The UVM Social Development Lab is involved in several externally funded projects in progress or recently completed. In addition, we are involved in several additional research projects with our collaborators.
The Early Childhood Friendship Project: Testing Key Mechanisms and the Moderating Role of Physiological Reactivity
This project, funded by NICHD (R01HD105496-01A1) is being conducted by Dr. Jamie Ostrov (PI); Dr. Murray-Close is serving as a Co-Investigator. The goal of the project is to conduct a randomized control trial of an intervention program developed to reduce aggressive behavior and promote prosocial behavior during early childhood. The project investigates potential mechanisms of influence as well as whether youth exhibiting heightened physiological reactivity are more strongly affected by the intervention.
Peer Treatment across the Transition to Kindergarten: A test of Biological Sensitivity to Context Theory: PEERS2K Project
The PEERS2K Project is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jamie Ostrov (PI) and Dr. Murray-Close (Co-PI) and is funded by the National Science Foundation (BCS-1939393). The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between early peer treatment (e.g., victimization, receipt of prosocial behavior, peer play) and children’s adjustment across the transition to kindergarten. We also investigate whether indices of heightened physiological reactivity serves as an indicator of sensitivity to the peer context.
The Development of Forms and Functions of Aggression during Early Childhood: PEERS Project
The PEERS Project was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jamie Ostrov (PI) and Dr. Murray-Close (Co-PI) and was funded by the National Science Foundation (BCS-1450777). This project investigated the role of temperament in the development of forms (i.e., physical, relational) and functions (i.e., proactive, reactive) aggression in early childhood as well as positive social behaviors.
Peer and Family Adversity, Neuroendocrine Regulation, and School Readiness Across the Transition to Kindergarten: FRIENDS Project
The FRIENDS Project was a multi-PI project (Dr. Jamie Ostrov, Dr. Murray-Close) funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (R01HD095832-01A1). Consistent with theoretical models of the role of adversity on child development in young children, this project investigates the mediating role of neuroendocrine functioning, including the innovative inclusion of hair and nail cortisol, which serve as indices of cumulative stress exposure.
