John L. Cooley, Ph.D.

Research Interests

The needs for connection, social acceptance, and meaningful relationships are fundamental to our human nature. Many of our beliefs about ourselves, the world, and our place within it are shaped by our interactions with others. Peer interactions can exert a particularly powerful influence—whether positive or negative—on youth's social, emotional, and behavioral development.

My program of research is primarily focused on peer victimization and bullying among children and adolescents. 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 the work in my lab is “How can we address the mental health needs of peer-victimized and bullied youth?” Specifically, we investigate factors that may increase or decrease risk for these problems and their associated negative outcomes. We are also actively testing novel prevention and intervention approaches for peer victimization and bullying.

Another emerging question guiding our work is “How can we expand youth's access to evidence-based mental health resources and services?” An estimated 12-22% of children and adolescents meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder, and rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation/behavior have been rising sharply among this age group in recent years. The unfortunate reality is that up to 80% of youth in need of psychological services never receive them. To help address this gap, we are beginning to evaluate novel approaches to mental health screening, prevention, and intervention within schools and primary care settings.

The ultimate goal of our research 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. For additional information, please visit www.peerrelationslab.com  

Selected Publications

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

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. (2021). Anger and attention problems as mechanisms linking maltreatment subtypes and witnessed violence to social functioning among children in out-of-home care. Child Maltreatment. Advance online publication. 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