Research

 

Dr. Toth's research interests have been guided by a developmental psychopathology perspective, which emphasizes the interplay between normal and atypical development and addresses the transactions between ecological contexts and development. As such, she has been invested in elucidating processes and mechanisms that contribute to the adaptation of children who are confronted by significant psychosocial adversity. In particular, my work has addressed the development of children who have experienced maltreatment or who have been reared by a depressed caregiver. Her research has examined representational development in these youngsters, specifically with regard to self-system processes and the emergence of depression. Research utilizing the narrative story-stem techniques has been at the forefront of investigations directed toward atypical populations.

 

Much of Dr. Toth's empirical work has examined factors contributing to maladjustment in children who have been physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected. She has been particularly interested in examining the relation between representational development of self and caregiver and the emergence of internalizing disorders. Another major research focus for Dr. Toth has been the utilization of a narrative story-stem technique to examine maternal and self-representation in maltreated preschool-age children. Dr. Toth also has been interested in examining the effects of trauma on children's memory. Finally, Dr. Toth has been committed to bridging research and clinical practice. She has been funded to initiate and evaluate a number of randomized clinical trials of preventive interventions for maltreated infants and preschoolers and for toddler offspring of depressed mothers.

 

Recent Publications

 

• Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S.L. (2005). Child Maltreatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology.
• Cicchetti, D., Toth, S.L., & Rogosch, F.A. Toddler-parent psychotherapy for depressed mothers and their offspring: Implications for attachment theory. In L. Atkinson & S. Goldberg (Eds.), Clinical applications of attachment (229-275). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
• Howe, M.L., Cicchetti, D., Toth, S.L., & Cerrito, B.M. (2004). True and false memories in maltreated children. Child Development, 75(5), 1402-1417.
• Toth, S.L., Cicchetti, D., & Kim, J.E. (2002). Relations among children’s perceptions of maternal behavior, attributional styles, and behavioral symptomatology in maltreated children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 30, 487-501.
• Toth, S.L., Maughan, A., Manly, J.T., Spagnola, M., & Cicchetti, D. (2002). The relative efficacy of two interventions in altering maltreated preschool children’s representational models: Implications for attachment theory. Development and Psychopathology, 14, 777-808.

 

Current and Recent Graduate Students

 

• Natalie Cort – The intergenerational associations between attachment style dimensions, intimate partner violence, and parenting.

 

Recent Courses Taught

 

• CSP 501 - Ethical Issues in Psychology
• CSP 388 and 389 – Research Practicum in Developmental Psychopathology

 

Grants

 

• "Memory Processes in Abused and Neglected Children"
  National Institute of Mental Health (2004-2009)
• "Prevention for Infants of Low-Income Depressed Mothers"
  National Institute of Mental Health (2004-2009)

 

Recent Honors and Distinctions

 

• Editorial Board, Development and Psychopathology
• Outstanding Research Article, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (2004)
• Board of Directors, Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester (2003 - )