John L. Cooley, Ph.D.

Research Interests

The Prevention & Intervention Lab is committed to expanding the reach of clinical child and adolescent psychology. Our central goal is to learn how we can decrease risk and foster protective factors in order to promote positive peer relations and healthy patterns of development over time. 

In particular, we are focused on addressing problems of peer victimization and bullying. Countless research studies have shown that these experiences are harmful and can pose a serious risk for youth's long-term adjustment. Thus, one overarching question guiding our work is “How can we meet the mental health needs of youth impacted by peer victimization and bullying?” We are currently investigating risk and protective factors and testing prevention and intervention approaches for these peer problems among children and adolescents.

Another question guiding our lab is “How can we expand families' access to evidence-based mental health resources and services?” Estimates suggest that approximately 2 in 5 youth will meet criteria for a mental health disorder by the age of 18, and rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation/behavior have been rising sharply among this age group in recent decades. The unfortunate reality is that up to 80% of youth in need of services never receive them. To help address this gap, we are developing and evaluating novel approaches to prevention and intervention within clinical, school, and primary care settings.

For additional information, please visit www.preventionandinterventionlab.com.

Selected Publications

* Denotes Mentored Graduate Student; ** Denotes Mentored Undergraduate Student

Fite, P. J., & Cooley, J. L. (in press). Bullying and peer victimization. In A. M. La Greca, N. L. Reilly, O. Moorehead-Slaughter, & G. P. Koocher (Eds.), Parent's guide to Psychological First Aid: Helping children and adolescents cope with predictable life crises (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Cooley, J. L., Blossom, J. B., Tampke, E. C., & Fite, P. J. (2022). Emotion regulation attenuates the prospective links from peer victimization to internalizing symptoms during middle childhood. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 51(4), 495-504. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2020.1731819  

*Ricker, B. T., Cooley, J. L., *Sanchez, C. R., **Gunder, E. M., **Dooley, J., **Chilton, M., & Ritschel, L. A. (2022). Prospective associations between peer victimization and internalizing symptoms in adolescence: The protective role of hope. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 44(3), 649–662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-022-09966-8

Cooley, J. L., Mitchell, T. B., Pastrana, F. A., & Hanson, R. F. (2022). Trauma-focused CBT in the context of parental chronic medical conditions: A case report. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 29(3), 682-697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2021.04.008

Cooley, J. L., Fite, P. J., & Hoffman, L. (2022). Interactive effects of coping strategies and emotion dysregulation on childhood peer victimization. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 78, 101356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101356 

Cooley, J. L., & Taussig, H. N. (2022). Anger and attention problems as mechanisms linking maltreatment subtypes and witnessed violence to social functioning among children in out-of-home care. Child Maltreatment, 27(4), 647-657. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595211038926

Fite, P. J., Cooley, J. L., & Williford, A. (2020). Components of evidence-based interventions for bullying and peer victimization. In R. G. Steele & M. C. Roberts (Eds.), Handbook of evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents (2nd ed., pp. 219-234). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44226-2_15

Cooley, J. L., & Ritschel, L. A., Frazer, A. L., & Blossom, J. B. (2019). The influence of internalizing symptoms and emotion dysregulation on the association between witnessed community violence and aggression among urban adolescents. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 50(6), 883-893. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00890-9

Fite, P. J., Cooley, J. L., Poquiz, J., & Williford, A. (2019). Pilot evaluation of a targeted intervention for peer-victimized youth. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(1), 46-65. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22697

Cooley, J. L., Fite, P. J. & Pederson, C. A. (2018). Bidirectional associations between peer victimization and functions of aggression in middle childhood: Further evaluation across informants and academic years. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 46(1), 99-111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-017-0283-8

Cooley, J. L., Frazer, A. L., Fite, P. J., Brown, S., & DiPierro, M. (2017). Anxiety symptoms as a moderator of the reciprocal links between forms of aggression and peer victimization in middle childhood. Aggressive Behavior, 43(5), 450-459. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21703

Cooley, J. L., & Fite, P. J. (2016). Peer victimization and forms of aggression during middle childhood: The role of emotion regulation. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 44(3), 535-546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-0051-6

Cooley, J. L., Fite, P. J., Rubens, S. L. & Tunno, A. M. (2015). Peer victimization, depressive symptoms, and rule-breaking behavior in adolescence: The moderating role of peer social support. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 37(3), 512-522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-014-9473-7