Several psychology students and faculty from Eastern Connecticut State University presented at the Eastern Psychological Association’s (EPA) annual meeting on March 2–4 in Boston, MA.

T. Caitlin Vasquez-O’Brien, assistant professor of psychological science, presented at the conference with several of her research assistants. “Submissions are reviewed by experts in the field before being accepted,” she said, “so being accepted to present research at (this) conference is a wonderful accomplishment.”

Six presentations at the conference included representation from Eastern. Vasquez-O’Brien joined her students in three presentations about parental relations with children. Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, professor of psychological science, also worked with her students on three presentations. These presentations analyzed mental health disorders in college students.

“I am very impressed with our students’ ability to tackle independent research projects,” said Vasquez-O’Brien.

Sophomores Ori Busel and Cailey Fay joined Vasquez-O’Brien and Elizabeth Rellinger Zettler, a faculty collaborator from Illinois College, in a presentation titled “Regulations between Parent and Child Self-Regulation and Observed Child Fear.”

Vasquez-O’Brien and Rellinger Zettler then joined Eastern junior Kayden Louzada to present “Parental Gender Roles and Child Depression: Moderation by Self-Perception and Inhibitory Control.”

Vasquez-O’Brien rounded out her conference with a presentation alongside junior Sydney Smirnow, a research assistant in her lab, and Rellinger Zettler. The presentation was titled “Parental Differential Treatment and Child Problem Behavior: The Role of Sibling Rank.”

Salters-Pedneault joined research assistant Jennifer Duncan to present “Behavioral Inhibition, Experiential Avoidance, and Mental Health in Students During COVID-19.” She then partnered with research assistant Melissa Valenzuela for a presentation titled “Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Experiential Avoidance, and Dissociation in College Students.”

Finally, Salters-Pedneault gave a presentation by herself, “Intrusive Cognitive Content and Mental Health Symptoms in a College Student Sample.”