). Validation of a Multidimensional Social Support Measure for Individuals Who are Incarcerated. Research on Social Work Practice. Online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315241229681
• Grady, M. D., Tripodi, S., Herod, L., & Rudzinski, M. (2024) Behavioral health interventions for incarcerated adults with histories of trauma: A scoping review. Research on Social Work Practice. 34(4), 415-432. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315231189177
• Killian, M. O., Little, C., & Mayewski, S. E. (2024). Trends in medication adherence across the posttransplant period in pediatric organ transplant recipients. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
• Killian, M. O., Mayewski, S. E., & Gupta, D. (2024). A multi-centre randomized control trial of directly observed therapy to promote medication adherence in paediatric heart transplant recipients. Cardiology in the Young.
• Killian, M. O., Mayewski, S. E., Brumm, S. E., & Gupta, D. (2024). Inter-dose variability of immunosuppressant medication among adolescent heart transplants during video directly observed therapy. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
• Kosic, A., Sabuncu, C., & Ai, A. L. (2024). Spirituality and psychological stress in COVID Pandemic in Europe. International Journal of Psychology, 56(3/4), 1.
• Pettus, C., Kennedy, S. C., Renn, T., Tripodi, S. J., Rudes, D. S., Taxman, F. S., & Herod, L. (2024). Behavioral health literacy: A new construct to improve outcomes among incarcerated individuals. International Journal of Social Welfare, 33(2), 564-574. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12624
• Samarah, E.M.S., Radey, M., Boel-Studt, S., (2024) Safety Nets Among Mothers Aging Out of Foster Care and Maternity Group Homes: Who Steps in When Mothers Age Out? Child and Adolescent Social Work.

2023

• Berry, K., Gliske, K., Schimdt, C., Ballard, J., Killian, M., & Fenkel, C. (2023). The impact of family therapy participation on youth and young adult engagement and retention in a telehealth intensive outpatient program: Quality improvement analysis. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e45305. doi:10.2196/45305
• Berry, K., Gliske, K., Schimdt, C., Cray, L. D. E., Killian, M., & Fenkel, C. (2023). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other minoritized gender and sexual identities–adapted telehealth intensive outpatient program for youth and young adults: Subgroup analysis of acuity and improvement following treatment. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e45796. doi:10.2196/45796
• Boel-Studt, S. M., Deichen Hansen, M., & Dowdy Hazlett, T. (2023). The LIFE Model for trauma affected youth: A mixed methods examination. Journal of Public Child Welfare.
• Boel-Studt, S. M., & Dowdy-Hazlett, T. (2023). Reflections on care experiences among early, middle, and late adolescents in residential care. Developmental Child Welfare.
• Boel-Studt, S. M., Huang, H., & Collins, C. (2023). "I hope my voice is heard.": A mixed-methods study of youths' perceptions of residential care. Children & Youth Services Review.
• Burns, D. D., Langenderfer-Magruder, L., Yelick, A., & Wilke, D. J. (2023). What else is there to say? Reflections of newly-hired child welfare workers by retention status. Children & Youth Services Review, 144, 106731. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/childyouth.2022.106731
• Dunleavy, D., & Lacasse, J. (2023). Is Social Work Research in Crisis? Research on Social Work Practice. doi:10.1177/10497315231188684
• Gliske, K., Ballard, J., Berry, K., Killian, M., & Fenkel, C. (2023). Reduction of youth and young adult mental health-related emergency department admissions following remote intensive outpatient treatment: A quality improvement analysis. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e45305. doi:10.2196/47895
• Gliske, K., Berry, K., Ballard, J., Schimdt, C., Kroll, E., Kohlmeier, J., Killian, M., & Fenkel, C. (2023). Predicting youth and young adult treatment engagement in a transdiagnostic remote intensive outpatient program: A latent profile analysis. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e47917. doi:10.2196/47895
• Henson, M., Cain, M.D., Wilke, D.J., & Radey, M. (2023). What makes a case difficult: Definitions from child welfare worker and implications for workload and caseload management. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2023.2219649
• Lee, J., Choi, M. J., Radey, M., & Tripodi, S. (2023). Childhood Bullying Victimization, Substance Use, and Criminal Activity from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 770.
• Pettus, C., Kennedy, S., Renn, T., Tripodi, S., Taxman, F., & Rudes, D. (2023). Behavioral health literacy: A new construct to improve outcomes among jail residents. International Journal of Social Welfare. doi:10.1111/ijsw.12624
• Radey, M., Boel-Studt, S. M., & Collins, C. (2023). Taking it day by day": Maternity group homes in the lives of mothers aging out of foster care. Children & Youth Services Review.
• Radey, M., Wilke, D. J., Stanley, L. H. K., & Sabuncu, B. C. (2023). Independent and combined effects of workplace harassment among child welfare workers. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2022.2164536
• Rakes, S., Radey, M., & Wilke, D. J. (2023). Examining employment outcomes of recently hired older workers in the child welfare workforce. Journal of Public Child Welfare. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2023.2222091
• Sabuncu, B.C.; Li, W.; Ai, A.L. (2023). Better to Not Be Alone: Relationships between Hurricane Related Trauma, Spiritual Support, and Social Support. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine; 8(2): 017; doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2302017.
• Samarah, E.M.S., Schelbe, L., Jackson, L., (2023). A Photovoice Study of College Students with Foster Care Experiences. Children and Youth Services Review.
• Stanley, L. H., Lutz, S., Sabuncu, B. C., Magruder, L., & Wilke, D. J. (2023). Child welfare workers’ self-care activities and impacts on health and well-being. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 1-22.
• Tripodi, S. J., Kennedy, S. C., Miller, F., Renn, T., Veeh, C., Pettus, C., & Schelbe, L. (2023). "I feel like I have 'prison' tattooed on my forehead": Women's trajectories after release from incarceration. Women & Criminal Justice, 1-42. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2023.2297019

2022

• Ai, A. L., Appel, H., lee, J., & Fincham, F. (2022). Family factors related to three major mental health problems among Asian-Americans nationwide. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 49(1), 4-21.
• Ai, A., & Sabuncu, C. (2022). Gender and age effects on PTG explained by psychological factors in cardiac patients. Innovation in Aging, 6 (Suppl 1), 850. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.3046
• Ai., A. & Sabuncu, B. C. (2022). Posttraumatic growth in patients with cardiovascular disease. In R. Berger, Ed. The Routledge international handbook on posttraumatic growth. Routledge.
• Copeland, P., Collins, C., Pederson, S. D., & Tripodi, S. (2022). To what extent is criminal justice content specifically addressed in MSW programs? A 10-year review and update. Journal of Social Work Education.Langenderfer-Magruder, L., Wilke, D. J., Radey, M., Cain, M., & Yelick, A. (2022). COVID-19's social ecological impacts on health and human services worker well-being. Social Work in Public Health, 37(3), 233-243.
• Lee, J., Choi, M. J., Holland, M. M., Radey, M., & Tripodi, S. J. (2022). Childhood bullying, substance use, and criminal activity among adolescents: A multilevel growth model study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 1-16.
• Murphy, M., Schelbe, L., & Lacasse, J. (2022). Clinical depression and the chemical imbalance theory: social work practice dilemmas. Social Work in Mental Health, 25. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15332985.2021.2017387 doi:10.1080/15332985.2021.2017387
• Osteen, P. J., King, E. A., & Wilke, D. J. (2022). Development and validation of the Supervision Practice in Human Services Scale. Social Policy & Administration, 56, 977-989. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12815
• Petscher, Y., Cummings, K., Killian, M. O., Woods, M., & Kershaw-Herrera, S. (2022). Testing the importance of individual growth in predicting state-level outcomes beyond status measures. Frontiers in Education, 7, 1-10. doi:10.3389/feduc.2022.733851
• Sabuncu, C., & Ai, A. (2022). Age differences in depression and anxiety levels of open-heart surgery patients. Innovation in Aging, 6 (Suppl 1), 851–852. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.3050
• Tripodi, S. J., Killian, M. O., Gilmour, M., Curley, E., & Herod, L. (2022). Trauma Informed Care groups with incarcerated women: An alternative treatment design comparing Seeking Safety and STAIR. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 13(3), 511-531. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1086/712732

2021

• Ai, A. L., & Lee, J. (2021). Perceived discrimination and obesity of Latinas in the United States. Ethnicity and Health, 26(4), 471-486.
• Boel-Studt, S. M., Vasquez, M., Randolph, K., & Dowdy, T. (2021). A survey of trauma education provided within accredited social work programs in the United States and Canada. Journal of Social Work Education (Impact factor: 1.0), 35.
• Dowdy-Hazlett, T., & Boel-Studt, S. M. (2021). Predictors of mental health diagnoses among youth in psychiatric residential care. Child and Adolescent Social Work (Impact factor: 1.16), 35.
• Dowdy, T., Killian, M. O., & Woods, M. (2021). Measurement of traumatic experiences of children within survey and intervention research: A systematic review of the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen. Children and Youth Services Review, 131, 106259. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106259
• Dunleavy, D., & Lacasse, J. (2021). The Use and Misuse of Classical Statistics: A Primer for Social Workers. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(5), 438-453. doi:DOI: 10.1177/10497315211008247
• Groton, D., & Gomory, T. (2021). Improving Housing Services for Youth Survivors of Sexual Exploitation: An Exploratory Study. National Youth-At-Risk Journal, 23.
• Groton, D., & Radey, M. (2021). "I've been through it": A mixed methods approach to capturing employment barriers among unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness. Social Work Research, 45, 88-100.
• Lacasse, J., Dunleavy, D., & Hughes, S. (2021). Psychiatric Prescribing in Child Welfare: Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice and an Agenda for Reform. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. doi:10.1007/s10560-020-00731-y
• Langenderfer-Magruder, L., Wilke, D. J., Radey, M., Cain, M., & Yelick, A. (2021). COVID-19's social-ecological impacts on health and human services workers well-being. Social Work in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2021.1997864
• Pettus-Davis, C., Veeh, C. A., Renn, T., & Kennedy, S. (2021). The well being development model: A new conceptual framework to guide transitional reentry services for individuals releasing from incarceration. Social Service Review.
• Prost, S., Golder, S., Pettus-Davis, C., Edmond, T., Renn, T., Higgins, G., & Logan, T. K. (2021). Predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms among victimized women on probation and parole. The Probation Journal. doi:10.1177/02645505211032171

2020

Berry, K. R., Kennedy, S. C., Lloyd, M., Veeh, C., & Tripodi, S. J. (2020). The intersectional effects of race and gender on time to reincarceration. Justice Quarterly, 37, 132-160.

Boel-Studt, S. M., Flynn, Heather, A., Deichen Hansen, M. E., & Panisch, L. S. (2020). Enhancing behavioral health services for child welfare-involved parents: A qualitative study. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 38.

Kennedy, S. C., Spinelli, C., & Wilke, D. J. (2020). Development and validation of the child welfare provider stigma inventory. Journal of Social Work, 20, 703-729. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1468017319837518

King, E. A., Wilke, D. J., & Randolph K. (2020). Assessing the relationship between client-perpetrated violence and intentions to leave child welfare. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 30. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2020.1862730

McPherson, J., & Abell, N. (2020). Measuring rights-­based practice: Introducing the Human Rights Methods in Social Work scales. British Journal of Social Work, 50, 222-242. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcz132

Moore, J. R., & Mennicke, A. M. (2020). Empathy deficits and perceived permissive environments: Sexual harassment perpetration on college campuses. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 26(3), 372-384. doi:10.1080/13552600.2019.1651913

Yelick, A., & Thyer, B. A. (2020). The effects of family structure and race on decision-making in child welfare. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 14(3), 336-356.

2019

Ai, A. L., & Lee, J. (2019). Perceived discrimination and obesity of Latinas in the United States. Ethnicity and Health.

Ai, A. L., Lee, J. U., & Appel, H. (2019). Family factors and mental health problems among Asian-Americans. Annals of Behavior Medicine, 48 (Supplement).

Ai, A. L., Smyth, S., & Haris, R. (2019). Sex differences, event impacts, and character strengths in depression following open-heart surgery. Journal of Women's Health, 27.

Gomory, T., Gromer, J., Groton, D., Stephens, S. G., Harris, R., & Duncan, M. (2019). Client Perception and Utilization of an Innovative "One Stop" Service Center for People Experiencing Homelessness: A Mixed-Methods Case Study. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 21, 1-20.

Groton, D., & Radey, M. (2019). Employment Among Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 28, 692-706.

Groton, D. B., & Radey, M. (2019). Social Support Among Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness. Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 34-48.

Prost, S. G., Tripodi, S. J., & Lacasse, J. R. (2019). The quality of life perception gap in prison health care settings: Rater disparities among incarcerated patients and peer caregivers. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15, 1223-1240.

Radey, M., Schelbe, L., & King, E. A. (2019). Field Training Experiences of Child Welfare Workers: Implications for Supervision and Field Education. Clinical Social Work Journal, 47, 134-145.

Radey, M., & Stanley, L. (2019). Beginning the "Never-ending" Learning Process: Training Experiences of Newly-hired Child Welfare Workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 104.

Stanley, L. H. K., & Boel-Studt, S. (2019). The influence of youth gender and complex trauma on the relation between treatment conditions and outcomes in therapeutic residential care. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma (Impact Factor: 1.08), 1-9. doi:/10.1007/s40653-019-00285-x

Tripodi, S. J., Mennicke, A. M., McCarter, S. A., & Ropes, K. (2019). Evaluating Seeking Safety for women in prison: An RCT. Research on Social Work Practice, 29, 281-290.

Tripodi, S. J., Pettus-Davis, C., Bender, K., Fitzgerald, M., Renn, T., & Kennedy, S. C. (2019). Pathways to recidivism for women released from prison: A mediated model of abuse, mental health issues, and substance use. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46, 1219-1236.

Wilke, D. J., Rakes, S., & Randolph, K. A. (2019). Predictors of early departure among recently hired child welfare workers. Social Work, 64, 188-197. Retrieved from 10.1093/sw/swz020